Snowy days and Mondays

The alarm clock is screaming in Japanese. "Ohayoo gozaimasu, ohayoo gozaimasu!". God, is it morning already? What was I dreaming about? I still don't want to wake up! In fetal position near the edge of the bed, eyes half-closed, body under the thick sheets and still floating in limbo, I struggle to blindly reach for my slippers . I feel the morning chill slowly creeping in my arm. Must be cold outside. Where are those damn slippers? I don't want to step on the cold tatami mats. The heater is working all night but I don't want to put it in full blast or I'll sweat. I can't sleep without burying myself under layers of soft and comfortable sheets. I consider them as gifts from Hypnos, the god of sleep. As soon as I am under their vicious spell, I am worlds away.

My mind is protesting but I have to haul myself and take a bath before running out of time. It's 8:00 am. I tip-toe going to the window to have a peek of the outside world. It's snowing and the thermometer reads zero degrees! Brrrrrrr! it must be like -5 outside with the wind the chill blowing from every direction. It's a cold, snowy and gloomy Monday. I have to be warm and sunny inside to keep my spirits up. Wish me luck!

My english did not work.

Yesterday, Phides, Juan and I went to see a Scottish film entitled "Ratcatcher". The film portrays the life of James, a young boy in Glasgow during the garbage strike in the early 70's. He lacks communication with his family, thus making him search for other sources of comfort and affection. He finds solace in the company of Kenny and Margaret who also live in the government housing project that is greatly affected by the strike. The pile of garbage is not only a sore to the eyes but a great danger to the health of the dwellers too because of rat infestation. The tragic film ends with James drowning in the same canal where he pushed another boy to his death.

It was a nice film or else it could not have been featured in an International Film Festival here in Japan. The only drawback was that my decades of English education became useless. I hardly understood anything that the characters were talking about. I even doubted if they were speaking in English. I have watched other films about Scotland like "Trainspotting" and I very well understood the conversation. Must be the difference between Glasgow and Edinburgh english pronunciation? Nevertheless, I was very interested to understand the film so I followed the story by reading the Japanese subtitles. Good nihonggo practice for me.

This afternoon, I went to buy a digital camera but had second thoughts about my budget so I decided to think more before shelling out 40,000 yen (USD 400) for a new gadget. I need a camera to document my trips here and abroad. Right now, I only have my cellular phone camera (1.32 megapixels, not bad at all) to bring along whenever there are events and sometimes, I regret for not freezing that precious moment in a bigger and clearer picture. I love to look at pictures of the happy moments and reminisce the good times that I spent with my loved ones. Makes me smile and love life more. So, to buy or not to buy? that is the question that I have to answer before I leave for the States. Big problem, yeah? LOL.

Movies

Old post rekindled

This blog started on Feb. 2, 2005 and since then, I got more than 1,500 unique visitors . Modest number I must say but I am glad that some people stop by and read.

Today, one of my first posts resurfaced. Maybe you'd be interested in reading or re-reading it. Just click this and there you will go.

Venezuelans and Filipinos - Happy people

In the midst of a busy week overflowing with tension, I wonder why I could still face things with equanimity, smile, keep in touch with my family and laugh about my clumsiness. Maybe it's genetic because my father is a very convivial and festive human being, maybe cultural because Filipinos take challenges with a good laugh or maybe a mix of both. Though this week's tension is high, I still find it pleasant. It snowed from Monday to Wednesday. I was even thinking of building a snowman this weekend in a nearby park but unfortunately, the rain melted and washed the snow away. Today, the sun is proudly shining. Makes me feel that the cherry trees will blossom very soon to welcome spring with a blast of soft pink petals highlighting the blue horizon. What a happy sight indeed.

Speaking about happiness, the November 2004 issue of the University of Michigan's World Values Survey revealed that Filipinos are among the happiest people in Asia. An article about this is published in Times magazine for Asia. And in one of its latest surveys on 50 countries, Venezuelans were the happiest, followed by the Nigerians. The Filipinos ranked sixth overall and first in Asia. Most of the wealthy nations were not in the top 10. This only goes to show that although money is power, it is not always the source of happiness.

Until then, "Don't worry be happy".

Life

What's in a name?

My travel agent sent my round-trip ticket to the US today. I waited for it since Monday but I was preoccupied with more urgent things so didn't pay enough attention to the information written on it. At the back of my mind, I was urging myself to at least give it a quick look as I had so many troubles before with my name being misspelt. But then I thought that I didn't have to worry in the slightest because Japanese employees make sure that everything goes without flaws or delay. Besides, I already clearly informed them that my name was unique so they should be very careful not to misspell it. Later in the morning, somebody from the accounting department rang me for the receipts to be handed over to them right away for reimbursement later on so I took time to look at the tickets. Mmmmm... ok... ok.. good job, my name perfectly spelled. Great! I am going down to the accounting department. But then again, I felt that something was not in the proper order. I checked again and great heavens, if only I could loudly swear in school, I should have shocked eveybody. My name and surname were interchanged! I suddenly became another person.

Frustrated, I called my travel agent and my original flight schedule ended up being cancelled. Another learning experience, huh. The result? I am taking a separate flight from my classmates who are going to the same convention. I'll be traveling across the Pacific with my guardian angel and my shadow. Well, I am used to getting around alone so this is a piece of cake. I will just drown the suffocating boredom of long haul flights by listening to my favorite songs. I endured the 13 hour direct flight from Paris to Bangkok and arrived as strong as a horse, so the 12 hour journey from Tokyo to Chicago must not be that tedious. Anyways, please pray for my safe trip.

Third world stereotypes - First Part

"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the journey."
- Babs Hoffman -

During a vacation in Italy, my feet got really tired of walking on cobblestones. It was also way past my usual dinner time so my eyes hungrily searched for a ristorante where I could feast on a plateful of pasta and get my strength back. I needed enough energy for another episode of cultural discovery and reflection on the next day. As I gazed upon the endless lines of shops, my eyes were locked to a simple yet eye-catching restaurant claiming to be traditionally Tuscan. I suddenly felt terribly hungry when I thought about Tuscan bistecchi. Perfect for a carnivorous person like me. Curious to the bones, I stepped inside and I was led to a tiny table beside the clear glass window. The waitress handed the menu to me and ooopss, she looked exotic! I just shrugged my shoulders and thought that maybe she was a second generation asian-italian because she spoke good italian, at least to my ears. I browsed through the menu and there it was, bistecchi - tempting, luscious, humongous, charcoal-grilled T-bone steak served with equally mouth-watering insalati and other side dishes cooked in olive oil with herbs and spices. What could be better than that? I felt I was in alimentary utopia until the price brought me back to my senses. Almost fifty euros including the antipasto, dessert and coffee at the end of the meal! My Trenitalia ticket to Milano was a lot cheaper but what the heck, I thought. It could only happen once in a blue moon.

So I ordered a complete dinner set and while impatiently waiting for it to be served, the exotic waitress came to me and discreetly asked me "Pinoy ka ba?"(You're Filipino?). I was a bit speechless for a second then I said "Oo, matagal ka na rito sa Italy?" (Yes, you've been in Italy for years?). She nodded and hurriedly went to serve the other customers but gesturing that she would talk to me later. While she strided away, I was wondering if Filipinos had a peculiar guise or mannerism that distinguishes them from other ethnicities. Physically, Filipinos have mixed appearances so that people would always mistake me for a Japanese, Chinese, Thai or even Singaporean. This time, the guess was right because maybe she was Filipino who felt the connection that would be arcane to non-Filipinos.

Anyways, my dinner came and I adored every bite of it. After sipping the last drop of cafe americano which you have to specifically tell the waiter or else you'll be given a cappuccino, the Filipina waitress came back and introduced herself but unfortunately, I have short-term memory loss so I forgot her name - Myra, Maura or Marianne. She told me that she was a student in Rome and she was just on a working vacation in Florence, taking advantage of the chance to work and stay in another Italian city during her sojourn. I asked her about her life in Italy and she responded "Mabuti naman, awa ng Diyos" (I'm fine, thanks God) in the usual very Filipino way. I further asked about the Italians' impressions on Filipinos and she said that since most Filipinos work there as house helpers, most people, not necessarily Italians would readily think that she made ends meet by scrubbing the floor or pruning grape vines. But what shocked her during her first days there was when some of the Filipinos and other foreigners would ask who her domestic employer was. "It was frustrating!" she lamented while taking away the china and fixing the table for the waiting customers. "How can some people label you just like that? I am proud of the Filipino nannies and helpers here who are honest, hard-working and caring. What frustates me is the damn stereotyping. They label you without asking!". Maybe her pride was hurt but she was right. I glorify labor and pay my fullest respects to all Filipino workers too, but life is not fair sometimes. There are indeed millions of well-respected Filipino professionals, scholars, talents and workers worldwide and indiscriminately stamping them as a single group is really moronic.

We parted ways by her asking "So, what brought you to Italy?". I told her that I was a student in Japan and I wanted to have a look of the country. "Japan?!" she exclaimed. "You must be in a tougher situation then!" she added as I gently pushed the stained glass door to exit the restaurant. On my way to the nearby bus station, I reflected on her last words and I whispered "Yes, she was right again".

Culture

Advice for a sibling

My sister was giggling with excitement when she told me that she was about to start her new job in one of Philippines' most respected accounting firms. My heart leaped with joy as I pictured her in her business outfit, bustling the busy streets of the financial district in her usual graceful and stylish gait. New to the money-making world, she will be facing tough times and memorable challenges ahead but knowing how strong-willed, intelligent and courageous she is, I know she will survive the sometimes unforgiving environment in the workplace. I could still vividly remember how people would praise her charm and beauty when she was a little girl and now, as fast as the snow melts in the sunshine, she is already a certified public accountant, ready to face the world and design her own career path.

Of course as an older brother, I have some pieces of advice for her. Read on.

Dear sis,

In your journey as an adult, you will meet people from all walks of life. Some just silently go, some stay and others leave a mark that could forever change your perspective about life and career. People will sometimes hate you and throw stones at you because you are exactly what they would pay for a million dollars. They wish they were you but even if the sun sets in the east, that could never happen. So their only resort is to assassinate your character and be bitter about their defeat. There is nothing you could do about it. Nasty and acerbic people are all over the place. Always remember to carefully choose your battles but never surrender from one. Do not waste your time minding crap. Just do your best, never impinge on the rights of the others and think first before doing things that could put yourself, your family and your country in a compromising and shameful situation. When you are caught in a quagmire, your family, friends and God are just a call away. Learn to harmonize with the situation but never give up your own faith, beliefs and principles. By doing this, people will respect your individuality and will never plan on including you to their dubious deeds.

Keep in mind that respect is a virtue and everybody craves for it regardless of who they are and where they come from. Almost all things including honesty, patience and trust are borne out of respect. If you exercise it, then you are in the right track. Also, people who have helped you climb your way up will appreciate a word of thanks from time to time.

Life is a beach and it really is. Teeming with sand of troubles and waves of endless tests. But beyond all of these, a new horizon sprawling with life and hope awaits those who brave the seas and are not afraid to lose sight of the shore. Tough, huh?! Your kuya (older brother) might sound super idealistic by saying all of these things but it is always better to set some rules and guides for us to preserve what is right and acceptable than just act according to our emotions. Nobody is perfect. I am full of flaws and what-if's, but imperfection is basically a human thing which makes us strive to be better.

Bon courage my dear sister! Do not forget that a good name and a good reputation can never be substituted with material possessions. The best things in life are free, you know :)

Love,

Kuya

Life

Miss Asia and her western man

The male audience roared in awe or maybe in repugnance as Ms. Asia Agcaoili, a controversial drop-dead gorgeous bisexual Filipina sex guru replied to a talkshow host's question about her reasons for choosing a caucasian boyfriend. Besides leading the audience to believe that white men are more anatomically blessed with a satisfying phallus, she also wittingly admitted that western men gave her more self-confidence to express her innermost desires and that she has never experienced freedom and contentment in a relationship until she met this guy from the other side of the world. Now this is a big blow to all those drooling Filipino men who wish to jump into bed with her and have uninhibited, animalistic and liberating all-night sex. Well, with the highly carnal and unconventional image that Ms. Asia painted to herself, nobody could blame if most Filipino men see her as a sex object to find, fuck and forget. But on the other hand, she also boasts of her academic background, being a student of the country's premier institution of learning, able to fluently and intelligently express her thoughts and feelings and having a talent in writing sensible articles about love and of course, sex.

This deliberate choice of Ms. Asia to eventually end up with a western partner is not an isolated, sporadic nor endemic case particular to her or to the Philippines only. Here in Japan, the rise in marriages with western men has become a hot issue lately and has been serving as a rich and continuous watering hole for commercial couple-matching agencies that have sprouted like mushrooms in and around Tokyo. The main reason that Japanese women gave in searching for a western husband was for them to escape the traditional, difficult and multi-faceted roles that they assume once they get married to a Japanese man. A western husband is seen as a knight in shining armor, valiantly coming to rescue her from the clutches of a strict society where women always take the backseat and are expected to silently and willingly obey the dictates of a predominantly masculine social hierachy. In the Philippines, destiny was the first reason, followed by the desire to pursue a life outside the country where opportunities to alleviate the economic condition of their family back home are better. Miss Asia's reason for choosing a western partner is valid and could represent a significant number of Filipinas in the same situation as her.

There are obvioulsy a lot of tangible differences between asian and western men that women seem to discuss and consider more today as global interaction become limitless. These differences however, merit to be discussed in another time and under another title.

Culture

Valentines a la Japanese

"Who travels for love finds a thousand miles not longer than one". - Japanese proverb.

Japan is unique in a lot of ways including how Valentine's day is celebrated. One month before the 14th of February, shopping malls start to brighten up the gloomy winter season with striking red ribbons and hearts superimposed with valentine's day greetings. The short phrases in English, though sometimes misspelled and absurd try to convey that valentine's day is just around the corner. Japanese couples who are too shy to express their love in public quietly browse the wide array of valentine goodies as the polite store clerks tirelessly reiterate their valentine's day promo, mostly on chocolates of every kind and form. Everything tries to connect with the celebration. There are valentine's day sale of things from vacuum cleaners to take away sushi. But wait, while the men just simply shrug and look indifferent, the women spend considerable time scrutinizing the visual and the gustatory appeal of the presents. This is because in Japan, it is the women who give presents to the men during valentine's day. Now, this may sound strange (or unique) to other countries, but it is the practice here. The women, on the other hand, get their sweet revenge after a month when "White Day" comes. This day is peculiar to Japan and it is the men who give gifts to the women this time. The origin of these practices is still unknown to me so my researcher instincts dictate me to search for the answers as soon as possible.

I received some presents today, one from Phiphi and the others from my Japanese friends. I have a sweet tooth so I am sure that I will love munching these chocolates which have a melting point slightly below human body temperature so it melts in your mouth, releasing the endorphins which make it so pleasant regardless of the taste. So, Happy Valentine's Day to all! It is good to celebrate the occasion here because you get a lot of chocolates.

Culture

Besoin de parler francais?

"Quoi?! Je n'ai pas compris! Il parait que tu as perdu ton francais!" that was what my Vietnamese-French friend told me when I called him to ask for the new address of one of our common friends. "Desole, hein" was all I could say while acrobatically reaching for the dictionary to desperately look for some words that were slipping out of my head. Mon Dieu! I have to brush up my french. I managed to get the message across but I was totally disgusted at how I was losing grip of the language that I promised myself not to ever forget as long as the Eiffel tower proudly displays its splendor. The cause? disuse atrophy! that is what's eating my french away. And who would expect me to keep my French language ability intact after almost five years since I left the country that has left a very special and indelible place in my heart. Five years! and it seems like it was just yesterday when I bade "Adieu" to my friends who made my studies in France a chapter to be read over and over again. Last year, I went back to France to repolish friendships that were tarnished by time and distance and to walk down the memory lane. Nothing much has changed except that the familiar voices of my friends that echoed outside my room, calling for me to join their crepe and cider dinner have vanished. I terribly miss them but life has to go on. C'est la vie!

To preserve the language inside my aging head, I downloaded some French refreshers from the internet. This way, I could resurrect the grammar and vocabulary that have been slowly but surely slipping into coma inside the less active part of my brain. I hope that I could cope with the deterioration since I intend to work in France someday if opportunities knock and I was there to answer the door. I'd like also to bring my family to the magnificient and breath-taking parts of the country especially in Brittany, Loire valley and of course the Parisian region. Well, who knows? Life is a like a box of chocolates (Forrest Gump).

I have no solid plans today. Maybe later I'll go to Bandai to have a haircut and look for a luggage bag that could carry things for a ten-day trip. I have two suitcases but they are meant for very short or very long trips. After that, then maybe eat somewhere. Right now, I feel like dozing off again after eating a lot and that is bad for the health :) So, where to go today? I'll see when I wake up. (photo coutesy of: www.french.dotjp.com/ ecole/)

My Life

Blizzards are for winter, parties are for all seasons.

Yesterday after school, I went to a Valentine's party. Too bad, I didn't bring my camera so the picture here is from a previous party with my friends who are mostly out of Japan now. But anyways, in yesterday's party, I had a great time with all the other foreign students who were celebrating not only the month of love but also the end of the final exams, the graduation of some of the students and the beginning of the spring break next month. Many people came in spite of the blizzard and the temperature dropping to three degrees below freezing. There was a lot of dancing but I particularly enjoyed the passionate beat of the latin songs. With Sandy leading the party animals to hit those tricky steps, who would not learn how to dance? The party ended with some of my favorite French songs and a shot of tequila to warm myself before going out of the venue and brave the biting cold again. Thanks Jim and Elena for driving me home. I was with Flavio at the backseat of the car and we talked about life and our studies here. He is leaving Japan soon to reunite with his family in Brazil and to get back to his former life again. I could see the sparkle in his eyes when he was talking about his daughter and how excited he was to take her to his arms again. Flavio is one of the nicest people around and I am sure that all of us here will miss his presence. Good luck to you Flavio! Au revoir!

My Life

Nippon vs. Kita-chousen

Everyone was rushing to go home early today. It felt a little weird because usually, my department mates would spend half of the evening in school working. It was always me who would stealthily pack my things and go home before 8:00 PM, a bit early for a Japanese worker but relatively late for a foreigner who used to wrestle a steady 9:00 to 5:00 job. But anyways, I learned later that tonight is one of the most-awaited nights of the year. The much idolized (by the Japanese) Japanese soccer team would be facing North Korea in a football match that should advance the winner to the world cup by one step. My senior even reminded me to watch the game and cheer for Japan.

Out of curiousity, I turned the TV on and I was surprised by the overwhelming number of people present in the stadium. Everybody was in high-spirits, chanting, shouting, screaming, and jumping like Japan was clinching for the gold in the olympics. Some people were so carried away, almost delirious, unceasingly waving the Japanese imperial flag against the blue backdrop formed by the jersey of the same color worn by almost all of the fans. Japan won (2-1) but I must say that North Korea, in spite of its financial and social predicament gave Japan a big itch to scratch. It was a tight and breath-stopping match with Japan advancing first but almost losing the game to its rival. I was deeply impressed by the skill and the moves of the Korean players though I must confess that I am a big fan of Nakata and Inamoto.

The excessive show of emotion by the Japanese in this game could be explained by the intrigue and the unhealed wounds that were brought by the series of abductions of Japanese nationals who were later on incompletely repatriated. These events were highly sensationalized by the local and partly by the international media, and involved a massive cry for protest by the Japanese. Until now, the diplomatic and political strains between the two countries continue although efforts to resolve the issue through bilateral talks are highly visible. Tonight's soccer match gave the Japanese the chance to voice out and openly show support for their country, and they succeeded in bringing home the bacon.

I hope that the issues between the two countries will be amicably settled soon, giving peace and understanding another chance in these days of turmoil.



Culture

Pump up the bass!

If "Mondays always get you down", what about Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Thursdays? Tuesdays make you more down, Wednesdays drain you out, Thursdays perk you up a bit because tommorrow, thanks God it's Friday!

It's Tuesday today and my adrenalin just keeps pumping like crazy. Meetings here and there, deadlines to beat, new research protocols to make, presentation preparations..... Darn! when can I ever have a slow and laid-back weekday? Everybody has to work really hard for the money, and I do not have the luxury to complain. I am thankful that I get paid to study because I am sure, a lot of people are willing to take my place.

This morning, I was virtually imprisoned inside my office. Had a meeting with my prof about in-vitro experiments, then another meeting about our new scientific paper for peer-review. I had my bento (packed japanese style lunch) at around 1 pm then headed to the library to look for some books about biostatistics. Met Damian on my way back to the office. He was tame today, pestered by colds just like me. I was expecting him to wave from a distance and yell "DoNdON!!!!!!!" just like any warm and animated latino.

I had a very academic day. I am so tired now, my eyelids drooping, and my brain malfunctioning. I need a glass of milk! Until then, buh-bye!

My Life

seen anything like this?!

Marquees and the big weird fish

Sunday mornings revitalize me like a power drink. After five days of toxic school work comes Saturday where I renew my personal relationship with people and even with God. Then yahoo! it's Sunday! time to just bum around, pig-out, fix broken things in the house, watch films, shop, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. In other words, release all the stress, negative vibes and frustrations that accumulated like cholesterol in the veins during the past week. Refresh, rejuvenate, relax!

Today was rather slow, woke up before 12:00 noon and just reheated the left-over chinese dinner I had last night. Spent 15 minutes brushing my teeth then I dipped in the tub for a hot bath. My friend Cecille called me up to meet her and Allister at McDonald's for a chat, so there I went. It was nice to see them on a Sunday where we could just talk and talk about everything, even gibberish stuff . I just ate so I did not order a burger but I picked some fries from Cecille's Happy Meal that she wanted to have because of the toy (^-^). After the chitchat, the three of us went to meet Juan, Phiphi and Adam at the local food festival. The aroma of good food filled the winter air so that I suddenly felt hungry! My sensitive olfactory sense led me to this meat stand where I had two servings of tender and delicious beef barbeque!!!! What a treat indeed. As we were walking back to my apartment, I saw this weird creature that I thought was a giant blowfish - a Japanese delicacy that is a choice between life and death! I have no plans whatsoever of tasting it. I asked the name of the fish and as expected, I never understood what the graceful Japanese lady was telling me.

I spent most of my time tonight trying to figure out how to add a marquee in my blogspot. I had to try a hundred times before I haphazardly did it. Whew! amateurs with no formal training suck! Look at William Hung! Hehehehe, no offense meant. It's almost midnight and I need to hit the sack. Gotta prepare for another busy week ahead. Can't wait for the next Sunday! Good night! Bonne nuit mes amis francais.

My Life

Insights about life

"Don't take life too seriously. You'll never escape it alive anyway."
- Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915) -

Life is probably one of most quoted subjects but I find this one particularly special. It made me rethink about how I deal with life and existence and the reason for everything that I am pursuing now. Living away from family and close friends in a country that seems to be so enigmatic and ironic in a lot of ways could be lonely and frustrating sometimes. This oftentimes traps me in difficult crossroads that drain my optimism and makes me regret on some decisions that I have made in the past. Maybe it's a case of premature mid-life crisis, but if you were in my shoes, then you would probably understand why.

I grew up in a large, tightly-knit family that has remained together despite the countless economic, political and natural crises that ravaged the Philippines. Just like any other families, the older generation has deliberately and inadvertently instilled so many values to the younger ones. But my family, both sides being strongly matriarchal because of the early demise of my grandfathers, has grown to be home and family oriented so that no matter how attractive the opportunities were in the past, nobody migrated to greener pastures. In fact, among the family members of almost one hundred loveable individuals from both sides, I am the only one who has decided to live abroad for a number of years. So you could just imagine how homesick I could get when I call them and they are all together celebrating every imaginable occasion. Sometimes my friends ask me if I have plans to permanently settle outside the Philippines after my studies, considering that I only need to work for myself and life back home has abundant support. I find it difficult to answer and it leaves me with so much questions in my mind.

Life in a progressive country has good things to offer to me, most especially to the career path that I intend to tread. Here, I experience doing research projects that could have just remained pure figments of the imagination if I have chosen to pursue a career in the Philippines . Also, the opportunity to travel, earn, improve and to immerse myself to another culture is boundless if I work honestly for it. The situation in the Philippines is very unpredictable, the return of investment is uncertain and the fruit of labor can be very elusive.

So, what will it be for me in the future? In my homeland or somewhere else? The answer, as repeatedly uttered by people around me is very simple - go where my heart is. But where my heart leads me in the future remains a riddle at the present. After reading the quotation that has been around for more than a hundred years, my outlook became less complicated. I will just make the most of what I have now, enjoy life one day at a time but wisely preparing for the future and having feasible plans that come from the heart. Thanks, Mr. Hubbard! You just saved my forehead from more wrinkles due to worries and stress. Words are really more powerful than the sword.

My Life

Confidence interval

I was gasping as I sprinted from the library to the university dental clinic. Crikey! I never knew I could dash like roadrunner trying to elude wile e. coyote's evil plans. My endurance against the frigid wind and the slippery, icy road was tested to its limits. I had to hurry because tardiness is one of the greatest taboos in Japan. Two minutes more and I would be late for my dental appointment. I was not treating anybody's dental dilemma this time. It was going to be my mouth that would be subjected to the scrutiny and the holy mercy of the infamous tooth drill (whiiiiiizzzzzzzz!!!! remember the brain whacking sound that made your eyes feel like popping out?). The doctor became the patient this time...... and who says it is not possible?

While in the library, I did not notice the time until I heared one Japanese student say "Ima nanji? (what time is it?)". I was so preoccupied with trying to analyze the "confidence interval" of the research data that I need to present in the US this March. I asked for the help of my sempai (senior) who had difficulty in explaining because obviously, dentists are basically not statisticians. So, I had to rush to the library to study it myself. Well, I still do not fully understand it but I am getting there - hopefully.

I went to the seventh floor of the hospital right after the dental treatment to ask my pretty friend Phiphi about her plans tonight. We agreed to have dinner in a good restaurant with our prim and proper friend, Juan from Argentina . Well, I went once to this traditional yet cozy Japanese restaurant with mouth-watering dishes to satisfy one's craving for authentic asian cuisine. So, there we went and the food was just great! We had mixed japanese herb salad for starters, then aromatic beef soup mixed with tiny slices of selected boiled local root crops followed. Before enjoying the main dish called "taimeshi" or flavored rice topped with steamed fish, we had, well, fish with daikon (giant raddish) marinated in sweet soy sauce stock. It was lovely but we still felt like eating more so we ordered vegetable tempura and chicken barbeque. Yum! really satisfying.

After the hefty dinner, we dropped by my place for a sip of hot chocolate, to chat and to watch a bilingual film in one of the national TV channels. "The mask of Zorro" is showing now and we're having fun watching the antics of Antonio Banderas over and over again. And oh! I will call my cousin Tintin later to greet her a very happy 17th birthday.

Passionate love in a cold winter

"But why?! " my doctor friend exclaimed. He was not flabbergasted over something stupid that I did, but for me getting a flu shot last December. He was right in explaining that flu virus strains are numerous and nobody knows which one would eventually bring a person down, so a single flu shot could be futile. Well, I still had the shot if only to calm down my intermittent bouts of hypochondria. You see, during winter, people tend to be gregarious in order to warm themselves and in the process, air-borne diseases like flu could easily pass from one person to another. And for a person like me who is very susceptible to having respiratory problems, an ounce of prevention is always the better alternative. Good if I catch the virus by kissing (hehehe)! At least, I got it the pleasant way.

Winter in Japan could be bitter, especially in the areas along the sea of Japan. It has been snowing here for the past few days and in some areas, snow has accumulated to as high as one meter, causing the collapse of a motel's public bath, killing two people. But on the other hand, the snow really makes a wonderful sight especially if it blankets the whole city - something that is impossible to happen in Manila. One thing that could make one's winter in Japan warm and exciting is to have somebody to share a hot potage with, while your feet are entangled together under the kotatsu (japanese traditional table with built-in heater) while watching TV. But for most foreign students here who are happily living alone (not necessarily single), you can just hop into your bed, warm yourself under the thick cotton sheets and sing "Ue wo miite, arukou, namida ga koborenai you ni" (sniff..sniff) or, you can haul yourself and watch one of the featured movies in the Niigata International Film Festival, especially the film "Love Me" from Japan that was shot in Niigata city's Bandai and Furumachi districts. It will be a great alternative to spending your time alone in your six tatami room and just dream about passionate love in a cold winter.

Love

Blog neophyte

Today, I finished designing my posters for the International Association for Dental Research (IADR). It was really exhausting trying to doll up a scientific presentation so that it would appear interesting and informative at the same time. I tried to switch from one design to another, starting with the most academic ones (all the stressful earth colors), until I ended up choosing the light, perky, "springish" colors to at least diminish the stress that my topic (genetics...ummphhh!) would give to the readers. I needed to revitalize my worn-out and lethargic senses so I surfed the net for some "refreshing ideas" (euphemism for gossip? hahahaha!) and I stumbled over this article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer about blogging. Hmmmmm.... I found it interesting so before I knew it, I was initiating myself into the world of blogging! Well, this is just an experiment (something I do everyday), and the results will tell if this will push through until God knows when. To all my friends and my family, I hope I could connect with you through this no borders, no frontiers way of reaching out - blogging. So everybody, "Retsu Burogu!" (Let's blog in Japanese! hahahaha!).