Long week since I worked on the last weekend. When I work on weekends, a work week feels so long. Especially, I was facilitating a workshop this time on a new project that I have become a focal person for. It is really challenging, as it is a new area of work, new modality and multiple sectors are involved. We are designing the project really from scratch. There is a challenge as well as joy in developing and creating something. I will be going on a week long mission at the end of November to see the results or outputs of 10 days of training to the team as well as developing various guidelines and lots of thinking and discussions. 
I had to temporarily relax my non-meat-eating principle in Hongkong, as many things have pork in them. But, plenty of seafood to enjoy! 
３泊４日の旅。結局、直前にも連絡がつかなかった友達ともホテルでなんとか落ち合って、香港の旅楽しんできました。にょきにょきと高層ビルが建ち並び、田舎から出てきた私には圧倒される街でした。 海！買い物！映画館！そして美味しい中華料理！とここ赴任国にはないものをたっぷり満喫。
うちの近所にファブインディアのお店が最近オープン。今日、ちょっとのぞきに行って、可愛いバスタオルを衝動買いしてしまった。値段もインドのお店に比べたらかなり高いのかなーと思いきや、普通で、グレーの模様入りのバスタオルは１３００円位でした。
I am back from a monitoring mission, just a few days in a district in mid-west of the country. I mostly went to see the activities of my project: training for community psychosocial workers and data collection of a baseline survey for this end violence against women project.
My colleagues are all nice enough to say how I look natural. (I was feeling so awkward ) One colleague even said I look hot.. which is a border line comment but I think it was a compliment :) A sari consists of a tiny blouse (is almost like a bra) and one piece of cloth that you wrap around your body and make drapes and do all kids of tricks. Oh and there is an under skirt, too and thanks goodness for that just in case of an accident. C ‘est toujours agréable d’aller dehors de la ville.
Comme d’habitude j’ai fait mon cours de yoga en samedi matin et ensuite je suis sortie à l’excursion. C’est la troisième fois de visiter cette ville mais, je trouvé quelque chose nouvelle chaque fois.
On the last birthday, I thought it was the best and cannot get any better. However, my 34th birthday was even better and full of nice surprises.
First, I received three dozens of roses bouquet from a wonderful friend in Canada two days before my birthday. I was in a three day residential work meeting with my all country office colleagues. I shared a room with a german colleague. On the 31st, we were so busy talking until late at night. I got up to take off contact lenses and get ready for bed. I was in a bathroom
It was supposedly planned spontaneously when some of them found out that it was my birthday the following day. My sweet colleagues waited until midnight to give me this pleasant surprise!! The next day, I also got another cake (chocolate one!!) from one of my closest colleagues.
Then, on the actual day of my birthday, I sneaked out of the hotel where we were holding the meeting (after I pretended to have eaten dinner) when the night fell. I went to a very special celebration prepared just for me, which was dinner, champagne and a home made tarte tatin.
I was a team leader to organize this meeting, so it was kind of bad ( I did fulfill all my duties though!). I felt like I was a teenager :) The next morning, when I walked into the hotel, I saw my big boss coming towards me... He said "oh you went for a walk in rain?"
It has become almost a tradition that when I come back to Japan, my parents organize a trip to a hot spring. This time the destination was Yamanaka Onsen in Ishikawa prefecture, which is about 3-4 hour drive from Kyoto.
My lunch..... 
After a very long and stressful week, Friday has finally arrived. 
When I was chatting with my girl friends over drinks a while ago, we were wondering “what people do with presents from your ex-boy friend(s)?”. It is interesting how people react to this and maybe their past in general. Some are still good friends with their exs, and for others, it is too difficult to be that way. It applies for gifts as well. Some still use the items, and others (including me) cannot use or wear them (especially jewelries), since it is too sentimental. You can’t use them but you cannot easily throw them away.
I read somewhere that according to Fengsui belief, it is not good to have these items hanging around you, which will keep new relationships from coming (do you believe this?!)
So, what we invented is “ex-boyfriend gifts exchange drive”. You exchange gifts that you have held on but don't know what to do with, with your friends. Your friends' sentimental items are just "things" for you and does not mean anything obviously, so it works.
I have recently gotten rid of a few things (particularly when I moved to a new apartment) and also through this "initiative" and it actually feels good and liberating. "De-clattering" life is always good ;)
Went to a pool and swam almost after 2 years. I finally had a chance to wear my bikini that I bought before coming to this country. I had barbeque lunch and spent a half day swimming and chatting on a lounge chair with my two girl friends. 
I have missed visiting "canal st.martin" the last time when I was in Paris, and this time I visited with my friend Oliver on Velib (the public bicycle thing). We walked along the canal up to "place de la bastille" and where it joins la saine. We stopped to have some dessert and I had creme brule. 
J’adore Montmartre. Je suis resté chez Olivier, qui a un appartement très charmant au Montmartre. On a mangé au restaurant du fromage fondu, et je me suis enivré complètement!
Y ちゃん、リクエストに答えてちゃんとベルギーでワッフル食べてきたよ～。
I have bought this apron in a flea markert in Brusseles for 4 euros. Taken at my firned's place.
My Spanish sister, Ruth. I have obtained a permission to post one photo of us (right?) I have not seen her nearly 7 years, but she was as nice and cool as 7 years ago, and I had a fantastic time with her and her partner. Thank you so much for having me! The city was beautiful (though cold for summer).
