Archive for February, 2010

Sometimes people say that having more choices in life is good, like when you want to choose which college to go to, the delicious food that you may order in a restaurant, truck accessories that you want to buy, etc. But choices can be a cause of problem or headache. Times when you just don’t know what to do or choose to do.

There are days when I feel like wanting to get a full time 9-5 job. While other days I feel like continuing tutoring and have flexible teaching hours. Both have their pros and cons. So which one should I really concentrate on? Looking for a job of finding more students?

I suppose I have to use the old method that I used to do when I’m in such circumstance. Write down on paper the pros and cons of both. From there I see which one is the best choice to make.

I went to visit the language school last evening. According to them I am the second foreigner who found the school. First one was a girl from Azerbaijan. They asked me how did I came about finding them. So I told them that I googled and found a link to their web address through a blog.  Therefore, there are 2 of us that are looking forward to Japanese lessons in English. Maybe I should suggest to them to get the best seo software so that their website can be found easily or I should help them find students and ask them whether they would implement reward program - like discount for every student we find for them.

They suggested to me to either go on Saturday to see how the class is (which is by the way already near half through the syllabus), or I go there this evening - the Azerbaijan girl would be there. I said I’d go there this evening. I’m curious about the girl.

So I’ve finally decided to try enrolling myself in a Japanese class.  I am going to visit the school this evening, meet up with a teacher and maybe have to sit for a test to see what my level is. I have to admit that I am nervous. Not only because I haven’t been sitting for exams, for what seems like, decades, I am also not confident enough whether I can remember all that I’ve learnt. Now that is a little drawback about self-studying. I don’t really have a routine and I study when I feel like and I don’t utilise what I’ve learnt afterwards. Hence my decision to look for a language school. I need routine, I need other students to practice with. What ever it is,I really do not want to start back in the beginners’ class.

To go to the school I’d need to do some 15-20 minutes of walking and about 30-45 minutes of bus ride. Well, roughly an hour. That is the nearest school that I’ve found so far.  To tell the truth, I have never done so much of walking  or going on public transportation back in M’sia. I walk more here. So no wonder I can keep my weight low better. Just like taking thermogenic fat burner supplements. But I don’t mind at all.

Above all, I really hope everything will go well today. Not like the first time I went to check the school last Monday.

There was a time as a teenager I would collect inspirational articles I found in the newspaper and magazines. One particular magazine that I loved to read due to the wonderful articles was ‘Reader’s digests’. There were many stories by real people about their love, sacrifices, overcoming of hardships that would make my tears just well up everytime I read the articles.

Now, again thanks to the internet, I read and collect articles online.  Here’s one of my favourites that I found on the reader’s digest website.

“Forget Me Not -Suffering from extreme amnesia, he remembers nothing — except the woman he loves.”

It’ is a story of Clive and Deborah Wearing. Clive was a renowned composer and music conductor, while Deborah was a choir singer when they first met. They were just like any other loving couple, who wanted to start a family of their own, until a tragedy struck them. Clive was infected by the herpes simplex virus, cause of the cold sore. The virus was never detected - lay benign for years - until he lost all his memories.

Reading about the Deborah’s patience & sacrifices, Clives pain of not being able to remember anything longer than seven seconds and yet never fail to tell how much he loved her , is sobering. I realize how lucky I am, I realize how life can just turn upside down in just a few moments. Make the best out of what we have is what I’ve learnt. Things may not be going right at times, but at least I have hope to make it better, and I still have those whom I love dearly with me.

Spring will officially start on the 20th of March people say. Which means we have a little more than a month left to go. I do not know

why I have this feeling as if we are having a long winter. Maybe because of the frequent snow fall compared to other years? Perhaps. I’m just missing the sun a little bit.

When I think about it… Just wonder how those people live in Alaska or somewhere where the winters are longer. Well, at least they don’t have to worry about finding the right age spot remover when they’re old.

Huh, look at me, expressing my longing for warmer days. When people from warmer climated countries would be longing for colder days. I guess people will never be satisfied with what they have. 

I just watched one of Ghibli studio’s anime - Only Yesterday. It’s about a Japanese lady reminiscing her childhood days and moving on to the next level of her life in the present. In the anime movie, there are scenese when she and her friend as children had to attend radio exercise sessions in her summer holidays.

This radio exercise accompanied by special music is what the Japanese call, “Radio taiso”. The Japanese been doing it since world war II and practiced by every one - school kids and even office workers. This morning exercise has become part of Japanese culture and perhaps it wouldn’t be too much to say that everyone in Japan would know the exercise ritual by heart. It is said the purpose of this exercise is not only to promote good and healthy lifestyle but also to create unity among classmates and co-workers.

We love Japan because they produce cool animes, good Japanese dramas, horrifying ghost movies, amazing gadgets, and much more. Perhaps we should even try to bring this Japanese tradition into our schools and workplaces. Hey, it may even help get rid of belly fat faster.

Gosh, it has been some time since I last updated this blog. I was busy. That’s all the excuse I can give.  Would be nice to say, “Hey, I just came back from one of those nice long Outer Banks vacations!”. But unfortunately I can’t. I was busy with other things in my life.

However, I am glad to say that I have found a few job opportunities that require English speaking people. That is a good start. I have applied 4 jobs today. Will be checking the website for more jobs at least once a week from now on.

I really need to get my life together back - get a job, go for language classes, make new friends, be happy with myself.

According to the famous groundhog, punxsutawney phil, there will be about 6 more weeks of cold weather because he saw his shadow.

I don’t know whether it would also apply to Europe, but according to  local  weather forecasters, cold weather will be with us for at least 2-3 weeks more. Anyhow, doesn’t Punxsutawney look cute?? Interesting name, maybe I’d give our next hamster a name like that.

To be frank, I am really looking forward to spring and then summer. Thinking about doing a thorough spring cleaning - beat the carpets in the open air, wash and change the curtains, dismantle and clean the sconce lightings, air the mattresses, etc.

I like snow but I think I had about enough of it for now. Can’t wait for summer as well, for our bbq parties.

When I was just staring at the calendar on the wall in front of me, I realized that it was around this time three years ago that we were getting ready for a nearly 6 thousand miles journey.  Our big move. We were busy packing, busy calling up moving companies to obtain moving quotes, busy calling up insurance companies for health and term insurance rates that I may need to get, meeting up friends and family members for the last time before we leave, etc. It was tough, emotionally, physically, and financially. But we are a little wiser from the experience.

Again, this year, we may have to do the same thing. Another big move and hopefully the last one to a place we can really call “home”.

My job search is progressing rather slow at the moment. Looking at the requirements that most jobs here need, make me wonder whether it is a good idea to continue looking or just consider self-employing myself. Self-employing myself means that I just continue to tutor.

When I look at most of my friends who are working for years now and having a career, I must admit, I do feel a little jealous. Though I am sure that some of them are envious of me for being able to be a stay at home mother. In my case, it is not that I am ungrateful that I am able to stay home with my daughter for nearly 5 years. But our financial situation doesn’t allow me to be comfortable and feel secure.

I suppose what I should do now is just tutor and at the same time not to give up on my job search.