3/17/2011

life is tough,isn't it?

I am sorry that I will write my diary in Japanese today

今日は日記を日本語で書く事をお許し下さい。

ご存じのように日本では大変恐ろしい地震と津波の影響で多くの被災者が今もなお大変な思いをされています。

地震の当日は家でテレビを見ていました。家ごと横揺れしだしたので地震かなと思い、電気を消し
慌てて玄関に逃げました。おさまってからテレビをつけ、事の重大さに言葉を失いました。

何台もの車や家が流されて行くのをテレビで見ました。車が走ってる所に津波が襲いかかるのも
見て叫びました。今でも思い出すと鼓動が早くなってしまいます。

実は地震の2日前に我が家の事でかなりショックを受けていました。義母が来週入院すると言うのです。それもなぜかよくわからないのです。胸騒ぎがするものの、この災害が起こってからはそちらの方も心配で2重のショックに体調を崩すほどでした。

月曜に母が入院し、木曜の今日母は帰ってきました。主治医と話した義姉が今朝やってきました。
”胃ガンが再発しリンパがかなり腫れてるらしい。抗ガン剤は一生続くけどそれも高齢やから体力なくしたり食べれへんかったらどんどん悪くなる一方。もうこれからは元気なうちにやりたい事だけやらしてあげるしかないし、迷惑かけるけどお願いします。母は元気やし治ると思ってて何もわかってないけど”との事。その時は冷静に聞いてたものの、義姉が帰ってからは谷底に突き落とされた気持ちで涙があふれました。

しばらく、学校が休みだった娘が横にいてくれて泣いてる私についててくれました。息子も帰省していたし全部聞こえてたでしょうけど、2階にあがってしまったので泣いていたのかもしれません。

娘が冷静に”泣いてもしゃあないやん、今できる事やるしかないやろ。津波で亡くなった人みたいに
突然でないだけましやろ”と言いました。”でも成人式は絶対見たいっておばあちゃん言うてたから
そこまでは絶対生きててほしい”と涙声になって言いました。

気をしっかり持たないといけないのはわかります。高1と高3の受験前突然亡くなってしまった祖父母の時は泣く暇もなく大変でした。これから私にはどんな悲しみが待ってるのでしょうか。

息子も遠くにやってるから学校を変えようかとも思いましたが、娘と息子のダブル受験の時何か起こったら本当に大変なので悲しいけど息子には遠くで頑張ってもらう事にします。

災害などで亡くなった方や家を失った方に比べたら全然ましな方かもしれません。
ただ今まで普通に皆元気で仲良く暮らせてたので、今の状況が受け入れれないのです。

今私には何が出来るのか考えています。してもらってばかりで何もしてあげれてない、ただ京都から滋賀に帰ってきてすぐそばに住んであげた事くらいしかしていません。
胃が3分の1しかないので普段からほとんど食べれません。義父は義母がすぐ治ると思って外に
元気に働きに行ってます。ラブラブな夫婦でいつも一緒に畑に行ったり旅行に行ったり、軽トラで
買い物行ったり、1人欠けたら大変ちゃうのって村中の人がいつも心配していました。
とうとうその日がやってきました。

今日は1日泣いていたのですが、たまたま英語仲間の主婦友達とスカイプで話し少し元気が出ました。そして娘が”思ってる事をためないで何かに書いたら”と言うので、日記に書く事にしました。
私はとってもいくじなしです。今まで4人の元気な親に助けてもらってばかりいてこういう日の事を
想像しようともしなかったし考えないようにしていました。まだ頭が混乱していて何をどうしたらいいか困っています。義母にはまだ会ってないけど(今日はこのあたり大雪です)会ったら泣いてしまいそうで怖いんです。いつまでも落ち込んでるわけにはいきませんが、何とか気をしっかり持ち直したいのです。

被災した方には何も出来ず後に少々ではありますが義援金を送りたいと思います。自分だけ暖かい所でご飯も食べれる状況にテレビを見てると苦しくなってしまいます。
今は子供が家にいてくれそれが何よりの支えです。普通がいかに幸せな状況であるかを感じます。

しばらくこんなテンションが続くかもしれませんが、何とか頑張りたいです。
暗い内容でごめんなさい。英語で書けたら良かったのですが、何時間もかかりそうなので日本語にしました。お許し下さい。

2/24/2011

I learned by mistake

 An installation technician came to my house at 9:30 to install an air conditioner last Friday. There was no air conditioner in my dining room,so it was very cold and low temperature. Whenever I cooked  in this room, cold  was  pain in the neck.

 It took about 7 hours for him to finish his work. During his work, we heard the very loud sound many times when he drilled a hole.

 I have a pet cat. He is very nervous cat. He seemed to be scared. Probably he understood that something happened around him. He could not go to his toilet after he started construction work.

 At 4 pm, he went out  from my house suddenly and I was looking for him for 1.5 hours.I thought he had so much stress and worried about too much. At 5:30, he returned to my house,I was relieved...

At that night, I noticed that his attitude (action) was so strange. He went to the toilet too many times. Whenever he tried to go, he cried a lot.I could not sleep during the night.

 Next day, he seemed to be fine.I thought he got better. But his action became strange. At last he had a accident inside the "Kotatsu"( Japanese heater) many times. I found the blood inside his toilet.
I was very worry about him and decided to go to the animal hospital.At that day, veterinarian told me that it was no problem. He gave some antibiotics to us. When pet become sick,owner take them to the hospital.
But animal medical care is very expensive. I paid 5 thousand yen to the hospital.

 In the afternoon last Friday, I received a foreign student as a weekend hostfamily. He stayed in my house from  Friday to Sunday. I was worrying about if pet chii was ok  or not in this situation. But he likes cat very much and chii seemed to happy to see the  new guest.

 At night, cat chii's action became strange. He also had many accidents inside the Kotatsu  and entrance hall many times. And he did not try to eat anything. I decided to go to the animal hospital again. My husband became so angry because I and my daughter were too nervous. Although he advised us not to go to the hospital, we went there again.

 We did not keep calm because we love pet chii so much.The veterinarian check his condition.At first he examined his blood.Next he took 2 X-ray examination.After all he didn't find chii's problem( sickness)
He advised us that it was necessary for chii to have  a check at least twice a week. He also advised us to use the special food for him.Special food for cat is very very expensive. I have already ordered them by Internet. But he asked me that "why don't you bring special food today? You need to buy!"
I said to him," I have some special food in my house. I will not buy"
He seemed not to pretend to hear what I said.

  My daughter and I relized at last. We wondered if he was a bad doctor?! It was so late.We had to pay "13000 yen"

 After the circumstance returned to the normal life, chii got better. My husband said to me," you must not consult the bad doctor again." I agreed with him.

 We learn by mistakes as we know. I think... Chii is very nervous but I am more nervous. I have to  make sure carefully.

2/18/2011

Japanese situation and good news

As we know, the Japanese economy is bad and many people are becoming anxious about the future.


It is said that japan is a very safe country. But the crime rate is rising. Many people are becoming depressed or sad, leading to an increase in the suicide rate. It is becoming difficult for university students to find a good job with a good company before they graduate. After graduation, about 40% still can not find a job and become unemployed.



We don't  trust the Japanese government. They have many serious problems. They have tried to change the highway toll many times. They have been telling the people the budget is in the red, even with such a high tax rate. We are not sure anymore if we can get our pension at age 65. Anyway, these are our concerns about our life and the future right now.



One day though, I was watching TV  and I  saw something on the news that made me happy. According to the news, there was a man who under the name of [Date Naoto] (Translated means, Tiger mask, an old manga hero`s name.) He suddenly one day donated many new satchels to the children of an oprhanage. Soon after, many people started making donations under the name of "Date naoto." They donated money, stationary, and many other things through the orphanage, city hall, and police station. This news became known throughout Japan.



Date naoto was the name of an old manga character. I am not familar with this story because it was popular over 40 years ago. The story goes though, that he was raised in an orphanage where he gained the name tiger mask. Later when he became a professional wrestler he used this same name. Using his fame he was able to generate help and awareness for the poor. 50 years ago people heard this story and began to help the poor. Today this story inspired the elderly and even children to donate to the poor. I was impressed by their generosity.



"This phenomenon and campagin is so good. But I think, even if he did not appear and there was no news like this, we should help and support poor people. We have been making an effort to develop Japanese life( because of high economic growth) after the war. We only forget the people's kindness, it means many of us can't afford to think of others. We always have to have a tender heart. "



After this, I decided to help others as much as I can.

2/15/2011

Let's be careful !

From at  the end of last year, it snows a lot many times in Shiga.According to the TV News, it snows a lot from all over Japan. In my area, there were a lot of snow in this season.

When I had to go to the English conversation class last month, I decided to walk instead of a car. At that day, it was too much snowing. The road was like skate rink. I slipped about 10 times.When I arrived at school, I was very exhausted. It took for 1.5 hour on foot from my house to there.

After that, I had a little pain in my knees for a few days. I thought the reason was muscle pain. But it was getting worse and worse. And I noticed that my right knee was swelling up.

I went to the hospital and consulted a orthopedist about it. He told me that a part under right knee became
inflamed.  According to him, it would taken for 2  months to recover. I was surprised and dissappointed.

Of course, I tried  to protect my knees every time and so I used my shoulder and arm too much.
Now I have much pain in my shoulder and arm. I go to the clinic every day. The staff cure my arm and shoulder. But I haven't stretched them yet. Probably some tendon around the muscle is damaged. It is unexpected happenning to me.

There is good thing to me. In my toilet, there are 2 arm bar. I thought we would use them when we become
old at first. But it is very useful. When I stand up, arm bar support my knees.

I liked snow in the past, but I don't like the snow. Every body!  We had better not walk in the snow day. I am a bad example...

This is my parents in law's house.

12/25/2010

Christmas!

Today is Christmas day. A few days ago, I recived a nice present from my hostdaughers.I am very happy to received it.


There was a homemade card.What a cute card it was!

Christmas is not a holiday in Japan. But today is Saturday(weekend),so Many Japanese celebrate Christmas.Families and friends and hold parties with cakes and nice food.

Parents with small kids give them " gift from Santa Claus" In my family's case, we ate nice food yesterday.
We will eat cake today. Probably it will be very crowded in the cake shops. I ordered cake in the Inet shopping webpage.
Along with the New Year holidays, it is a big event of the party season!

The weather is very fine in Japan. But it is very very cold.

How do you celebrate in Christmas day,everybody???


11/19/2010

surprising Wednesday

I went to Kyoto to visit my grandparents grave alone this Wednesday.I usually go there twice a year( at the begining of Janually and Obon season in August) The weather was very nice on Wednesday so I decided to go. It takes about 1.5 hour from my house to grave. I made use of car and train.

At first I went around on foot near from Kamo river.Kamo river is well known to everyone. There were many people who were running,walking, taking a rest,playing musical instrument.

Second, I went to swimming school club because I had been learning swimmimg from elementary school to
high school student. After I graduated from high school, I never visited there.
I saw an old building. My heart was filled with emotion. I noticed that there was a man near from me.
To my surprising, he is my good friend husband. He is working in the swimming school.
I talked to him about 15 minutes. He also has children who are the same age as my children.
We enjoyed chatting.

Third, I went to Yasaka Shinto shrine because my grandprents grave is located next to it.
There were so many Japanese school trip students and travellers. I saw many red leaves.
I arrived at grave. I cleaned it and pray (talk?to my grand parents).

When I was about to return, I heard someone was talking in English beside me.
I saw 2 foreign female travellers.
I tried to say hello to them."Can I help you?"

One woman is from Germany and another woman is from Australia.
According to them, they got to know each other for 2 hours ago at the train station.
That was amazing. I suggested them to go sightseeing together because I wanted to guide them.
We decided to go around kiyomizu temple.

We saw some Maiko in Gion. There are many Geisha and Maiko in Gion area.
Geisha are traditional female entertainers.The trainees are called Maiko.
I asked them to take a picture together.
☆about Geisha and Maiko☆
They are performers of the traditional arts. Geisha start out as a trainee. You can tell a Maiko from a full Geisha by the length of the sash she wears on her kimono.The Maiko wears long,hanging sash and a full Geisha wears a short one.After some years of training, Maiko become Geisha.


After that we went toward kiyomizu temple. There were too many travellers. We visited some souvenior shops, took a rest to have some tea, taking some pictures.
I could not imagine that I was able to enjoy spending time with foreign travellers before I came to Kyoto.

Time went by very quickly and I had to return home.
When I said good bye to German woman, she gave a gift for me.
I was very glad to see them and that was surprising day!  I think that probably grandparents gave a nice present for me...

11/08/2010

Talk about my good friend's kindness

Let me talk about my friend. She is one of my good friend. When I was a runner, I got to know her. She is very kind. When I have some troubles and dissappointed, she always helps me.


She runs towards embankment for trainnig. She often finds many homeless kittens. Whenever she finds them, she brings them home. If they have some troubles( injury), she took them to the vet hospital. Then she takes care of them for a while and appeal on her webpage.
”Is there anybody who will take care of this pretty kitten?"

In fact she looked for them and took homeless kittens to their house about 50 times.It is amazing.

http://www.kcat.zaq.ne.jp/aaadd101/nekosan1.html

This is very impressive story for me.

This kitten whose name is Sachi was picked by her. Its eye was injured. My friend took it to the vest hospital soon.The veterrinarian removed its eye surgically. He got better although he can't see in his left eye.
She looked for somebody who would take care of it.

Fortunately one kind woman who lives in Hokkaido contacted with my friend. "I would like to take care of it" she said. My friend went to Hokkaido to take it by airplane.
Although it is very far from Kansai area to Hokkaido, she decided to give it to kind woman.

Now this kitten is very happy. I have never met such a kind friend before. Actually she helps and supports homeless kittens as a volunteer.She can't abandon homeless cats.

Recently it is said that some traders bring homeless cats back and sell them somebody to get money.
Cat's skin is used as a Japanese musical instrument's leather.
I don't want to imagine that cats were killed by traders. I know how my friend feels.

Anyway I respect her. What I want to say is we should help someone(something) when they need help. Supporting others is very important for our life.

10/31/2010

English cafe?!

I went to Ryuoh town in the afternoon yesterday to attend a trial lesson.
As I told you, I got to know an English teacher last month, she invited me her English school's lesson.

According to her, English zone is held at her school once a month  on Saturday. It means that students can experience semilar to go abroad to study in Japan.

When I arrived at her school, nobody came. After that one female young student came. I said hello to her and introduced them to  each other. I knew that she was a high school student and the same age as my daughter.

I told her that my daughter had been to Austlalia when she was a junior high school. To my surprised,
she told me that she also had been there and participated in the same program. And she remember my daugher's name and face.That was amazing! What a small world it is!

Next, another young woman came. I said hello to her. She told me that she knew me because teacher yumi
was talking about me to her at first. So we could easily introduce ourselves.
We were talking about our hometown. To our surprised, her hometown is very closed to mine.
And we knew that we were born in the same hospital! Wow! I was very surprised to have an  accidental connection.

Finally, an  English native male teacher came. Although that was my first experience to have a lesson in Ryuoh, I had ever seen him before. That was amazing,too!

I told him that I remembered his face and I am a member of Koka city International society.
He also lives in Koka city and he has something to do with Koka International society.
I was very very surprised to have a lot of in common with him.

He was talking about Halloween.I am a Japanese person,so  I didn't know about it. I was able to know
about the origin of it.We were talking about a lot of topic and time went by very quickly.

The manager who was Yumi's husband served us. We had some tea and cakes.
Now teacher yumi is in china and enjoying her trip.

The teacher gave a small present (snack) to us. What a nice day it was!

I will attend a cafe lesson next month with my friend.