winter 09

Snow was falling earlier today in this part of South Korea. I admit, as much as I abhor the awful cold, I was looking forward to the snowfall.

In Japan (except Hokkaido and the upper parts of the country), it rarely happens -- that explains much of my longing. Snow does fall but they melt before hitting the ground.

Can't make it 40

Early this year, I launched a (personal) project: to read 50 40 books. The said project was my first ever, and the idea came late 2008 while spending my holidays here in JP because of passport issues (feel free to click ‘rant’ tag for details). Bored, bored and too cold outside to have fun, to books I wasted time hitherto.

(1.) Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami, (2.) Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, (3.) New Moon by Stephenie Meyer, (4.) The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, (5.) The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald, (6.) Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer, (7.) Wicked by Gregory Maguire, (8.) Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer, (9.) The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, (10.) The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, (11.) Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes, (12.) Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, (13.) Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami, (14.) A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah, (15.) How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill, (16.) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, (17.) From Russia with Love by Ian Fleming, (18.) When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris, (19.) My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult, (20.) Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk, (21.) Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, (22.) Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella, (23.) The Boy in Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne, (24.) Geisha in Rivalry by Kafu Nagai, (25.) When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro, (26.) Lord of the Flies by William Golding, (27.) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, (28.) Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, (29.) Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, (30.) The China Lover by Ian Buruma, (31.) The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

current read: The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

(listed and numbered for record)

If asked which book I like best, it would've to be Khaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner”. For reasons that it made me cry, made me watched the movie thereafter, made me ponder the ‘what ifs’ for days, and it’s the first book I read about Afghanistan. It’s very well-written.

As you can see, I seem to fail the project in terms of its target quantity. I think, I can read a total of 33 this year. Should my Nihonggo lessons never intercepted, I could (possibly) reach the target.

This reminds me of the whole planning thing in life. We draft plans and the outcome -- considering its details -- don’t end up as it should be. But taken into its entirety, the whole process of realizing it is worthy than nothing (except to planning and not doing anything for its fruition -- that’s a different story). One thing’s for sure, I don’t take long-term plans too seriously now. I mean, they only frustrate me. To future, I worry not much because as far as human’s capabilities, we can only do so much for the present -- which eventually sums up the future.

In relation to ‘plans’, I remember HIMYM’s season 4 finale: “The Leap”. Ted, an architect, began practicing his profession independently after resigning from a firm. Not for long it lasted for he never had a successful project, thus, began pondering on his failures. A teaching job offer came but he was hesitant to accept it because the whole plan is for him to be an architect. Lily told Ted to listen to what the world is saying.

renshuu shimasu

わたしのげつようびからきんようびまでのよていです。

わたしは7じはんにおきますから、まいばんねるのがおそいです。

すして、8じ15ふんにバスーのりばへあるいていきます。うちからバスーのりばまで15ふんぐらいかかりますね。バスでかいしゃへいきます。20分ぐらいかかりますね。ぜんぼ35ふんぐらいですね。

9時から6時まではたらきますね。ひる休は1時間だけ。私はいつもかいしゃのしょくどでたべています。しょくどのたべものがいろりろありますね。ときどきおいしいです。すして、やすいです。

6じにしごとをおわますね。だいたいデパートへいきます。うちのちかくにデパートがおおいです。だからべんりですね。かいものしませんから、わたしはびんぼですね。ＬＯＬ．

ばんごはんときどきセーパでオーべんとかいますから。わたしのりょうりがへたですね。

----
Above is what one would hear when I’m asked about Monday-Friday routine. =P

Regarding my Nihonggo, I STILL need a lot of improvement, especially with my speaking skills. As a listener, my hearing skills vary considerably. Meaning, it depends on the manner and speed the speaker is using. Some tend to speak rapidly that I could not quite make out any word that sounds familiar.

In time, I’ll catch up. *crosses fingers*

Since my Japanese lunchmates knew about my willingness to learn their language. They would modulate their manner of speaking, therefore, allowing me to understand each word. They are very encouraging and patient towards my queries about vocabulary and grammar, which were never left unanswered. Bless them.

In my dire need to practice, I would often eavesdrop at random strangers talking beside me in the bus. Even in the office, I sometimes try to comprehend the conversation of my two seatmates (I know it’s rude but can you blame me?? It’s impossible not to hear them, anyway). So far, their conversations are work-related.

picture Sunday: Fall

Autumn is undeniably my favorite season. I just like how colorful the trees look prior to its 'hibernation' mode.

..And I'm back with my Flickr project 365. I did try last year but failed -- having missed a few days which, of course, ruined the main objective. Unlike others' 365 project, I don't take photos everyday. I do upload photos daily provided that such photo was taken from Nov 1, 2009 to present. Project ends Nov. 3, 2010.