These few days, I have suffered from Red eye condition called " subconjunctival hemorrhage" It was not pain, but bit unconformable and looked scary.
I was bit worried and requested for antibiotic eye drops. Doctor insisted it unnecessary, it will heal on its own in 2 weeks.
So, now, I look like a vampire.
Since young I have been traveling , traveling for work, traveling for holiday. But solo travel is the first time.
Technically speaking, I did travel alone for work, but when I reached to destinations, I had local colleagues to be with me, so I don't count those travels as solo travel.
This time, for the first time in my life, I did solo travel.
From Singapore to Haneda airport,
The flight was a breeze. No issue at all. After clearing the custom and getting my luggage, I went to pic up my rental wifi, I have been using " Japan Wireless" for many years, whenever I travel to Japan. It is so convenient to receive and return, the service is always reliable, and the quality of WiFi is good , can be shared with multiple devices .
After that, I went to local delivery service shop, Yamato 宅配便, as I was going to take 新幹線, I wanted to travel like locals.
Upon inquiry, as there was Tokyo Marathon on that day , the same day delivery was not available. No choice, I decided to carry my own luggage.
From Haneda airport, take monorail to Hamamastsucho, then change to JR line toward Tokyo. It was less than half hour.
At Tokyo station, I went to Green Window service counter to get my 新幹線ticket to Yamagata station. It costs 11450 Yen. The Tsubasa つばさ新幹線is the one goes to Yamagata.
I got into my platform, bought a bento, all set.
From Yamagata to Zao Onsen
I stayed at Zao shikino Hotel 蔵王四季のホテル, the hotel has free pick up from Yamagata station. You need to book 3 days ahead.
When reaching Yamagate station, go to west exit, cross a link bridge towards a shopping mall, go to the ground floor, you will find the waiting area. The bus is quite punctual. Only in the winter season, it is better to wait indoor.
There is a lovely library corner , the books are for loan for free for two weeks, there is no one to man the store, so that you can borrow the books by yourself. That speaks volume of Japan culture, people are highly trustworthy, it is assumed that no one will steal the books.
The doctor in Polyclinic referred me to National Cancer Centre under "fast tack"!
Within a day, I got an appointment in NCC. NCC is no strange place for me, I had accompanied my late mother to NCC many times for her cancer treatments. But that was the old NCC building. The new NCC building is right at Outram MRT, exit 7, you will find the link direct to NCC.
The ambience of NCC is so soothing, everything is brand new, very spacious, the layout is so comfortable, I felt like in luxury private hospital.
The lady doctor who examined me was gentle, she asked me whether the lump in the breast was painful. I replied yes. She said: " The pain is good. As breast cancer does not present in painful lumps.
I felt so grateful.
God is so good to me!
I have been blessed with many things. My family, my career, and my friends.
When I was a young girl, I could not imagine what I would be, only had a vigorous idea that I would like to be someone who is able to do many things useful and beneficial for this world.
Now, I am half retired. I started to learn gardening, sewing, and to go hiking and traveling. I am planning to upskill my ski :). I also booked a few trip for work and leisure.....
Now I have a surprise.
I discovered a painful lump on my left breast, it is about 4cm and associated with pain when touching. I went to see doctor, who immediately referred me to National Cancer Centre.
Now, suddenly, I was once again reminded, our life is at mercy of GOD.
Man proposes, God disposes, blessed be the name of God.
I will go to see specialist tomorrow, and I pray nothing serious!
Reflections of 2023
Failures
Ø In 2023, I fell into the scam, the scammer pretended to be the police officers, and I was accused to be involved some money laundering cases, in the process of so called “cooperation for investigation” and I gave out all my bank accounts’ information, by God’s grace, the security setting of 12 hours cooling period, saved me from loss all my cash assets.
I truly thank God for protection, should had I not made police report just in time, I could have lost all my savings.
Ø In 2023, I was also overcharged by slimming treatment. Dorra Slimming claimed to give me the best price for slimming treatment, but in the end, I was charged 4 x of price what I thought they offered. I reported the case to CASE, the company refunded me the unused portion of treatment fees, but I was still overcharged as I had used almost half of total package . It was a very expensive lesson.
Ø In 2023, I also failed my JLPT N1 exam, the first time was an accidental mistake, as during the exam, my phone alarm suddenly rang; the second time, I was 8 marks away from passing mark. That shows that I need to work harder in studying Japanese.
Achievements
Ø We completed the designs of our house and moved to a smaller house while the old house being rebuilt. It took almost 1.5 half year, discussing with architect and various contractors, finally it was moving forward.
Ø Moving and packing took more than 2 months, but finally, it was a nice and comfortable home.
Ø Our company’s anniversary event, that went smoothly, thanks to all my colleagues and organizing committees, that was a memorable event.
Ø We hosted a dinner for VIPs at our new home, I felt not adequately prepared, but it turned out to be very nice time for all of us.
New learning experience
Ø With my Japanese learning friends, we started to hiking training to prepare our next year hiking trip. It has been a fun and great experience for all of us. The hiking has improved my stamina and, I felt more energic and healthy than before.
Ø I started to learn sewing, at first, I struggled with usage of machine, after overcoming the initial difficulties, I enjoyed sewing some simple bags, porches as presents for my colleagues and friends. I made Christmas present using those handmade bags. Learning a new skill is always so much fun.
Memorable moments
Ø I went to Ise, Wakayama with my two sons after their competition in Nagoya. We stayed at Ryokan, visited famous and scared shrines, had lots of fun time together.
Ø I also jointed with my sons for Asian Game in Huangzhou, China. Though both of them didn’t manage to win a medal for Singapore, I think it was a great experience to learn from failure and other competitors. That has motivated them to train harder and prepare for their future competitions.
Summary of 2023
It was a great year filled with ups and downs, full of learning moments and
thanksgiving. I am grown as a
person. I feel that I need to be more
compassionate towards others, more discipline towards myself.
While I was moving house, I went through so many clutters in my house, in
life, I also have so many clutters, with human relationships, with past
experiences etc.
I have decided to cut off some unnecessary ties with people, to give up some habits which have no benefits; and pursue a simple life but Give thanks to God for all things, treasure family time and enjoy every moment of life.
Next Year Goals
Hiking training, 3 times a week to prepare for Mt Fuji
Continue studying Japanese and pass JLPT N1
Learning new sewing skill and garden skill
Improve as a person in the following areas.
六つの精進
1. だれにも負けない努力をする
2. 謙虚にして驕らず
3. 反省ある日々を送る
4. 生きていることに感謝する
5. 善行、利他行を積む
6. 感性的な悩みをしない
Six diligences
1. Strive to work harder than anyone else
2. Be humble and not arrogant
3. Spend days with reflection
4. Be grateful to be alive
5. Accumulate good and altruistic deeds
6. Don't worry emotionally
April 6, 2021
盗まれた
とられた
Those are words used when your things be stolen.
それらはあなたの物が盗まれるときに使われる言葉です。
Did you have such experience? I had once.
Once I was on business trip to Germany, after landed in Frankfurt
airport, I went to train ticket office to buy train ticket to another
city. Just as I put down my bag and turned
to ticket office to inquiry for seconds, I turned around and found my bag was
no longer there. Luckily, I had my wallet and passport with me, inside
bag there were only clothes, books and contact lens etc.
そんな経験はしたことがありましたか？ 私はありました。ドイツへの出張にすることなったした．フランクフルト空港に着陸した後、別の都市への列車の切符を買うために列車の切符売り場に行きました。私はそうばに私のバッグ置いて、切符売り場で数秒間問い合わせると、振り返ってみると、バッグがもうそこにない、盗まれた。幸いなことに、財布とパスポートを持っていて、バッグの中には服、本、コンタクトレンズなどしかありませんでした。
I went to Police Office to
report the case, but it seemed there were so many cases like this, they could
do anything.
警察署に通報に行ったのに、こんな事件が多かったようで、何もしてくれませんでした。
The same thing happened to my brother too, at the same
airport, but he was not as lucky as me, he lost everything, including passport,
phone and money. Some kind people gave
him EUR 200, at policy office, thankfully , he was able to return USA
safely. It was miracle！
同じ空港で私の兄にも同じことが起こりましたが、彼は私ほど幸運ではなく、パスポート、電話、お金を含むすべてを失いました。何人かの親切な人々は彼に200ユーロをくれてました、ありがたいことに、彼は安全に米国に戻ることができました。 奇跡でした。
April 4, 2021
I
have been thinking. There isn't short cut in anything. The reason
Japanese people speak perfect Japanese is because they have been learning from
the day they were born. So do English speaking people.
Once a lady asked Beethoven "How I wish I could play like you."
Beethoven replied " Yes, Madam, You will, if you, like me, to play 10
hours a day and for 20 years. "
People often admire those who have succeeded, but no so many people see and are
willing to pay the prices behind those successes.
So I remind myself, there isn't short cut in life in anything.
I was quite sad yesterday as I failed my listening in last week mock test. But
come to think about it, I didn't put enough effort into listening,
no excuse for myself. So, there is more to be done. FIGHTING！
人生に近道はありません。
最近よく考えていました。確かに、人生に近道はありません。日本人は完璧な日本語を話せるのは、生まれた日から学んでいるからです。英語を話す人もそうです。
ある日、一人の女性はBeethoven に「私があなたのようにひければ 、よかったなぁ」と言った。
Beethoven 答えたした「私のように、毎日10時間、20年間弾き続ければ、できましよ、、、」
人は度マ、成功した人々を賞賛しますが、その成功の背後に代価をみて。それを支払う人はありません。を
だから、私は自分自身に言いみかせます、何も人生の中で近道はありません。
先週のモックテストで私の聴解に失敗したので、昨日私はかなり悲しかったです。しかし、それについて考えてみると、聴解には、あまり努力を払わなかった、自身の言い訳は出来ませんでした。だから、もっとやるべきことがあります。最後まで頑張ろう！
