I've realized that I've strayed from the straight what's going on in my life and what am I feeling sort of posts to some random ponderings and such. Not that it's a bad thing, but it's not as easy to follow as something like an online journal, something like how my sister's blog looks. A lot is going on in her life by the looks of it. How many boys now? Four! That's a handful. Not that it's a bad thing. I believe that children are a blessing, even though they can be really noisy sometimes. They are a legacy one couple leaves behind when it's time to go. They are a piece of who we are, an extension of ourselves and yet, each their very own person. They just happen to carrry some of our DNA. It seems to me that my mind is changing and I'm really warming up to the idea of...you know, "baking." It's not that I think I'm ready; I don't think I would ever be ready and I don't know if anyone really is. And of course, people are always concerned about health before, during, and after the whole process. I used to wonder why people called children a miracle, but now I really believe that. It's funny how Alexis was worried about how one would grow up in this world, but her mom assured her that regardless of circumstances, they always do. Somehow, they grow up. Now let's skip forward.
On a lighter note, I was just informed by my supervisor that it's not appropriate to eat something like a pumpkin muffin in the office during work hours. Drinking tea is fine and eating little snacks is no problem, but something like a full-sized "breakfast" or whatever is a definite "no!" (with a slap on the wrist...if I were a baby). In a lot of ways, I think maybe I am still a child, especially when it comes to living here. In a foreign country, not aware of all the rules, trying to utter just one simple phrase. Yup, I'm a Nihon-Nihongo baby, although I'm not Nihon-jin. I'm also not nin-jin. That's a joke you'd only understand if you knew basic Japanese. But if I tell you straight out what it means, all the funny drains out and it just becomes a vocabulary lesson. However, considering that you might want to know, I will tell you anyway. In short, it's like this:
Nihon= Japan
Nihon-go= Japanese language (just like "Ei-go" means English language)
Nihon-jin= Japanese person/people (just like "Canada-jin" means Canadian person)
Ninjin= carrot
So no more muffins in the office for me. The thing is, I couldn't bring myself to wake up this morning and for that reason, I couldn't have breakfast. So I took it with me. Time to get into the habit of waking up earlier. That was something that lasted about one month when I first came here. I was arriving at work around 8 a.m. and everyone said "Wow, you're early! So early!" And now it seems I just barely wake up by 8 a.m. My, how things have changed. How can we change back? It's essential that I get back into the habit. Also, I really want to go skating this year, at least once. But that's beside the point, isn't it? Now my stretch receptors are transmitting and I have to respond to that signal. Yes, that is the one fun thing I learned in Biology class that I will probably never forget. Here's a hint to the meaning: It's something everyone does, some people more often than others. So now I will go and come back. I'm back.
Let's close today with just saying that I love Canada and I miss it a lot. But I'm pretty sure I'd also like Australia or New Zealand, somewhere in the UK, or even somewhere in the U.S. I have to say that there's something about those English-speaking and English-related-type countries that just offers a sort of freedom- free thinking, freedom to express oneself freely without set phrases and strict formal/informal rules and particular words you have to use to your seniors. Yes, I like Japan. But sometimes I long for a land with less restrictions. And no, I'm not just saying that because of the muffin incident. That would be silly! Plenty of offices around the world might object to my muffin-munching, too. That was nothing more than just a trigger to make me think about all the other things. Still, I repeat that I do like Japan. It's clean. It's safe. I have a job here. The rent doesn't get jacked to the extreme every year. People go nuts for a 5 per cent discount at a grocery store. It's a different mind-set, a different way of thinking over here. That is a sure thing! Not good, not bad. Just different. Sometimes I think about the reason. Is it because this is a giant island that is somewhat isolated from the rest of the world? Is it because the world that they've embraced from the outside is Disney and anything cute? Is this a rant? I don't know what this is.
I will end on this very positive note: it's great to have work. It's great to have income, to have freedom to eat out once in a while. It's great to have a roof over our heads. It's great that I get to go home after 5:15. It's great to wake up to fresh, clean air every day. Let's be aware of what we have while we have it. Let's appreciate it and cherish it, and maybe even make it grow or flourish or expand or spread or multiply or become more fruitful. All those buzz words! You know what it is. Right? Do you know what it is? Okay, good. You know. So until next time...ciao!
On a lighter note, I was just informed by my supervisor that it's not appropriate to eat something like a pumpkin muffin in the office during work hours. Drinking tea is fine and eating little snacks is no problem, but something like a full-sized "breakfast" or whatever is a definite "no!" (with a slap on the wrist...if I were a baby). In a lot of ways, I think maybe I am still a child, especially when it comes to living here. In a foreign country, not aware of all the rules, trying to utter just one simple phrase. Yup, I'm a Nihon-Nihongo baby, although I'm not Nihon-jin. I'm also not nin-jin. That's a joke you'd only understand if you knew basic Japanese. But if I tell you straight out what it means, all the funny drains out and it just becomes a vocabulary lesson. However, considering that you might want to know, I will tell you anyway. In short, it's like this:
Nihon= Japan
Nihon-go= Japanese language (just like "Ei-go" means English language)
Nihon-jin= Japanese person/people (just like "Canada-jin" means Canadian person)
Ninjin= carrot
So no more muffins in the office for me. The thing is, I couldn't bring myself to wake up this morning and for that reason, I couldn't have breakfast. So I took it with me. Time to get into the habit of waking up earlier. That was something that lasted about one month when I first came here. I was arriving at work around 8 a.m. and everyone said "Wow, you're early! So early!" And now it seems I just barely wake up by 8 a.m. My, how things have changed. How can we change back? It's essential that I get back into the habit. Also, I really want to go skating this year, at least once. But that's beside the point, isn't it? Now my stretch receptors are transmitting and I have to respond to that signal. Yes, that is the one fun thing I learned in Biology class that I will probably never forget. Here's a hint to the meaning: It's something everyone does, some people more often than others. So now I will go and come back. I'm back.
Let's close today with just saying that I love Canada and I miss it a lot. But I'm pretty sure I'd also like Australia or New Zealand, somewhere in the UK, or even somewhere in the U.S. I have to say that there's something about those English-speaking and English-related-type countries that just offers a sort of freedom- free thinking, freedom to express oneself freely without set phrases and strict formal/informal rules and particular words you have to use to your seniors. Yes, I like Japan. But sometimes I long for a land with less restrictions. And no, I'm not just saying that because of the muffin incident. That would be silly! Plenty of offices around the world might object to my muffin-munching, too. That was nothing more than just a trigger to make me think about all the other things. Still, I repeat that I do like Japan. It's clean. It's safe. I have a job here. The rent doesn't get jacked to the extreme every year. People go nuts for a 5 per cent discount at a grocery store. It's a different mind-set, a different way of thinking over here. That is a sure thing! Not good, not bad. Just different. Sometimes I think about the reason. Is it because this is a giant island that is somewhat isolated from the rest of the world? Is it because the world that they've embraced from the outside is Disney and anything cute? Is this a rant? I don't know what this is.
I will end on this very positive note: it's great to have work. It's great to have income, to have freedom to eat out once in a while. It's great to have a roof over our heads. It's great that I get to go home after 5:15. It's great to wake up to fresh, clean air every day. Let's be aware of what we have while we have it. Let's appreciate it and cherish it, and maybe even make it grow or flourish or expand or spread or multiply or become more fruitful. All those buzz words! You know what it is. Right? Do you know what it is? Okay, good. You know. So until next time...ciao!
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