The b Akasaka smack in Tokyo midtown is also a block away from the Tokyo branch I am supposed to visit in a few days. No wonder since the area seems full of banks and financial institutions. And once again I am near a tv station, TBS, which seems to have some live open public shows from time to time. It is also attached to the Akasaka blitz or theatre, which right now is playing Xanadu, a musical starring that woman from the movie Grease, Olivia Newton something. Nothing else but expensive shopping centres and capsule hotels apart from offices. Last night though I made my first midnight trip to the combini to get food, around midnight, enjoying the calm and quiet air after the rain. I also managed to chit chat to a delivery guy who was looking for an address. Also, a block away is filled with restaurant, near the metro so ican enjoy some kaiten sushi.
Well I needed a suitcase to fit my extra stuff accumulated in 2 weeks. Unfortunately the new suitcase turned into a shopping bag, so now I have new shoes for work and lots of funky socks.
What made Kyoto very loveable was the small streets with unexpected treasures. For example, the shop in Arashiyama which was completely hidden between 2 restaurants. If you walk too fast, you will miss this tiny shop which has all sorts of little ornaments made of silk cocoon. Two obaachan and an ojiisan are tending the shop and kindly wrote kanji on the chimes I bought, with the kanji of my adoptive name (apricot and sun). We had a poetic conversation and he wrote some on the chimes...happiness on a paper. The other example is the tama bells shop, once again displaying those sparrows on a keg on the main street and pointing to a dark dead end where pottery bells and a flock of cute sparrows wish you good luck. Today it didn't rain in Kyoto and I walked from the main station along karasuma-dori, up to shijou-dori to end up in teramachi. And again walking to a seemly dead end street took me to a major shopping area. This is a dangerous town indeed!
After a morning stroll around the ryokan, I ended up walkin along shoji dori, crossing the city from east to west. At the intersection of omiya and shoji, I hopped on the 28 bus for Arashiyama. As the name indicates, it is the area at the foot of a mountain chain, famous for the river walk and the bambou groves. What was soothing was the sound of wooshing bambous in the wind, and if you look up at that time, a rain of golden bambou leaves lazily circle down to earth. no words can describe this small happiness.
The golden pavillion is splendidly shining even on a moody day like today. Instead of an omamoru, a charm, I got a votive charm, and I have no idea what is written on it apart from Kinkakuji.
I am talking chou a la creme, something that is quite popular around here, or I am just eager to sit down and rest from the drizzle of rain pouring in Kyoto, before I embark on a tour of the Imperial palace and the Golden pavillion
I was hoping we could enter some buildings but the tour was only to see from the outside of the main buildings. Nevertheless it was a sight despite the rain. Also one only can tour after applying to the Imperial household agency, with a passport.
Here is the very comfortable futon I am crashing on for the next 3 nights. It's in a quiet street at the foot at Kyumizudera temple in Kyoto, a top 3 of the sights in town. So it is also walking distance to Gion, the entertainment or geisha district.
This little card is the equivalent of the Oyster card in London, or Navigo in Paris. It is very practical in Tokyo, because there are at least 3 different companies operating the trains and chikatetsu (subway). So connecting from one to another is a headache if you have to get a ticket everytime. With pasmo, you put any amount of money on it and you breeze through all gates while it deducts the exact fare upon your exit. What is more convenient even is that you can pay with pasmo in cafes, combini or even shops on the shinkansen platform. It saves me from handling little change.
Talkative in a bad way. Well, I blame it on the beer I had earlier. For I treated my host, S. poorly by barely letting him speak. Nevertheless he laughed a few times and I learned some interesting views on Tokyo and Japanese corporate workplace. For example, office workers all wear black and white suit. Sometimes the suit vary colors but the shirt is 99.9% of the time, white. I have a green dress for next week and I hope they will forgive me.
Here are a few things I realized after almost 2 weeks or so in Japan: -fruits here are expensive so bring your fiber or vitamin suplements. Apparently though they are discounted in the evening. -everything and everyone seem specialized, or I am watching too much tv. Everything is perfected, but in the intimacy of people's home where things are more relaxed. Or am I just anxious to blend in? -sometimes, the same people are on tv for 3 or 4 tv shows in a row. Same for dramas. I don't mind kimutaku though...hehe. Speaking of Kimutaku, he is back with a new drama: mr brain, starting saturday night. -it is easy to navigate Tokyo, but not so mich outside Tokyo as signs are also in english. Although central Kyoto is ok since it is a grid. -don't expect to bring posters home. So far apart from ikemen in magazine, I could not find any. Maybe in museums? -expect to wake up early. -pasmo is super convenient in Tokyo -carry a sweater at all times are AC is everywhere:30C outside, but 20C in trains and buildings. -don't rely on the pictures of food packages. Instead ask what is the flavour or what is inside if you can't read katakana or the kanji. hiragana will help a bit.
With a blazing sun and the aozora (blue sky) waking me earlier than my alarm clock, it was a pity I forgot my parasol. But armed with a useful fan I could enjoy the quiet oasis in the middle of Tokyo. There was a lot of walking in the sun though, around the moat guarding the palace. The furiaken garden entrance iss closed to visitors as it is the garden surrounding the palace directly. At lunchtime I dragged my hungry self to Nihonbashi area where hurried workers gobbled their soba or udon standing at the counter. I ended up eating at the basement of the famed Mitsukoshi department store: take unagi don and my first asahi beer. Surprisingly I enjoyed the beer. I had it because I did not have the courage and words to ask for non alxoholic drinks. It is a miracle I made it out of there after handling chopaticks almost inconsciously.
I could not see the sun today. The sky was grey overall, visibility maybe 1km. Still today a trip to Odaiba was on my schedule. I lost at least a total of 900g and 20min aimlessly wandering between the closed Miraikan (museum of innovative science & technology) and the Tokyo big sight (an exhibition hall, where I could pay 3000yen to attend an exhibition of beauty products, no thank you, I am already subliminally beautiful, duh). I also waited for a waterbus ship in vain. But I was somewhat happy with my visit at Fuji TV. One day maybe I will pay the 1900YEN per year to be able to be in the audience. But I managed to find an ATM in english (not such a good thing) in the last Vegas style Venusfort mall where I saw this barbieshop. The mall has a theme of wedding... After 4h of walking with an onigiri and a white bun in my stomach all day, I got back to Shinjuku to try the malls there, after a short stop at Shimbashi to check out the tv station there. OMG, this basement of Odakyu store is like the mecca of expensive food of all sorts:from 2100yen mango to confectionary. I got some bananas and pineaple for like 1000yen. Damn, no wonder there are tons of ads for veggie juice on tv. Speaking of tv, my hotel is behind NTV offices and not far from NHK and AsahiTV. But I have had enough of crowds and will soak in a bath. Tomorrow, probably shopping and sightseeing the nearby Imperial Palace or garden before meeting a local, provided I find out where we meet. Tokyo is tiring... I got back to the hotel
After finding out that the Studio Ghibli museum is closed for maintenance till the 22nd and the weather is dry and sunny, it is clear that today is another train intensive day. First, mount Fuji up close. But it looks like the clouds were happy hiding the snowy cone. So a climb by ropeway to Oowakudani for my dose of greenery and adrenaline rush is 'de rigueur'. Away from the bustle of Tokyo, this feels nice. Also ingested loads of fresh when sailing in front of the boat. Next? Either a monja dinner with local couchsurfers if I make it back on time, or a Shinjuku area exploration. Either way, my stomach will have to hold the Hakone cake eaten for lunch.
This is really super convenient to city hop. It is quite comfortable, lots of leg room, clean, and the chairs can rotate to face forward or backward. Also ever staff bow on entry and exit of any carriage.
Since today the K. Family is busy receiving payments at work, I've decided to do a scoutong trip in Kyoto:getting a feel of things. I will be staying in Kyoto next weekennd for 3 days.
Edit: not to be confused with Ueda, the silly professor whoearned martial arts by distance learning. Lol.
There are a few things of life I've learned so far, by being in Japan: -presents are always wrapped. If you mention it to a shopkeeper, he'll do it. And better than my wraping and their normal wrap is beautiful -you must change shoes when entering the toilet. There is a pair there just for that. It is a bit of an exercse to leave your shoes outside the toilet, then wear the ones inside the toilet. -I can now eat fish on its bones with chopsticks. It may tage hours but the dish is the more delicious -I learned to bow when exiting a shop. The trick is not to forget to urn around completely and face the shop. -knowing the basics of the language is very useful as many original restaurant or shops out of the beaten path have loads to offer -I can eat 3 times again, full set of homecooked meals. Finally, the view is from a landmark in the north part of Osaka. At sunset, it must be beautiful, but I was not paired up so went back home...sniff. But the homecooked dinner with the whole K. Family was ready when I got home and we chatted till 11pm so all is good.
Well, instead of getting to Namba station at noon, I got there arount 2pm. Met a lot of 'hosts' and weird guys picking me up while I waited for the lights to turn green at crossroads. Well, it's easy to single me out, everyone is kinda pale. Had so much fun window shopping.
Meeting the K. Family was fun. I could understand them and we had fun doing groceries at the supermarket, with all the food I've never seen before. Later on we had temakizushi at home, literally hand sushi, where everyone just self served with stuff to put in they seaweeds and made their own roll or cones. Some had beer, I had plum wine. Yum! Today, we went to see a famous burial mount of an emperor, the shape of a keyhole, surrounded by 2 water barrier: koofun. It's about 500m long and as wide. After that we went tempozan, the lowest mountain of Japan:4,53m. Lol. Pictures later. And finally after seeing many trucks on the road to minato, we went into Osaka fo the Osaka-jou, the old castle. The weather was still hot, maybe 25C at 4pm. Back at home I had a demo of calligraphy and my name written, and it was beautiful. In the evening we walked to a nearby yakitori restaurant, got drunk and ate loads of meat on sticks...I have no idea what tomorrow has for me, so I'll sleep tired, sweaty and happy I can be understood so far from my reality...
A few words about today: -An early morning due to jetlag. I have never been that awake at 4:00am -McDonalds breakfast: imagine a sausage and egg sandwich with maple syrup stuffed pancackes as bread...YUM! -A nice morning walk in Asakusa, viewing Sensou-ji temple and the backstreets around Kaminoarimon. -A long walk to Tokyo station, and a very expensive umbrella to comfort and protect me from the...sun...yup yup 。。。。
Last night arrival left an impression of a hot and humid weather on my skin. I was sweating profusely in the train but managed my 2 connections at Tokyo station and Ueno station without getting lost. It was around 8pm so plenty of suited salarymen around. It was easier to spot the casual dressed workers and tourists. Also met my first drunken salaryman at Asakusa station, but the stationmaster kindly helped him through the gates and toward his train. So far everyone i approached with my broken japanese was very kind. I still need to find a SIM card as I couldn't find one in Narita.
The day is finally here in 30min, the day I am going east, east east!!! It's still amazing me how about a year ago, in a mentoring and coaching class, I volunteered as a cobaye, to be coached. And this lady actually talked me through my vague plan of one day going to Japan. At that time I was just playing around, trying not to be too serious, just to play my role as a demonstrator...And here I am, after devouring Minna no Nihongo volume 1 and taking with me volume 2 just in case.
And in the last 2 days, it's stress after stress: decisions at work (not taken yet), laundry to do and dry, room to clean, maps and hotels information to print, passport to copy, suitcase to pack (only 20kg allowance!!!), weight to loose (ah well, had a burger and fries tonight before getting some healthy japanese food soon), phones to unlock, money to exchange, face to tidy up (yes, pimples that I havent' seen in months are appearing just to make me presentable to the beautiful new country that will host me), emails to send (planning to visit the Tokyo office)...
I am crazy. Or I just love the thrill ebfore a trip. At this time tomorrow, I'll hopefully be sleeping in the plane as my day at work will start at 7 (ok, 7:15 because the shuttle service starts at 7), and I will try to tame the beating of my hearts to slow down a bit, for fear of tearing down the office out of excitement.
That's the London Philharmonic Orchestra, resident of Royal Festival Hall on Southbank. I just happened to walk by on Saturday afternoon and found out they were playing. The program? You can here some sample on their website.
I was familiar with the hall, and I got to sit on the side, just behind the first violins. So I could see the orchestra and conductor from within 5-10 meters. I was very surprised when the conductor arrived on stage because I forgot I met him before: during my audition with the London Philharmonic Choir!!!!
From the first note uttered by the violins, I was pierced by the beautiful blending sounds. I don't know if it was because I was very close to the stage or because the pieces they were playing were very touching, but it made my heart slow down and my body hair rise. I was in tears and so happy.
I almost laughed when they played the nuptial march from the Mendelssohn suite. I will never be able to enjoy that piece of music during any wedding because I now have heard it with a full orchestra and its sound is so much more than a celebration of a wedding!!!
I have become a fan of that orchestra and will attend more of their performances as they ar enot too expensive compared to the Royal Symphonic Orchestra of the Royal Opera House.
I have packed away the wool coat, and taken out the tissues. Pollen and dust are seen reflecting the light from the sun that has blessed us for about 3-4 days now. The temperature is consistently reaching the double digits, from noon anyway. The mornings are comfortable even though the evenings are still chilly. Maybe we are having a pleasant spring.
But I am faced with brain tiring decision to make. On one hand, a tiresome but secure job to do, in a different country where opportunities for entertainment or access to evening courses are limited. On the other hand, the risk of unemployment but maybe also the chance to change job.
I have 2 weeks to make a choice, before flying off to the other face of the earth and forget myself in unknown land. So for now, in between looking for hotels, I am looking for jobs. It should be the other way around, but I am too stressed to be doing it full time, and I am more interested in enjoying my holidays. I haven't open a textbook in weeks, and I know I am loosing some vocabulary already, but I will cram before the departure..
For now, I am trying my best to tamper my guts feeling and wait for the deal breaker to show up, one way or another so that I can make a decision whether to sign the damn contract or not...
Sometimes I just can't write anything, like today... Maybe because there is so much I want to put in words but they are not addressed to anyone in particular. Or even worse, I just cannot share them with anyone else but myself, and that usually wlows down the process of forming words.
So instead I started reading again. Books with stories, words that bring up vivid images and atmospheres. Many people, my colleagues included, call that wasting time and argue that as opposed to watching a movie, it is a waste of energy to concentrate and read stories...I suppose that is the only reading I do since I tragically fail to read any newspapers.
<> <-----unshared thought For now I am working on defining my new quest.
These hot days just keep continuing. Are you doing o.k.? I'm worried. You know that I'll be steady. I feel awkward just talking to you over the receiver, but we both feel the same way. It's natural. It didn't go as well as I thought. So far, so far, we're separated from eachother. There are even times we spend all night talking over the phone. Even though my heart is frail, out of the deep darkness, some light manages to shine. You and I laugh and cry together. With you living in some other city, I can't bring us together. But I'm here. The sky is dank, with a hurricane ripping through in the distance. Both at once? What horrendous weather. I feel even lonelier. The night makes the floors, doors, and walls seem impossibly vast. The window rattles from the harsh wind. Let's stay connected by the receiver and keep talking until we're too tired to go on. With you living in some other city, I want you to understand. We're not alone. Even the weather report can't capture it, how we've been separated. Still it looks like these hot days are going to continue. The clouds begin to part the rain is letting up, but you and I are still wet from the laughter and tears we share. With you living in some other city, I can't bring us together. But I'm here.
With 2 duvet, a warm bottle, socks, sweatshirt over my pyjamas, spring hasn't really made an effect on my freezing body yet, even if it is showing it's frail figure among the howling northern winds and budding clouds. The window is not windproof, nor soundproof! Across the street, luxurious one bedroom apartments with all glass walls shine their warmth and comfort through teasing blinds...
Really, I can't wait for the summer to warm and appease my frustration.
From last saturday my mind has tried to outreach to all potential contacts that could get me those bloody concert tickets. As a results, this week's work has been bothersome, tedious and plain annoying. The fact that the boiler is down and showering with 3 pots of hot water every morning is not helping the bleak mood. All is not lost though as I still manage to get to work for the sake of my colleagues (thinking I am indispensable) and not so much about my clients. but 70% of the time my mind is turned east, to this trip in japan. So this is what it feels like to have a dream and reach out to it? Strange
When I wake up this is what I am seeing: And this is where I spend most of my time:
The drawer and wardrobe is still messed up so it won't be worth showing. It's so cozy the only available empty space I have is that runner on the floor where I sprawl around when making a mess and avoiding the bed.
Today has been a bit eventful. I almost got an international assignment as a team leader in Geneva, if the 14 other applicants in Geneva did not exist. Nevertheless, I showed up on time this morning at 9:00, to see an email from the very pregnant team leader in Geneva asking me to book a Videoconferencing room for 10:00 for my interview.
Rewind.....
February 2nd we receive an email about some assignment in geneva, with an assessment scheduled on February 5th. On february 5th, I inquire about the details of the roles to my boss, who knows nothing more than I do. So he suggested I register my interest. So I agreed and told him 'yeah, well, to be interested, we also need the details right?'. So that was Thursday evening. Then the next day, Friday at 5PM, HR calls me and asks me to send a CV and motivation letter to very pregnant woman L. that is about 30min before I finish. Fortunately Mrs. L. asks me to send those on Monday instead as she is in a hurry to go on weekend. Which I sent first thing yesterday...
And this morning, I had to book a bloody videoconferencing room. Fortunately one boss was around so I just begged for a room and she made the booking. Then I had to find the room and make the damn thing work..so my boss came down with me and we tried to find the damn room in Geneva...he managed to connect to it, sat me down in the executive chair and left me panting for air...And so started the most unprepared job interview of my career so far:
-'what is your plan to improve performance and reach this year's objective?' ah, a plan? hmmm...I surely said something plausible but since it was improvised I cannot remeber what i said -'how do you go about working with product A and B? Wait, as far as I know, my boss doesn't know anything about the products I am playing with so...'I'll obviously learn as much as I can on my own, using the resources available'..well that is the most obvious answer I gave...although I doubt it is feasible given the timeline -'Are you confident to do sogiven that we are looking for someone to start at the end of february at the latest?' welllll, see??This is why I asked for the bloody details!!! Nowhere in the announcement did it say that it would be so short notice (I am not a journalist so I am not used to being sent to the end of the world in the following minute). But hey, my suitcases are already done since I am moving house, might as well stay packed for Geneva.
Anyway, 1h later of almost jokingly answering all the questions to those 3 Swiss based bosses (2 pregnant ladies and a smily dude), I was told to book another room for this evening to announce their decision.
I had all afternoon to find out the deal about relocation packages and the international assignment policies. By the time I found and made a quick scan of it, it was time for the second videoconference......This time I was incapable of making video contact.
So I sat in the executive chair, looked at myself in the big flat screen in front of me and heard their decisions over the phone: 'I was brilliant, please apply again in June, etc...They'd prefer a plug n play person, who already knows all the stuff.' To be honest, unless the 14 other applicants from Geneva were total crap, it is cheaper for them to have someone local. BUT....I had my face out there and now they know who I am....
Little me is very proud, because I was almost in my pyjamas, in my head especially. Now I just have to apply to those other positions and get to know more people. Thi is like wearing sandwich boards in the streets with my name on it.
Last but not least, I am relieved I am not moving to Geneva for 12 months next week!!
15cm snow fell overnight and most train didnt work so i couldnt get to work. Ironically as well today is national sick day, ie most people would call in sick.
For half a day she tried on the life of a pampered woman : spending that half a day soaking in a hot bath till she wrinkled up, getting ready to walk in the cold to the hairdresser, enjoying a head massage and a new haircut (by a 'director' please! not just a stylist), then healthy dinner with sushi.
All in all though nothing else was done: no studying, no worrying..just magazine reading...kind of letting vacuum take hold of her brain.
Tomorrow, she'll be back as normal, filling up her head with kanji, information about her next trip, and worries about her future 'I'...
Rather than trying to live strongly In order to truly become strong On the edge of the rooftop I let my wounded feathers tremble I look up at the cool night sky
I drown in the thrill of frauds I run into the intense knife blade What is reality? Where is the truth? The blue sky seems further away the more I worry
A devilish smile like an angel It is overwhelming this town It seems like it could be broken, it seems it could be lost But it will definitely go out and find A true heart
If under the weight of the dream you carry Your arms are becoming a little tired It will be alright Because I will support you Don’t falter, just believe in that dream
A devilish voice like an angel I can hear it in my chest I haven’t sinned yet I am suffering That heart is painfully Continuing to call me…
What is reality? Where is the truth? The blue sky seems further away the more I worry
A devilish smile like an angel It is overwhelming this town A devilish voice like an angel I can hear it in my chest I haven’t sinned yet I am suffering That heart is painfully Continuing to call me…
I am supposed ot review for my exam which is on Thursday 10am, but instead of reading the 500+ pages required, I watched this addictive series called Maou. For those who want to take a break from Pokemon island (evil laugh) or to watch a less bloddy version of Saw, this is quite a thriller.
What impressed me most were the character's take on vengeance, hell, and atonement. The emotions are pretty raw and poignant in the series, and each character is somewhat complex. It is a series in which it is pretty difficult to hate even the 'meanest' character.
Finally, it made me feel like hell is only a threat if one understands what it feels while alive: to loose one's loved ones, not to be believed in, to be rejected by society, for example. And that vengeance can take up your whole life, which can loose its meaning once vengeance is achieved.
After many long months of debating and searching for a decent ticket for Japan, I finally decided on using my £250 voucher from AF (thanks striking pilots!), and booked my economy, non changeable ticket to the far east.
My month of May should be quite interesting indeed. I even have the possibility to participate in a homestay program for a week, and experience what it is to be ina Japanese family. Part of the attraction is to eat homecooking food! And maybe to learn some as well.
The only scary and appalling part? I only have 20kg checked luggage allowed!!! Hopefully it will be a warm spring season, though I'll miss the cherry blossom viewing (unless I go north to Hokkaido). But I guess I won't be carrying to heavy souvenirs on my way back.
Counting the days (and counting the calories not to eat, as I don't wanna be the fattest person there)...asian people are so thin, even my arm would give them a heart attack. It will be a full culture shock for me, but I do not want to shock them either by being foreign, dar skinned, AND fat...grrrrr..at least I'd liek to fit in my nice clothes...from 3 years ago. resolution? no...necessity.
So how many of my friends have kids now? And how many of them are already trillingual by birth? Just imagine, in 20 years, with everyone moving and expatriating all over the place, most kids will be trillingual...maybe the percentage is already close to 50% in some areas?
I remember something about most Europeans being billingual nowadays: local language and the native one, or the local language and English.
I wonder, will the left brain take over the right brain then? Or will it grow bigger? Mind you, there are already so many right handed people already, it shouldn't change much..but I wonder still..would you become left handed to relieve your left brain???
And so while looking for lateralization of brain function, I stumbled on NLP, which is used in managerial training, and which seems to be some bullshit disguised as a formula for success...but! Everyone believes in it and get NLP certified....interesting...
I finally saw the fireworks on the Thames....from my bedroom window! As the chimes rang on Big Ben on the BBC, the horizon lit up with a kaleidoskope of lights, silently spilling upward. There must be thousands of people huddled underneath those lights, freezing blue and cheering the new born year, trying hard to believe in hope and new starts.
As nine replaces eight, a second later than usual, a certain bitterness stays: an after taste of ways of doing things better or wasted opportunities? Or is this just the feeling of time passing by? Why are the uneasy times better remembered than the happy times?
Happy times there were: a smile here and there, warming the gloomy mood. Laughs and cheers during family and friends reunions. A sense of small achievements upon a pay rise.
No matter how poignant the hard times are though, the short lived happiness that comes before is what I am looking forward to living again.
Winter is gnawing at your bones and taking your breath away in a fit of coughs? Have you eaten so much your bellybutton has popped out of its socket? Or are the numbers on your credit cards so unreadable from overusing it that you can't buy anything online anymore?
The holidays period brings its shares of denial attitude: I can buy as many pair of lively colored socks, I can eat all the chocolate I got for Christmas, I can run. But the truth is, I am broke, indigestion is lurking behind that piece of chocolate, and my throat and cough hasn#t dissapeared since 23rd November.
What is worth looking forward to?
-Definetely not the new year resolutions. They will only last about 3 weeks. -A promotion at work? that is as uncertain as my weight next year -A new flat or room? I have about 3 weeks of rummaging through the ads online to find a cheap decent one. -My trip to Japan in May? Only if I decide to buy the plane ticket soon, after I realize there won't be any international assignment during that period.
For now, I am in pure denial and enjoying good company in my friend Zab, who I initiated in the lifewasting task of watching Japanese JDrama (mwahahahahaha). Sharing a passion is always very satisfying...
ゆっくりと… 届くよメロディー 好きだよ 大好きだよ いつまでもいっしょ 恋する あなたには あたしだけなの あたしだけなの ============== I told you about my growing love And you gave me a big nod When I held your left hand for the first time You were trembling more than me You're so shy You always run too fast It worried me, because I was plotting "If we're in love, let's fool around"
"My soul mate" "My prince on the white horse" Embarrassed, you pay no attention I want you to tell me what matters to you I love you so much I can't help it
You slowly, slowly hold me As you smile, your heartbeat is my rhythm I love you, I love you so much, we'll be together forever I'm the only one for you, my love
At some point, I've come to look Looking at your profile When I noticed that you were blushing And begged you for a kiss, you got mad at me
To be honest, sometimes I want you to give me a big compliment I'm having fun, floating again But I know without a doubt that I love you I love you so much it's embarrassing
Slowly, slowly, it guides our hands Our wonderful melody I love you, I love you so much, we'll be together forever You're the only one for me, my love
Slowly, slowly, hold up your hands The melody will reach you, my love I love you, I love you so much, I'll say it again and again I love you, yeah, you
Slowly...the melody will reach you I love you, I love you so much, we'll be together forever I'm the only one for you, my love I'm the only one
帰りたくなったよ 君が待つ街へ かけがえのないその手に今 もう一度伝えたいから 帰りたくなったよ 君が待つ家に 聞いて欲しい話があるよ 笑ってくれたら嬉しいな ======================== I wanted to fill the hole in my heart so I pretended to be nice and smiled First meetings and final farewells restlessly pile up on my shoulder
I realize regrettably how hopeless I am and that’s my loss I can’t be stronger so I closed my eyes and put up with it
Look, I can see it now
I want to go home now, back to the city where you wait for me Give me a big wave hello and I’ll return it just as big I want to go home now, back to the house where you wait for me I’ve got a story I want you to hear and I’ll be glad if it makes you smile
I’m sure I can’t count everything that’s precious to me There might be days when I stumble but I won’t cry anymore
Look, I can see it now
I want to tell you now, all about the tomorrow I see I’m doing just fine, I’ll keep telling you as long as it takes I want to tell you now, all about my steadfast dream I’ve got a story I want you to hear and I’ll be glad if you nod your approval
I want to go home now, back to the city where you wait for me I’ll grab that irreplaceable hand now and tell you once more I want to go home now, back to the house where you wait for me I’ve got a story I want you to hear and I’ll be glad if it makes you smile
When you loose your voice, there are a lot of things that are not possiblle: -calling the clinic for an appointment (or even the emergency services. Do I just keep the phone on if I faint in my apartment and they come and save me or...?) -speaking to the receptionist through a glass door -any interaction on the phone with friends and family -sleeping soundly, as I need my regular intake of lemon and honey to soothe the ear and throat infection.
I am testing my voice when I wake up. I sometimes go insane thinking maybe I have gone deaf as well as I can't hear my voice. Too bad I still hear the construction across the building!
Maybe it is time I learn sign language? I had to write everything on paper for the doctor to type in his computer. Remember, they do not touch the patient in this country. This doctor was very brave though,and used the stethoscope on my back to inspect my lungs. He also tried to inspect my ears with visibly dirty instrument (he picked up from his pencil box and had like grass on it), but I frowned so bad at it he chose a clean one from the medicine box....geez! Maybe next time I will bring my own tools for the doctor to use.
I am tor est for a week (the usual advice since it is legal to miss work without a doctor's note for that amount of time), and come back if not cured. It is very re-assuring and I am once again furious as clearly all my tax money is spent somewhere else than in sound medical/health services...
But what am I doing? Ranting here won't change a thing. But then again, I lost my voice so I can't be heard.
