Seminar, meetings and workshop

Finally getting over the withdrawal and becoming immersed in my job. This week, I am attending a two day seminar on anti-trafficking, then a colleague from my regional office comes on mission. I have to accompany her to a number of meetings with government partners, NGOs and political parties. Next week, I am organizing a four day workshop on gender and national budgeting issues where I am also a participant. The next two weeks will be a non-stop engagement, and in the meantime I also need to work (desk work) to plan activities for the next two months. I have recently taken over a chair position of one internal coordination mechanism/ committee, so I also have to plan for this. All of these things are, even though they are gender related issues, relatively new to me and provide great learning opportunities.       

バンコク観光その２

 Dinner at a very nice Thai restaurant. Sipping watermelon+ vodka cocktail

Street food in China town, everything absolutely deep fried!

The trip was just perfect with over-injection of fun, joy and great food.  I am suffering from a severe withdrawal symptom. sigh....  Now counting days till the next holiday when my mother comes for a visit! 

バンコク観光

 Getting on the long tail boat after visiting a floating market. The market itself was not what I expected. Nonetheless, it was nice to go through the water canal, looking at traditional houses and colorful temples.

Lumphini Park- I guess it is the equivalent of Central Park in NY. It is too hot to relax there during the day time, though....  I know now why shopping malls are so popular here. It is simply too hot to walk around and shop!  I am not a big fan of malls, but I understand the logic. 

Colors of Bangkok

３泊４日のバンコクの逃避行から帰ってきました。ネパールから来た彼と合流して、のんびりバンコクを満喫。

運河のボートツアーで水上市場に行ったり、中華街を散策したり。熱射病で倒れるかと思うぐらい暑かったけど、汗をだらだらかきながらもバンコクを歩き回った。後で地図で確認したら６キロは歩いていた日もあった。炎天下にあり得ない！美味しい物もたくさん食べた。ホテルの近くにあった、２４時間営業のスーパーの中の安食堂みたいなところでも何回か食べたけど、そこでもチープな美味しいさがあって何だか楽しい。目の前のカウンターの中で、ハンバーグやらケッチャップライスやらパッタイなどのジャンキーな物がどんどん出来上がっていくのを見ているのも壮観。飲茶や韓国料理、フレンチも堪能しました。モスバーガーも行ったし、ロイスのチョコレートチップスも食べた。それにしてもバンコクには何でもあるね。NY以上に日本の物があるのがすごい！もちろん紀ノ国屋で本も買ったよ。キットカットチョコを食べながら、久しぶりにハリウッド映画も映画館で見た。ハンガーゲームズというので、映画自体は正直お薦めできないけど、映画館に行くっていうだけでテンション上がってしまう。安上がりな自分に笑ってしまう。

泊まったホテルがすっごくシックで、天井から水が流れる、インフィニィティスタイルのジャグジー（よく分からないよね　笑）があって、お風呂に飢えている私としては、ミントのバスソルトを入れて3回も入ってしまった。

今回はお買い物はあまりしなかった。買ったのは新しいサンダルだけ、伊勢丹で！たくさん買い物してやれという意気込み満々で行ったのだけど、いざとなるとそんなに欲しいものも見つからないし、値段を見ると馬鹿らしくなる物も多いし、色々見て回る忍耐力を欠いていることが分かった。

Self funded R&R

This week, I was supposed to be in Dhaka to attend a four-day workshop. I was really looking forward to going somewhere, and it was canceled at the last minute. I was very disappointed and almost upset. I have planned my work around it, and I had prepared for it. Even though I was not too excited about going to another south asian country, it was still going to be very nice to get away from this city, meet other colleagues etc etc.

So, instead, I have decided to go to Bangkok this weekend with two extra leave days. It is a convenient excuse to say that my mental health is more important than saving money. I am not sure if I could justify spending this much just to go for 4 days, but the idea of going there makes me this happy. Then, it's worth it. It is in a way a self funded R&R. May be hard to imagine why I would need one in this tropical paradise country, but you really do!

Work-wise it actually worked out better. I have a consultant since last week who is working with me. I was going to manage it remotely, but I have benefitted a lot by being here and interacting with him.

Can't wait!

お気に入りスポット

首都にあるホテルの屋上のレストラン。値段は高いけど、眺めが最高。

夕暮れ時の変わりゆく空の色。

これで良く冷えた白ワインでも飲めると最高なんだけど、そこは残念ながらフルーツジュース。

週末はここでゆっくり一人でお昼を食べたり、本を読んだりすることもある。すべてが夕方まで閉まっている絶望的な金曜日の救いでもある。

望郷

Photo credit: My mother, Kyoto Yamashina Sosui Canal

I think cherry flower is one of the most beautiful things in the world. Something so special that cannot be compared with other flowers.

Wish I was there.

When was the last time I was there during the sakura season?

さくら見たいなー。

海の色

Turquoise color water- gradates to a darker shades of blue as it goes deeper, so transparent and you can look right through it. -on sunny Friday on a diving day trip

今日の格言

今のアパートに引っ越してきた時に、家の壁に付いていた付箋のメッセージ。あなたに起こるすべてのことはあなたに起こりうる最善のことなのです。

赴任当初はちょっと落ち込んでいたので、何だか少しなぐさめられた。前の住人の不思議な置き土産。

1Q progress review

If I say a review of the first quarter, it sounds like work-related, but it is not. It is April 1 today, and I realized that already one-fourth of the year is over. How quick!! Then, I thought should review progress on my new year's resolutions. I had to go back and read my January entry to remember what I have resolved.... it would probably tell the state of progress...

Here I go:

• Going to the gym 3/ week- I do try. I probably go on average twice a week. I run on a treadmill 4-5 kilometers and normally join a group class.
• Getting the PADI open water diving certificate- I have completed 80% now, and if I manage to go this weekend twice, I will be done! My new objective is to buy a nice under-water camera and capture the amazing under water wonderland. Need to research cameras, anyone any tips??
• Read a book/ 2 weeks in English- I have read so far Leaving Mother Lake, Sold, The Color Purple, The Bonesetter's Daughter, now I have about three books that I started but not finished. These were all good and recommended if you haven't read them.
• Be healthy and eat well- this is unfortunately the least performing department. I have stress-ate and my waistline has significantly expanded. Need to go on a restricted diet to be able to stay with my current wardrobe..
• Be independent and self-sufficient- this is hard to measure and abstract. I did not set "indicators" as such. I guess I have gotten used to spending time alone but I am still far from 自立する need to work it more but not sure how to do that exactly.

So, how do I do overall? What score will you give me?

A few more personal projects are coming up...