I arrived at Toronto last nite around 7:15pm after 12 hrs of my flight from Tokyo. The flight actually wasn't as bad as I expected. Perhaps, sleeping during flight meals helped let the time slip away. LOL
Oh, I have something that I want to make a note of. You would not believe this. Air Canada gave us Hagen Datz ice cream! I was like. for real? LOL I was happy, but being on a flight, rich icecream did not digest well in my stomach, so I did not finish, but it indeed was sweet to get such a thing in an economy class flight, you know? LOL Just thought about sharing.
My parents recently were on Canada-Japan flight with the Japan Air Line, and told me they watched 3 movies, and two of them included the most recent movies out (Shall We Dance? and Million Dollars Baby). So I was expecting to see at least a couple movies, but meah, they only gave us one (the name of the movie was like "got ball?" or something of that line, about basketball team somewhere in the states trying to get academically recognized before getting the fame thru their great basketball reputation).
Anyway, my friend, Ange's parents came to pick me up at the airport. There was a strike by the cab and limo drivers who were blocking the way towards the airport. So we united just before 9pm. The bright sky kept me thinking it was still mid-afternoon though. LOL Gotta get used to the longer day time here during the summer time, wooo yeah!
So after getting here, we chatted, looking at some photos and what not, and I went to bed around 11pm. I slept fine, but woke up around 6am feeling a little tired, so I think I will need to drink loads of water and tea to stay up all day today and go to bed at nite (instead of having a nap) to correct my body clock. :)
The weather here is quite HOT!! I hope I will adjust myself physically here okay though. Well, I am super looking forward to meeting with my friends. :) We got the pride weekend this week, so that will be a lot of fun, I am pretty sure :) Well, gotta go and make a list of things to do... Please look forward for some photos that I hope to share online in the next couple of days. Peace :)
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
My home will always be where I grew up my childhood in...
On the day of my departure to Toronto, I woke up around 8am after 4 hrs of sleep, and tidied up my room before bringing my 2 heavy 64 kilo suitcases, "isn't it too heavy for a carry-on?" suitcase and my lap top bag to the entrance of my house.
Then I played a little with our crow pet, Ka-ko chan and Brian, the silly smiley dog for the last time before eating breakfast with my family. My parents must have read the letter from me by the time I got to the living room for breakfast, because I could tell how they were trying to hide their true emotions.
My dad was trying to minimize an amount of conversations with me. I guess he did not want to show his sad feelings when I was trying to leave the house positively with a bright outlook on my next chapter of life awaiting in Toronto.
Everyone in the house were emotional. My mom would talk to me, and all of a sudden bite her lower lip and look up so that tears would not fall. My grandma would offer me some fresh fruits pealing the skin of pink grape fruits with her tears floating in her eyes. I felt very emotional and could cry at any moment, but I tried not to do so, because it was my decision to return afterall, and I wanted it make this return a positive come-back for myself. My dad came to my room handing me some money telling me to use it for my transportation to the airport. I thanked him for his great support and cooperation during my stay in Japan, and made my commitment with him that I will do my best to fulfill my living in Canada. He told me Ganbareyo (do your best, always) as he walked away from my room. I had to let some tears fall off my cheeks.
I then drove my mom's car for the last time driving to a local drug store to buy a couple things, and came home. I wrote a letter to my grandma in my room, and then relaxed a little in the living room with my mom and my grandma. My mom made me a last cup of tea wishing me a positive journey in Toronto. I then gave my grandma a big hug and gave her the letter. As I walked out from the house, the crow pet, Ka-ko chan followed me andBrian came out from his house to watch me go. I felt so sad leaving everyone there, but I told myself that this was a beginning of my journey to fully re-gain a whole control over my life and fulfill my soul to actively cerebrate my own life that is given to me.
My mom drove me to the highway bus stop, and waited for the bus to arrive for about 20 minutes. I could tell that she was trying to hold her tears, so I kept showing my optimistic self trying to tell her that I will be okay.
The bus arrived, so we hugged for the last time, and I got on the bus thanking her and asking her to take care of my grandma and pets for me while I will be away from home.
My mom kept biting her lower lip looking a little worried about me, but we exchanged our last momet with a smile.
On the way to Tokyo, I watched the greens over the mountains, the place I grew up from the window of the bus, and could not help but to thank the land and clear air in the sky that helped me be who I am. I for the first time was able to gain such appreciation towards my home-land from the bottom of my heart, and felt strong, because I felt that my home will always be this place, where I spent my childhood watching the face of Mt. Fuji everyday, no matter how many cities I may reside before coming back to place in future.
Reflecting back all these changes that I made for my life in the past, I feel as though I was always on this search for my home, and always feeling somewhat sad like an orphant with no true home. But now that I know where my home is, I feel strong about enjoying my journey seeing different parts of the world and engaging in new activities to fullfill much of my personal interests and ultimately to manifest the person I feel most comfortable with. I hope to keep my positive attitude and brave self with me during the course of my new journey here in Canada.
Peace
Then I played a little with our crow pet, Ka-ko chan and Brian, the silly smiley dog for the last time before eating breakfast with my family. My parents must have read the letter from me by the time I got to the living room for breakfast, because I could tell how they were trying to hide their true emotions.
My dad was trying to minimize an amount of conversations with me. I guess he did not want to show his sad feelings when I was trying to leave the house positively with a bright outlook on my next chapter of life awaiting in Toronto.
Everyone in the house were emotional. My mom would talk to me, and all of a sudden bite her lower lip and look up so that tears would not fall. My grandma would offer me some fresh fruits pealing the skin of pink grape fruits with her tears floating in her eyes. I felt very emotional and could cry at any moment, but I tried not to do so, because it was my decision to return afterall, and I wanted it make this return a positive come-back for myself. My dad came to my room handing me some money telling me to use it for my transportation to the airport. I thanked him for his great support and cooperation during my stay in Japan, and made my commitment with him that I will do my best to fulfill my living in Canada. He told me Ganbareyo (do your best, always) as he walked away from my room. I had to let some tears fall off my cheeks.
I then drove my mom's car for the last time driving to a local drug store to buy a couple things, and came home. I wrote a letter to my grandma in my room, and then relaxed a little in the living room with my mom and my grandma. My mom made me a last cup of tea wishing me a positive journey in Toronto. I then gave my grandma a big hug and gave her the letter. As I walked out from the house, the crow pet, Ka-ko chan followed me andBrian came out from his house to watch me go. I felt so sad leaving everyone there, but I told myself that this was a beginning of my journey to fully re-gain a whole control over my life and fulfill my soul to actively cerebrate my own life that is given to me.
My mom drove me to the highway bus stop, and waited for the bus to arrive for about 20 minutes. I could tell that she was trying to hold her tears, so I kept showing my optimistic self trying to tell her that I will be okay.
The bus arrived, so we hugged for the last time, and I got on the bus thanking her and asking her to take care of my grandma and pets for me while I will be away from home.
My mom kept biting her lower lip looking a little worried about me, but we exchanged our last momet with a smile.
On the way to Tokyo, I watched the greens over the mountains, the place I grew up from the window of the bus, and could not help but to thank the land and clear air in the sky that helped me be who I am. I for the first time was able to gain such appreciation towards my home-land from the bottom of my heart, and felt strong, because I felt that my home will always be this place, where I spent my childhood watching the face of Mt. Fuji everyday, no matter how many cities I may reside before coming back to place in future.
Reflecting back all these changes that I made for my life in the past, I feel as though I was always on this search for my home, and always feeling somewhat sad like an orphant with no true home. But now that I know where my home is, I feel strong about enjoying my journey seeing different parts of the world and engaging in new activities to fullfill much of my personal interests and ultimately to manifest the person I feel most comfortable with. I hope to keep my positive attitude and brave self with me during the course of my new journey here in Canada.
Peace
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Happy Father's Day
Today was the father's day, so in the morning, I gave my dad this brain-stimulant toy where he will have to answer some numeric questions in a short period of time and this alum can full of games and toys to improve his memory. LOL That's right. I noticed how forgettable my dad has become recently, so I thought these were the perfect gifts for him. LOL
Then my grandma, my mom and I went to my grandma and my father's family's cemetaries for the final visit before my departure tomorrow. We stopped over at a store to buy some fresh fish for the father's day dinner, which I wanted to prepare. Then came home. I went to bed around 3am the night before packing some mails to be sent out on Monday, so I was exhausted. I took a nap and then went to the gym to say good bye to the old gentlemen who work there during the night as well as to have my last work out looking at the huge mt. fuji through open windows.
I stopped over at a grocery store to pick some stuff that I needed for the dinner, and once I came home, I started cooking right away. Unfortunately, I did not have much time to prepare for this dinner, so I could not make much creative things, but here is what we had for dinner tonight.
Avocado Mousse with Sea Trout and Cavier:
Yeah, the color of avocado mousse seems strange in this photo. :( It was my first attempt to make something like this. It tasted good though. Good appetizer to start, I think. But I want to make the mousse just before serving so that the color of avocado will be more appealing :)
Fresh Oyster: ewww NOT FOR ME!!!!!! :( but my family loves it.
Pumpkin Gnocchi with Baby Bok Choy and a Mushroom Consomme:
This was such a tasty and "the contract of green-orange colors are looking pretty sweet"-kinda meal. It was my first time making gnocchi, and I absolutely loved it!! :) This was an easy to digest meal for my grandma, who can not eat heavy-duty dishes (with loadsa cream etc), so I was happy to hear that my grandma enjoyed this one :)
Rockfish on a Bed of Green Asparagus with a Tarragon and Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Emulsion:
I was afraid that this may turn into a heavy tasting meal, but really, it tasted quite light and had a lot of flavour. I think usage of tarragon on this fish dish was the key. I think I will use it more frequently when I cook fish-dishes in future :) And I shall cut both asparagus and fish larger so that it will be more of like a mail dish.
Arch Shell Toppings over a Bed of Colorful Greens:
My mom helped making this salad for me. Was tasty :)
Well, I wished that I had more time to communicate with my dad today, but really, a lot of different kind of emotions going thru, I could not openly express or communicate my feelings with my dad, because I could have started crying at any moment, if I was to share my feelings with him, you know?
I was going to write my family a fare-well message, but I can not face my feelings towards them right now. My eyes will look like a Japanese ghost standing under the willow tree (obake) by tomorrow, if I let my thoughts get revealed and accept however I am feeling right now. But at the same time, I feel that it is important for me to always be honest and communicative with my feelings with my family, so although it is already 3am right now, I am going to write letters to them right now :)
Dear Friends:
I deeply apologize that I have not replied back to your thoughtful e-mails. I have been super busy that I could not make time to sit down and write personal mails to each one of you. All of you are in my thoughts, and I will write you back as soon as I settle down in Toronto! Until then, please do know that you are in my thoughts :)
Hugs,
Kumi
P.S.
Toronto, here I COME!!!
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