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| Belum pandai |
| 02.29.04 (5:59 pm) [edit] |
Nama saya Camster. Sedang saya belajar bahasa Indonesia di Japang, tetapi saya belum pandai. Bulan ini saya pergi ke Indonesia untuk perkerjaan. :P
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| Japan Times |
| 02.29.04 (5:50 pm) [edit] |
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I was in the Japan Times on Saturday. The Japan Times is the biggest selling English newspaper here in Japan. The article was bascially about me and my work to date, now and in the future. Thye article was about a third of a page. It was kind of wierd seeing my photo and life portrayed in a newspaper but I guess I've gotten more used to that kind of thing througth blogging. Hopefully the article will lead to some good for my organization and me personally. :D
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| Adventure |
| 02.28.04 (4:59 pm) [edit] |
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On Friday I called the Jakarta office just to say hi to the country rep whose job I will be taking over in a week or so. A local staff member answered the phone and I said hello, introduced myself and asked for the rep in Bahasa Indonesian. I was nervous and what I said wasn't very clear I think, but it was fun to try and do it. It reminded me of when I first started learning Japanese. How I struggled and was tortured by this horrible but amazingly deep, subtle and beautiful language. I hope I can stay in Indonesia a long time with the family coming over to live too. It would be great to learn more about another culture deeply and one of the best ways to do it to a subtle level is to learn the language. It is an adventure. :wink:
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| Missing her |
| 02.28.04 (6:46 am) [edit] |
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I miss my wife tonight. She has been away for over a month now and I wont be seeing her for another month. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. :(
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| Japanese |
| 02.28.04 (6:11 am) [edit] |
I am so tired and I just wrote a decent blog and then I pressed the wrong button and it all disappeared. Such is life. Its been a long time since I wrote in Japanese.
今日、& #20037;しぶ&# 12426;に日 6412;語で 360;くこ{ 92;にしӖ 3;。この ;ブログ を読ん& #12391;くれ&# 12390;る人 2398;中で 085;本語{ 64;分かӚ 7;人がい ;るかな 。いな& #12363;った&# 12425;日本 5486;で書 367;のはÐ 40;く無 7;味だよ ;ね。
これが& #35501;めた&# 12425;教え 2390;くだ 373;い。{ 62;願いӕ 5;ます。 ; :P
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| ASIO |
| 02.25.04 (11:48 pm) [edit] |
I have finally figured out who has been hitting my blog so many times. Its upto 850 now. Its ASIO. ASIO is the [url=http://www.asio.gov.au/]Australian Security Intelligence Organization[/url] . Maybe after listening in to telephone calls that led to my not getting in to DFAT they are still tracking me. Or may be its the Japanese equivalent. Japan doesn't really have an official equivalent although there is talk by some maniacs of setting such an org. up. I'm sure though there is some kind of unofficial secret organization somehwere hidden under the subways of Kasumigaseki and Nagatacho. They're watching me.
Paranoid you say. Never, just delusional. 8)
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| Bush to Lose? |
| 02.25.04 (5:39 pm) [edit] |
I was speaking to my friend JJ the other day on the phone about the next US election. We started talking about the fact that the tide against Bush for the upcoming Nov. election has really picked up in the last 6 months. What seemed like an impossiblity 6 months ago is really becoming a possibility.
I just read an [url=http://news.yahoo.com/news?tm...]article[/url] about tha fact that Rice, Bush and others in the administration are refusing to testify publically at federal commission investigating the Spet. 11 attacks. This is bound to fuel suspicion that they are hiding stuff. See the below quote.
"I can't understand why these elected officials, particularly the president and vice president, aren't willing to come before the American public and testify," said Kristen Breitweiser of New Jersey, whose husband, Ronald, died in the World Trade Center. "That raises a concern they're hiding something."
Rice has testified in private. But you can imagine how healing or oppositely, depending content, how maddening, a public testimony would be.
It is not only that they wont testify, they are actively hampering the work of the commission.
"In its statement, the commission urged Congress to pass legislation to extend the May 27 deadline to finish its work. Earlier this month, it asked for at least a two-month extension, citing delays because of disputes with the administration over access to documents and witnesses. " and "Former Republican Gov. Thomas H. Kean of New Jersey, the commission chairman, has said the panel will be forced to pare down inquiries into intelligence failures if Congress doesn't act soon to give it more time. "
What the fuck is this? With [url=http://www.cbsnews.com/storie...]Iraq still in a mess[/url] , [url=http://home.chatt.net/~cdp/bushwar/wmdlies.htm]no WMDs[/url] (and [url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/0...]here[/url] ), [url=http://www.misleader.org/dail...]Bush's overly cozy relationship with big business [/url] slowly being exposed, [url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPO...]tax cuts for the rich[/url] , cuts to the promised [url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2003...]"Leave no Child Behind" [/url] campaign(also [url=http://www.press-on.net/artic...]here[/url] ), and [url=http://www.realchange.org/bus...]more[/url] and [url=http://www.lifeisajoke.com/po...]more[/url] .
You know what I think could happen is that many people, especially young people and poor people, could come forward and vote for the first time in their lives. Many Americans don't vote, and I have a feeling that the majority who don't vote are the ones being screwed the most by the administration. Getting new voters against Bush is the key for saving the world, and I don't think that is an exaggeration. :shock:
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| harsh |
| 02.24.04 (8:34 pm) [edit] |
I think I was a bit hard on the UN yesterday. Most people who work there don't wear $2000 suits and do genuinely want to do good. Of course there are some who don't. On the other hand I have no need to apologize to CEOs making 500 times the income of their employees. They are villains.
I was thinking about my own position. I work for a non profit humanitarian organization. I live pretty simply but sometimes I get gifts from friends. I got a fendi scarf the other day from friend who went to Italy. I got a some Italian designer ties once too. People could live for 3 months on the value of just one of these things in some countries. What to do?
Probably my favorite quote from the bible is "Let he who is without sin throw the first stone". (I don't actually know many other quotes from the bible) It is good because it bascially says don't criticize others till you have got your own shit together. Well if one was to take that 100% no one would ever criticize anybody. You would have to be enlightened to be justified in your criticism and I don't think enlightened people tend to criticize that much anyway???
Of course if no-one ever spoke up in criticism against injustice there would be more injustice in the world. In fact we would all probably be dead by now as some crazy world leaders probably would have fought some horrific nuclear war and killed us all off if it weren't for speaking against maniacs.
So what does this all mean? Well I guess for me it means to examine myself first before criticizing others. Just check on where I am at on that issue. To realize that someone is fucked up for a reason. That basically everybody wants to be happy and that there are a million different ways of pusuing that goal. Of course some ways do lead to happiness but others just to more misery for oneself and many others unfortunately.
The best way to cut the bullshit from this world is to start with yourself and expand out endlessly. Waaaaaaaaaah :o
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| Who r u? |
| 02.24.04 (1:37 am) [edit] |
I have 750 hits on my blog counter. Who the hell is reading this? My friend JJ is. But I have a feeling he is not reading it 50 times a day. He likes me but I don't think he is an obsessive maniac.
Identify yourselves!
Write a comment!
I figure with my access hits and JJ's there are about 650 unaccounted for hits. Who the hell are you all? Haven't you got something better to do? :?
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| Excess Money |
| 02.24.04 (1:28 am) [edit] |
Money. If you have enough to eat, clothe yourself and have some adequate shelter then you're rich. Why do some people make money the center of their lives? It makes no sense to me. I am not rich in the eyes of most people (in the West at least). But I think I am because I have MORE than enough food, shelter, clothing, plus some money to send the children to Oz for educational purposes. I drive a very average car, live in a surburban flat on the far outskirts of Tokyo and only rarely go out eating or drinking. I have a telephone and broad band internet. Although it doesn't seem like much sometimes, its virtually a materialistic paradise for most people in the world.
But I wonder what percentage of the people in the world, even in the so called rich Western world can afford this? I bet it is only something like 5%, if that. But so many rich Westerners would see me as average if not poor. I earn less then than average wage in Japan. I drive an older car than average. But it is a comfortable life. I don't like being too comfortable though as the blog title suggest.
Why have 3 cars? Why have houses around the world when so many are living under leaves and mud? Why do so many UN people who talk about fixing poverty when they are wearing $2000 suits? Most of the people in the Un are smart, so they could say, "Well if was working in the private sector I could get twice as much so I am making such a sacrifice". But its semantics. How can you trust someone who wearing a $2000 suit telling you how much they are sacrificing for the sake of the billions suffering horribly from extreme poverty as part of their daily life. We don't have to give up everthing, but a simple life is all that is needed to happy.
I would really like to know what the average individual environmentally sustainable lifestyle is for the planet. For example, obviously if everybosy on the planet had their own car the planet would last about an hour I imagine. So what would be the sutainable figure. 0.1 car per person (or 1 car for every 10 people)?? What about garbage produced that would be sustainable? What about the sustainable size housing? Even though I live a comparatively simple life I am sure I would be over the average sustainable life index.
Tha fact is that Western countries are not interested in helping developing countries become rich because if everyone had the living standards of the US or the UK or Australia or Japan, the planet would last about a minute. Things have to change. Ifdeveloping countries develop the way some have been going, it is just going to create more pollution and death.
The West needs to change its way of life. People think that technology will be the saviour. Sure technology has helped people alot in medicine and blogging, but it is not enough. Peole have to change lifestyles. We cant say to developing countries develop but don't pollute because that is what we do.
Live simply and happily. :wink:
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| revealing |
| 02.23.04 (6:06 am) [edit] |
Sometimes just the fact that i know that many people I don't know could be reading this blog holds me back from revealing my dearest and most private thoughts. I sometimes also think, "What happens if someone from work sees this" even though the chances are one in a million almost. Do I bag my the Project Section Chief?? Well just by asking that my intention to "bag" has already been revealed.
Do I talk about all the people in my life? Some who I adore and others I deplore. I feel that restrained by what I can write out of fear. Is it fear of exposing myself to others or rather fear of exposing in writing what I feel because what I may find myself?
Sometimes I think that just writing like this is only making my mind busier than it needs to be. But then again maybe it is just an emptying of shit thats already stuffed inside and is bursting to get out.
Blaaaaaaah :?
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| Review |
| 02.21.04 (7:21 pm) [edit] |
I feel like reviwing my whole life. I think that this trip to Indonesia will be a good chance to reexamine my life. There are certain things that I am sure about like my marriage and faith in Amma and meditation, but in Indonesia I want to review my relationship with Japan, where I am going with my life and try new things. I remember last time I was in Indonesia it was hard being vegetarian. Maybe I'll eat fish there, especially in Maluku where I can't imagine there being much vego. Sometimes I think that due to working closely with local communities and building relationships with them, it is good to share their customs. So if their cannibals I eat human flesh too??? I don't know. I think I'll go there with an open mind about not only the place but also about myself.
:roll:
At this stage I feel like going for a long time. Having my wife and kids come over there. Working there properly for 2 years or so then going back to Oz to do a PhD. Maybe all delusion. My time in Indonesia is only garunteeed until the end of July. I'm afraid that if I have to come back to Tokyo at that stage I wont feel like working much? We'll see what happens???!!! :?
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| Maluku |
| 02.21.04 (1:52 am) [edit] |
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Today I looked at the Indonesian Lonely Planet, especially at Maluku. Looks great! Beautiful beaches, great diving, historical forts and wrecks from WWII. I am going there to investigate how we as an organization may be able to contribute to the consolidation of peace. This is my duty and I plan to fulfil it to the best of my ability. However, a fantastic enviornment doesn't hurt. :D
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| Going |
| 02.19.04 (6:07 pm) [edit] |
6th of March is when I'm leaving. I looking forward to getting out of Japan for a while. I'm starting to get sick of it after 7 years!!! That long. Maybe I'm feeling this way because I being given the opportunity to get out and maybe because I know my wife and kids are living in easy going Oz while I'm here in 2-hour-commute- Japan!
When I last went to Indonesia in early 2001 the difference between rigid Japan and laid-back Indonesia was so refereshing. After that I started learning Indonesian and found the whole language so relaxed. It will be a good change of environment for me.
Who knows maybe my wife and kids will be able to come out and live there to. Still early days to get too excited about such delusions at this stage but its something that I will leave to sit in the back of my head for a while. Even mentioning the idea to my wife gets her talking with excitement. She lived in Manila for a year and enjoyed living in a big smelly SE Asian city. Manila and Jakarta aren't so different.
Anyway I have a mountain of work to finish.
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| Indonesia |
| 02.18.04 (11:31 pm) [edit] |
Already Thursday. Yes, John I have been slack. Give the boys a big hug and kiss for me. The wife, well, I think a hug is enough??!!
Anyway I had a meeting about Indonesia today. I'll be going on the 5-6-7 th of March up till the end of July. I have write proposals, find money and staff and present it all to HQ then for approval. HQ have said that I pretty much have a free hand as long as I keep the current programs going. Theyu want me to come up with new programs more in line with out Mission and Vision statements. This is good because we have pretty cool sounding statements all about preventing conflict and poverty.
So I'll be in Jakarta and other parts of Java until the end of March then to Oz for a long needed holiday for a couple of weeks. Its been approved. Yeaaah!
Life changes quickly sometimes. Especially in this humanitarian aid world.
I have studying Indonesian hard trying to remember what I studied before. I glad the study I spent dso much time and money before hasn't gone waste. I have just started getting excited about going today really after the meeting. Its really happening.
I have to get the policy paper I have been working on (procrastinating on) for about a year now finished before I go. That's whyI'm doing my blog to tell you all that I am now focussed 100% on my work and will not procrastinate anymore by writing in this blog. Well not too much anyway.
Selamat Siang
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| Om |
| 02.16.04 (1:42 am) [edit] |
I've been spending time at the MA Center in Tokyo which is the home of Amma's activities in Japan. It is such a great atmosphere, especially the meditation room. There is so much in this universe that science can't measure but people can feel. Just think of the difference in feeling between a night club (even when it is empty and quiet most people probably don't get the chance to go into a night club after hours though I guess. I used to work at one when I was 18 or so) and the atmosphere of a sacred site.
Anyway sitting in fromt of Amma's portrait in the meditation room at the Center felt so healing. I don't even know exactly why I am attracted to Amma. I just feel the urge to be near her.
Yesterday I was doing work at the Center and then went to a meeting of the Board of Directors which I am on. Whenever we start work there we always say a sanskrit prayer and do 3 Oms. It is so effective in focusing the mind to the task at hand bringing clarity and efficiency. I want to try to do it myself at home and at work (quietly and discretely though).
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| Stupid "Yellow" Men |
| 02.13.04 (7:45 pm) [edit] |
I've been reading Micheal Moore's Stupid White Men and its a great read. One thing I find odd is that in the reviews on the back cover it talks as if the book is a comedy book. Sure its funny and is full of bizarre stories but all from a scarily real perspective.
It made me reflect on my current country of residence, Japan. If there are plenty of stupid white men in the US, then there are the at least the equivalent number of stupid, corrupt, greedy, exploitive, cruel, power hungry yellow men here.
In some ways Japan is free from some of the troubling issues facing the US like the menace of coporate invasion of public education. But in many other ways its worse. The collusion between business and the government runs so deep that it has become a cosy tradition that so few question. The LDP has virtually been in power since Nov. 1955 except for a hiccup in 93 when a loose unstable coaltion came to power through the dissent fo several LDP members over slow reform. This lasted only about a year though when the LDP formed coalitions with other conservative parties. Business do not want the oppostion back in power. They profit too much from corrput politicians.
The environment is handled terribly. Just the other day I went to visit a natural spring and pond near here. THe city had signs up saying how significant the place was as the only natural surviving spring in the area, how the place had been used by shoguns to breed horses and that the earth mound/moat system they used as fences could still be seen blah, blah, blah. However, the place was a digrace. There was dumped rubbish everywhere including chemical drums of who knows what, the place was over run with weeds and unnatural bamboo, and there were dumped cars. I couldn't believe how bad the place looked and the same people who had placed the signs on its envionmental and historical significance had allowed it to come to this sad state. And I wonder why feel pissed at this country sometimes. I will take some photos and take them to the city council for an explanation.
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| catching up |
| 02.13.04 (6:45 am) [edit] |
I haven't written much this week as I have been away from the computer somewhat.
Today I was interviewed by the Japan Times, a big English newspaper here. The reporter has a column on foreigners doing interesting or at least out of the ordinary things in Japan. I spoke at random, blabbing on and she said she would make a story out of it by Tuesday?!! Some people are clever aren't they.
It's too late. I've got to go to bed.
I'm going to Indonesia in the next few weeks until at least the end of July and possibly until the end of the year to set up new programs in Maluku. But more on that tomorrow as I've got a headache and need to meditate and go to sleep.
Tip of the Day: If you meditate before going to bed you will have pleasant quiet dreams, a deep sleep and wake up feeling good.
Yeah!
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| Away |
| 02.09.04 (7:40 pm) [edit] |
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I haven't had access to a computer for a couple of due to being away in the mountains in Aizu Kogen and Nagoya to do a presentation on emergency relief and peacebuilding. The bullet train is so amazing. It feels like an airplane travelling at 250km along the ground. It would be great to live in the country and commute on the bullet train everyday.
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| Exhaustion |
| 02.06.04 (2:28 am) [edit] |
What an exhausting week. Recently I've been really questioning the validity of a 4 hour a day commute (questionning a 4 hour commute???!!!!). Also just feeling a little tired of Japan. I've been through these phases before so it may just be passing. All week I've been going to this symposium on capacity development.
I spoke to the project chief and she said that I would probably be going to Afghanistan again or Indonesia. Both would be great. Afghanistan because I know the country and it is such a grand proud country with spectacular scenary and the toughest people in the world. Indonesia is also great because it would be a new place to stay, close to the family in Oz and a good chance to improve my poor Bahasa skills.
I'm looking forward to a nice weekend in the mountains. Hot springs in the mountains in the snow is the best.
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| sneaky |
| 02.05.04 (1:15 am) [edit] |
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I'm writing this on a computer in this donor conference I'm attending in Tokyo. A bit sneaky as I am supposed to be writing notes on the behalf the the working group I was in on The Role of External Partnerships:Donor Harmonization and Aid Modalities. To be honest I don't mingle well with World Bank people. I don't speak their language. I was asked to take notes but now wish I hadn't said yes as I didn't understand everything said. They said I would be doing to presentation as well to which I stupidly said yes to before knowing exactly what it meant. After the discussion I did manage to smoothly pass that responsibility on to someone else though thank god. NGO conferences on peacebuilding are so much more fun.
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| Too much talk |
| 02.04.04 (3:32 am) [edit] |
My wife sent an email. Unfortunately, it wasn't from her computer, which is still having trouble 5000km away, but still it made me happy to see her name in my inbox.
I went to a donor conference today with lots of people from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, different government ministries from around the world in charge of official aid assistance to developing countries. They talked alot. Speeches went over time. The words were magnificent. Their logic on building capacity convincing. Their compassionate sounding endeavours admirable. Then a professor from Edinborough University stood up and spoiled the fun.
He said "Today we are using fancy Powerpoint presentations with colorful animation and sounding great. Today we are talking about capacity development in our partner countries. Today we are talking about working together to build a bright world future. But, hang on, didn't we do the same thing a few years ago, but instead of using capacity development, use the word 'knowledge transfer" and then nothing really happened. Isn't that what's going to happen here with 'capacity development'?"
Everyone clapped. It was great. It was the only comment that was spontaneously clapped all day. How different really is plain old 'development', a term that has been used for decades, from 'capacity development'.
Another presenter said that we have to be careful about using sloppy language when talking about these issues. He claimed the difference between 'capacity building' and 'capacity development' was quite different.
In one way he was right, but people suffering from poverty, conflict and famine don't give a shit for such trivial differences. More than being careful about sloppy language, being careful with sloppy actions and following up aid promises is 1000 times more important.
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| no time |
| 02.02.04 (9:28 pm) [edit] |
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I've got to finish a presentation by tomorrow so no time for frogging blogging time today.
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| Personality test |
| 02.02.04 (6:20 am) [edit] |
I did a personality test at [url=http://keirsey.com]here[/url] . Also at [url=http://www.humanmetrics.com]here[/url] . I came out as the below type of person which apparently quite rare. My wife turned out to be the same which I thought was pretty cool.
The Counselor Idealists are abstract thought and speech, cooperative in reaching their goals, and directive and introverted in their interpersonal roles. Counselors focus on human potentials, think in terms of ethical values, and come easily to decisions. The small number of this type (little more than 2 percent) is regrettable, since Counselors have an unusually strong desire to contribute to the welfare of others and genuinely enjoy helping their companions. Although Counsleors tend to be private, sensitive people, and are not generally visible leaders, they nevertheless work quite intensely with those close to them, quietly exerting their influence behind the scenes with their families, friends, and colleagues. This type has great depth of personality; they are themselves complicated, and can understand and deal with complex issues and people.
Counselors can be hard to get to know. They have an unusually rich inner life, but they are reserved and tend not to share their reactions except with those they trust. With their loved ones, certainly, Counselors are not reluctant to express their feelings, their face lighting up with the positive emotions, but darkening like a thunderhead with the negative. Indeed, because of their strong ability to take into themselves the feelings of others, Counselors can be hurt rather easily by those around them, which, perhaps, is one reason why they tend to be private people, mutely withdrawing from human contact. At the same time, friends who have known an Counselor for years may find sides emerging which come as a surprise. Not that they are inconsistent; Counselors value their integrity a great deal, but they have intricately woven, mysterious personalities which sometimes puzzle even them.
Counselors have strong empathic abilities and can become aware of another's emotions or intentions -- good or evil -- even before that person is conscious of them. This "mind-reading" can take the form of feeling the hidden distress or illnesses of others to an extent which is difficult for other types to comprehend. Even Counselors can seldom tell how they came to penetrate others' feelings so keenly. Furthermore, the Counselor is most likely of all the types to demonstrate an ability to understand psychic phenomena and to have visions of human events, past, present, or future. What is known as ESP may well be exceptional intuitive ability-in both its forms, projection and introjection. Such supernormal intuition is found frequently in the Counselor, and can extend to people, things, and often events, taking the form of visions, episodes of foreknowledge, premonitions, auditory and visual images of things to come, as well as uncanny communications with certain individuals at a distance.
Mohandas Gandhi and Eleanor Roosevelt are examples of the Counselor Idealist (INFJ).
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| how far |
| 02.02.04 (6:11 am) [edit] |
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How far do you go in blogging? Do I reveal all. Do I tell you all anything. I've got 320 hits on on my blog in just a few days and I haven't done anything to expose it just writing everyday. Privacy and blogging; a fuzzy line.
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| day |
| 02.02.04 (6:00 am) [edit] |
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I've got to spend more time on things that are important more long term stuff in my job rather than getting caught up in the little shit. I did lots of small things today but didn't really achieve much somehow. I had a few good laughs with my workmates though. Talking about the pains of Tokyo commuting. In the end we decided to move the office and all staff to Kashiwa near my house! Also we decided to call our other colleague, who was away, Negi Gaoru instead of Neki Kaoru her real name. It doesn't really make sense in English if you don't know Japanese but basically she hates names with the two little dots on top of letters which change Ks into Gs. She says letters with the dots feel bad on her ears. I have no idea why??? but we had a good laugh about it anyway. She gets pissed off quickly and is a good target for a shit stir.
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| Efficiency NOT |
| 02.01.04 (5:35 am) [edit] |
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I wanted to upgrade to tBLOG Pro so that I can put photos on the camster blog but after going through the whole paypal process it will take a month because of the great efficiency NOT of Japanese credit card companies. I rang them up to see if I could view my expenditure on the internet and they proudly said yes and told me how to do it. I registered blah blah blah and then I get an email saying the service will be available in a month. So I have to wait until my next statement to purchase something. So photos will have to wait. I even took the digital camera down to the river today when I went for walk. せっか& #12367;のに
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| What's good? |
| 02.01.04 (4:49 am) [edit] |
I have been thinking about what's good in my life lately and there is so much.
[b]My wife[/b]-the love of my life
[b]kids[/b]-two gorgeous michevious munchkins
[b]job[/b]-it is something I think is worthwhile, the people are great, well mostly- and I get to go to adventurous far flung places over the world to try to help people, but I always learn so much myself
[b]friends[/b]-I don't have many friends but the ones I do I love
[b]house[/b]-a humble apartment in Tokyo's outer suburbs-doesn't sound like much but it is very comfortable, low mantainence, clean, bi by Japanese standards and in a nice area
[b]health[/b]-besides getting Hep A I have a healthy body-is that a contradiction-probably but anyway its almost gone now and it feels good to be getting strong again
[b]meditation & yoga[/b]-the greatest gift I have received from teachers in my life. I think back to the person I was before starting meditation all those years ago and look at myself now and its like another lifetime. [url=http://www.ammachi.org/]Amma[/url] , [url=http://www.watkowtahm.org/]Steve and Rosemary[/url] , [url=http://www.yogadanceoflife.co...]Eugenie[/url] and all the others who have taught me and are still teaching me, especially [url=http://www.ammachi.org/]Amma[/url] . I bow down to all of them for the priceless teachings they have given to me. Now just to put it all into practice!
[b]My folks[/b], who I don't see as often as I would like to and should, have been great especially in supporting the wife and kids back in Australia. We had some tough times and Mum can be a stress head sometimes, but shit man, they are pretty good. Even the folks in law here are so supportive of me even with the wife in Oz. Today I went to the hot spring with oto san and next week I'll be driving up to the mountains so he can take picture so of snow. I feel comfortable with them which is probably pretty rare especially in this country given that I'm a gaijin.
[b]Education[/b]-I have had great educational opportunities from the Japanese Uni scholarship to being able to go to do the courses I wanted. I've worked hard at school all my life it seems but I still like studying. A PhD, maybe next year ??? maybe later?? maybe never???
[b]
All these blessings. God's grace.[/b]
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| Japanese>mankitsu |
| 02.01.04 (4:16 am) [edit] |
愛する& #23478;内と&# 24687;子達 2364;いな 356;こと{ 91;寂しӓ 6;が、し ;ばらく 仕方が& #12394;いか&# 12425;でき 2427;だけ! 258;由をĚ 88;喫しӚ 4;うとし ;ている 。週末& #12395;なる&# 12392;本当 2395;暇人 395;なりz 89;ゆっӔ 7;りと過 ;ごして いる。& #30906;かに&# 30342;がい 2427;とき 424;り休| 17;るのӗ 1;、少な ;くとも 肝臓に& #12356;いだ&# 12429;う。 6152;日と 170;日もĚ 01;泉にࠣ 7;り、気 ;持よか った。& #30149;気で&# 20307;が衰 2360;たの 391;、少{ 75;ずつ߮ 7;を強く ;しよう として& #12356;る。&# 26152;日と 0170;日も& 263;い散Ē 97;に行Ӕ 5;、気の ;流れが よくな& #12387;てい&# 12427;とい 2358;きが 377;る。ą 52;日温ૠ 9;で初め ;て太極 拳をや& #12387;た。&# 21516;じク 2521;スの 013;で俺| 18;含めӗ 0;3人以ࣨ 6;は皆が ;やった ことが& #12354;り、&# 20808;生が 2381;のこ 392;に応{ 76;て結ઔ 3;早いペ ;ースで 教えて& #12356;た（&# 12354;るい 2399;、単 394;る俺{ 98;頭のࢯ 8;転が遅 ;いかな ？？）& #12290;わけ&# 20998;から 2394;いよ 358;にし{ 94;がらӌ 9;何とか ;太極拳 のすご& #12373;を自&# 35226;した 5281;本当 395;すば| 25;しかӖ 7;た。今 ;まで太 極拳を& #12420;って&# 12356;る人 2398;姿を# 211;て「{ 54;あ、 1;持ちよ ;さそう だが、& #12520;ガほ&# 12393;効果 2399;ない 394;あ」{ 92;勝手ӗ 5;考えて ;いたが 、実際& #12395;やる&# 12392;、び 2387;くり 377;るほ{ 93;体
が元気& #12395;なり&# 12289;気が 2424;く流 428;るよ{ 58;になӖ 7;た。す ;ごく下 手にや& #12387;ても&# 21177;果が 0986;たか 425;、ち| 19;んとӗ 5;やると ;いくら ぐらい& #12398;効果&# 12364;あが 2427;だろ 358;なあz 90;またӚ 0;りたい ;が、太 極拳の& #25945;室は&# 39640;いだ 2429;う。 393;うか{ 94;。ちӚ 3;っと調 ;べよう 。せっ& #12363;く自&# 30001;にな 2387;たか 425;今こ{ 81;がチӣ 5;ンスだ ;。
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