Tokyo Skyline
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Three Months Later...
Time is going so fast specially this last month. Christmas and New Year have already passed.
School resumed on January sixth and seems like it was just yesterday. We only have six more weeks of school before the school year is over. Yes they start their academic year in the beginning of April, summer vacations from the middle of July and start back in the beginning of September. Only six weeks more with so many activities. The students are excited about spring break and to be honest so are the teachers. These past weeks, we have seen an amazing change in some students. We have been praying and working along with some of the parents to have a more productive time at school. It's such a great satisfaction to see their faces when they have accomplished so much and tried their best. We have also had some very stressful moments with some other students, but God has been helping and given us wisdom to work things out.
I also started with my private ESL lessons on Saturdays. I have five teenage students. It's been fun! I really enjoy private lessons. Last Saturday was our third Saturday and I have finally learned their names. We play games and sometimes I think I have as much fun as they do.
New friends you may ask...Yes actually I have a very interesting-funny story to tell...
I met this old lady at the sports club last week. Since I'm the foreigner, everybody stares at me every time they see me. She didn't know a lot of English and my Japanese is still very poor. Somehow we had a short conversation where she asked me my name, age, occupation, nationality, etc. Little did I know, the following day she was going to tell her friends about me. So there I was the next day, being asked lot more questions. That day I met a seventy eight year old lady. She spoke more English and we could talk more. At the end of that evening, she had told me she was a widow, had had no children, and had travel all around the world. On our way home, she invited me to stop by her house and showed me many souvenirs she had bought during her trips. After that she walked me over to my house. I was surprised of how things worked out. She is my friend now, every time she sees me she comes over and we talked. She wants me to come over and visit her. When she walked me home, she saw that I lived in the church building and asked if I was a Christian. I am planning on inviting her to join us sometime, but I'm waiting for the right moment. I didn't know Japanese non-christian people could be so friendly and quick to make friends. Its not the first time a complete stranger approaches me and stars talking and asking question. I don' t know if its the fact that I smile a lot (for Japanese it's not common) or just that I'm not Japanese, but seems like I have a sing written on my face saying, "I want to be your friend!". I think its a nice spin to the daily routine.
"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly..." Prov. 18:24
School resumed on January sixth and seems like it was just yesterday. We only have six more weeks of school before the school year is over. Yes they start their academic year in the beginning of April, summer vacations from the middle of July and start back in the beginning of September. Only six weeks more with so many activities. The students are excited about spring break and to be honest so are the teachers. These past weeks, we have seen an amazing change in some students. We have been praying and working along with some of the parents to have a more productive time at school. It's such a great satisfaction to see their faces when they have accomplished so much and tried their best. We have also had some very stressful moments with some other students, but God has been helping and given us wisdom to work things out.
I also started with my private ESL lessons on Saturdays. I have five teenage students. It's been fun! I really enjoy private lessons. Last Saturday was our third Saturday and I have finally learned their names. We play games and sometimes I think I have as much fun as they do.
New friends you may ask...Yes actually I have a very interesting-funny story to tell...
I met this old lady at the sports club last week. Since I'm the foreigner, everybody stares at me every time they see me. She didn't know a lot of English and my Japanese is still very poor. Somehow we had a short conversation where she asked me my name, age, occupation, nationality, etc. Little did I know, the following day she was going to tell her friends about me. So there I was the next day, being asked lot more questions. That day I met a seventy eight year old lady. She spoke more English and we could talk more. At the end of that evening, she had told me she was a widow, had had no children, and had travel all around the world. On our way home, she invited me to stop by her house and showed me many souvenirs she had bought during her trips. After that she walked me over to my house. I was surprised of how things worked out. She is my friend now, every time she sees me she comes over and we talked. She wants me to come over and visit her. When she walked me home, she saw that I lived in the church building and asked if I was a Christian. I am planning on inviting her to join us sometime, but I'm waiting for the right moment. I didn't know Japanese non-christian people could be so friendly and quick to make friends. Its not the first time a complete stranger approaches me and stars talking and asking question. I don' t know if its the fact that I smile a lot (for Japanese it's not common) or just that I'm not Japanese, but seems like I have a sing written on my face saying, "I want to be your friend!". I think its a nice spin to the daily routine.
"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly..." Prov. 18:24
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
One of those days...
How many things can one hide behind a smile? How long can you hide it? Is it bring a hypocrite if you do? Is pretending and being with the right attitude and the right expressions better then showing how you're really feeling?
Today was one of those days when you pretend everything is fine,but inside you just want to scream and cry! One of those days when you only need a friend to talk, but not only any friend. A true best friend who knows, understands and loves you just as you are. I just needed a big hug from a special loved one. I'm sure that if I had gotten one, I wouldn't had let go. It was not because of something specific that happen here, but I'm still not completely done adjusting. Sometimes it's frustrating and who better then God to pour out my frustrations and ask Him to help me? He is always there and I'm so thankful He's ready to make me feel better even before I ask him. Then I read this:
Today was one of those days when you pretend everything is fine,but inside you just want to scream and cry! One of those days when you only need a friend to talk, but not only any friend. A true best friend who knows, understands and loves you just as you are. I just needed a big hug from a special loved one. I'm sure that if I had gotten one, I wouldn't had let go. It was not because of something specific that happen here, but I'm still not completely done adjusting. Sometimes it's frustrating and who better then God to pour out my frustrations and ask Him to help me? He is always there and I'm so thankful He's ready to make me feel better even before I ask him. Then I read this:
"Not so in haste , my heart!
Have faith in God, and wait;
Although He seems to linger long
He never comes too late." Torrei
Thank you Father for being so close and always there!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Remembering 2010...Jan-July
Year 2010!!! Wow so may things happened this past year, it will take more then a blog to write them all. What a year it was! It was not only a year of many first-time experiences, old friendships put to test, but also made some new special friendships, and made life-changing decisions. It was a year of great love and a year to saygood-bye. A year to move on and adapt to another culture. God has been with me through it all, and He's the only reason why I can say 2010 was a blessed year after all. 2010 will not be just be another year that ended, but a memorable one.
Now 2011 is here. I'm excited to see what it'll bring with it.
New year, new life, new opportunities, second chances...New adventures, challenged, dreams, ideas, plans, places to see, loves...new friends...
A year of new risks, problems to solve, and promises...
Here are some memories of this great year!January
TESOL Oxford Certificate
with one of my Best Friends!
First Snow-day...Sledding
Snow days going out to eat with some old and new friends!
February
Cheesecake Factory!!!
Awesome 25th birthday!
For several reasons, it will be a memorable one....;)
First time Skiing!!!! So fun and scary lol
March
Spent a weekend at the Muir's house...amazing food, great time, awesome family!
Food,Parties, Friends...Great times!!
Steak at the Makcen's...:D
 |
So many meals, movies, laughter, games....Love you guys...Thanks for letting your home be also mine sometimes...:)Tradition: Mom's Visit = Quesadilla Party!
Always hanging out with the best sister and coolest friends!
April
GBS Lock-in
ISWM Retreat to Tennessee
Great times of spiritual refreshment, good food, and fun time with friends
May
Graduation!!!
June
Red's Games
Karlita's Surprise Dinner
The Good-bye Pictures
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)