2011 in review

Do I have a sense of achievement after this year has passed? Did I make new friends? Did I learn anything? Did I leave anything?

I may be able to answer "yes" to one of those questions. And I can list a few things I definitely did and that still surprises me:
-I sat for the JLPT level N3 exam in December and not too impatient to get the result in March 2012
-I discovered Kpop that has been gradually sweeping this part of the world. Some popular groups that I enjoy are Big Bang, Ft Island, Standing Egg, and of course Super Junior
-Because of Kpop, I think I watched so many variety shows that I became addicted to, mainly because I love the concept of the show and I really want to see those in other countries. My favourite one used to be "1 night 2 days" where a group of host visit some remote area of South Korea to explore the culture in that area (food, dance, markets, etc..) and there are silly games between the hosts to determine who sleep outside. The other one is "running man" which is also a game of missions to be achieved by the hosts, at a landmark, and which usually involves ripping off a velcroed nametag off each other. No single episode is similar. Here is an example of a running man episode where they have superpowers.
-I managed to visit some Swiss landmarks with my parents which left many many sweet memories
-I got new books to study Japanese in preparation for the next test
-I managed to survive the stress at work, that almost made me sick and got me so cranky I was ready to leave all and never return to that office.
-I got my first flight in a light plane with my little brother after seeing my sister graduate with a phD
-I learned some bit of Japanese history of the rise of the Tokugawa shogunate through watching the NHK Taiga Drama Gou Himetachi no sengoku, which is following the life of a lady who through mariages, losses and wars became the mother of the shogun and grandmother of the emperor, a really nice example of the saying "behind a great man is a great woman".
-I also got my laughs from the series The big bang theory, because it appeals to the nerdy side of mine.

The year has passed quickly, so quickly in fact that I could not finish everything on my to-do list. That leaves me with the usual suspects for the next year:
-loose weight
-try to run a half marathon
-succeed in the JLPT
-get a new job

So let's see what the new year brings.

Adieu, Mr Sheepy

With his Ichigo Kurosaki haircut, he introduced me to streaming anime, which encouraged me into my practicing my Japanese listening. There were jokes about "Fruits baskets",  "Death Note", and many other surreal when we conversed. I was able to be a kid again and happily discuss about animation and their stories.
I always saw him smiling. I hope he was surrendered by his close friends and loved ones in his final moments and was able to unload his hurt, pains and troubles before going away.
I wish his young soul now rests in peace in a better place.

 

 Thank you for Mr Sheepy. You will live on in our memories.

Folsogno

Castello Montebello, Bellinzona

Leaving Airolo

Luzern

Coming from Matterhorn glacier paradise

Orchestra rehearsal in Zermatt Kirke

Flash visit in Lyon

 

Place Bellecour, Lyon, with 35C

An orchestra full of joy

Well, I haven't been moved by gut gripping music lately, so this evening was a wonderful surprise: The
Youth Orchestra of Bahia made my day, my week and my month.





I laughed, cried, danced and sighted....wonderful

The difficulties of being parents...

This is certainly not a title I thought I would write so soon (or so late). But around me, people live their complicated life and I get to see the spilling of renewed happiness, bitter betrayal, sheer helplessness of others. Couple A split up after at least 7 years together. Another couple B split up after miss X met up with her first love at a class reunion, thus having to juggle the new boyfriend, a new job and her two kids, wile mr Y is coming to grasp with the concept of single Dad. Meanwhile, couple C is happily ( I think) nursing their newly daughter. All of them I consider good friends.

I know I shouldn't worry too much about their lives, given that somehow it makes me feel I have no life of my own worrying about them. But I realized they all have a right to their own happiness too and probably struggling to regain that happy moment in time when everything seemed to go according to the plan.

Watching how hard it is to fight for yourself yet care for the kids,  I now can understand the sacrifices every parent make for their child. I also learned how painful it is not to point the finger and put the blame on someone, to hold your ground against the general opinion. I have lost a black and white world and I am not happy about it at all because it is not clear where my trust can be given.

At this point though, I probably and finally can appreciate my parents' work and decisions. And no matter how hard I try, I feel my love for them will not be enough to express that appreciation.

Swimming at the mermaids

Strong wind (20km/h), with gust of wind at 35km/h

 

The wind was much stronger today, so we couldn't film at all on the boat, as we were busy navigating and grabbing on to something when we ride those waves against current. I was in front and got a lot of water on me. Fortunately I was covered with my VT sweatshirt, but not waterproof at all.

On the way back, as we didn't feel the wind in our face anymore, I felt the water suck me into its waves. But it was fun surfing the waves to the harbour.

Ahoy Captain!

I just had my first sailing lesson yesterday, and although there was much anxiety on my part before meting the group of 4, it turned out very well. What else did I expect when the weather conditions were so pleasant, with a bit of clouds just giving enough shade from the beautiful blue sky? I left all my belongings at the gym lockers nearby before meeting with the others.

We met at 6pm by baby plage, where noone was swimming, and proceeded on the pier to board on the Chocoboom, a 17m sailing boat. That's when I realized how small a boat is, and how important it is to know which chords are stable to hang on when walking on the boat.

For about 20-30min, the instructor explained what was important on the boat (coque, quille, safran, mat, grande voile, genois) and what 4 chords were doing. We were given life-jackets, and the plan for the day. Then we hooked up the big sail, and the one in front (genois),  pulled them high and exited the harbour with the little motor at the back of the boat.

I fondly remember the words of my high school friend back in boarding school. She had taught me many words that were materializing in front of me, and experienced the wonder she merely tried to describe to me. As the boat zoomed by the small white lighthouse of Bain des Paquis,  the motor was turned off and we set the sails for the first time, learning to catch the wind. Because the boat cannot advance when getting front wind, we have to take it always at least at 45degrees, and zigzag on the lake to any destination (virement de bord).

After a few tacks, which I did a few times with another Turkish colleague, we switched position and I handled the rudder (safran). It wasn't as easy as I thought as direction was reversed (pull right to turn left), and needed to constantly adjust. Then we turned the boat around and had the wind from the back.

When swinging the sail from left to right to catch the wind and zigzag, the equivalent of tack is empannage. By the time we turned around, the wind quieted a bit an we no longer leaned so hard when speeding on water. It was at slow duck speed that we cruised back to the harbour, and it would have been a perfect situation to have drinks and suntan when the boat gently floated its way to the lighthouse again. We didn't have a camra but one colleague from London had his phone with him so we snapped a couple of pictures.

I was still at the "driving" position, giving the signal for empannage and happily and entering the parking area.  Going back on land was not too difficult and I sensed why Anne was so fond of sailing. The floating feeling was lingering as I walked to the gym to get back my things. I was envisioning a summer filled with sailing.

And last night, I had the same feeling as the night in Amsterdam when I ate those magic brownies: I was floating in my bed, and felt like I was on a waterbed. NO wonder sailors get sick on the ground, and wy they cannot walk straight..:P

Standing egg

I discovered this simple group, and trying to play their songs but the guitar part cannot be found ...
http://www.allkpop.com/2010/12/unhyped-talent-standing-egg

Zab in Geneva

Apple store

Random street view in NYC

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii..stupor!!!

I was idly looking for split ends when trying to stay awake during a meeting when I encountered a shiny strand of hair...it wasn't reddish or thin, it was a spotlessly white/gray and as long as my other hair. What is this feeling? It is shock and also terror mixed with disbelief. This strand f hair has been growing like any other hair, and I only notice it now.

From that time on, all I notice is that strand of hair and I frantically look for it everywhere on my head now, to see if there are more. It feels I changed from a mere teenager to an old woman. I want to protest against the hair and say I am still young and pretty as a 10 year old, but at the same time I am resigned to accept that at my age I no longer can wear mini tank tops (because the belly flab will show) and have some responsibilities (to work to get money to eat)

Life is hard, and today life also gave me gray hair. sniff

sniff, arghh, scratch, atchoum...pouet!

It's that time of the year, when suddenly a ray of sun catches my pupils and make me sneeze. Like a long learned automatism, my eyes tear up, my nose itches and the inside of my throat starts to tingle. Every single breath of air becomes stuffy with flying bugs, pollens, dust, birds feathers, unidentified particules and and flowery fragrance.

After blowing my nose, scratching my throat with my tongue and picking my ears, it is too late to realize it was done in public. The weather is warming up so that is why it it best to stay on the move by walking, and avoid the public transports where loudly blowing your nose is only attracting attention to you condition.

A superb idea dawned on me today when I entered a pharmacy and asked for eye drops. She offered some and also some allergy medicine (which I already have). I bought them all to stock up for the season and hopefully I will have a scratch-free evening tonight.

pouet!! I somewhow manage to add my own fragrance to the world...