２００８年１０月１５日

今週の漢字: 自転車

Bicycle:
This weekend’s post will be focused on the Tokyo Game Show. As for this post, I want to write about my biking experiences. As some of you know, I learned how to ride a bike only a month before leaving for the JET Program last year. I wasn’t actually comfortable enough to deal with Japan’s streets. Those of you who have read all my posts know of my biking woes in Japan.

When I first came, biking to the school was a struggle. I rode on the main roads, and the cars scared me as they passed me nearly hitting me. I suppose I was thinking too much about it too, which caused me to have close calls of falling onto the cars. There’s also a sharp narrow turn to a street close to my apartment. It’s right after the train tracks, so when I turn, it’s a slight downward slope. Last year I crashed into a pole by that street a few times. Every time I crashed, I would stop and act as if something was wrong with my bike. In fact, nothing was wrong. I was just too embarrassed to get back on my bike and ride on.

Anyway, I have found some back roads to school that are much more suitable for bike riding. As I walked to school, I noticed some kids coming out of certain small streets. It didn’t seem to make sense, but I had to keep in mind how the design origin of roads in most of Japan is indiscernible. When I knew traffic wouldn’t be so congested, I took to the streets on bike and tried different ways to the school. I’m happy to have found a few routes. Since then, I’ve been basically biking to school. As the saying goes, “It’s better late than never.”

Stay tuned this weekend for another update!

En français:
Je regarde les étudiants quelque fois quand ils vont à vélo. Il est incroyable quand ils traversent une rue sans de regarder s’il y a une voiture. Il est étonnant quand une personne va à vélo pendant qu’il tient un parapluie. C’est très dangereux!

今週の聖書の詩: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
- 1 Timothy 4:8 (NIV)

今週の写真: Some pictures from the Culture Festival

２００８年１０月６日

今週の漢字: 嬉しい

Happy:
Everything is going well. I’ve placed aside my worries and fears. Well, those worries basically were about self-validation: “What do others think of me?” As an actor, I always think about it, but I have been practicing to stop thinking such thoughts. My acting has gotten back on par, because I have freed myself from the binds of my own instability.

I am reminded of so much from my NYU days when I went through the rigorous acting training. I need to live for the moment, and I need to keep my focus on my goals and ambitions. When I directed it more toward what other people think of me, I started trying to please them. Similarly as an actor, I should not be acting for the audience but for my character, to stay true and honest to myself. There are moments every once in a while when I seek that self-validation. I think I went through it in the past five months.

You may be thinking, “Of course you shouldn’t care about what other people think,” but you know what? It’s so much easier said than done. Haven't you ever been concerned about what others think of you? I’m pretty sure you must have at least a few times. Well, I hope you find a way to throw that away and just let you be you.

I won't be posting around my usual time next week. I’ll be going to Tokyo for this year’s Tokyo Game Show. Do you remember my post about it last year? Stay tuned some time next week for another update!

En français:
Je deteste quand quelque personne me dit: «Pensez pas au sujet des choses que les personnes disent!» Est-ce qu’ils pensent que c’est un bon conseil? Il est ridicule. Je n’aime pas quand les personnes me commandent et ils pensent qu’ils me donnent quelque conseil. Pourquoi est-ce qu’il y a beaucoup de personnes qui sont très insensibles?

今週の聖書の詩: “From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: ‘You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears.’”
- Acts 17-19a (NIV)

What are you an example of? It’s great to just be yourself in every situation and every environment!

今週の写真: Yay for culture festivals! I just wish that next year more students wouldn’t resort to selling juice. I think I had at least 8 cups of different flavors of juice this year. So instead of a picture this week, here’s a video of the taiko drums special performance. It was amazing. One of the teachers is a member of the group. I was pleasantly surprised to find this out about her.

２００８年９月２８日

今週の漢字: 変わる

Change:
I recently looked back all the way to elementary school. This isn’t something new. I think about the past once in a while. What got me thinking about it this time was how much I have changed. In one of my classes, we taught some English sayings, and one particular saying reminded me of my own beliefs: “A leopard can’t change its spots.” Since middle school, I have believed that people can’t change much. I still mostly believe in it, but I have modified it a bit.

I don’t think people can completely change unless there’s some extreme push. Without such a force, people change slightly as their environment changes. I think everyone moves together, so a relation between two people would be different from one point to another.

I am still myself and what defines me hasn’t changed too much. However, I have noticed some differences compared to who I was as a high school student. It wasn’t even that long ago, but there are things that have developed more or things that I do now I wouldn’t have done then. I find myself taking more leadership roles these days. I wouldn’t have readily chosen to undertake the amount of responsibility that I do now like what I choose to tackle at Mito HS or the production I started up on my own.

My attraction toward dark topics has developed fully now also. I have embraced my love for it. I had this pull since elementary school, but I never totally gone into the dark side. I tended to mix dark with whimsy even in high school, which I know is an odd combination. Surprisingly, sometimes it worked, but most times it exploded in my face. I have retained a whimsical sense, but I know when it’s best to separate the two polar opposites.

What about you? How have you developed during the past 10 years? I think it’s always good to reflect on your own identity every once in a while. Stay tuned next week for another update!

En français:
Quand j’étais dans le lycée, je ne finissais jamais mes devoirs en avance. J’attendrais jusqu’à le jour avant de la dernière limite. Je m’appelais le roi de temporisation. Pourtant, je finis mon travail rapidement maintenant. Je pense que c’est une grande difference.

今週の聖書の詩: “We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.”
- 1 Corinthians 2:6 (NIV)

今週の写真: This will be the last week for pictures from my sisters’ visit to Japan – Osaka

２００８年９月２２日

今週の漢字: 性格

Personality:
Last year I didn’t really show my true self except for a few friends with whom I have most in common. I am allowing my true personality to shine this year. I am no longer holding back. Why would I hold back in the first place? I knew you might be thinking that. I like to talk a lot, and there are a few topics I like to focus on. Unfortunately, there are many others who don’t have much in common with me. Plus, there are certain types of people I don’t want to associate with. For example, I tend to disassociate myself from arrogant people and big party people. Then, there are people with whom it’s always a struggle to find a fitting topic. I think these really limit it to a few handfuls with whom I can bond well.

I used to feel bad when I talked to teachers for more than about five minutes, because I felt like I was always bothering them. I’m just going all out these days. I speak whenever and however long I want. Of course, I am not just blabbing away 24/7. I do have manners, you know (I hope you do know). It has definitely changed the relationship with teachers. At least for me, it’s getting to be a more comfortable atmosphere. I suppose this being my second year helps too.

I am also more open this year with expressing my likes and dislikes. I suppose it has always been clear with my choice of anime, video game, or Disney pictures that I use on my worksheets, but I am actually talking more about them now. I speak mainly whatever is on my mind, and I am not worrying over trivial matters like I did last year.

Stay tuned next week for another update!

En français:
La semaine dernière, j’ai oublié écrire le français. Alors, j’écrirai plus de français cette semaine. Il est très difficile pour rencontrer avec quelque personnes qui sont mon âge. Où vont-ils? Je ne sais pas! S’ils vont aux bars seulement, je ne pourrais jamais leur rencontrer. Je pense qu’ils travaillent dans les grandes villes de Japon. C’est malheureux parce que je veux leur parler en japonais. S’ils aiment les memes choses aussi, il serais super!

今週の聖書の詩: “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
- Romans 12:9-11 (NIV)

今週の写真: My sisters and I at Himeji Castle