When I went to an Okonomiyaki (Japanese pan cake) restaurant with my co-workers of a language school, an American teacher, Seth, and an English teacher, Scott, talked about how difficult Japanese Keigo (honorifics.)
I agreed with them, "You know, I just started to my wedding emcee job again...then I realized, in a formal occasion like wedding, we should put many "O" or "Go" on nouns to be polite! For example, "O-photo,"（お写真） "Go-entering,"（ご入場）etc..."
Seth was surprised and asked me,
"So, you say, "O-dress（おドレス）" or "O-cake（おケーキ）??""
I laughed, "No! We don't put O or Go on loan words from western."
Then Scott grinned, "That's insulting for western words!!"
I laughed again, "You know it doesn't mean so! Let's see, another example... Here it is!
We say, "O-burns（おこげ）!!""
I pointed out burns on the plate for Okonomiyaki.
Seth looked pleasant, "Actually, burns are my favorite! Can I eat them?"
Then, the owner of the Okonomiyaki restaurant appeared.
Seth presented the new Japanese word what he just learned.
"私はおこげが好きです。" (I love burns to eat.)
The owner, who was middle-aged, speaking very fast like a typical Eddoko（江戸っ子）,looked very surprised and warned Seth.
"You shouldn't say that in front of people! O-koge has another meaning!!"
"What is the meaning?" Seth asked.
The owner said, "O-kama(iron pot) is a guy who dresses like a girl. O-nabe(pan) is a girl who dresses like a guy. You know, burns stick on a pan... So, O-koge is a girlfriend of O-nabe!!"
I translated what the owner said to Seth and Scott, then they burst into laughing, saying, "Japanese is so interesting!!"
Seth presented again to the owner in Japanese.
”私はおこげがすきでしたけど、今はあまり好きではありません。”
(I liked burns to eat, but now I don't...because now I know the other meaning of it.)
...They weren't supposed to know the other meaning of O-koge!
Even I, and other Japanese staff there didn't know the meaning!!
I used to know things in common between me and foreign teachers in my school are speaking English and teaching English...but I discovered another thing in common that day.
WE ARE LANGUAGE LEARNERS.
I've been learning English(and French, even I rarely study it recently..,) and they've been learning Japanese!
They've been struggling to improve in their Japanese, making errors sometimes, like us, when we study English.
After we ate and drank, it was almost midnight.
Scott got on the train with me even though his home is on the opposite way.
I asked why and he said, "Oh, I'm meeting with my friends at a night club in Shinjuku. I think we'll stay up all night tonight!"
Here, I realized "things not in common" between us...
They(foreign teachers in my school) are in their early twenties!!
I can't stay up all night at a night club now!!!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Perfect English Resume
One day, the president of my emcee agent called me and said.
"One hotel wedding staff told me an American groom wants to read your resume before he asks you to be his wedding emcee. Would you write your resume in English?"
Oh oh, I see, I was a bilingual emcee who never wrote an English resume because I have had a job from a Japanese staff!
Referring to my mentor'(a very experienced professional emcee)s English resume, I started to write mine.
Then, I realized...writing my resume is looking back my life.
I found myself filled with a mixed feeling.
1) How inexperienced I am as a professional bilingual emcee!
I know I just started this job. But if I write honestly, "I'm sorry I just started this job, but I will try my best to your happiest day" on my resume, the American groom will never hire me!
On the other hand, I can't write a lie on my resume.
So, I appealed my experiences & skills with...a kind of "word magic."
I put my Japanese professional work experience forward, and my professional English emcee experience backward.
Don't blame me! It's not a sin. It's what people do to get a job! ...right?
However, the second feeling came to me was...
2)How experienced I am as an amateur bilingual emcee!
Because I had dreamed of doing that for several years, all of what I did in America was related to my current job(maybe.)
For example,
Volunteer lecturer in Japanese culture and Japanese wedding practices at Purdue University, Purdue International Friendship Group, Purdue affiliated English school, while living in West Lafayette, Indiana, America, in 2003-2008
Winner of the Toastmasters Humorous Speech Contest in 2007, Division G (Indiana state)
I'm proud of myself having became bilingual.
But, there have been actually "five B" situation which I just named.
That is, "Being Bilingual Brings me Benefits and Burdens."
I should become a "go-between" of two cultures. That brings me joy, but sometimes, requires me to overcome the barrier or cultural differences.
For instance, I asked Seth, my American co-worker, to proofread my English resume.
He said, "where is the reference section? You should put the couple's names & dates of your wedding emceeing, and write "reference is available upon."
I know asking reference is very important in American business society...
But when it comes to international weddings here, most brides are Japanese, and many Japanese people don't want to reveal their personal information for unfamiliar people for them.
There were other issues Seth pointed out from his America view for my resume, but we needed to compromise at some point. I had to submit it (a Japanese-translated version) to hotel staff, so I should take in American ways and Japanese ways, too.
...I hope the American guy offers me a job! I took much time to appeal him!!
Oh, now I realize...He could read this article! When I searched two key words, "bilingual emcee, keiko" on the Internet, my blog appeared in the first section.
You! American guy who asked me to submit a resume!! (So sorry, I don't know your name, though,) I'm not inexperienced!! I'm capable of making your wedding party perfect, and I'll do my best for you! You don't have to worry at all!!
...A blog is personal? or public? So tricky! That's why I've told about my blog to my closest friends...
"One hotel wedding staff told me an American groom wants to read your resume before he asks you to be his wedding emcee. Would you write your resume in English?"
Oh oh, I see, I was a bilingual emcee who never wrote an English resume because I have had a job from a Japanese staff!
Referring to my mentor'(a very experienced professional emcee)s English resume, I started to write mine.
Then, I realized...writing my resume is looking back my life.
I found myself filled with a mixed feeling.
1) How inexperienced I am as a professional bilingual emcee!
I know I just started this job. But if I write honestly, "I'm sorry I just started this job, but I will try my best to your happiest day" on my resume, the American groom will never hire me!
On the other hand, I can't write a lie on my resume.
So, I appealed my experiences & skills with...a kind of "word magic."
I put my Japanese professional work experience forward, and my professional English emcee experience backward.
Don't blame me! It's not a sin. It's what people do to get a job! ...right?
However, the second feeling came to me was...
2)How experienced I am as an amateur bilingual emcee!
Because I had dreamed of doing that for several years, all of what I did in America was related to my current job(maybe.)
For example,
Volunteer lecturer in Japanese culture and Japanese wedding practices at Purdue University, Purdue International Friendship Group, Purdue affiliated English school, while living in West Lafayette, Indiana, America, in 2003-2008
Winner of the Toastmasters Humorous Speech Contest in 2007, Division G (Indiana state)
I'm proud of myself having became bilingual.
But, there have been actually "five B" situation which I just named.
That is, "Being Bilingual Brings me Benefits and Burdens."
I should become a "go-between" of two cultures. That brings me joy, but sometimes, requires me to overcome the barrier or cultural differences.
For instance, I asked Seth, my American co-worker, to proofread my English resume.
He said, "where is the reference section? You should put the couple's names & dates of your wedding emceeing, and write "reference is available upon."
I know asking reference is very important in American business society...
But when it comes to international weddings here, most brides are Japanese, and many Japanese people don't want to reveal their personal information for unfamiliar people for them.
There were other issues Seth pointed out from his America view for my resume, but we needed to compromise at some point. I had to submit it (a Japanese-translated version) to hotel staff, so I should take in American ways and Japanese ways, too.
...I hope the American guy offers me a job! I took much time to appeal him!!
Oh, now I realize...He could read this article! When I searched two key words, "bilingual emcee, keiko" on the Internet, my blog appeared in the first section.
You! American guy who asked me to submit a resume!! (So sorry, I don't know your name, though,) I'm not inexperienced!! I'm capable of making your wedding party perfect, and I'll do my best for you! You don't have to worry at all!!
...A blog is personal? or public? So tricky! That's why I've told about my blog to my closest friends...
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Home & Away
I have worked for a language school for two years and a half.
Now I feel very AT HOME in my school.
However, when it comes to my another job...emceeing, I have felt so AWAY so far.
Mainly, there are two reasons.
1: I have been struggling to change my wedding emcee style from casual to formal.
I used to work for restaurant wedding occasions, which casual style was preferred. However, now I've been involved with hotel weddings, which formal style was pleased.
I am wondering why Japanese language has too many variations.
For example, even I can simply say, "Taro and Hanako's wedding reception party" in English, Japanese has many cases to describe.
From casual to formal...
① 山田太郎さん、鈴木花子さん ウエディングパーティ
②山田太郎様、鈴木花子様 結婚ご披露宴
③山田家、鈴木家 結婚ご披露宴
Since Japanese people thought marriage was a matching between two families,"(not just for a young couple, ) some traditional couples still prefer the pattern 3.
"Sama" and "san" are how to address the couple. Restaurant wedding staff think "san" sounds friendly and suits their western style, but hotel staff believe addressing the clients with"san" is not very polite, so they recommend us (emcees) to have a permission of using "san" word from the newly weds.
...Everything goes on just like that, so I've been really careful with choosing the words when I emcee at a hotel.
Even I feel stressed out for that, here is another one makes me feel "away."
Reason 2: Some hotel staff are not very welcomed a new staff, like me.
I think one unpleasant aspect of conventional Japanese people is "hating change."
In America, a few years ago, people were excited about "change" and they repeated "yes, we can!." In Japan, in traditional working places, some people want to say, "no, you can't!"
(I heard now in America, many people want to say "no, you can't!" too...anyway,)
Last week, when I worked in a hotel at a bay area in Tokyo, the floor captain was the typical type of the person. He was not friendly at all, even didn't introduce himself to me, always yelled at staff, frowned all the time...
I know there are advantages of having a strict boss, but his lack of communication caused staff's mistakes sometimes. For example, after the party, he told me to make an announcement. I did, but that was different one from what he wanted to. Why it happened? He muttered unclearly, so I misunderstood!
Now I have worked in different hotels whenever I am a wedding emcee, so, I try to be really careful not only for my client (the newlyweds and guests,) but also the staff (floor staff, and employees of event companies who give us jobs)there.
...Basically, wedding job needs teamwork.
But when can I feel completely HOME and a player in THE team??
Nobody has given me the exact answer, but my co-worker from a language school gave me a clue.
She is a part time teacher like me, and started a second job recently like me.
She said,"I started to do translating job. My friend introduced me to a president of a translator agent, so I started to work there... but it's very hard! The hardest thing is not the translation itself, but... communication! Agent staff often calls me no matter what time it is, requires me to attend a meeting or cut my job all of sudden... They make me crazy. I envy you! I assume a bilingual emcee job is also hard, but at least, YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO!!
I've never dreamed of being a translator,! Just there was my friend's connection, so I became...But now I'm wondering why I'm doing the job. I'm just exhausted!"
I'm actually learned a lot from her words.
1) No job is easy.
2) Even we work using English, we need to communicate with Japanese staff in a polite, delicate Japanese style. It is tiring, but once we understand that, people around us start to trust us...finally.
3)To overcome the tiring problem like 2) situation, we need to know individually, "who I am," "what I want to do" and "why I'm here."
In my case, a wedding is a wedding wherever I have a microphone.
If the newlyweds and guests enjoy the party, nobody can fire me.
I remembered what my mentor said to me again.
"If you have your AXIS in your heart(I mean...understand 3) matters) nobody hurts you.
Whether having an axis or not is regardless of your experience or age. YOU CAN HAVE IT."
"When can I feel HOME in my working places for weddings?"
I haven't still had an answer...
But I just keep trying to go forward, believing, "away" places right now are getting to be near my "home" from my heart, unless I lose my way.
Now I feel very AT HOME in my school.
However, when it comes to my another job...emceeing, I have felt so AWAY so far.
Mainly, there are two reasons.
1: I have been struggling to change my wedding emcee style from casual to formal.
I used to work for restaurant wedding occasions, which casual style was preferred. However, now I've been involved with hotel weddings, which formal style was pleased.
I am wondering why Japanese language has too many variations.
For example, even I can simply say, "Taro and Hanako's wedding reception party" in English, Japanese has many cases to describe.
From casual to formal...
① 山田太郎さん、鈴木花子さん ウエディングパーティ
②山田太郎様、鈴木花子様 結婚ご披露宴
③山田家、鈴木家 結婚ご披露宴
Since Japanese people thought marriage was a matching between two families,"(not just for a young couple, ) some traditional couples still prefer the pattern 3.
"Sama" and "san" are how to address the couple. Restaurant wedding staff think "san" sounds friendly and suits their western style, but hotel staff believe addressing the clients with"san" is not very polite, so they recommend us (emcees) to have a permission of using "san" word from the newly weds.
...Everything goes on just like that, so I've been really careful with choosing the words when I emcee at a hotel.
Even I feel stressed out for that, here is another one makes me feel "away."
Reason 2: Some hotel staff are not very welcomed a new staff, like me.
I think one unpleasant aspect of conventional Japanese people is "hating change."
In America, a few years ago, people were excited about "change" and they repeated "yes, we can!." In Japan, in traditional working places, some people want to say, "no, you can't!"
(I heard now in America, many people want to say "no, you can't!" too...anyway,)
Last week, when I worked in a hotel at a bay area in Tokyo, the floor captain was the typical type of the person. He was not friendly at all, even didn't introduce himself to me, always yelled at staff, frowned all the time...
I know there are advantages of having a strict boss, but his lack of communication caused staff's mistakes sometimes. For example, after the party, he told me to make an announcement. I did, but that was different one from what he wanted to. Why it happened? He muttered unclearly, so I misunderstood!
Now I have worked in different hotels whenever I am a wedding emcee, so, I try to be really careful not only for my client (the newlyweds and guests,) but also the staff (floor staff, and employees of event companies who give us jobs)there.
...Basically, wedding job needs teamwork.
But when can I feel completely HOME and a player in THE team??
Nobody has given me the exact answer, but my co-worker from a language school gave me a clue.
She is a part time teacher like me, and started a second job recently like me.
She said,"I started to do translating job. My friend introduced me to a president of a translator agent, so I started to work there... but it's very hard! The hardest thing is not the translation itself, but... communication! Agent staff often calls me no matter what time it is, requires me to attend a meeting or cut my job all of sudden... They make me crazy. I envy you! I assume a bilingual emcee job is also hard, but at least, YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO!!
I've never dreamed of being a translator,! Just there was my friend's connection, so I became...But now I'm wondering why I'm doing the job. I'm just exhausted!"
I'm actually learned a lot from her words.
1) No job is easy.
2) Even we work using English, we need to communicate with Japanese staff in a polite, delicate Japanese style. It is tiring, but once we understand that, people around us start to trust us...finally.
3)To overcome the tiring problem like 2) situation, we need to know individually, "who I am," "what I want to do" and "why I'm here."
In my case, a wedding is a wedding wherever I have a microphone.
If the newlyweds and guests enjoy the party, nobody can fire me.
I remembered what my mentor said to me again.
"If you have your AXIS in your heart(I mean...understand 3) matters) nobody hurts you.
Whether having an axis or not is regardless of your experience or age. YOU CAN HAVE IT."
"When can I feel HOME in my working places for weddings?"
I haven't still had an answer...
But I just keep trying to go forward, believing, "away" places right now are getting to be near my "home" from my heart, unless I lose my way.
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Scenes behind
As I teach many kids, I have become to distinguish (of course I don't discriminate though,) very smart kids.
One tendency of those kids is...they ask me a lot of questions.
Arisa, a third grader girl, is one of those distinguished kids.
A few years ago, she often asked me "how do you say (something) in English?"
But recently, her questions got to an upper stage.
When I said," OK, so, what you want to be in the future is patisserie(baker), right?"
She wondered, "Probably... but the word patisserie is French, so shouldn't I make it to a feminine form? Isn't it patisserier??"
Another time, I said, "OK, let's play a baseball game!"
She wondered again, "Wait! The word, GAME has two meanings, one is: board game or computer game. The other is: sport activity to compete. How can you let English-speaking people get you're talking about which?"
A few days before, she talked to me during the class.
"Keiko sensei, you often encourage us! You hardly ever scold us. Is that your school's policy?"
Then, just after the class, I gave stickers to Arisa and other kids, instead of taking attendance, as usual.
She asked ma again, " Who invented this sticker attendance? Staff at this branch, or your company people? Is this just for this branch, or nation-wide thing?"
She is only 9 years old, but she doesn't just see everything just as the way it is, like me when I was 9 years old.
She tries to see even "the scenes behind."
Sometimes I happened to meet these kids like Arisa. Whenever I meet them, I feel, "I'm sure the kid will become SOMEBODY! I would like to develop her/his gift more!!"
After the class, when we became alone with Arisa, she asked me again.
"...So, your eyelashes got mascara, fake lashes, or extension?"
...You don't have to know MY SCENE behind, kid! I wanted to say...
Another day, when we just welcomed our new British teacher, Scott, I tried to have my kid students make conversations with him.
I worked hard to encourage kids to talk to him like,
"Did you say hello to Scott? He will be teaching you!"
I also tried to give Scott pieces of information about those kids.
"Scott, this girl, Rui, is 8 years old, and she is so brilliant that she got a full score of a kid English test provided by the United Nation! Rui! Have you introduced yourself to Scott??"
Then, Rui, another smart kid who wants to know the scenes behind, said...,
"Oh, I see! Do you like him, don't you?"(好きなの？）
...There is NO SCENES BEHIND sometimes, even the smart kids should know it!!!!
One tendency of those kids is...they ask me a lot of questions.
Arisa, a third grader girl, is one of those distinguished kids.
A few years ago, she often asked me "how do you say (something) in English?"
But recently, her questions got to an upper stage.
When I said," OK, so, what you want to be in the future is patisserie(baker), right?"
She wondered, "Probably... but the word patisserie is French, so shouldn't I make it to a feminine form? Isn't it patisserier??"
Another time, I said, "OK, let's play a baseball game!"
She wondered again, "Wait! The word, GAME has two meanings, one is: board game or computer game. The other is: sport activity to compete. How can you let English-speaking people get you're talking about which?"
A few days before, she talked to me during the class.
"Keiko sensei, you often encourage us! You hardly ever scold us. Is that your school's policy?"
Then, just after the class, I gave stickers to Arisa and other kids, instead of taking attendance, as usual.
She asked ma again, " Who invented this sticker attendance? Staff at this branch, or your company people? Is this just for this branch, or nation-wide thing?"
She is only 9 years old, but she doesn't just see everything just as the way it is, like me when I was 9 years old.
She tries to see even "the scenes behind."
Sometimes I happened to meet these kids like Arisa. Whenever I meet them, I feel, "I'm sure the kid will become SOMEBODY! I would like to develop her/his gift more!!"
After the class, when we became alone with Arisa, she asked me again.
"...So, your eyelashes got mascara, fake lashes, or extension?"
...You don't have to know MY SCENE behind, kid! I wanted to say...
Another day, when we just welcomed our new British teacher, Scott, I tried to have my kid students make conversations with him.
I worked hard to encourage kids to talk to him like,
"Did you say hello to Scott? He will be teaching you!"
I also tried to give Scott pieces of information about those kids.
"Scott, this girl, Rui, is 8 years old, and she is so brilliant that she got a full score of a kid English test provided by the United Nation! Rui! Have you introduced yourself to Scott??"
Then, Rui, another smart kid who wants to know the scenes behind, said...,
"Oh, I see! Do you like him, don't you?"(好きなの？）
...There is NO SCENES BEHIND sometimes, even the smart kids should know it!!!!
Axis
Another tip what Ryoko gave us at the workshop to work with confidence, was...
"Have your AXIS. Have your own criteria for your business. What can you allow and what can't you do? If you haven't established them, you would wonder between "yes" and "no," and that would make you agitated. I am not perfect at all, but I know I've established my axis. I mean, I KNOW ME. So, I make up my decisions immediately all the time. "
...I was already wondering and said,
"Well, I hope I can reach at your stage someday... But I'm not experienced enough to get to your phase..."
Then, she smiled.
"Sweetie, regardless of experience or age, some people have established their axes and some people don't. If you feel you haven't established your criteria yet, keep your diary!
I recommend you the "five-line, one-day" diary.
After you wake up, write 1, your short-term goal and long-term goal. 2, The things you want to do today.
Before you go to bed, you write 3, the things you did the day(here is the gap between ideal (No.2) and reality.) 4. The things gratitude 5. Today's impressive words or phrases.
This is easy & doesn't take much time. Try it!"
Since the next day, I have kept the "five-line, one-day" diary...
So far, I've just felt how big the gap between my ideal & reality, but...can I become like Ryoko, or famous Ryo Ishikawa, or Hiro Mizushima, those who are really consistent people??"
Can I? Even though I change today's plan often!??
"Have your AXIS. Have your own criteria for your business. What can you allow and what can't you do? If you haven't established them, you would wonder between "yes" and "no," and that would make you agitated. I am not perfect at all, but I know I've established my axis. I mean, I KNOW ME. So, I make up my decisions immediately all the time. "
...I was already wondering and said,
"Well, I hope I can reach at your stage someday... But I'm not experienced enough to get to your phase..."
Then, she smiled.
"Sweetie, regardless of experience or age, some people have established their axes and some people don't. If you feel you haven't established your criteria yet, keep your diary!
I recommend you the "five-line, one-day" diary.
After you wake up, write 1, your short-term goal and long-term goal. 2, The things you want to do today.
Before you go to bed, you write 3, the things you did the day(here is the gap between ideal (No.2) and reality.) 4. The things gratitude 5. Today's impressive words or phrases.
This is easy & doesn't take much time. Try it!"
Since the next day, I have kept the "five-line, one-day" diary...
So far, I've just felt how big the gap between my ideal & reality, but...can I become like Ryoko, or famous Ryo Ishikawa, or Hiro Mizushima, those who are really consistent people??"
Can I? Even though I change today's plan often!??
Dragon's wings, Angel's wings
On Halloween day this year, I was in Yoyogi Uehara, where many international residents live.
Looking outside foreign kids were parading for "trick-or-treating," I was taking a bilingual emcee workshop provided by Ryoko Sumitomo, with another two girls.
The day's theme was "summarizing translation."
Bilingual emcee sometimes don't need to do an interpreter job at all, or sometimes we are required to do full-translation...
But when it comes to "summarizing translation," we used this skill for international wedding occasions, mostly.
After the intense workshop was over, we chatted with our teacher, Ryoko, then...I found my eyes welling up with tears.
Why? Because I just felt...grateful, maybe.
At that time, I was talking about my anxiety for entering hotel wedding business, which seema having many red tape for me. One of the great things of Ryoko's workshop is we can tell what we feel nervous about our job. She makes that, "speak out, clear the clouds in your mind up NOW, gals!" kind of atmosphere.
I am always not good at talking what the CLOUDS in my mind (I mean, anxiety) are...
But, Ryoko always understands what I'm trying to say, exposes how vulnerable even she was before, and gives me great tips for getting rid of my "anxiety-clouds."
Her tips are not only for overcoming current situation, but also for building guts to keep working.
Anyway, what she said on Halloween day left something precious in my mind, instead of anxiety clouds. They are "dragon's wings & angel's wings."
Ryoko said, "Keiko, you are so kind that you're worried about those issues. Your kindness is your virtue! You don't have to try to change yourself. But, remember, sometimes, in business scenes, you need to show your MALE side of yourself. You certainly have it because EVERYONE has both sides. When you are emceeing, take out your ANGEL'S WINGS (female side,) perform gracefully, then attract people. But when you are negotiating your performance fee, or when you need to speak out something important for you, take out your DRAGON'S WINGS and be brave!"
Since then, her words have been echoing in my mind repeatedly.
Dragon's wings...Angel's wings...I CERTAINLY have both of them because EVERYONE HAS the both...
Basically, I am a feminine girl, and I know the advantages and disadvantages of being me, a feminine person.
However, Ryoko's "you also have dragon's wings!" magic, work out for me.
I really want to make a good use of both wings!!
On Halloween night, looking at kids' with costumes, I wore "wings" in my mind.
Angel's wings. and certainly...dragon's wings.
Looking outside foreign kids were parading for "trick-or-treating," I was taking a bilingual emcee workshop provided by Ryoko Sumitomo, with another two girls.
The day's theme was "summarizing translation."
Bilingual emcee sometimes don't need to do an interpreter job at all, or sometimes we are required to do full-translation...
But when it comes to "summarizing translation," we used this skill for international wedding occasions, mostly.
After the intense workshop was over, we chatted with our teacher, Ryoko, then...I found my eyes welling up with tears.
Why? Because I just felt...grateful, maybe.
At that time, I was talking about my anxiety for entering hotel wedding business, which seema having many red tape for me. One of the great things of Ryoko's workshop is we can tell what we feel nervous about our job. She makes that, "speak out, clear the clouds in your mind up NOW, gals!" kind of atmosphere.
I am always not good at talking what the CLOUDS in my mind (I mean, anxiety) are...
But, Ryoko always understands what I'm trying to say, exposes how vulnerable even she was before, and gives me great tips for getting rid of my "anxiety-clouds."
Her tips are not only for overcoming current situation, but also for building guts to keep working.
Anyway, what she said on Halloween day left something precious in my mind, instead of anxiety clouds. They are "dragon's wings & angel's wings."
Ryoko said, "Keiko, you are so kind that you're worried about those issues. Your kindness is your virtue! You don't have to try to change yourself. But, remember, sometimes, in business scenes, you need to show your MALE side of yourself. You certainly have it because EVERYONE has both sides. When you are emceeing, take out your ANGEL'S WINGS (female side,) perform gracefully, then attract people. But when you are negotiating your performance fee, or when you need to speak out something important for you, take out your DRAGON'S WINGS and be brave!"
Since then, her words have been echoing in my mind repeatedly.
Dragon's wings...Angel's wings...I CERTAINLY have both of them because EVERYONE HAS the both...
Basically, I am a feminine girl, and I know the advantages and disadvantages of being me, a feminine person.
However, Ryoko's "you also have dragon's wings!" magic, work out for me.
I really want to make a good use of both wings!!
On Halloween night, looking at kids' with costumes, I wore "wings" in my mind.
Angel's wings. and certainly...dragon's wings.
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