Category Archives: life

my Kanji flashcards

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I just love it everytime the intercom buzzes and when I pick it up, the voice on the other line would say a cheery “takyoubin desu!” or “youbin desu!”. This means “package delivery!”, by the way, or something similar to that.

Got my beginner Kanji flashcards. Ordered online by hubby from Whiterabbitpress. Recommended by Apple, a friend I had through W@W; Apple will hopefully be taking her JLPT level N1 this December. Isn’t she just amazing?! I wonder when can I take the JLPT level 5 or 4 haha. Anyways, for now, I-am-so-excited for these!

Of course I opened my pink case first. ~sheepish grin~

And the lessons continue. 😀

 

An afternoon with Okasan

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After my medical check yesterday (that one in itself is blog worthy if only I was able to take photos of the hospital), I met up with Okasan who was here in the Kanto area for some business. As Hubby has to be in the office till 6, Okasan and I were left to our own devices for 3 hours or so. Even though I only know for now very few Japanese and Okasan as well is learning English, still, we had a great afternoon.

After coffee break with the spectacular view of Minato Mirai splayed before us and after shopping (thank you Okasan!), we headed to Cosmo World to ride the Kanransha (big clock ferris wheel). It takes 15 min for the big wheel to make its complete round hence we were looking forward to some relaxing sightseeing. Along the way however, we stopped by one of the puri kuras or picture booth. Fun! The type we got though is not the sticker type. Hence, i’m using my half of the photo print as bookmark on my Nihongo Breakthrough book. 😀

My 100-yen coin purse gave up on me two days after I bought it, 2 months ago. So yes, not all 100 yen stuff are durable.

I never really got around to replacing it though, busy as I was (before). And anyways, it was still functional. It was just as good though as Okasan’s omiyage from Yamanashi was just right for me. I loved the Yamanashi Inden-ya coin purse Okasan gave. Loved tha lacquer-embossed flower.

It also has two pockets to put folded bills on one and another where I can put my alien card and train pass. Perfect to bring for short errands out of the house. Just what I was looking for.

Now i’m so glad I procrastinated on buying another poin curse. 🙂

Thanks Okasan! And mata ne. 🙂

the ugly duckling

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Bought my first Japanese book last weekend – Walt Disney’s The Ugly Duckling. It was the only kiddy book whose story I know about that was on sale in Kinukuniya bookstore in Kannai hence I picked it up. Minikui Ahiru no Ko in Japanese.

Tried to start reading it while we lounged in Yamashita Park.

 

Quite a view, eh? But I almost didn’t notice it as I worked my way through the first sentence. Took me more than 30 minutes to work throught the first sentence.

All it said was that, “In the roots of a big tree lush with green leaves on a green coutryside, there was a duck’s nest.”

Aja! Oopps, Korean pala yan.

packages, packages!

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I just love opening gifts, packages, mails. There’s just something novel about the moment you received one and the moment you open one. Ahhh! And one boon with staying at the house is I can receive the packages myself. I hope the delivery guys doesn’t think I have such a weird smile as I sign the receipt forms. 😀

Received Ate Weng’s package from Singapore a couple hours ago. Yey!! Looking forward to when Hubby gets home this evening so we can open it together. 😀 Thank you for the wedding gift Ate Weng!

Argh, too bad I wasn’t able to take a picture of the package I received from Apple, a w@wie sis who sent me her copies of her Japanese lessons. So nice and thoughtful :). One of the reasons why I really am very thankful I joined the group. 🙂

——–

10 hours after. I really love how our family and friends who gave us gifts really did grant our wish. They gave us cash gifts. Helped a lot indeed in lessening our baggage when we flew back to Yokohama. No plates and pots and whatnots to carry back home. Plus it helped with our charitable cause. But I loved even more how some went out of their way to keep to our theme as well. Will blog about them later. But for now, Thank you Ate Weng, for keeping to our colors! 😀 Happiness.

took this picture using my phone cam so colors didn't come off as it really is. The colors ate weng chose were perfect for our motif

 

on towel holders, formalities and melons

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On paper towel holders. Scoured the whole of Gumyoji, Bandobashi and Kannai for 100 yen shops but I still haven’t found the paper towel wooden holder I had in mind. Similar to this one, yes.

I bought one during my Japan stint last 2007 in a 100-yen shop but I just couldn’t find a wooden one now (they have the metal and plastic ones). I can buy in upscale malls but somehow I can’t accept that I am buying something that costs more when I can buy the same kind in a 100-yen shop (not all 100yen goodies are of good quality though). The one above sells at £3.49. So, the search continues…

On formalities. Now, whenever an acquaintance, say an office acquaintance you have only just met recently would ask you “how are you?” I think one would instantly reply, “i’m good” or “i’m ok” without really thinking about your current emotional or physical state. For some, the how-are-you question is more like the small talk that’s prelude to more small talk. You don’t really think about what you answer. Anyways, when you’re asked the how-are-you question, etiquette would make you ask the same question back. And if ever you encounter a person who deeply thinks about his/her answer to your how-are-you question and who may answer more than “i’m good” or “i’m ok”, do listen closely. True people like them are hard to find.

On latest craze. It’s the melon season. You can buy a perfectly-ripened-can-eat-immediately whole melon at 200yen. I was afraid to buy at first because I don’t know how to judge if it’s ripe already or not. I took the plunge. And it was worth it. Perfect for our 1st month celeb.

3 idiots

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Hubby and I were the early comers in Ric’s farewell party at Ryan’s pad last night. To wait for the others, Ryan made us watch the Indian movie “3 Idiots”. Once we got started, we almost didn’t notice people coming in anymore, hooked as we are with the movie. Halfway through the movie though, we had to stop as we already need to have our dinner.

It turned out that we just stopped right at the right moment. Hubby and I resumed watching it at home this evening. But less than 2 minutes into the movie and my eyes were already brimming with tears.

While watching it, I told hubby, “how I hate this movie”. Hate in such a way that you’d hate a movie that had made you cry in buckets, laugh your heart out loud and made you reflective what with numberous insights one can get from the movie. Ergo, translation for the “hate” is that I LOVE this movie to pieces.

The shoot location is SOOoo beautiful as well! Certainly a candidate for our honeymoon options. wink wink.

The whole day though, the song “Ahll izzz welll!!” was our LSS. Either hubby or me would shout “Ahll izzz welll!!” and then the other would immitate the sound of a whistle. haha. Quite a team, yes.

The movie made me hope though that there’d also be a Filipino movie soon that is as masterfully crafted, if not better. Well, sans the singing and dancing, if possible.

I wanted to embed the trailer here in our blog but the official trailers with the subtitles are not for embedding. Do watch the trailer here though.

Ja, “Pursue excellence, and success will follow you”.