Category Archives: events

Oh, The Places You’ll Go! 小学校6年

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As we walked under the fully bloomed sakura trees earlier today, I asked you how it felt to now be on 6th grade. You said it’s almost unbelievable you’re the seniors now as it was just yesterday that you were in 1st grade. Indeed, indeed. And for me, it seemed just like yesterday that I held a cheerful baby in my arms.

For the spring break, literally, we Oohhhed and ahhhed at the places we went to in Europe. But that’ll be for another blog.

For now, I am wishing you well as you start an exciting year for you.

Just this evening I read your previous homeroom teacher’s assessments of you (we didn’t have time last March as we had to fly early the day following your last day at school) and read about her compliments on how you take on leadership roles at school.

You have it in you, baby. I can see that. And I hope you’ll continue to nurture that ability and learn more, so you could lead with wisdom.

She still has that baby dimples on her hands🥰

Life with a grade schooler: Confessions!

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A couple months ago, Yui told me she has a crush on one of her teachers in her after school school.

Last week, she told me she confessed and expressed her feelings to the guy, 12 years her senior and twice as tall. I wanted to ask details about how she said it, what was the setting, (and most importantly) what he said. She just wouldn’t share she eventually got angry because I kept on badgering her.

And then this evening, she suddenly blurted out, without preamble: he told me to say again what I said ten years after (in Japanese).

I was at first confused on what she meant. Then it dawned on me. Ahhhhh!!! I’m happy for my baby though.

My baby. Now a lady with crushes.

Oh Come All Ye Faithful

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For the last seven years, I have been participating in the annual joint celebration between my church and a neighbor Anglican Church. We call it the Nine Lessons and Carols, patterned after Kings College’s. This tradition in Yokohama has been going on since the 1970s. This year however, brought a challenge, as we couldn’t gather as usual. But our magnificent Choir director was undaunted.

She made guide piano recordings for each of the four voices, plus some solos, and emailed extensive instructions. The recordings started early September. We were supposed to record only roughly seven songs (including descant versions), but I didn’t imagine how difficult it would be, considering my late nights from work.

I was planning to record the last song (with descant, and yes, it’s Oh Come All Ye Faithful) during the long weekend in third week of November. However, after an out of town trip in which I sat beside the driver (hence I chatted ALL THE TIME), I lost my voice. Tried to record during the week that followed but I just couldn’t reach even the lowest soprano note.

On top of that, our choir director gave that Saturday as deadline. Tried again during that day but I just couldn’t. I asked for extension till Monday (goodluck with work overtime!) and choir director graciously allowed.

Come Monday, I almost gave up recording. But somehow, something inside me pushed me to “finish the race”. I still couldn’t sing the high descant part so I aborted that second recording. But I think the usual Soprano part, I did well.

Today, I received an email from our choir director asking me if she could use part of my recording as solo, to be used in our teaser recording. And I got the chills after hearing what she had put together.

I couldn’t believe how good it sounded. And to think I lost my voice. And to think I almost gave up. To think I almost said “no, I can’t with the last song”. I am glad I made the push.

A reminder for me to not give up.

It’s actually a perfect cap for me after my first client meeting, with my new Lead with whom I had to fight so he could recognise me. After the meeting, he told me I did an excellent job. I am glad I did not give up.