Blast from the Past

I just looked at one of my blogs from September 2003. Wow! I don't know if I've changed that much. But I do have to say, I know I feel different than how I was feeling then. I felt quite different then than I do now. Yet I don't know if I've progressed to the better.

Ellie: Wishing you well with the pee and the poo!
Cassie: I can't believe you were worried!
Jessica: Can I come live with you if my plans for other stuff fall through? And what happened to your world domination plans?
Ann: Hmm...I wish I could've visited you. You don't have any genetic mutations from your bout with that nasty Japanese virus do you?
Pili: Your cooking; wonderful!
Uyennie: Longtime no see. Well, not really. The kids, O! the kids! How was the last day for the 'young one'?
Allie: Hmm...still digging out?

Others who are visiting this website: let me know, you may get a personalized message posted here.

I miss you guys

I miss Jess, Ellie, Ann, Allie, Cassie, Pili...though not so much Pili since I see him about every week...and Uyennie, and MO'M, and Mitzi, and so many others. I am comforted knowing that you guys are 'trailblazing' out there--you know finding jobs, learning about the world outside of the university, all that kind of stuff. While I sit here where I have friends, but you know nothing like those friends you shared that first (or I guess for y'all, second) year at SUA with. There's something--a certain kind of bond that exists between the first and second classes. I miss having you guys so close. I guess I'm kinda getting a taste of the real world here. My lifes-long friends are so far away, well most of them are at least a 30-minute drive away, and I only get to see them for a few days outta the year. Wow.

I'm getting over it...I'm learning about myself. Still.

We had a major chinese new year's dinner tonight. Yum! Gong xi fa chai! (Gong huy fa choi!) [Happy (Chinese) New Year!]

Many many things

Sorry I haven't blogged in a long time. I had a crazy, crazy girl come stay with me. Just kidding! I loved having Ellie over...it felt like 'normal' for a moment, except that Jessica, Allie, Ann, Sammi, or Cassie weren't here. Sigh.

Afterwards, I've been back into my routine--Swimming, Eating, Classing, Exercising (for swimming), Working, Studying, Sleeping. Sigh. That's a bit depressing looking at that list. I've still yet to do much for capstone. My motivation is low for that.

While things are not looking upwards right now, I'm rather content. I have a rather happy moment in my life right now. I guess that's the effect of having friends here...especially ones that are so happy and energetic.

Post No 733

Wow, It's been a long time I've had this blog.

Day 14

07 January 2006

Today was a full day too.

I woke up late, ate some breakfast, showered, and did most of my packing in the morning and had lunch.

I went to visit my grandmother (my dad’s biological mother) at the old folk’s home. She has mild Altzheimer’s disease—which means that she basically remembers things from the past, but she has no concept of time passing—she doesn’t remember my dad visiting just a week or so ago. When we went to visit today, the way she was acting, it seemed like she (a) didn’t really want to see us and (b) saw us for the first time in a while. At her age, I think she has been through a lot and I had to chant a lot in my heart that I could say something. I don’t really know what to say to someone I’m not sure will remember I’m there. I’m not really sure what to say to people who are older than say 70 years, except maybe my obaachan, but that’s because she raised me. I want to be able to make others feel at ease, but I don’t know how. I was somewhat frustrated when I was at the old folk’s home. While there, as well, I realized that I don’t want to live in an old folk’s home. If I’m to die, I want to die in my sleep while still fully mobile and in good health, even if at an old age. Not that it’s hard to make value while in an old folk’s home, but to me, it seemed to be a very sad place—not very good for the soul. I’m glad to see my grandmother. I don’t think she gets many visitors—I could see why, it’s hard to visit someone who won’t remember you visited in a few hours—but if I’m in the Kanagawa area when (or if) I come for Jet, I want to visit her as much as I can.

Right afterwards, we went to Kamakura to visit the SGI Study Center near Tatsunokuchi Beach—the beach where Nichiren Daishonin almost was beheaded during the Tatsunokuchi Persecution. It is a small kaikan with a beautiful view. President Ikeda has also placed a lot of important and meaningful objects in this kaikan as well. There’s a couple scrolls made by Toda and Makiguchi Sensei—e.g. one that says “Kosen Rufu”—and one scroll with the Japanese character for “stand up”—symbolizing the spirit of the Daishonin and the first three presidents of the Soka (Kyoiku) Gakkai to stand up. It is an awesome center. Eun-yi CHUNG also was there last March apparently too. She signed the guest-book and left a short message. I also left a slightly embarrassing determination to “change the world.” I will do it somehow, I don’t know how, just yet, but that’s what youth is for, I think—figuring that out.

After that we went directly to Fujisawa. My dad and I did a bit of omiyage shopping at a 100-yen store. Got 13 things—12 for others, 1 for me—and spent 1.430-yen.

An ode to the 100-yen shop:
O 100-yen shop, how do I love, thee.
You are much better than the dollar store,
For all your goods are actually 100-yen.
You are much fairer than the Ito Yokado down the street,
For your goods are 100-yen (plus tax).
You are much cooler than any store on the street,
For you look down on all the others from the fourth floor.

Afterwards we went Ito Yokado to look for a new dress for Miyuki, but couldn’t find anything in her size. Zannen. Then we traveled to the Shonan-Fujisawa Bunka Kaikan (South of Capital Area-Fujisawa Culture Center) for the Broadcast Meeting. Pre-meeting, we went to the Gasuto/Skylark right next to the kaikan and had dinner—a big, full dinner. I was very furu by the end of the dinner. Filling food, not the greatest, but good, clean famiri dainingu.

At the Broadcast Meeting, I had to hold back my tears once the part with Sensei started. I didn’t understand much of any body’s speeches, not the YMD, YWD, WD, or MD’s, nor even Sensei’s—I need the translation/subtitles. However, when Sensei came on-screen and started handing out the poems to the areas that were represented at the meeting—I couldn’t help but start tearing up—my thoughts were about how great Sensei is to the members. Thinking about the best way to reach them. I was impressed by the YWD and WD of Japan—like usual, they are the reason the Gakkai exists—they are its eternal mothers and the lifeblood of the SGI. I couldn’t help but feel that I want Sensei to be at SUA for my graduation. I know he still has a lot of life in him, so maybe it’s not his time to spend his last days at SUA—but I want him to be there. If not, then I will make the trek back to SUA for when he comes to spend his last days there.

My trip in Japan has really come to an end. I don’t know how much I’ve spent. I don’t know what I’ve learned, just yet. I’m really glad I came—I didn’t really even feel like I went somewhere. But, I know that something in my life is changing.

I’m really thinking about how I can be more responsible to the YMD in Aliso Amigos District, how I can be a better student at SUA, and how I can change my relationships. I am determined to make 2006 a great year. I want to do shakubuku—someone said that Micro of Def Tech did 25 shakubuku last year. I want to have a life-condition that great and expansive.

To the year 2006, to all our goals, hopes, and wishes. To their completion! To friends! To family! To comrades! To all my best! Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

Day 13

06 January 2006

Today I ate at the famous Denny’s…the one that I remember seeing the second time I came here to Japan as a child, in 1996. I had a “Denny’s Breakfast” Yum! Other than the portions, it was a rather “normal” American breakfast—though the eggs tasted better here!

Afterwards, Secchan and Miyuki dropped me off at Zushi-eki (Zushi Station) so that I could catch a train into Tokyo to meet up with Allison, Mayumi and other SUA alumni. I first met up with Allison, we walked around Shinjuku, which is a rather stereotypical area of Tokyo. Many, many people, and many, many commuters. She was “gaijin” number 13 I saw while waiting for her at the Higashi-guchi (East Gate) of the station. By the way, Shinjuku station is huge—there’s a South Gate, a New South Gate, a Southeast Gate, a Central East Gate, an East Gate, a West Gate and a Central West Gate. There’s also several gates within the station that are basically connections to other train systems or subway networks. I’m tired just thinking of it. A lot of people running around and a lot of exits and entrances; it’s amazing that people can find each other there.

So, we walked around Shinjuku and chose to eat at a Mister Donut. That was good food! A bit expensive for two donuts and coffee, but it was oishii. After walking around some more, we got back to Shinjuku East gate and sat down for some coffee and tea at where else but Starbucks, while we waited for Mayumi.

Mayumi came and we went to Shibuya. Shibuya is stereotypical Tokyo, but with a lot of gaijin (foreigners). It’s Times Square meets Japan. Advertisements are everywhere, cars and busses running along the streets and taxis flying in every which direction, every so often punctuated with crossing masses of pedestrians and the tone of the crosswalk. It’s exciting and all, but I like window shopping in Ginza better.

So we had oyako-don in Shibuya followed by some window shopping at HMV and Zara, when Mayumi remembered that Kimiko Sato worked at a Tokyu Department Store in Shibuya. Unfortunately for us, there’s several Tokyu Department Stores within a 10- or 15-minute walk from Shibuya-eki. At first, we went to the wrong Tokyu, but it was fine, we found the right one to go to. Kimiko looks very sutekii working at the Givenchy registers. Givenchy is too expensive: there were racks of fur coats “on sale” for 70.000 yen—about $600. Kimiko also told some people that she rang up one customer for 2.000.000 yen ($16.000) and the customer paid it all in cash. That’s amazing…but then again, she works in Givenchy.

After leaving Shibuya, we left for Nakano, where we planned on having dinner at a yakitori place with other SUA alumni. We went to Nakano (Chuo-Rapid) and found a Salzeria to sit down at. Mayumi had a 3-course-meal snack and I had a bit of garlic toast. Yum. Salzeria is apparently a chain of Italian “ristoranti” in the Tokyo area. “Cool Beans!”

Dinner time comes: Tsuneko ENDO, Mayumi ASAKO, Allison REED, Rumiko YAMAUCHI, Yukio NAKAJIMA (mr. neato), Yumi TANAKA, Naomi YAMAMOTO, and I, all have yakitori. Yuta YANAGISAWA, Suh Jin PARK, and “Kacchan” KAWADA are supposed to be there, but can’t make it, one way or another, very sadly. I wanted to see Spark most of all, but that’s fine, we’ll meet somewhere else, some time else, I hope. Everyone seems fine, we spend time reminiscing about SUA times and about how everyone is doing wherever they’re at. Yukio speaks barely a word while we’re eating dinner (*) but we speak after eating dinner, seems like he’s not doing much right now, thus the name “mr neato,” he’s just working for Mr Chocolate and living at home with family (Nishi-Oi-eki, Yokosuka/Shonan-Shinjuku Lines). Seems like he’s still got some figuring out what to do with himself.

I had a good time, but I worried a bit about when I could get home, I left at around 11pm from the MacDonalds in Nakano, arrive in Shinagawa for the last train for Kurihama—all the while running from Platform 1/2—Yamanote-sen to Platform 12/13—Yokosuka-sen which was fun, with all the Japanese sarariman running with me from platform to platform. Omoshiroii. There were still 2 more Zushi-yuki trains, but I needed to get to Higashi-zushi, so I arrived at home late, at 00h35.

It was a full day.

Day 12

05 January 2006

It’s going to be hard to write “2006” everytime for the next week or so. I’m still not yet there. Yesterday was a perfect time to think. I think I needed to do some thinking, and getting away to Atami and the Yuuyuukan Onsen was what I needed. I hope it’s warmer in Cali.

Yesterday was onsen, ping pong/air hockey, and karaoke. I can’t really sing, but it was great to see my dad, my uncle, and three of my aunts singing along with classic Japanese songs from their past. That my dad left in the 70s is pretty apparent when you see the choice of songs that my dad chose compared to those that the others chose. The drive up was pretty bad, we hit traffic all along the coast on the way out to Atami. There’s no coherent network of free or toll-ways in Japan. It’s all pretty much run by private companies, thus, the highways are build where companies will make the most money. Inefficient and so not like California or the US. I’m glad that we have a full network of freeways and now we are “filling in gaps.” It beats the haphazardly-planned network of roads they have here.

Today we went to a part of Atami city, to a famous ryokan (Japanese-style hotel) and to Odawara-jyo (Odawara Castle). They were both interesting places. Sensei had once stayed at the ryokan. The castle was a re-creation, but it had interesting relics from the time period of the castle.

It was nice spending time with my uncle and aunts. They are all rather unique, though of the same family, each has their own unique personality. The two Nojiri sisters have similar personalities, while Secchan seems to be the one that brings others together. My dad and Minoru ojisan seem to be pretty similar-minded as well.

I wish I would have more time here in Japan to go exploring and to visit family. It might not be possible to take that much time off any time soon, so I hope I can meet them next time I come. Hopefully that will be as a Jet.

Day 11

04 January 2006

“Somehow I find that you and I collide.”

I wonder where I’ve come in the past year. Somehow I find that, I don’t really know where I’ve come; Have I really made any progress I’ve made on my goals?

Linda Johnson’s advice to the OC members at New Year’s Gongyo was to make an “Impossible List,” that is a list of things that you think are impossible, and set-out to do them, chant for them, to encourage your own faith in the Gohonzon. I need to do that.

“I finally find you and I collide.”

What would be on this list?

(1) I want to develop my capacity to feel other’s feelings; I want to change the way I interact with others—to be able to make them feel at ease in my presence.
(2) I want to find a great job for after university; one where I can combine my talents with computers and languages, as well as my ability to do research.
(3) I want to support my members the best way possible—encouraging them to become leaders through my own actions—specifically the YMD of Aliso Amigos District.

“Tengo la camisa negra. Hoy mi amor esta de luto.”

(4) I will build better relationships with my brothers, my parents, and my extended family in Japan.
(5) I will climb a mountain.
(6) I will skydive.
(7) I will visit NYC.
(8) I will finish my Capstone on time and in good health.
(9) I will be the best person at work.

“It started out with a kiss, how did it end up like this?”

(10) I will get my weight to be under 170 pounds (77 kg) and I will be at or under 10% body fat [I am currently 89.5kg and 21.5%.]

“De tardes negras, que no hay tiempo ni espacio y nadie nunca entendera. Quedarte, puedes? Porque la vida duele, duele demasiado aquí sin ti.”

(11) I will stay in contact with my friends from SUA—the seniors—my classmates (06ers)—my juniors (the Pirate Crew), and others from High School; wherever I go.

“What did you expect to find? Was it something you left behind?”

(12) I will go to China and India in the next 12 months.
(13) I will go to visit my friends in Europe in the next 18 months.
(14) I will have money to make these trips.

“Time to say good-bye Paesi che non ho mai…”

Day 10

03 January 2006

Dad and I also went up to Asakusa, Ginza, and Oosaki. This was at the behest of the Ishikawa’s (Dad’s sister). Asakusa would have been more interesting—except for all the people. There were people traffic police, at least that’s the best way I could describe it. They closed off a busy crossroads of people two directions at a time. They could’ve been British about it and thrown a big roundabout in the middle, but I’m glad that they had the pedestrian police there, it was pretty necessary.

Ginza is my kind of place. I would love to be able to shop there. Unfortunately, I don’t have that much money. But, I want to go back one day. It seems like a good shopping district—I think my uncle was saying that it was one of the first areas in Japan to have 100m blocks, all 8 blocks of Ginza from 1-chome to 8-chome are fully 100m. It’s an interesting experience. We had yakitori in Ginza, in what must have been in the 3rd basement of the building we were in. We also had nikujaga (potatoes and beef), a “spicy” dish, a tofu-plus-salad salad, some wine, yakiniku, and shi-o yakitori. Ooooooishi.

In ?? (Oosaki) we visited my aunt and uncle’s place. This is the aunt and uncle that are the parents of Kazuki and Chie. Chi-chan was the only one at home. We had some more food. During the night, while drinking a bit more [it sounds like all I did this day was eat and drink…maybe I did] the wall clock fell down, scaring the crap out of most people.

Tomorrow, we’re off to ?? Atami in ??? Shizuoka Prefecture for ?? On-sen [hot springs]. It should be fun!

Day 9

02 January 2006

There’s another marathon relay on TV, this time it’s the Hakone Ekiden. It’s about 30 of the Japanese university’s teams running relay against each other. Up to Hakone on Day 1, and back down on Day 2.

There was a big Nojiri family gathering at night. I saw most of my uncles and aunts. A few of their children (and their children’s children) were there. I saw Kazuki—a closer cousin to me. Of course, Minoru and Setsuko were there. So was Miyuki—the closest of the cousins. Ma-kun wasn’t here, he’s been studying for his big exam in a week or two.

Day 8

01 January 2006

Happy New Years! ????????????????????! ¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

How many ways are there to say that?! Haha: as many as there are languages—and even more I bet!

A cold new year’s day I guess. There’s a marathon on TV right now, I guess that that’s just a Japanese thing.

I went to visit Derek and Gen. Hmm…what can I say? They’re cute together. I dunno what they’re like in private, but they do make a cute couple—if you can tell that they’re one at all. Went to Indian food—made by real, live Indians. Was tasty, if not spicy enough. It’s Japan, what can I expect?