Tom the Kitty
This is my cousin’s daughter Yukika when we went to the Chigakasaki Matsuri.
I haven’t been writing much lately since I work, I have money so I have more options to do things. I traveled a lot in March, went to Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Osaka, Hiroshima, Kamakura, Enoshima, and of course Tokyo. In April, I started school and work simultaneously, studying, reading, watching Japanese films, along with lots of playing more so seeing my relatives. Went to the Rainbow Pride, and found out the LGBT community in Japan don’t like to show off too much.
I love Japan so much, it’s so much fun here. But I think the reason why I love it even more, is because of all my family I have here. All my relatives, and all the new babies joining the family. My goal before leaving is to see them as much as I can before I leave August 6th, 2012.
I keep thinking weather I will ever move to Japan again.
Today I started thinking what I will do when I get home. I think I will join a youth development program in Oakland and be a mentor. I want to start working on my teaching assistant hours. I think I want to do that in San Francisco. I also want to do Jump Start and Sexual Educational PEACHES. I want to get involved with the Variations Club. And maybe do an internship for that Filipino Club.
Then I begin to realize more and more, that the Bay is my community I belong. Even though I love Japan so much, I feel like it’s foreign to me when it comes to how I can help the community here.
That’s all I want to do in life, is help. Help all the kids who didn’t get a chance and give them a new one, help all the friends who struggle with those demons inside, help my mother, brother, and sister be happy, and most of all help myself to better understanding the beauty of the world.
We all forget that we are just humans, trying to control what little control we have. But we have to remember to just control your own actions, and do so wisely.
Beautiful mothers, so the ones like mine. Lead by example, by acting so kind & so good, along with never trying to control their child’s brilliant mind flourish.
I think all this stuff sounds better in my head.
And we were lucky to land good jobs with a steady income. But we only finished paying off our student loans—check this out, all right, I’m the President of the United States—we only finished paying off our student loans about eight years ago.
—President Obama in North Carolina today on why Congress has to act to prevent interest rates on student loans from doubling (via barackobama)
When Obama was nominated, he got a lot of criticism for not having military experience. I think it’s more pertinent that he had the experience of not growing up wealthy and privileged in America. How can someone who’s never had to worry about money or loans create a fair policy about them? -Jess
(via stfuconservatives)
(via fingerlickin)
So Sick of being Sick
Ever since I started working that’s where all my energy has been going too. I would go to sleep around 1am or 2 am and wake up at 11am or 12pm. I don’t know why I sleep so much. I swear ever since I moved to Japan I been more exhausted and more tiered all the time. I sleep way to much and still feel like poop. Maybe it’s lack of mommy’s cooking and care.
I am worried when I start school I will just be super exhausted and get bad grade this semester because I will be over worked. If it starts to feel like that I will ask for less hours.
I am so sick. I had a 100 degree fever on Friday, a ear infection, congestion, and I am weak. Right I feel a lot better, thanks to the over 26+ hours of sleep this weekend and the medicines I got from the hospital.
I don’t even recall the last time I was this sick, the children are really getting me sick! I am scared of catching a cold! I am scared of going into work tomorrow! I know I sound sick, I wonder if it will be ok if I do and teach.
I never been this sick or been this exhausted until I lived in you, Japan.
TnT I want my mommy.
Living out the Life in honor for my Daddy
Ever since my mother left from her visit I have been busy with my part-time. I teach English to children from the ages of 3 to high schoolers, and even adults. I teach mostly children, and they are so adorable. I catch myself smiling the whole time while I work, because I truly enjoy the presence of children. Being around children, they like to touch you, sneeze on you, and rub all their germs on you. I got very ill and last weekend spent the entire weekend on recovering. Now, I been drinking lots of vegetable juice and eating mostly vegetarian meals.
Today, refreshingly is my day off. I wanted to wake up early, so I have a better sleeping schedule. I put my alarm for 8:30am, woke up and put on several alarms over and over again in attempts of getting out of bed. I did this until 10am.
During my half awake, half asleep-ness I had a very vivid dream. Kento and I were at home, and we were fighting about something stupid. When Kento and I were children we use to fight alot since we were only 2 years apart in age and we use to share a room together. In the dream, I was present day age. I got so upset with Kento, I ran to my father who was in the livingroom reading newspaper. He held me as I cried. Then I woke up.
I got out of bed today at noon. I can’t really describe what I feel right now. I mostly feel guilty, sad, and alone. I feel like I don’t appreciate my dad as much as I appreciate my mom. Of course I give my mother more credit for she is still around, my daddy deserve credit for building my character, for teaching me love, sarcasm, silliness, playfulness, compassion, and so much more.
I am sad, since I was only 14 when my father passed away. I wish I knew more about him, I wish I had more memories of him. I like hanging out with Charlene since she remembers a lot about him.
When I get home, to California. I want to dig up all the old pictures of my daddy and put them in a frame. So I can smile more about why I live so hard everyday.
Ikaika-chan playing with his purrrty hair <3
We are all Humans
The main reason why I am in Japan is to explore and further gain a better understanding on my heritage. I would of never came here if it wasn’t for the Ethnic Studies College at San Francisco State University. It is the Ethnic Studies courses which liberated my mind and my soul from the oppression I experienced from the majority.
This article by one more my greatest mentors, Kennth P Monterio (the dean of Ethnic Studies College) illustrates the importance of Ethnic Studies to the people of America. For we are not one solid color, but a endless waterfall of colors. Humans who come from different background, different experiences, different struggles, different cultures and way of living.
From my studies, i further began to understand the fear of what we have regrading the human race. We are fearful of things unfamiliar and instead of curiosity we used hate.
I miss San Francisco State University and bathing in that water fall.
In Japan, all I do is be curious and wanting to know more about the hidden history and beauty of my ancestors.
Tonight my student (Terry mid-40 year old Sony employer who needs English for his presentations regarding medical products such as pregnancy radar reader thingy) invited me out to a sushi restaurant then a wine bar.
When I teach English I would have to speak very slowly (well that’s what it feels like) since apparently I talk fast. But once we got to the wine bar Terry told me to speak only Japanese. It felt so good to be out with nice Japanese men who reminded me of my uncle.
I told them that this is my first birthday in Japan since I was born. The owner over heard and brought me this cake.
What a surprising great birthday! Yay I will be 22 less then 45 mins!
I would like to thank you for your further support as my life continues! Cheers!
It’s a Good Friday!!!
Yesterday I got lost going to my interview for a teaching English job in Ebina. They took me into the classroom, and their were 6 kids for every teacher and I was shocked on how good the English were of the children. Chika (coordinator of the center) was talking to me like she already hired me. The main teacher went home early because she was ill so she said I have a skype interview today.
After my interview I went to Machida and picked up my Vagina Monologues Books (IN JAPANESE!!!) Yay! Now I have to start organizing and rehearsing.
Today sashiburi slept in. Woke up showered and got ready for my skype interview then the main teacher Zoe called me. We spoke and said they needed enthusiastic people. I told her how I love children and want to be a elementary school teacher when I grow up. She loved me! And started to tell about the process of training and paper work!!!
Only one and a half week since school has been out and I have a part-time job and got the ball rolling for my Vagina Monologues project!
And and and and… tomorrow is my Birthday! For my birthday I get to be with my mom and uncle! Yay!!!
Saaya is too cute! Cory has a good looking neck. I made my first GIF, it’s when we played in the snow. The snow is still on the street it is about 20~30 degrees F everyday! Brrr!!!