In the near future.....

Wow...time flies... sort of. Well, so I have officially signed that piece of paper. Another year of Japan, here I come! =) May it be a wise decision and hopefully it will be a fruitful year. I am really thankful that I have the opportunities that I have in school. 真是可遇不可求哦。。 Well, I am sorta busy at school preparing for activities....lessons....but yea, I guess it might be better being busy than pretending to be busy eh? Hmmm, but I still wonder how I could do better. It seems like I'm not interacting with the kids as much as I could. There are ideas in my head, but I don't seem to be doing them. Hmmmmmmmmmmm.... Hehe, well, from now on, I'm going to walk around and perhaps talk to the kids more right after lunch. Ohoh, and after school too! haha. =) It's fun to talk to the kids. Hmmm, gotta think of more topic starters..XD It was very cute. I was in the library a few days ago, and I happened to talked to a few 1 nenseis. One of them, who's in 1-8, asked me if I would be in his class next. When I saw no, he seemed a bit disappointed.. Awwwww... I was actually a bit surprised since I usually don't do much in that class. I'm usually the human tape recorder. Hehe, interesting. Hmm, still need to try talking to them during lunch time. It's easier in some classes/some students than others. Ganbette! =)

Kk, back to the title "in the near future"... haha! Since I have short memory, I better document briefly what I will be doing or what I have done here...haha!

so here's my "near future" plan:

1. Study Japanese!! and I mean it now. I really do. Hmmm.....yea...extra expense. Is this the best way? Well, let's try for a month. We'll see what happens. Haha, first lesson - 7:30am on Sunday...yes, sounds kinda crazy. My tutor is too nice. =)

2. Although I have little Japanese ability, I am in the translation team for the Sendai Folklore museum! Yay~ =) Hmmm, now I actually wonder how I could translate.. Ohoh, and it's translating from Japanese to Chinese. Haha, perhaps it can push me to type Chinese better? haha..who knows. =) It seems like an interesting activity nonetheless!

3. Suzume dance during Aoba matsuri! =) Hmmm..getting there getting there. Interestingly, participating in a festival was one of my wanna-dos in Japan....and here's the opportunity! =) It's interesting how things come together...somehow..ha! Hmmm, still thinking if I should buy the outfit..... Those people are nice tho! Adele and I went to their new year party earlier. It was fun! =) We had okonomiyaki. It was nice to talk to them. There were sooo many kids. I think some of them are not as scared of me now. haha! After okonomiyaki, we bumped into some of the members. I decided to sing k w/ them. It was fun!! Some of them were like dancing and stuff. It was nice. Haa!

4. Some sort of food/beverage coordinating for some sort of Art show. Well, I don't really know what/how I'll be doing it...should be an interesting experience!

5. Hehe, friends are coming!! yay~~ Paul in Feb (Hmmm...still don't know what we'll be doing yet..), Jo in March, perhaps Ant in May. Well, I'm going back to tw and hk during spring holiday too. Errrrrr, I wanna buy stuff from tw!!!! I want my perm back.... Hmmmm...perhaps Kyoto & Osaka in Aug? Hmmmm...do I have enough money to do all these??? Hmmmmm......that's a question.


I was talking to a friend about the to stay or not to stay matter earlier. I guess I'm trying to accept what life would bring. I know it sounds like an "excuse" to say "that's life", but sometimes it's true. To a certain extent, distance would change what things would be like. However, we just need to accept the change and adapt to it. Well, I guess so. What's meant to stay would stay and what's "meant to" leave will leave. We are save in Your arms. You will give/not give what's best for us. We/I can only believe. (still wanna say it one more time...."ohhhhhhhhh....... that's tooooooo baaaaaaaaaaad.... =( ) Yeah, I'll just do what I can/should, and I'll leave the rest to You. Thanks for Your presence! =) you, you, you are in my heart and prayers. Yes you are. Hang on tight!!!!! Remember!!!!! Cheers~ =)

Where do we find joy & peace?

It is good that I seem to be back to my Japan mode. Coming to Japan this time seems easier I guess because I now have my Japan life....I know some ppl now...things are more noraml in Japan. Yeah, somehow I'm learning (I think I'm getting a bit better...) at relying on God. He holds the future, and He holds our hands. Why fear? Why frustrated? I was talking to a friend lately. I think I understood his struggle...a bit. =) You are always in my prayers...really. You guys are like my family. Yeah, it is not easy to adapt to change sometimes....especially when it's a change that we ourselves don't want to go through. It is true. It is sad to become distant to a once close friend/buddy. You used to hang out...you used to know what's going on with the other person/ppl. However, because of certain circumstances, that kind of relationship has passed. It is sad....也很無奈, but there's nothing one can do. Doing something would only make it feel like trying too hard...that's even more awkward, or even annoying. Well, I believe God has overcome the world. I guess why not find joy and peace from a source that will never change? =) Hehe, something on my things to learn & improve. This is perhaps a part of growth, and the process of growing up often causes frustration. Because of different circumstances, the relationships of ppl may change and they will go to new levels. Although they might not be levels that we desire, I believe if we fully trust that God will lead, we will find comfort in that new level of relationship. It is hard. It takes time....definitely. Haha, somehow it's sort of like an awakening almost. (hmm, not sure if i'm using it correctly here..haha!)

Yeah, where do we find joy & peace? I was talking to one of the Christian JETs yesterday in our mid-year conference. I really like talking to him because somehow I feel that there's a lot in him. He is teaching in a ghetto school in Sendai. I asked if dealing with the kids would be frustrating and stuff. He said something like he doesn't like dealing with them, but well, it's like our Christian walk. Where do we find joy & peace? It is regardless of our circumstances because we know where/who the one true, unchanging one is! YES! that is very inspiring. =) Man, I wish we could have some sort of bible study. It would be good. I miss sharing with brothers and sisters. Well, let the adventure continue! =) I shall become blessings to others and continue to focus on what's true and never changing!

You will lead the future. You will never give us challenges too difficult for us to bear. Because of what you are giving us, we are who we are. You bless us with what you give or not give us.

ohoh, really liked the verse that sis shared with me.

Joshua 1:9
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Suddenly thought of this song. "How can I keep from singing Your praise~~" Thank you Lord for everything. You are amazing! =)



The storm may come, but I'm holded on..........I will walk with you..knowing you'll see me through

JOY! =)

Proton wanna be...

I want to be a proton. It's postively charged. Well, being neutral is fine too. Yeah...gonna fix my eyes on Jesus...all the time because that's where the power's coming from eh? May the force be with you...and me.
cheers~

YVR....thank you for the love you have... =)

so I'm back to my home away from home. It is a sunny day here in Sendai. It was nice that I get home so early (at 6:00am) so that I still have the day to do what I have to do....(ugh...still don't know what to teach tomorrow............still need to unpack........do that little write up for the school year book...)

Yup. Time for a bit of reflection (Haaaa...I must have gotten all these "reflection" stuff from BED...ha) I was very happy that I went back home for Christmas. It was awesome to be able to spend time w/ family and friends again. I'll really miss all the time and moments spent in Van. Dear my lovely family, friends, sis, bros, thank you sooooo much for keeping me company....do things with me during the last 2 weeks. I'm so blessed to know all of you. Add oil arrrrrr alllll of youuuuu!!! God is doing great works in all your lives! May all be well! =) Whatever you all are going through in your lives now, remember God will never give us challenges too difficult for us to go through! In this world we will have troubles, but take heart! God has overcome the world. Hehe, it is so awesome to have God's promise. That's what I've been learning in the last months. No matter what the world will become, God will always here and He is for us. =) May all of us have JOY down in our hearts~ =) This is the day that the Lord has made, so regardless of the situation, we shall rejoice and be glad in it. =) Let's be strong and couragous! ファイト！！！ Errrrrrrrr!

Awww, sis, I miss you. Thanks for making all those cards for me. It is very heart-warming to read each and every card everyday. (Haaaa....especially the ones written by ppl.. =P hehe..) Although we didn't spend A LOT of time when I was in Van, thank you sooooooooo much to let me lean on u. Thank you for being their when I need it. Thank you for lending me your shoulder. =P I'm waiting for my nephew/niece to come. =) I have to get cute cute baby stuff from here maaaaaa~~ ahahaha! Hehe, and yeaa! I'm sooooo glad that I could celebrate your bday w/ u laaa!! Hope you had a great night! =) Hehe, it was awesome to hear u playing trombone again. Wow.....it has been a looooooooooong time........ You should play bumble beeeee next time~ =P wahahaha!



Yup, time to come back to reality. I can't thank enough all my dear family and friends back home. I miss you already. Whatever the future holds, I trust that You will always be by our sides. Thank you Lord. =) May You continue to mold me into your good..."pot"..instrument. Please give me the wisdom and strength to walk in your ways in my everyday life......to be what I am meant to be.

Ohoh, just an aside. Haaaa, I met a person on the plane. She lives in Kyushu. She was sitting beside me on the plane. She went to Edmonton to visit her son and his family. She lives at Fukuoka prefecture. She seemed like a nice lady. She said that if I ever go to Kyushu, I can stay at her place and she'll bring me to places!! =) Man.....I need to go back to my Japanese mode.....my Japanese sucks... =(

THANK YOU ARRRRRR!!!!! THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH! You are alllll sooooo special in my life. I'm blessed to have youuuu in my life. CHEERS!! =)

Happy birthday sis!!! =)

Happy birthday sis! You are about to experience another year of blessing! =) I am very happy to be able to celebrate ur bday w/ you...and with other ppl. I'm gonna miss u arrr!! Hope you enjoyed the party and the "cakes"~

Ohoh, and today was the debut for 山豬放火。Well, today we had a special guest for their band...so it has been renamed to 山豬放火一支花。LOL!! I really really enjoyed it. Great memory~~ Thanks guys... (well...although the performance is not for me..haa!) gonna missss youuuu guyssss arrrr!!!

Happy New Year~

So the new year has arrived. Hello 2011. Well, I guess when looking back to 2010, it was a year of change, happiness, challenges, and growth. Wow, it seems like a lot of stuff happened this year. hmmm...let's make a list! =)

1. while still "jobless" as to teaching jobs, I got transferred from being a coffee kiosk "worker" to a server in Sage. It was a challenge for me to be a server since I had NO previous serving experience....AND Sage is a somewhat "fine" dining. Thank God for giving me that opportunity laa since it's something new and I had the opportunity to earn more. =) God was good to me. My co-workers were very nice to me too. It was good.

2. Wooo, JET interview!! Got the notification letter for an interview in January. Yup, I was very very excited since going to Japan had always been my dream!! One step closer...one step closer..... Still remember the interview was in February. Thank you for all those who have supported me before and after the interview. I was blessed to have ppl like you guys in my life. I felt positive about the interview. Although I could have had better answers for certain questions, the atmosphere of the interview was generally positive. =) Haha, it was nice that I saw and sort of talked to one of my interviewers before the actual interview. I think he had a positive first impression of me. Yea, thank God for giving me all these experiences. Since the interviewers didn't have the final say as to who would get hired, but from the interview, I felt like even if I didn't get officially hired, I was "hired". Praise God.

3. Haha, it must be the notification letter! =) I was so nervous a few weeks before notification letters were sent out. I kept on checking the JET website like....everyday. Haaaa, well, checking everyday is an understatement..haha I checked...probably a few times a day? Man....the wait..... well waiting is always frustrating..haha Right after the notification letters were sent out, I GOT MY LETTER FROM THE MAIL!!! I was soooo nervous... I would usually pick up the mail from inside the house, but I actually checked the mail right after I got home. It was a somewhat thick envelope.....and YES! I GOT IN!!!!! I couldn't believe it when I saw the letter because going to Japan has always been my dream! Hehe, I was so excited that I txted/called important ppl in my life. =) Yeah, I had been excited...and felt somewhat dream-like for the next little while. However, after the excitement, I was actually a bit...nervous. It's a bit nerveracking knowing I'll leave everything behind to go to a foreign place by myself.....well, I guess that's part of the challenge.

4. A time of self-evaluation, self-reflection...Learning the hard way. I am sincerely sorry for all the trouble I have caused. It still hurts sometimes when I think of it. I guess God gave me this opportunity to rely on Him more.....to know more about myself.....to know more about others. I am happy to see how things are well now. God is a healing God. I sincerely wish a joyful future. I am grateful to see joy and harmony. Well, I believe God allows different things to happen for a special purpose. Praise God.

5. Woooo....time to go to Japan! =) I would say I wasn't that excited anymore around 2 weeks before I had to jet. I guess I was a bit too attached to my environment...the things I seemed to have in Van. Going to Japan actually caused a bit of anxiety. I guess I didn't know what to expect.....well...I sort of know....but not knowing how the future would look like kind of scares me. I was a bit scared that everything here is going to be lost....Well, that's just life I guess. I'll just have to adapt to the new environment....situation...

6. Arrived in Japan...First month was somewhat dream-like. I actually wasn't super excited like what others said... I was just somewhat busy getting stuff for my appartment....trying to figure how I wanted to live my life there. Now thinking back, I guess I was homesick for the 2nd month and sometimes the 3rd month. I guess I wasn't used to all the changes that have occured to me. WEll, learning often causes frustration and discomfort. I still remember the days when I would just sit and cry....for no particular reason. Well, I guess that's part of growth. Human often learn in the hard way. Well, I guess I usually learn in the hard way. However, I'm glad that I'm getting used to my life in Japan. It was frustrating not having anyone close/familiar around me.

WEll, now I'm back to Canada for Christmas and new year. I am glad I'm back. =) The first day was "dream-like". This place seemed familiar yet foreign. Haha, that changed after the 2nd day. Haha, I almost felt like I've never left. I seemed to do what I used to do... Well, it is unfortunate that my presence brought trouble to some. Oh well, I'm trying to not think of my life here. I guess whatever should stay would stay...and things that are not meant to stay would leave... I guess that's part of life. I'll just have to adjust and deal w/ it. I am glad that I was able to go to service again....listening to sermon in a familiar language.....having praise and worship with my bro and sis in Christ. Thank you.

Thank God for His promise. You hold the future and You're holding my hands. You will bring something heavenly to me. I trust in You. Thank you Lord. You are all I need. In this new year, may I have strength and wisdom to do what You want me to do.

Home sweet home~

so I've been back to Van for 2 days now. It's quite nice that I don't have much of a jetlag. Thanks for keeping my busy for my first day back. =) Wow, dim sum is greasy..haha! On my first day back, I felt like I've left home for a looooong time, but that 5 months also felt fast... When I went back home, it actually felt a bit foreign....familiar yet foreign. One trivial thing that I found was that my washroom at home is sooo dirty... =P haha! well, I guess the shower room at my home in Sendai is tooooo white....so a "yellowish" w/ some stain seem...dirty..ha! =P I've also figured out how "big" my home in Vancouver actually is. When I was sitting on the couch in the living, I found out that my place in Japan is even smaller than the living! literally!! haaaa...

It's interesting to come back home. Things seem familiar but a bit foreign on the first day. Haaa, and now..the second day...somehow it felt like as if I've never left. It was nice to "practice" w/ Anthony, Eric, Jaeson, and Joseph tonight. It reminds me of the good old days. I really missed time spent w/ these good friends, good bros and sis. Well, at least I see you guys as my dear bros and sis. I guess part of my "homesickness" back then was the lack of any close friends. I felt like I couldn't find anyone to just chill. I really treasure every moment here with my dear family and friends. (well, but I guess one thing of living solo is that there's no curfew..haha! =P )
I am really grateful for God's presence. You raise me up so I could move the mountains. Well, not sure if I'm that strong yet. Lord, please help me to be like You. Lord, please mold me to be your...pot. Lord, please help me to be strong to face all the upcoming challenges wisely. Lord, thank you for giving me all these opportunities to experience You. Your words are even more touching now. Thank you. Thank you for giving me all I have and not giving me things that I don't have. All things happen for the good. I believe You will show me the path You want me to take.

Man....from my posts...you can really see how "all over the places" my brain is. Haaa, no wonder I'm not good at writing...Wait...I'm teaching English tho..haha! Yay! excited for tomorrow....excited for my everyday life! =) Take care my friends! みんな、一緒にがんばろう！ファイト！！ =)