my new room!

We moved back to the old house for about a week now. The renovation/ refurnishing took us almost three months. (T - T) I wanted to have Uncle Matt and dad to come over to help. ;) I am happy to be back to the old place. We have "moved in" but there are couple parts missing: no real curtains in all the rooms, no sink in the other bathroom, more light fixtures needed to be installed...etc. But it's nice to be home. 

I would show you more of my new room but the desk and bookshelf I wanted to get from Ikea are both sold out until mid October! I am typing on my lap right now with lots of boxes around me. Hehe. Miss you all! I will probably be updating more often once I have a table and a job! Har Har Har. 

xoxo, Lisa (σ≧▽≦)σ

gotta do what you love and love what you do

when it is possible, Lisa.

I want to remind myself again that when I take pictures I am really happy, even when I only get a few "good ones" that I am okay with. Even if I only got one at the end of the day, I should be happy with that.

Last week I went to the first summer baseball game. It was my first time to see my students play at the stadium. If they can do well till the very end, they will represent Okinawa and compete with other prefectures. Besides teaching at the International department, I also work with 150+ students from the Athletic department. No, I don't teach them sports. I team teach English with another Japanese teacher. These students have regular classes in the morning, and in the afternoon they practice for 4, 5 hours and try to win as many games as possible. Hardworking kids that love sports and are always tired during class hours. The baseball and Judo team at school have always done very well at different tournaments. This year's tennis and golf team are also doing well and participating games up in mainland Japan.

Last week was very sunny and I got tan from supporting them! It was fun to cheer with them and tried to follow them. For the past few weeks, I would go see them during lunch when the 1st year and 2nd year baseball students practice 30+ songs/cheers. I would try to go as many times as possible, because it's interesting to see how they behave and interact with each other outside of class. I adore these students, even though most of them are too shy to talk to me in English. I believe that we try to understand each other and didn't mean to make the other person unhappy most of the time. Really though, I wish I could speak the language or I wish they were better at speaking English. hehehe.

Counting down

Untitled, originally uploaded by lauryn holmquist.

I have been working in Okinawa for about nine months now. One month left till I'll back home for a while.

Lately I have been trying hard to join as much school related activities as possible. It ranges from going to school baseball game, searching for a ride to get to the stadium, to eating lunch with students as they tell me the tenth times I look like Tweety or a popular teenage idol. They are funny.

I am sad that this will all be over so soon. But what can I do? We can only keep in touch and I told them they can stay at my house when I grew up and have a big house. They can all sleepover. I won't care if I have to be their tour guide for free. I have to thank them for being nice to me here.

Couple students and I have became so close that they decided they will go to the airport and see me off. I don't remember that happening except that one time. It was my first year going abroad to Minnesota. All my high school BFFs came and we ate a quiet breakfast together at the terminal and I went into the gate. And I sobbed the whole flight from Hong Kong to Tokyo without any kleenexes. It was not pretty.

So this time as the Risa teacher, I probably won't cry, but I might still cry a little inside. All these kids are so fun to be with, except we don't really speak the same language. I think half the time we were guessing what the other person was trying to say. It is funny how we can enjoy each other's company without really understanding each other.

At the same time, parents at home also have been working hard to pack up and let the remodelling begins at our old apartment. It is small and old. But has the nicest view ever. I miss watching the sunsets and having long walks near my house. Oh my goodness there goes another year! So long my middle school bed room! I cannot wait to set it up with pictures from these couples years and get ready for my new job and life back home.

This is happening. Time flew so quickly after I went abroad. And boom, I am turning 23 this summer. Wow.

typhoon ruined my weekend

originally uploaded by a midwest girl.

We had another typhoon during the weekend, AGAIN! The misfortune is that, I took a day off on Friday last week and flew to a nearby island with Hannah. We wanted to see beautiful beaches and make more memories of Okinawa. The first day of the trip was wonderful. It was so hot and so bright that I couldn't really tell what I photographed. We used the underwater camera and took silly pictures on film. So I hope they will turn out and we can show you how funny we are.

But after that day, it poured every time Hannah and I decided to go out or bike. It would be so windy that there is really no point to get out but to get soaked. My heart felt a little sick still thinking we couldn’t go anywhere except staying in door and watch movies on iTunes. We can only walk so much to see some more of the supposed to be beautiful island. Such a bummer. But no one can change the weather right?

Since I have been back though, the weather has been so very nice. (Blue sky with beautiful clouds and all) Why is that it was the weekend that the storm decided to come!

Let us have beautiful sunny weekends in July, please!

xoxo,
Lisa

right, right, right...

Do you enjoy life while you are young and healthy, or wait around until it’s time? I pick enjoy life while I can and try to live it the fullest!

This question came to my mind when I was chatting with an old friend. We have known each other since we were in junior high. And it is safe to say that we witnessed how much we both have changed and how we became the person we are today.

We used to talk about our dreams and what we wanted to do since we were little. We discussed about that again recently. My dream was to travel around the world when I was young and someday become a successful business lady like my mom. Then I wanted to have a family, and right now I am at yet another crossroads of my life.

Honestly though, after being away from home these years I have learned a lot about traveling and myself. It’s a little too lonely too see the world on your own! So I have come to the conclusion that I would like to enjoy life with the people that I love. Whether if it means to work really hard. (for a while, make enough money and move to a good place.)

(Or have Mary find me Yoon Ji Hoo then I don't have to worry! haha! )

how about you?

Many of you know because of my unstable internet here and the time difference made communicating a little difficult. With that reason, blogging should be the way to go to learn about what's going on with me. So, I am sorry that I have been gone from the blogging world, making you feel like you don't know anything about me over here. The truth is, there hasn't been much going on really, just mundane life stuff. ;) But it could be quite interesting sometimes. Other times over these few months, I was very stressed and tried hard to deal with the feelings I have being away from home, the new challenges of learning to become a working adult....I  can say now that I have learned a lot again about relationships with coworkers and friends and reassured what kind of person I am. I am really learning to say no to things, make compromises and still speak the truth if possible. Also, I am trying hard not to be the person to say the last words. But for reals, I thought I would explode and just scream. That's how I felt. So I hid in my apartment and got lots cleaning done. 

If I have written some blogs, I probably would have written some really angry and frustrated posts you wouldn't want to read about anyways. I have taken lots of pictures though. I realized bringing my camera out to take pictures encourages me to go on walks, even when it's cold and windy out. So I have a few pictures to show you. Again, I apologize that sometimes it seems like I am invisible, enjoy the posts coming these few weeks. But I gotta warn you sometimes my life is just including going grocery shopping after work, catching a few tv shows in a foreign language, and somehow doing laundry and ironing work clothes every weekend, if it is not laundry, it is sweeping the tatami floor. While my coworkers go out to drink. But once in awhile, I would watch a really good movie, or get really lucky and get some nice photos. 

Last but not least, I want to leave you with some questions my dad from america asked me one time over google chat. He asked me how was work, and commented on how boring my life was and I don't really get to hangout with anyone. ;) I commented about the long hours and the dedication people have over here....then he asked, 

"How about you?
Do you think you can live like that after seeing the rest of the world? Do you expect to have more out of life?" 

I didn't have enough time to answer him or to think how I should answer. And I still don't have the answers to those important questions while many many people have continue asking THE question.

 "So what do you do after this?"

and I am pretty sure I have been asked about that since my first year of college. I have been thinking so much that Becky's boys are already here. A lot can happen in three months.

I know each person has their reasonings, but I don't think being too selfish all the time is okay. I don't think purposely making the other person feel less important is okay. I am talking about simple daily stuff. And I might not be the brightest or know every topic you know, but I don't laugh at you when you don't know something. I understand no one is perfect and I should take it easy and forgive. Yes. Ok. Got Over it. 

i love being a traveler

because then I get surprised by nature again, and I can go into my "zone"...

 

my zone with pretty things, flowers, architectures and yummy food.

another good day. 

mostly photographed at Fuzhou Garden

Last couple weeks in pictures…

some more pretty sunsets with a week of pouring rain...

beautiful and meaningful visit to the peace memorial

some more pretty sunsets...

and merry christmas my dear!

this was from the same weekend but different day....

Originally these images you are seeing were in a video. The light was so beautiful I can’t help myself. The jacket and my purse were hanging outside and they were moving with the wind…it was so fun. But because I didn’t have the right editing program for videos, I thought it would be better to show you how beautiful it was  in these images. 

Oh man, wish you were here.  

one weekend afternoon...

I never get sick of watching this view. 

I have told you this, and perhaps you have heard too many times already. I love looking at the sky. If I have not told you this, I am sure you remember seeing me going crazy with my camera when I saw a pretty sky.

Being able to capture these moments during that weekend made me happy and kept me calm. Sorry it is a little late, but I wanted to share these images with you for very long now. It clams me still and I hope it will for you too - as life could get a little complicated sometimes.  Simple as that, looking up the sky and count to 10, imagine what kind of animals you see in the clouds, then maybe you could forget how mad you were or how much of a brat some kids could be. 

And do you know the best part of this is? It is completely free. And I get much more motivated to clean my pile of dishes with my iTunes. (Yes, I have been eating...surprise, surprise!)

you, you, you and you.

Konnichiwa こんにちは! *Good afternoon*
Genki desu ka 元気ですか?? *How are you??

It’s already finals week for the students over here, so it will be pretty quiet for Lisa-the teaching-assistant this couple days. Their first day of exam is on December 1st. Excuse me, DECEMBER FIRST? Whaaat??? That means I have passed my 2-month mark in Okinawa!! SAFE!! *clap clap clap*

This semester of school will be done on 12/28. Before school ends there will be some more prepping for class days, hanging out with the kids days or off to different adventures on weekend days. (Sad FYI: I am working on Christmas. But I am hoping to wear my 100yen Rudolph hairband to work. Ho ho ho)

After the 28th, Lisa is off to Tokyo, Yokohama, Kamakura, and Hakone!!!!!! I was happy to fight for the tickets on Skymark (Japanese priceline?) last month with Hannah. The tickets are about the price of flying to NYC from MN. And for accommodations, Hannah and I are staying about half the time in hotel, half the time at my friend Nozomi’s grandparents place! Dividing the average costs of hotels, it was a pretty good deal. :]

I am very excited to see Tokyo again in a MONTH and meeting up with some of my old friends. I met Nozomi when I studied in Tokyo 2 years ago, and we have kept a good relationship since. On the other hand, most of my friends are traveling out of Tokyo with their families to other prefectures up north or FRANCE for their Christmas/New Year trips. So I will have to go back. (haha) My family will also be off to China with Grandma for a couple days. So I won’t be seeing them for New Years. But! I am going home for Chinese New Year, which I have missed for five years now. I can’t wait for it, and I am grateful Okinawa is so close to home and the job I have is so kind about letting me taking days off without too much hassle.

I cannot believe Christmas is coming so soon! Graduation, traveling with mom, summer at home, started working in Okinawa and BAM, it is Christmas already! BAM! Becky’s BABIES will be here!!! Ahem, I have distracted myself here. Oh yes, I am excited to see Shibuya crossing, the romantic red brick warehouses again. Seeing the Japanese big Buddha first time, visiting the Little Prince museum, going to hot springs, and visiting national parks overlooking the Mt Fuji!!! It will be a blast.

Back to reality real quick, what I am trying to say in this blog was that I have been enjoying the simple and quiet schedule I have here. It might be boring to some, but I like my simple life – eat, pray, work, travel and love.

My days usually go like this: Get up, go to work, two or three hours of classes in the morning, co-workers will share treats they got from trips to everyone (and sometimes that’ll be my breakfast) then yes! Lunch time! Go to the “Bento street” across the street for my lunch box or eat out somewhere, sometimes walk to the “Kon-bi-ni”, the convenient store, “Lawson” for a snack, or browse around magazines. Then coming back with usually just one class in the afternoon, so I correct student’s homework or prep for class materials. I should consider bringing my laptop in to edit the pictures when I have down time. But I probably shouldn’t.

Life is good, work wise…I am not freaking out as much anymore, and I am getting better at being punctual. Also I have been eating (haha), occasionally I bring lunchboxes I made the night before. And maybe 80% the kids I teach like me and smile when I talk to them. (5 of them are my new BFFs…haha).

I consider that a big SUCCESS.

Living wise, I am also visiting different places each weekend, discovering new places to walk around and I have not seen other spider yesterday. (haha) Also, I am glad to use the down time as my study time this week. I am taking a Japanese Language Proficiency Test on Sunday. I am failing it, but I just might have the luck to pass it. If I really pass it, I would truly believe I can do whatever I want.

Remember that blog about me losing it during that monthly work meeting? I am still scared of it... because last month’s meeting I was able to skip it. 2 hours of listening to Japanese is not the worst, 2 hours of listening and sitting and doing nothing else make me nervous. I am too used multitasking since college and have million things going on. It’s hard to just sit and do one thing for me now. Hehehe.

love, Lisa

p.s. I will put up pictures soon. I was able to get some good ones because it stopped raining and it is not cloudy so much anymore. Yay. Lunch time!

it's golden

If you know how the bottom of a pool looks like when it’s sunny…maybe you will know what I am trying to say here. That beautiful reflection in gold color was on my office window today.

I looooooove the light around five to seven in the afternoon. It’s beautiful this second, and next second it’s gone. That’s why it’s even more precious, magical and beautiful.

Around five o'clock was the time to get home from school when I was in high school in Hong Kong. I remember trying to catch my favorite radio show every day after school after saying goodbye to my friends at the bus stop.

I have started to get used to life here in Okinawa, and the more time I have worked with the students, the more I thought about my own high school days. I miss hanging out with everybody and just be upset with simple things and then forgetting about it.

Life was so simple then. Well, it's really not that complicated for me these days either. It's great and I enjoy being simple. Anyways, that pretty golden light and shadows on the window I saw today encouraged me to write to you.

Hope all is well,
Lisa

p.s. I am loving the weather here in Okinawa... I can finally smell the crisp autumn breeze! It's getting chilly! p.p.s. Debate contest will be on this coming Wednesday, and that means there will be no more working until 9pm! Happy November!