バンコク弾丸３日間ー妹さん達の来訪

I fell in love with this plate of my favourite motif of lotus flowers. Purchased at a weekend market that I visited with my sisters in BKK. The earring was a gift from my sister. A small reminder of a fun and memorable three days of their visit. I think this was the first time when all three of us hung out for an extended period of time for a long time. Really cherish such times as it doesn't happen so easily when each of us got a busy life on our own. Thank you my sisters to come all the way just for a three days of a "bullet trip." 

Despite the short stay, we managed to squeeze quite a bit, including dim sum, boat ride, a iconic temple, Thai hotpot, famous curb-curry, market, massage, shopping in malls etc etc. 

It was great to spend time with them and catch up. 

検診の日

検診の日は、何か異常があると言われたどうしようっていう心配と、ちゃんと育っているか心配だから早く診て欲しい気持ちと、超音波で中の様子が見られるのが楽しみな、ないまぜの感情が渦巻いている。

お昼前に職場を出て、病院まで行き、まだ時間があるので、お昼ご飯でも食べようと歩いていたら、偶然、道で友達を発見。二人で、日本の洋食屋さんでパスタを食べた。

今日は超音波のごく詳しい検査で、内臓の状態や体のつくりなどを診てくれるそう。いつもとは違う男の先生。


おなじみのひやっとするゼリーを塗って、中を診る。背骨の形や長さ、足や手の指が５本あるか、心臓の働き具合、血の流れる様子まで見ることができるんだからたいしたものだ。脳の中も見えてしまうなんて感心。テクノロジーってすごい！相変わらず、彼は動き回っていて、手で顔を隠したりして、見たい所が見えなくて、お医者さんにお腹をどんどん叩かれてておかしかった。３Dで顔の感じなんかも見られて、びっくり。

結局、１時間近くかかり、終った頃には、お腹がゼリーのせいで冷えきっていた。

今日は、撮ったエコーの写真をCDに入れて渡してくれた。こんなサービスもあるんだな。後で、今回は来られなかったFR氏にメールで送ってあげよう。


タイ版の日本語母子手帳も購入して、日本スーパーでお買い物をして帰ってきた。パン屋さんでおやつの菓子パンも買ってきた。

ガラスの温もり

We visited an old glass factory this weekend in YGN. The factory got shut down after the cyclone in 2009, and now it's become a hidden tourist spot to go look at glasses buried under grasses and left on the ground in a forest. We can walk around to pick out ones we like and purchase them.  

These hand-blown glasses are beautiful. They are not perfect, but that gives nice characters to them. M.FR picked up several of them. I look forward to the time in future to drink wine in these cute little glasses (not sure how soon I can drink again!)

廃墟になっているガラス工場で、FR氏が見つけて購入したコップ達。形も、微妙な質感もそれぞれ違って、手作りの個性があって、手に持つだけで嬉しくなれてしまう。ガラスは本来冷たい印象だけど、このコップは暖かみが伝わってくる。モロッコグラスも大好きだけど、こんなシンプルなのも良いな。

これでワインを飲むのが楽しみ。来年のいつ頃には飲めるのかな？この間に、元々弱いのにどんどん飲めなくなりそう...。

ちょこれーと復活

遂にチョコレートが復活した。ここ４ヶ月以上、まったくチョコレートクレービングがなくなって、一度も買ったこともなかったのに、昨日の夜ミルクチョコレートを購入してしまった！今まで、大のチョコレート好きで、夏に旅行で行ったスイスで、たくさん板チョコを買ったのに、自宅に帰る前に全部食べてしまったくらい。

ここ最近まで、おやつと言えば、フルーツとかナッツ、ヨーグルトという健康的な食生活だった。今まであれだけ好きだったのに、まったく食べたくなくなって、我ながら体の変化に驚いていた。でもこれから体重が増えるって時に、チョコレートが戻ってきてしまうとは、残念。ちゃんと、体重管理しなきゃね。

最近、FR氏がデジタル体重計を買ってくれたので、珍しいのもあって（ここ数年体重計を所有していなかった）しょっちゅう気になって計ってる。夜寝る前と朝起きてからは１キロ程体重が違うのってどういうことだろう。既に、留学中の一番太っていた時にも見たことのない数字が、並んでいてビックリ。既に３キロは増えた模様。昨日から紙に記録し始めたので、あとでグラフにでもしよう。

12 cm

Is how long he measures from the tip of his head to the bottom of his buttocks. I imagine he must be a bit bigger than my palm with his legs. I wish my stomach was transparent so that I could see what he is doing and how he grows.

Yesterday, for the first time someone on a sky train kindly gave me a seat. I was shocked! Is it my dress that make me look fat?? I guess I am undeniably getting bigger. 

Visitors

It's been a month since I moved into the new apartment, but I already had a few guests over.

This past week, M. FR and his cousin were here (M.FR was stranded because of a delay of getting a visa, which was a secretly real treat for me.)

I met his cousin last year in San Francisco while we were driving down the west coast of the US. It was nice to see her again, and this time I got to know her much better. Two of us went to a big weekend market. She helped me to pick up a Halloween outfit for a party I am going to this week, as I am totally clueless in this area. We also went to get matching pedicure in a salon next to my apartment. Went to an excellent Japanese restaurant, cooked at home, watched a movie etc. I had a blast!

I love having guests. Now that they've gone to YGN, it's too quiet. (hence I have time to upload this entry.)  

Another friend is visiting this weekend.

写真はFR氏の従姉妹が作ってくれたデザート。私もお好み焼きやら鮭のかやくご飯やらセネガルシチュー等、お客様の為に作りました。

オフィスからの眺め

View from my office. 

旅の虫

This year, I haven't been to anywhere new and exotic. I am fantasizing about possible end of year trips.  Reminiscing about our epic cross-Sahara trip of last year. I want to travel somewhere far...

空気の抜けた自転車で、ボコボコの荒野を走った思い出のシディワゼック。どこか遠くに旅行に行きたいな。

Weekend in BKK

単身赴任生活初めての週末 in BKK

アパートに必要な細々とした物のお買い物等々。お昼は韓国料理が食べたくなったので、前にも一度行ったことのあるレストランにてビビンバを食べた。野菜がたくさん入っているのが嬉しい。

炊飯器なんてよく考えると、所有したこともなかったんだけど（いつもお鍋とか圧力釜で炊いていた！）今回は、栄養のある日本食を作る意気込みで購入した。家の近くに小さいデパートがあって、取りあえず必要な物は、そこに全部あってとっても便利。ごちゃごちゃしたエリアだけど、便利なので、ここのアパートにして良かった。

家でヨガをしたり、ちょっと寂しいけど、のんびりの週末。来週末は家に帰ります。

Memories Sep 25

京都のあるカフェにて。今年の４月のお気に入りの一枚。

Passion Fruit

It was so pretty, and I couldn't help taking photos. I love the intense flavour of passion fruit. You don't imagine inside like this before cutting it open, considering the shrivelled look. I remember eating this for the first time in Guyana. I was so impressed and thought "wow it tastes just like passion fruit candies!" I used to eat a half like this every morning with my Kenyan roommate in Georgetown.

I discovered recent month an organic vegetable shop run by Japanese NGO. I am a regular customer there! This is one of my purchases of this week. 

Special day

最近、３８歳になりました。

今年の誕生日は、FR氏と二人でニューヨークで一日ブラブラ。

前から行ってみたいと思っていたハイライン（昔の鉄道を遊歩道に変えた）に初めて行って大満足。元々、パリにあるプロムナードプロンテという同じコンセプトの場所が大好きで、６月にパリを訪れた時も行ったのだけど、そこをモデルにしているらしいのです。ここは、野草がたくさん生えてて、手入れしてある花もきれいだけど、こうやってそこに元から生えている雑草（？）も趣のあるもの。

真夏日だったので、途中でポプシクル（ピンクグレープフルーツ味！）を買って、食べ歩き。nyの観光スポットらしく、地元の人達や色んな国の観光客でごったがえしていた。歩いている人達を見ているだけでも楽しい。

その後、彼が学んだ法学院のある大学の辺りをウロウロして、懐かしい場所を訪ねて、買い物したり公園で昼寝したり。

お寿司が食べたかったけど、レイバーデイでお休みの店が多く、代わりにインド料理のレストランで夕食を頂き、久しぶりに映画館でイギリスの映画を見て帰宅。

ニューヨークはそこにいるだけで、ワクワクしてくる大好きな街です。私の我がままを聞いて、色んな場所に連れていってくれてどうもありがとう。たくさん歩いて、足が痛かったけど、幸せな一日でした！３８歳になって、少しは精神的に成長できますように...。

新しい仕事

"Life" just happens and sometimes I can't keep up with its speed.

I got a new job in BKK and started working there two weeks ago. I am a bit tired of the routine of finding a place to live and getting used to the new city etc. However, this time it is close to home in YGN and I consider my apt like a satellite home where I will be commuting back and forth. I will be moving into the apt in a week.

The position is in a Asia-Pacific regional programme of four UN agencies, three of which I have already worked with. It is my first time to be in the regional office, so I hope to get to know people and build a network. I hope this was a good choice for my future career.  Two of my friends whom I worked with the previous job this year recommended me to the position, so the recruitment was rather quick. The team seems very nice and the working environment is friendly and quite relaxed.

More to come about the life in Bangkok!

気が付いたらもう９月もほぼ終わり、カナダとニューヨークに遊びに行って忙しかったのだけど、バタバタと帰国してそのまま新しい仕事を始めました。お隣の国の首都で、初の地域事務所勤務。またまた通いの生活になってしまうのだけど、ちょうどその都市にいたい理由もあるし、飛行機で１時間ちょっとなので、決めました。

時間もないので、アパートも足早に決めて、週末に帰宅し、今週中は自宅からの勤務で、比較的のんびり。来週の月曜日にアパートに入居します。便利な場所なんだけど、歓楽街のど真ん中で、私の理想のアパート立地にはかけ離れているけど、まあ短期なのでしょうがない。sex workerの女性達がうろうろしている地域でも、治安は良いし、日本人エリアにもスカイトレインで二駅。近所にスーパーもあるし。でも、こんな高層ビル（プールもジムも付いているようなところ！）に住んだこともないし、なんだかおかしな感じ。１階に見るも恥ずかしげなダイナーがあるのが、玉に瑕だけど。私のアパートはなんと22階です。これから、ここと家を行ったり来たりです。

Colorless M and her week of pilgrimage

I went to Canada last month. I hadn’t been there for longer than three years since my last brief trip to Montreal, when I was living in NY.

One of my close girl friends was getting married (Helen and I lived together in Malawi), so I decided to combine attending her wedding and visiting some of my other very close friends.

M. FR joined me in Toronto (as he was on his annual back-packing trip in wilderness.)

I have been living in Asia for the past six years working with the UN, and I never had a chance to visit this now a very far but familiar country, which I call my second home.

We spent three nights in Toronto and then made our way along the highway 401 where I took greyhound buses numerous times when I was a student in Guelph. I never lived in Toronto, but here I was able to get re-connected with a friend whom I knew when I was living in Ottawa many years ago. M.FR and I were invited over to their home, and it was just amazing to see her and her partner.

In Montreal, I stayed with my Japanese friend whom I've known since the very first year when I moved to Canada as a student in a French class. She is now a mother of two beautiful boys. We had long catch-up sessions to fill a gap of three years of not seeing each other. 

It was special to show M.FR around the town, which is filled with my sad and happy memories just full of emotions. I pointed out the streets where I used to live and workplace, my school etc. We went to my favorite ice-cream place, ate at a thai food stall in a mall where I frequented, also ate poutine, walked around in Mont Royal and Old Port. It was surreal.  

I happened to walk by a church where the women’s organization where I volunteered was housed when I couldn’t find a job in my field. I just walked in to see if anyone I know was there. There I found my colleague, and I was so happy to see her! It was really this volunteer work that got me a job in Ottawa, and this led to many other following jobs.

I also saw a few other very close friends in Montreal (my French girlfriend and her baby!) Toronto (another friend from Ottawa who now lives in Hamilton. She drove to the airport to see me with her new born daughter) and Ottawa (friend from Guleph), traveling to places and tracing my history in Canada. This was such a special trip. These are friends who knew some of my most difficult time and supported me. So, being able to come see them after many years and introduce M.FR meant a lot for me. It also reminded me again how many friends I have who truly care about me even when we don't see each other for a long time. 

Surely, I wish I had much more time to spend with each of my friends. I got to attend Helen's wedding and also was able to see some of my most important friends. It was busy going from place to place, but I was just so happy that I could go on this trip with M.FR.        

パリの夕暮れ

The day when the daytime is the longest. Streets of Paris were full of live music. 

近況

気が付かない間に、前のエントリーから２ヶ月ほど経っている。そんなに忙しかった訳ではないのだけども。まだブログを見てくれている人はいるのだろうか。６月は10日程、パリに友達に預けていた荷物を取るのを口実に行ってきた。その後、前の職場に首都ベースの短期のお仕事をまた頂いたので、復帰しました。そろそろ雨期もうんざりしてきた今日この頃。

How to make best use of your house during monsoon

モンスーン的家の使い方

私とFR氏はスリーベッドルームの家に住んでいるのだけど、お客さんが泊まっていない限りは、二人だけではちょっと広い。一部屋は、ほぼ使われていない彼用のオフィスになっているとしても、ダイニングとリビングが別れているし、別々の部屋のエアコンをつけるのも、もったいないものだ。

乾期中は、ほとんど2階で過ごしていた私たちは、モンスーンに合わせて１階に移住してきた。2階は熱気が籠っていて、クーラーが効くのも時間がかかるし、１階はまだひんやりしている。

１階のダイニングにクッションを運んで来て、片隅を一時的なくつろぎスペースにした。タイル張りの床に寝っ転がって、本を読んだりする一角。クーラーなしでも眠れる涼しい客間に、蚊帳を吊って、最近はそこで寝ている。

2階の板間のリビングは持ち前の湿気と熱気を活かして（！）なんと自然のビクラムヨガルームに変身。これがなかなか効果的。服類は普段の寝室にあるので、シャワーはわざわざ2階まで行って浴びている。でも、なぜか歯磨きはキッチンの横のトイレにて行っている。

FR氏はこれでやっと家中のスペースを有効に使えるね、と言って満足そうだけど、何かおかしい気もする。

前のエントリーに書いた、庭に元々あったガジボ（車庫用の檻のような奇妙な代物）にハンモックを吊った。蚊と戦いながらも、ザザ降りの雨を見るのが楽しい。ガイアナ時代から、何度も国を跨がって引っ越ししたのに、一度も使ったことのなかったハンモックを、手放さずによく持っていたものだ。自分でも不思議に思う。これでやっと日の目を見た。

Rainy season etc

The monsoon season has started in the country. People have warned us how intense it would be, and in a matter of a month, we will be so sick and tired of it.

It has become our routine now to go under the gazebo in the front yard and watch the rain, lying in a swinging hummock. I held onto this hummock since the time when I worked in Guyana. Our eclectic gazebo now looks like a strange bazar with a Vietnamese lampshade and cloth that I bought in a local market.

We look at the sky everyday in anticipation of a heavy downpour. M.FR has posted my calligraphy “rain” that I was practicing, on the front door. This makes it look as if we are into a new religion.

Trees and plants are happy and green as ever. Our home garden is also benefiting from the rain and sun. “Mitsuba” herb got featured in our meals already a few times.   

I am enjoying the monsoon so far and waiting to wear my rain boots.    

６ヶ月の成果

I just completed my assignment in the north. The past six months went so fast. This was my first fully humanitarian response experience being placed in a field office (as opposed to be in a country office in a capital) directly working with IDP camps.

I was actually the first one to be based in this remote state from this UN agency. Literally, it just was myself and my laptop computer assigned by my office to start up the whole thing. I had no office, no furniture, no colleague, no driver& vehicle and a brand new project to establish with a new partner organization. After six months, this turned into an office with four other national staffs, almost fully furnished and established office with a promising and functioning project thanks to support from other colleagues. It was challenging at times, but there's nothing too difficult to be overcome with a sense of humour.  Some examples: going to other UN offices when internet and power is off, taking picture with my i-phone for scanning to send official documents to the country office (in lack of scanner), paying for gas for the office car from my own pocket (which I am still waiting to be reimbursed.)     

I should be happy and glad that I left on a positive note. The only regret was that I could not and did not want to continue. I could have well stayed with the office and the position for another year probably. However, this was not a very sustainable option, as the state where I was working was so far from YGN. It takes a three-hour flight, which costs 400 USD to fly back, and this is not possible on weekends. Phone line was often down and Internet was so slow (hence not updating this site so regularly.) I have no regret prioritizing my personal needs at this time of my life, but I was sad to leave the interesting project and a wonderful team of colleagues.

I am really grateful for having this opportunity. This is not something I would have done, if I have not re-located myself to this country with M. FR. On my last day, I had a chance to have an hour presentation session to talk about our progress of the project, and I had positive feedback. I realize I do enjoy building something from a scratch, starting a project, developing a guideline, conducting trainings etc. It gave me another level of confidence to work in the area of gender based violence, which I missed in my previous position in the Maldives. 

Now, I am back. I finally get to enjoy the house and the life with M. FR. I am not sure how long I stay sane un-employed, but for now I am happy.   

Sakura

春の夢のような桜。東京、千鳥ヶ淵にて。この世のものと思えない位きれい。

久しぶりに見られて良かった。

満開の桜も、散りかけも、葉桜もみんなそれぞれの美しさがある。

東京でも京都でも桜を堪能できた２週間でした。