Here is my next speech at the upcoming meeting of the Toastmasters.
...I need to revise some!
Good evening, fellow Toastmasters and guests. First of all, I have a confession to make. I’ve got something fake on my face. …And that is not only one. They are…eyelashes.
As I want to make them longer and impressive, I go to an eyelash saloon every three weeks and get extension. I want to make an effort to look better, but because I tend to do the effort desperately, sometimes I feel like, “what am I doing?” I’m going to tell you some of my nonfiction stories when I feel, “what am I doing???”
On my day offs, I enjoy having fake nails. I can attach them to my natural nails with stickers easily, but they also separate easily. One day, I rushed into attaching the nails at home and went out to see my friends.
However, when I tried to take a commuter pass into my purse, I lost one nail. On the train, when I took a book out of my purse, another one came off. When I checked my hair, another one also separated. I wanted to look perfect that day, but the mixture of fake nails and natural nails was very mismatch. I needed stickers, but I left them at home. Although I was almost late for the appointment, I rushed into a convenience store and bought the scotch tape which can stick both sides. Having attached dropped nails with the cheap scotch tape in a restroom, I said to myself, “well…what am I doing!?”
After I got home, I showed off the fake nails to my husband. “Look at them!” I meant, “Aren’t they beautiful?” But my husband shouted and almost tried to escape from me, saying, ”OK, I don’t know what I did to you, but I AM SORRY! Please take them out!!” …He thought I would use the long nails as weapons to scratch him.
I love not only fake nails, but also fake eyelashes. I go to an eyelash saloon to maintain extended eyelashes. However, the extended parts come off easily, so sometimes I use the fake eyelashes to make my eyes impressive.
One day, I was working hard, having fake eyelashes on. I had five classes in a row to teach. During teaching, I felt something weird on my eyelids, but I didn’t have time to see a mirror. After lessons, I realized. My fake eyelashes were about to come off! I was like…excuse me! (try to separate half of the fake eyelashes, watching a mirror) I looked like this.
On the day, the last class was a private lesson for a 9-year-old girl, Akari. She is very clever, but very quiet. As usual, I tried hard to cheer her up. “Hey, Akari! Jump to the card on what I say! …Burned my finger! Jump! Right! Next…Sprained my ankle! Jump! Correct! Fantastic! Good job!”(As I jump, the separated fake eyelashes swing on my eyelid) During the class, I know Akari looked at me weirdly, but I didn’t realize what was happening. Of course I felt, “what am I doing!?”
I also love to shop clothes. Do you know an American select shop, “kitson?” When the shop in Harajuku opened, I am one of the girls who waited in a line to enter the opening sale. I got this sweater there. A black sweater with spangles! (show the one to everybody) This one represents exactly a trend in this fall and winter! Hmm…”How do I look?” ( change the clothes) I talked to my husband at home. But he looked at me with a puzzled stare. He said, “Ah…are you appearing a cheesy Karaoke show or something? You look like a local contestant to me… Oh, never mind!”
Some people say, “women try to look better to make guys attracted.” However, at least in my case…fake nails, fake eyelashes, and trendy clothes…I fail to make them attracted. But I can’t stop pursuing what I think “cawaii!” because I just love doing that.
Yesterday, I looked our photo albums with my husband. I said, “Is this me!? Ah, I don’t think I’m photogenic. I always look WORSE in a photo!” My husband looked the photo carefully, “Oh, I think, you look BETTER in a photo than actual yourself… Never mind!”
Madam Toastmaster.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Saturday, January 09, 2010
History of Carrer Women
I went to a monthly officers' meeting of the Toastmasters ( I'm a secretary there!) and after that, we had a New Year's party at Omotesando.
I sat next to Naoko, who owns an apparel company. She graduated from Tokyo University, which is the most prestigious university in Japan.
She looks like a perfect career woman, but she had a history of conflict between her conservative husband.
When Naoko, who are in her 50's, graduated from university, most girl students didn't do job-hunt. They got engaged when they were in college, and married just after graduation.
But Naoko started to work for a big bank affiliated to the government.
However, women were not allowed to attend the meeting. They were supposed to serve tea or do some assistant work. There was no way to get promoted for women.
One year later, her parent brought a matchmaking. The guy was a physician, and graduated from same university as her. When they met the second time, the guy proposed marriage to her, because he "didn't want to waste my time," as he said.
They got married. Of course she quit her job. They had three children.
Later, all of them became physicians like their dad. Naoko was happy, but she was not free. Her husband asked her to stay home all the time. One night, she went out reunion of her university. When she got home at 10:00 or so, her house's door was already locked. Her husband didn't let her in that night.
When she was in her late 40's, she wondered what her life was.
She decided to start her business. After she started to work, her husband started not to give her the cost of living. She had a hard life, but she didn't quit her job this time.
All of her children said to her, "Mom, you can divorce him. We are already grown-ups. No problem!" But she didn't want to. Why? She said, she thought "We don't need to divorce. We can still live together."
She had never mentioned about her job at home. She knew her husband thought her job was "just for killing time." If she worked hard to take care of him at home, there were not so big problems. However, once she felt the crisis of divorce. That was, her oversea business trip. Her shop was filled with French materials, so she had to visit France often to stock. Her husband became furious about her going, but time thawed the ice between them.
She has had "tries and errors" for 15 years. Now she works from 10:00-19:00. She still doesn't talk about her job to her husband. But, they were still married.
She told us how amazing the social change about "women working" is for past 30 years. Now career women are not so unusual... because, many women like Naoko "has fought" with many things!!!
I sat next to Naoko, who owns an apparel company. She graduated from Tokyo University, which is the most prestigious university in Japan.
She looks like a perfect career woman, but she had a history of conflict between her conservative husband.
When Naoko, who are in her 50's, graduated from university, most girl students didn't do job-hunt. They got engaged when they were in college, and married just after graduation.
But Naoko started to work for a big bank affiliated to the government.
However, women were not allowed to attend the meeting. They were supposed to serve tea or do some assistant work. There was no way to get promoted for women.
One year later, her parent brought a matchmaking. The guy was a physician, and graduated from same university as her. When they met the second time, the guy proposed marriage to her, because he "didn't want to waste my time," as he said.
They got married. Of course she quit her job. They had three children.
Later, all of them became physicians like their dad. Naoko was happy, but she was not free. Her husband asked her to stay home all the time. One night, she went out reunion of her university. When she got home at 10:00 or so, her house's door was already locked. Her husband didn't let her in that night.
When she was in her late 40's, she wondered what her life was.
She decided to start her business. After she started to work, her husband started not to give her the cost of living. She had a hard life, but she didn't quit her job this time.
All of her children said to her, "Mom, you can divorce him. We are already grown-ups. No problem!" But she didn't want to. Why? She said, she thought "We don't need to divorce. We can still live together."
She had never mentioned about her job at home. She knew her husband thought her job was "just for killing time." If she worked hard to take care of him at home, there were not so big problems. However, once she felt the crisis of divorce. That was, her oversea business trip. Her shop was filled with French materials, so she had to visit France often to stock. Her husband became furious about her going, but time thawed the ice between them.
She has had "tries and errors" for 15 years. Now she works from 10:00-19:00. She still doesn't talk about her job to her husband. But, they were still married.
She told us how amazing the social change about "women working" is for past 30 years. Now career women are not so unusual... because, many women like Naoko "has fought" with many things!!!
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Circumstances
FINALLY, my classes in 2010 started today!
My private student at 8:00pm class canceled it today, so I enjoyed chatting with Tricia, who are a new American teacher.
She said, "A few days ago, when I was cleaning my room, I flipped over my Futon. Then, I found MOLD under the Futon!! I washed it and tried to wipe them out, but I couldn't remove them completely. When I told my American friends about it, they said, "Oh, no!" in unison. I told them to check under their Futon, so all of them found mold there!!! I want to get a something like a stand, which raises me up under Futon. If I can get it, the problem will be solved, hopefully. It's impossible to fold Futon often!! I was surprised how humid Tokyo is!! It's winter! What it will be in summer or rainy season!?? I'm scared!! I think I have to find the "stand" soon!!"
"...Hey, Tricia, it's not the matter of "getting a stand or not." It's the matter of daily custom!!!" You SHOULD fold you futon and put them away everyday! That's the way of Japanese living!!!"
...These words were stuck under my throat. I couldn't say them to her because she just said, "It's IMPOSSIBLE to fold Futon often!!"
I can't criticize her. She is an organized person, not lazy. However, just circumstances between us are different!
When I lived in America, I remember my hubby and I, and other Japanese people, tried to change the American living style in house to Japanese one.
We changed incandescent lamps to fluorescent light. American bath tubs are shallow, so my friend changed her bath tub to a deep one.
Differences of circumstances! I'm so sorry for her! But at the same time, actually I enjoy listening to those stories. Welcome to Japan!!!!!
My private student at 8:00pm class canceled it today, so I enjoyed chatting with Tricia, who are a new American teacher.
She said, "A few days ago, when I was cleaning my room, I flipped over my Futon. Then, I found MOLD under the Futon!! I washed it and tried to wipe them out, but I couldn't remove them completely. When I told my American friends about it, they said, "Oh, no!" in unison. I told them to check under their Futon, so all of them found mold there!!! I want to get a something like a stand, which raises me up under Futon. If I can get it, the problem will be solved, hopefully. It's impossible to fold Futon often!! I was surprised how humid Tokyo is!! It's winter! What it will be in summer or rainy season!?? I'm scared!! I think I have to find the "stand" soon!!"
"...Hey, Tricia, it's not the matter of "getting a stand or not." It's the matter of daily custom!!!" You SHOULD fold you futon and put them away everyday! That's the way of Japanese living!!!"
...These words were stuck under my throat. I couldn't say them to her because she just said, "It's IMPOSSIBLE to fold Futon often!!"
I can't criticize her. She is an organized person, not lazy. However, just circumstances between us are different!
When I lived in America, I remember my hubby and I, and other Japanese people, tried to change the American living style in house to Japanese one.
We changed incandescent lamps to fluorescent light. American bath tubs are shallow, so my friend changed her bath tub to a deep one.
Differences of circumstances! I'm so sorry for her! But at the same time, actually I enjoy listening to those stories. Welcome to Japan!!!!!
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
GINZA Revolution
Ginza is one of my favorite towns in Tokyo.
To me, Ginza is "Shoe Paradise!" There are many popular shoe brands have flag shops in Ginza.
Among those shops, I am definitely "Ginza Kanematsu" type!
Ginza Washington is too conservative for me, Ginza Diana is too gorgeous & too cute.
But Ginza Kanematsu's shoes always tickled my heart!
They are elegant, but cute, and not too classy.
Today is the first day of Ginza Kanematsu's semi-annual sale.
When I reached the entrance of the flag shop, strong perfume caught my nose.
Can you guess what it was? The next store Ginza Kanematsu is now...the first Asian flag shop of Abercrombie & Fitch!!
Wherever I went in America, I could find the shop. But now? Exclusive!!
After I cruised Ginza Kanematsu, I stopped by Abercrombie & Fitch.
As a result, I felt like I was in another planet there!
At the entrance, several young boys (Abercro boys of Japanese version) chatted, and welcomed me.
On the first level, I found a macho Caucasian guy who were half-naked (Abercro boy of original version) was having a photo taken with customer girls.
I was guided in the elevator. An elevator boy didn't ask me which floor I was going.
It seemed like, customers HAVE TO go up to the seventh floor, and look every floor as descending.
In the shopping area, there were many casual clothes were displayed in glass shelves, like they are high class brand materials. And most surprisingly, all clerks (young boys and girls) were...dancing with the loud club music!
The loud club music is one of the brand's originalities like strong perfume.
But in the U.S, as far as I know, NO clerks were dancing!!
Sometimes I found a girl clerk was folding clothes, drinking COKE...
Abarco was supposed to be a VERY casual shop. However, what's going on here???
I would say, it's like the revolution in Ginza!!!
Basically, I'm not biggest fan of Abacro. So, of course I didn't shop, even not look at price tags.
But I guess you should visit the shop! Regardless you like Abacro clothes or not, you would experience something new.
To me, Ginza is "Shoe Paradise!" There are many popular shoe brands have flag shops in Ginza.
Among those shops, I am definitely "Ginza Kanematsu" type!
Ginza Washington is too conservative for me, Ginza Diana is too gorgeous & too cute.
But Ginza Kanematsu's shoes always tickled my heart!
They are elegant, but cute, and not too classy.
Today is the first day of Ginza Kanematsu's semi-annual sale.
When I reached the entrance of the flag shop, strong perfume caught my nose.
Can you guess what it was? The next store Ginza Kanematsu is now...the first Asian flag shop of Abercrombie & Fitch!!
Wherever I went in America, I could find the shop. But now? Exclusive!!
After I cruised Ginza Kanematsu, I stopped by Abercrombie & Fitch.
As a result, I felt like I was in another planet there!
At the entrance, several young boys (Abercro boys of Japanese version) chatted, and welcomed me.
On the first level, I found a macho Caucasian guy who were half-naked (Abercro boy of original version) was having a photo taken with customer girls.
I was guided in the elevator. An elevator boy didn't ask me which floor I was going.
It seemed like, customers HAVE TO go up to the seventh floor, and look every floor as descending.
In the shopping area, there were many casual clothes were displayed in glass shelves, like they are high class brand materials. And most surprisingly, all clerks (young boys and girls) were...dancing with the loud club music!
The loud club music is one of the brand's originalities like strong perfume.
But in the U.S, as far as I know, NO clerks were dancing!!
Sometimes I found a girl clerk was folding clothes, drinking COKE...
Abarco was supposed to be a VERY casual shop. However, what's going on here???
I would say, it's like the revolution in Ginza!!!
Basically, I'm not biggest fan of Abacro. So, of course I didn't shop, even not look at price tags.
But I guess you should visit the shop! Regardless you like Abacro clothes or not, you would experience something new.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Annual Greeting
Some people say writing lots of new year's cards is time-consuming and tiring.
But I LOVE to write them!
Even when I was in the U.S, I asked my mom to send Japanese new year's cards. I wrote about 130 cards, and sent while I was visiting Japan( I visited Japan on EVERY Christmas holidays!)
Why do I love the work?
Cause this annual greeting connects me to people who I rarely meet.
Today, I called one of my old friends who lives in Hokkaido. According to her new year's card, something bad happened to her last year.
I couldn't reach her, but I hope I can heal her even a bit to listen to her.
For the better or the worse, I would like to link with them, and keep in touch.
Oh! By the way, I wrote my original messages on the dark blue part of my new year's cards with BLACK pen...so, you might miss my message!
Please check it!!
But I LOVE to write them!
Even when I was in the U.S, I asked my mom to send Japanese new year's cards. I wrote about 130 cards, and sent while I was visiting Japan( I visited Japan on EVERY Christmas holidays!)
Why do I love the work?
Cause this annual greeting connects me to people who I rarely meet.
Today, I called one of my old friends who lives in Hokkaido. According to her new year's card, something bad happened to her last year.
I couldn't reach her, but I hope I can heal her even a bit to listen to her.
For the better or the worse, I would like to link with them, and keep in touch.
Oh! By the way, I wrote my original messages on the dark blue part of my new year's cards with BLACK pen...so, you might miss my message!
Please check it!!
Monday, January 04, 2010
Tokens of Family
My hubby and I had stayed at DHC's Akazawa Onsen in Izu for two nights with my in-law's. We got home today.
In Akazawa Onsen, we had gorgeous dinner, and celebrated my birthday(1/10) and my mother-in-law's birthday(1/20.)
My hubby, me, my father-in-law, my mother-in-law, and my sister-in-law...five family members are healthy, wealthy??? & clothly ( I made up the word! I mean, "closely") enough to go travelling together on New Year holidays! I felt REALLY happy during the trip!!
Additionally, two objects we got (actually, my parent-in-law bought for us...) made me much happier.
①Self-customized cactus pot! When went to Izu Shaboten Koen ( Izu Cactus Park,) we enjoyed making self-made cactus pots. There were many cactus from small to big, pots, ornaments, and colorful sand. We made original pots respectively. The photo is mine! I used lots of pink, my favorite color!
②Lucky charm of this year's animal, tiger! We found them (there were many kinds) at Izu Glass Museum. My father-in-law bought us each kind. For my hubby and me, this one in the photo! It's called "San-tora(three tigers.)" People say if you have an ornament of three-tigers, you'll get money's luck! We HOPE it would be true!!Three branches of family (my parent-in-law, my hubby and I, and my sister-in-law) have two same objects, even though designs are different. I thought they are like tokens of our family!
With a great start of 2010, I would like to brace myself whenever I see two tokens.
A happy new year, again!!!
Friday, January 01, 2010
New Year's Resolutions in 2010
A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
I'd like to make a list of my New Year's resolutions, here...to warn myself!
As for study,
1. Passing (finally!) the first grade of EIKEN!
2. Getting (finally!) the perfect score of TOEIC! ...Even if I can't reach it, AT LEAST I should get over 950!
3. Getting the third grade of French certificate! ( I don't have confidence about this at all...)
4. Do listening work for 20 minutes per day!
5. Catch up Japanese & world news in English every day!
As for work,
1. No absence & no lateness as the same as in 2009!
2. Be more profitable teacher!
3. Make my students' dreams come true! Especially, those who work for EIKEN and TOEIC!!
4. Make my students be comfortable & happy to meet me!
5. Communicate more with my co-workers! Chiefly, help Tricia privately! ( We have had male teachers only since I started to work at my school, but she is a girl! I want to hung out with her a lot, and we can do girls' talk ☆)
6. Follow my school's principles of teaching more precisely(especially, for kids' teaching!), attend trainings actively, and keep working to be a better teacher!
7. Getting the Advanced Bronze Award at the Toastmasters, and do public speaking a lot for the time when I get back to the emcee job!
As for private life,
1. Do my good deed for the day to my family & friends, and another deed (for each day!) to my students or acquaintances, even unfamiliar people are counted! (I'm already not sure I can do them...)
2. Try to be elegant all the time, and keep in a good shape! ( I've gained my weights of a few kilo grams since last fall!! I should get in shape...)
3. Try to meet my friends whom I've wanted to meet since I was in America!
( I dreamed of meeting them. But after I came back to Japan, time has just flied!)
4. Go to hospital when I need, and work for the treatment seriously. (It takes time and energy, but I need to do it now!)
5. Talk about positive things only. Complaining is not helpful at all!
6. Be a quick respondent! Do not delay in replying to e-mails or letters! ( I don't have confidence about this, either...)
7. Try to be considerate all the time. Put people around me first. Not myself!
I think if I care for other people's happiness, a kind of "kick-back" happiness comes to me. But it was just hard for me to make it!
There are TONS of resolutions I would like to realize.
How many of them can I achieve at the end of 2010?
I don't think I can fulfill all of them, but I believe I could make an effort if I keep them in my mind.
Oh! I shouldn't forget this resolution!
KEEP THIS BLOG EVERYDAY!!
However, I can't do that already from tomorrow because I'm going to hot spring in Izu, and I can't use the Internet there!
I'd like to make a list of my New Year's resolutions, here...to warn myself!
As for study,
1. Passing (finally!) the first grade of EIKEN!
2. Getting (finally!) the perfect score of TOEIC! ...Even if I can't reach it, AT LEAST I should get over 950!
3. Getting the third grade of French certificate! ( I don't have confidence about this at all...)
4. Do listening work for 20 minutes per day!
5. Catch up Japanese & world news in English every day!
As for work,
1. No absence & no lateness as the same as in 2009!
2. Be more profitable teacher!
3. Make my students' dreams come true! Especially, those who work for EIKEN and TOEIC!!
4. Make my students be comfortable & happy to meet me!
5. Communicate more with my co-workers! Chiefly, help Tricia privately! ( We have had male teachers only since I started to work at my school, but she is a girl! I want to hung out with her a lot, and we can do girls' talk ☆)
6. Follow my school's principles of teaching more precisely(especially, for kids' teaching!), attend trainings actively, and keep working to be a better teacher!
7. Getting the Advanced Bronze Award at the Toastmasters, and do public speaking a lot for the time when I get back to the emcee job!
As for private life,
1. Do my good deed for the day to my family & friends, and another deed (for each day!) to my students or acquaintances, even unfamiliar people are counted! (I'm already not sure I can do them...)
2. Try to be elegant all the time, and keep in a good shape! ( I've gained my weights of a few kilo grams since last fall!! I should get in shape...)
3. Try to meet my friends whom I've wanted to meet since I was in America!
( I dreamed of meeting them. But after I came back to Japan, time has just flied!)
4. Go to hospital when I need, and work for the treatment seriously. (It takes time and energy, but I need to do it now!)
5. Talk about positive things only. Complaining is not helpful at all!
6. Be a quick respondent! Do not delay in replying to e-mails or letters! ( I don't have confidence about this, either...)
7. Try to be considerate all the time. Put people around me first. Not myself!
I think if I care for other people's happiness, a kind of "kick-back" happiness comes to me. But it was just hard for me to make it!
There are TONS of resolutions I would like to realize.
How many of them can I achieve at the end of 2010?
I don't think I can fulfill all of them, but I believe I could make an effort if I keep them in my mind.
Oh! I shouldn't forget this resolution!
KEEP THIS BLOG EVERYDAY!!
However, I can't do that already from tomorrow because I'm going to hot spring in Izu, and I can't use the Internet there!
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