Did you know

that there is a rule as to how you place logos of different organizations? I have designed a certificate quickly for training that we are implementing. One of the secretaries told me "M, you have put the logos wrong. You first put the government logo on the top left, then the funder (us) then finally the NGO."

I had no idea! I specifically instructed to put the logo of the government in the centre thinking it will make them look the most important.

We always learn a new thing everyday, don't we? I have gotten a bit smarter. :)

Tihar

One of the major festivals in this country- Tihar. It is also called Diwali, which I also experienced when I was in Guyana. It is a festival of lights. People decorate the ground in front of their house like this by drawing a path leading to a little shrine in the house in order to invite Laximi goddess. She brings fortune to houses. There are various patterns and colors, and it was fun to talk a stroll in the neighborhood.

Deep breathe 深呼吸

先週、仲良くさせて頂いている方のご両親が遊びに来られていて、私も１泊旅行に便乗させてもらった。私のいる首都からはたったの１時間で、静かで空気のきれいな、こんな棚田の広がる風景に囲まれた山間の村に行ける。乾期の今は天気が良くて運が良い日はヒマラヤ山脈が見える。生憎、今回はすべての山は見えなかったけど、雲が晴れると遠くの雪山が見えて美しかった。写真だときれいに見えないのが残念だけど、もし遊びに来てくれたら見えるよ！！

翌日は１０キロ少しのミニトレッキングで山を下り、執着地点の街にある山の中腹のお寺にお参りした。階段が長くて次の日はもちろん筋肉痛．．．．．。
もっとお休みをちゃんととって、こういう所に頻繁にこなければとしみじみ思った連休だった。最近、健康の為にマッサージに通い始めて、またそのことにも書きます！
Photos from the trip last weekend. Just 1 hour hour from the capital, you can get to a small village surrounded by rice paddies and fields and gorgeous scenery.

４連休

で、お友達と１泊旅行に行ってきます！今日は晴天で絶好の遠足日和。出張以外で初の国内旅行かも。

Perfect holiday

I had an absolutely fantastic time in Japan. I am almost hesitant to write about it, because remembering it would make me feel more home sick.

It was a perfect holiday. I spent lots of quality time with my family. My parents took me and my youngest sister (middle one was working) to Awaji Island to enjoy good seafood

and onsen (hot spring). We also visited a botanical garden. On the way back, I saw my gr

andmother that I did not see for nearly 2 years. Home was just too comfortable. I can't get enough of my family, so I stayed up late almost every night to talk with them and followed them everywhere. I cooked dinner a couple

of time, took a walk in the neighborhood, including the little mountain behind the house that my late Canadian mother Lynda liked when she visited my family. I took a nap on tatami in the afternoon, fulfilled my cravings for many things, such as takoyaki, variety of fish, my father's speciality dish, shrim

p burger. Of course I shopped despite the expensive yen.

I bought at least 80$ worth of japanese ingredients which filled my huge duffle bag in addition to some clothing, books, medication and cosmetics. As a good big sister, I took my sisters out for shopping, went to visit my youngest sister's apartment for the first time. It was my parents 36th wedding anniversary in September, and we went to a very nice restaurant that specializes in Tofu.

I always feel a bit inadequate when I go home. I don't know what year we are in in terms of the japanese calender, everyone is so well dressed and made up, feel awkward to go to a hair salon as they always without exception ask my hair care method which is not up to a standard in Japan etc. This time, just like a regular grown-up adult, I tried to open an bank account. The bank made me wait more than 1 and a half hours, and I ended up not being able to use most of their services for the reason of not permanently living in Japan, not having a japanese mobile phone and working for the UN (non japanese company I guess). This was the only time when I was frustrated by the inflexibility of the system not to be able to deal with diversity in Japan. This reminded me what I liked about Canada a lot. In any case, it made me realize how strange of a creature I have become by living in different countries.

I saw a few of really good friends that I have known for many many years (since the kindergarden time!!). I finally went to a craft market (?) where my friend very creatively makes and sells cute adorable little things. I even went to a Ninja house which is like a maze (some sort of a little adventure game). Unfortunately, I could not go to Tokyo this time, but I was able to catch up with more friends over telephone, one of which I have not spoken for close to 4 years.

It was a good break from the life in a developing country. Clean water from the tap, clean streets with no garbage, don't have to worry about not having smaller bills when taking a taxi among others. Everything is so organized, clean and shiny. People are overly polite to the extent that puzzles me a bit (the cashier at a 100yen shop bowed deepest!).

My family was very kind and cheerful as ever and showered me with attention and gifts. I feel sad to live so far from my family, but then again I am lucky to have them. We started devising a special plan for my grandmother to make her life more comfortable.

The whole holiday was relaxing and I was almost able to not to think about work, which is quite something. Some photos attached. I am posting the pic of me and my youngest sister without her approval (hope she doesn't mind....) I will post more when I obtain a proper permission from others.

This is my holiday in a nutshell in a very incoherent way.

Back safely

昨日の午後無事に戻りました。

日本は本当に文句なしに楽しかった。淡路島に旅行に行ったり、近所を散歩して、畳の上でお昼寝したり。美味しいものもたっぷり食べて、家族とゆっくりできたのが良かった。会ったお友達や電話で話したお友達、それから家族のみんなありがとうございました。

日本はあまりにも楽しくて、家は快適過ぎて帰るのが悲しかったけど今日からまた仕事頑張ります。これから写真も載せます。

I will upload some photos from Japan.