last day of 2011....

looking back on year 2011....

major changes in the tiny PX's world~

experienced things that i would never imagined....

so surreal to be true....

life's a real drama itself!

i'm grateful that i'm alive and kicking on this Earth~

having given the opportunities to do and enjoy so much....

until now~

going forward into 2012....

wondering on my life journey....

revolving in the tiny PX world....

continuing to explore and appreciating everything!

"unknowingly" there's gonna be a BIG change too~

from a 20+++, turning on to the start of 3!

another phase of life for PX....

embrace the wonders of nature....

live life to it's fullest without regrets.... *if possible*

till it's time to be blown away with the wind~

变调'ed or 变调'ing

guess it's the same for all type of relationships....

and cos it involves emotions from both parties....

it's complex and changes as time moves on....

maintenance and regular keeping up-to-date or alive....

sometimes it's not the length of time knowing each other,

it's the feeling that matters a whole lot!!

being friends for a long long long time.....

that friendship might become "bland" and no longer feels as close as before....

or the longer the "brew", the "stronger" it becomes....

new found friends for a short period....

that friendship might just feels like meeting a old-time buddy finally....

or the usual Hi-Bye casual friendly acquaintances....

nevertheless i like to keep all my friends....

we all grew up, interacted with many different things and ideas ~ we changed....

something which might not change will be "you are still my friend!"

sometimes it's amazing how comfort it can be....

when you can just ring up a friend whom you have not catch up for awhile,

when the line gets connected.... it seems so familiar once again~

when daily life gets a big part of you that it's always seems so busy.... so tiring....

just to make a short call or a short message to a friend or family~

for family, maybe it just runs in the blood that you are connected always!!

for friends, it's on the trust and faith built upon from the start of the friendship!!

no one should be taken for granted in any way....

it's time to make a call out to YOU~

a little pat on the back....

first time was a direct feedback from the Japanese teacher (Grade 6)....

was told i had some influences on the students and improved the level of interest in English in some students in her class!

cos those usually quiet students started to raise their hands to participate in the games in during my English class... and they know the answer! (even if they don't, it's really good that they start wanting to be at least active during the class~

second was coming from another Japanese teacher (Grade 3....different school!!)....

said she always like me going to her class for English and asked if my company has any kindergarten cos she wants to send her daughter to a school where they teach English like how i teach in the school! OMG... this is like a praise for me!! *hehe...shy*

i'm really happy to get comments like those....

efforts kinda paid off a little bit for now~

*big grin*

only one... once~

maybe there is really next life...

which something we really don't know about...

so for the whatever or remaining time i have...

till who? knows when...

PX's rule:

minimum or NO regrets!

sometimes there is only one chance...

ONLY ONCE...

and the fact we only live once~

It's Now or Never!

******

Life is just too short~

a lot of times, it's fragile too~

it's rare for one to have the best of both worlds...

so make the best out of what you have or get...

tangible stuffs are materialistic

yet it's a need for survival...

non tangible stuffs are so invisible

yet the most powerful energy source...

which i feel it the most important!

You will never know what's next to come??

never know who you will meet??

never know what you will do or decide??

never know what's installed for you??

good? bad? challenge? barrier?

You never know~

******

stay true to myself...

always the "direct" one~

when i said it, i meant it...

when i want it, i work really hard for it...

when i'm in it, i give all i can...

so if you know me well,

you know who i am...

good for me and good for you!

if you don't know me,

i don't really care... even if you hate me!

cos everyone is different!

i don't have to please everyone or anyone...

unless they are someone who matters to me...

those who are my precious in my life journey...

You... You... You... are a keeper!

:D

i'll be fine....

so ironic!

my last post was about moving on....

guessed i did it~

yet maybe again....

moving on one more time....

if you know PX well enough~

but most don't really which is totally fine with me,

it gonna take some time....

*I'll be fine*

simple words simple phrase

do you really know how much it takes??

how much to go through??

how much had/have to suck it up??

how many "walls" would be built??

how many "concealers" would be needed??

how many "buckets would be filled??

******

grown up, matured and old enough~

always able to do everything.... anything....

so strong and independent....

Really?? *LOL*

i wanna be the Baby again!

getting pampered and care for....

being as wilful as i want to....

at the end of the day,

I'm still being loved unconditionally!

******

waiting for the day to be Baby again~

till then....

i promise "I'll be fine!"

******

it's 6.10 am now.... time to wake up~

the dawn/morning sky that i looked out to this morning....

*beautiful clouds*

I like it.... do you??

:P

moving on....

Well, that's LIFE~

you will never know what you will get,

encounter or experience....

good or bad...it's hard to say~

in a state of surprise and shock....

need to get it out in some way....

getting my thoughts laid out as i post --

maybe for me to remember this event,

maybe for me to see how i grow,

maybe for me to make a mental note,

maybe for me to laugh over it the next time i read it,

maybe maybe maybe~

******

i thought i was prepared for it....

physically i'm strong enough to handle it....

mentally i think i was~ I TOLD MYSELF....

yet Reality proves me wrong again....

just caught me off guard totally~

Today....the news came!

(ironically it has to come when i'm SG too)

and it's happening real soon....

this year's October~

once again it's gonna be in the Autum in Japan....

how different will it be compared to 2007??

just when i'm working so hard,

biting on, one step at a time....*at my pace*

perhaps i'm just taking slightly too long....

i don't know how others did it....

Forgetting is a process;

can/might be difficult and long....

or easy and fast....

plus it depends on individual too!

******

I *HEART* PEACHY PEACH~

forgotten since when i just love peach!

not a common fruit in SG....

but in Okayama, it is THE place for PEACH~

especially Hakutou (白桃).... my FAVOURITE type!!

Now it's the best season for it~

only for about three weeks in Summer time....

and i received two big peaches....

from the Grade 6 teacher in Hikasa ES....

she's one of the great teachers in all the ES

that i like to work with....

funny and easy-going....both in class and after class!

those peaches are from her home's garden!

totally organic peaches....

ate some while cutting and during lunch~

so SWEET and DELICIOUS!!

for a record, peaches are expensive too!

even in Okayama....

i was like surprised and happy

when she told me to bring those peaches home!!

*GRIN*

いただきます！

******

happily peachy-ified PX

see the nice yellow-pinky colour on the peaches!!

this lighting is not too bad too....

trying to do some "justification" for those peaches....

comparing the size....

one received from the teacher (left)

one bought from supermarket (right)

(din got my $$$ worth)

those peaches are bigger than a cup of yogurt!

Kousaki Sensei....

yeah~ it's good!!

1st cooking lesson for Hikasa ES teachers!

Well, not that i can cook alot of Singapore cuisine....

at least when being requested....

YES~ i DO have something to present!

haha~

******

~Menu~

Singaporean PX's style--

Hainanese Chicken Rice

Teochew Orh Nee

******

it's kinda hard to get the right ingredients

gonna play around with names in English and Japanese

translation and pics helps alot!!

but managed to remake those dishes!

haha~ so clever....right?!?

******

"lesson-in-progress"

Orh Nee making

*in progress*

Chicken rice making

*in progress*

Plating the chicken rice for everyone!

Almost ready to tuck in~

Putting on some sauce!

Serving soon....

Fruits cutting

Gonna be a Balanced diet!

Setting on the tables

A complete set meal:

Singapore Hainanese Chicken Rice

(with beansprouts, cucumber and soup)

Teochew Orh Nee

Watermelon and Organic Peach

Table 1....

Table 2....

My "students"

we're in our aprons!

yeah...2nd watermelon from Honjo Kindy!

never expected to receive another watermelon

this time from Honjo Kindergarten....

not from the school directly,

but the principal told me it's from a grandfather

who is always very concern about the kindergarten!

she told him about me giving lesson today....

and he asked her to pass me a watermelon!!

cos summer is so HOT~

though i havent seen him before but...

he must be a really nice grandpa!

*THANK YOU*

******

my day was busy and non-stop in the kindy today

until those cute little fellows had their afternoon nap

kinda tiring cos they were so full of energy~ *sweat*

yet it passed really fast!!

playing with them....

giving them English lesson....

having lunch together (plus feeding some too)....

watching video....

putting them down for nap....

finally saying "Goodbye" with high five!

was a great day with them for the 2nd time~

Maybe cos i was there twice...

felt kinda attached to some of the little fellows....

they still remember me when i went there....

not just my name but also what we did the last time!!

kids are just so adorable and sweet....

love it when they come over to you~

just wanna "high five" with you....

just to hold your hand or touch you....

just to sit beside you or on your lap....

just to tell you some random stuffs....

just to show you what they got....

just wanna play with you....

it's all about giving them your attention!

simple things that make them so happy for the day~

hope i get to go over again!!

******

real ORGANIC produces:

watermelon & cherry tomatoes....

i'm happy!

gonna chill it and eat it my fav way~

FINALLY~ my 1st PAY!

yeah...after surviving on my "reservoir" since i came over

i got PAID....

not a full month pay cos i didn't worked the full month....

plus deductions of rent for apartment & car, insurance etc....

i though i would be reduced to zero or negative....

yet i still got some back!!

feel not so poor after all.... hehe~

******

start of SUMMER VACATION~

yesterday marks the last day of Semester One....

today marks the 1st time /day for me....

to teach in Nursery/Childcare/Kindergarten!!!

VERY young and tender little fellows....

though they are learning really simple stuffs...

their responses are really true and direct~

either they like it or not....

as much as i love to play with kids and can handle them....

teaching them especially English?!?

when they speak only Japanese till now....

can be challenging and stressful for me!! *REALLY*

thankfully today went really well....

love those cute little fellows.... and they like me too!

they were so happy with me lunching with them....

my time with them was just too short.... :(

BUT the principal told me to visit them whenever!!

so i will have more time to play with them...yeah~

******

another happy thing was....i received gifts from them!

they were fruits that were used in the "lesson"

and some vegetables grown in school by themselves!!!

it's gonna be so yummy....

i was really happy to get a watermelon....*Haha*

btw watermelon is expensive in Japan!

basically all fruits are expensive....

******

from supermarket:

WATERMELON.... mini yet enough for me!

Bananas(it's still green!!).... Apple.... Orange....

from school's garden:

Cucumber.... Eggplant.... Green peppers

(they were harvested just before the lesson~)

Happy PX with watermelon!!

decisions.....

when at the crossroads of life....

it's always hard trying to make a RIGHT decision!

no matter how badly you wish for it to happen to you....

when it's finally here,

there's always other factors that pop up....

making you ponder on your "wish" once again....

SHOULD I?? or SHOULD I NOT??

learning from others' experiences is not a bad thing;

but will the same occurrences happened on another???

with the difference of mindset of one!

struggles and indecisiveness would set in for sure!!

regardless how affirmative one can be.....

For me....(not a very good example though)

to end all struggles and indecisiveness caused/due from others

at all times of major milestones decision makings in life....

it all falls back to asking myself why you wanted it at first....

putting aside all other considerations, cons and pros....

if that's what you really wanted....

JUST GO FOR IT!!!

it doesn't matter it's gonna turn out good or bad....

the process or journey would be hard and tiring....

BITE ON & SUCK IT UP!!!

it's important that you did what you wanted....

been though it the hard way or not....

you grow and gain the life experiences....

it's all about not regretting it....

nor harping on it later in life~

which actually sucks big time....

cos you can never go back in time!

DO the RIGHT thing at the RIGHT time~

Opportunity usually knocks ONCE!

AND one thing i learnt -

*When you gain something, you lose something too*

there's always a balance in life....

life's never really perfect for one yet....

it's how one appreciates it!

end of Semester One

WOW....five weeks and i'm done with one semester in the schools!

43 days of summer holidays for the students...

i have ~+/- 30 days of summer holidays *PAID*

how i wish i could actually choose and arrange the dates myself

but....you never have the best of both worlds!!

so it's better than nothing~

plus i will be teaching only half days in nurseries and kindergartens

those even little fellows will be really fun.... *fingers crossed*

or i will cry together with them!!

though my off days are like slotted in between here and there

i can still manage some short trips around!!

AND a nice birthday celebration.....

which gonna be busy, rush, and short yet fun, exciting and memorable!

CAN'T WAIT!!! *haha*

have to start making plans for my short trips~~*Yuppie*

RESEARCH~RESEARCH~RESEARCH~

(i thought i'm no longer a research scientist!! :P)

My Den.....

~My humble little DEN~

i remembered i called my apartment in Albany as My Kennel....

a change of location...of course there must be a new nick!

and must be for the "doggie" ....haha~ that's me!

it's not a big apartment like in US....

yet it's something that i imagined for an ideal studio!

*kinda love at first sight*

like it at first but there's nothing much in it....

slowly i furnished it and made it the way i wanted....

my liking...my colour...my lifestyle~

all my friends are all welcome to drop by for a stay!!!

(ps: if you don't mind traveling the distance)

******

take a mini yet pretty detailed tour of my Den....

Please Enter~

Entrance with a "Shoe Off" note....

that note was not by me but the landlord!!!

but i'm not removing it and see how long it will lasts~

there's a flight of stairs....

leading up to the actual living area

the corridor cum walkway cum etc~

the "essential" area...

Left: Laundry area

Centre: Toilet

Right: Bath/Shower room

I got a small bath tub....

it's gonna be so good during Winter!!

I like my toilet....it looks "pretty"!!

i was sooooooo happy when i saw it!!!

small yet good enough for me....

Refrigerator + Microwave

Dried + Instant food storage area....

water jug too...

Plus the note for trash classification!!

i hope i'm doing it well and right....

I REALLY TAKE NOTE WHEN I THROW!!!

my cooking stuffs + snacks storage

top shelf: exploding stock of snacks!!

middle shelf: glasses/plates/bowls

(so you see it...i only have one size each!

if you wanna eat at my place, BYO stuffs!!)

bottom shelf: my usual cooking needs

small small mini kitchen....

cooking + washing

i miss having an oven!!!

Into my Bedroom/Living room....

TV...Wardrobe....

and the fan i got for ~sgd$40!! it's just getting so warm...

My spot....

THE place for me to work + eat + play + watch dramas

AND get connected to the other side of the globe!!

my internet cable is going across the room!!!

yes...crazily troublesome but cant help it....

My BED....

Tatty Bear has his spot on my bed always as usual....

and he's in JAPAN too!!

"essential stuffs" by my bedside....

the decorated area...

it brings up a smile whenever i look at it!!

Storage area...

i think one person can sleep in it too!!

any takers?? haha~

view of the hallway from the other side....

outside of my apartment...

this is my "car"....

yet again it's white!!