Life is trial and error

BOXSTER

Today was a lot of fun because I drove my car for the first time in a long while.
I love my car, even though it's not hot and new, so I was happy today!

Shuto ko

How have you been?!

Oops! 

It has been a long time since last time.

I miss New York, but don't worry about it because I'm fine and I'm giving 100% at work!

Anyway, a brand-new year has just begun, so I just want to say!

 

       A H@PPY NEW YEAR 2007!!

I hit the bell on New Year's Eve!

An oligopoly market?

I went to a Yoga studio today as well. Then, I was surprised that the yoga class was held in English. I had never imagined that before! Actually some students and the instructor were not Japanese, though. I had to know English vocabulary regarding yogic terminologies; such as the names of the muscles, names assigned to bones, and nouns of yogic breathing.
I, however, don't think the point was that. Today's instructor was kind of famous and he seemed to be a totally flagship, iconic person in the yoga studio. It's crystal-clear to me, but, he is from Nepal!
His English was totally hard to listen to!
It was the same as taxi drivers in Manhattan!
To tell you the truth, during yoga I tried hard not to laugh. I wonder if it was good for making muscles soft?!, because his English made me carry back funny memories from New York.
I long for Indian English in Manhattan!

I've been hooked on Yoga!

I've been hooked on Yoga! In fact, I was going to Yoga studio everyday this week!! I tried Pilates, Bikram yoga, Ashtanga yoga, Iyenger yoga and Ishta yoga during this week. -Actually, this week was a muscle-strengthening week!- My favorite is Bikram yoga, during which I'm able to sweat up a storm, and Ishta yoga, whose instructor is so nice.  I'll take yoga classes this weekend, too!

The three-day holiday in Tokyo

Bric-a-brac or treasures?!

I spent this weekend looking for an apartment in which I will live. It's too difficult to find one! Besides, I know that I have to compromise, such as the rent, the space and the neighborhood environment, it's also hard.
I love a diverse town but that kind of place is limited in Japan, even in Tokyo.
Anyway, I was able to drop by a flea market by accident today in Azabu-juban.  Since I'm planning to move to somewhere in the near future, I fought off the urge to buy anything, although there were a bunch of terrific bargains!  I remember that my favorite flea market was on Upper West Side in New York. There is a weekly flea market (every Sunday) in the public school yard at Columbus Avenue and 77th Street. Not just used stuff either. It was really my favorite and there was lots of fun stuff!  I miss New York!  I've got an e-mail from Francoise today. So that may be why?!

In the cafe in Azabu-juban in Tokyo

A Next Step

Well, a long time has past by from the last time I wrote my diary.
During that time I was thinking of my character, potential, association and abilities because I had to make a decision between options.  After all, I have decided to accept the job offer as a marketing manager, not as a PR manager. Besides, it's quite a new company and I'll be able to be a startup member.It will be exciting and brilliant.
Now I am very happy with this big decision and am looking forward to experiencing it in the near future , nevertheless I have to find an apartment which is larger than the apartment in which I'm living now.
I have to be busy these next 10 days!

Saturday style

I love Autumn the best of the four seasons. It's a beautiful season!
I went to the flower garden of Cosmos. They were dispersed by the wind of another typhoon, but I was satisfied with being able to watch them.　Also I went to a driving range today for the first time in years. I enjoyed it.
Besides, going southward on route 134, I saw a beautiful sunset.
This was my Saturday.
It was not bad, was it?

Craigslist Tokyo

It has been more than a month since I came back to Tokyo. Looking back on my New York life, it was an unforgettable year in my life. I was getting to love New York after all, though I didn't like New York so much at first because of unfamiliar dirtiness.
I might have to confess that I'm getting to miss New York!  Fortunately, it is also true that I can enjoy communication with my friends who are literally all over the world through the internet, such as IM, Blog and E-mails thanks to English.
I don't think I want to lose my verbal capacity, and I know that I have to make an effort to keep it, so I make it a rule to watch English channels, for instance CNN, FOX and so on, but there are a bunch of commercials!!  It's totally boring!! I'm fed up with them!! - Although I was working at an advertising agency :P -
Did you know there is a craigslist even in Tokyo?! Today I tried to contact some native tutor candidates on craigslist.  I'm eager to learn a polite English as well as appropriate English, not ordinary daily English, because I'm able to create sophisticated messages in Japanese with the knowledge attained by professional experience. I can persuade business people with confidence in Japanese since I'm a certified Japanese language teacher too. Therefore, what I am eager to attain is very high level.  In terms of psycholinguistics, which is my major in my Master's Degree, I know that it is comparatively difficult, especially to a posteriori learner. 
I just do it!!  I hope I can get a nice person as my tutor!

I bought "STOKKE VARIABLE"!

The trip west

I went to Kobe and Osaka this weekend. 　On Friday, Mom and I went to Arima Spa in Kobe. According to the article, "Arima Spa is said to be the oldest spa in Japan and has been visited by a lot of historical persons. As the spa and the environment are appealing to foreigners, there were many hotels to accommodated visitors from overseas".  However the town was totally shabby, but the spa was nice, at least to me.  In addition, we enjoyed the dinner. Saturday, we went back to Osaka to celebrate Father's birthday.
By the way, I recognized that there are such a lot of differences between the Tokyo and Osaka cultures. Although the people are the same race, the language was totally different for instance in the train in Osaka. I was a little bit scared because they were just like arguments or fighting.  Funny, I never felt like that even in English!

The spa in our room

The rhythm in Tokyo

It was raining today, but I was looking for an apartment where we want to move.
An apartment rent is crazily expensive in Tokyo as well as in Manhattan. So, I have to be careful,  but anyway, looking at apartments was fun today.
I went to "Moresque", that I used to patronize before I went to New York, for the first time in a long while. So, I enjoyed dinner tonight.
My life in Tokyo is gradually getting back to normal. I've been getting to remember my daily rhythm in Tokyo; favorite places, friends and home.
Frankly, I miss New York a little, but I know that I am a person who belongs to Tokyo. So, I think that's alright.
Moresque, Tokyo