Finally picked up the phone to seek help from a language teacher, after self studying Japanese for about 4 months. Difficult task, but I really enjoy the learning process, and knowing that I am progressing, even though my capacity to memorize is nothing to be proud of, and can't even match my dad's! He learnt basic Japanese some years ago from a book, and I had to consult him from time to time!
It's really fun to be learning a new language, and discover the similarities and differences of one language from another. It wasn't until I start studying Kanji, that I realize that there are so many common words in Japanese as in Chinese, some with similar pronunciation, some with slightly different meaning, and it feels like studying Chinese all over again, as I go through the 500 Basic Kanji. I am wondering what will happen 2000 years from now, if language will converge, or diverse further. And I always wonder since there are so many sophisticated/uncommon vocabs in the dictionary that are not being used in our daily life, will those vocabs become obsolete soon?
With technology, I think in future we will all be "wired" in some way where we don't even have to speak but could use a "translator device" to help us communicate. Until then, I will continue experimenting "absorbing" the knowledge from the book without reading it, and dreaming that I could just speak Japanese once I touch down in Japan!
Gambarimasu!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Pumpkin Soup
Today I made pumpkin soup, and used the blender(the magic bullet) on pumpkin and carrot. Finally got the creamy texture I was looking for! Here's the recipe for yummy pumpkin soup.
First olive oil, garlic and ginger into the pot.
Next the blended pumpkin and carrot, followed by the cut cucumber, tomato and onion. Cook for 10 minutes and it's ready, but I added Quinoa, which takes another 10-15 minutes. It's then ready. I finished the whole pot!
The missing ingredient was sweet potato, so I had tomato instead(since they rhyme) and zucchini, which I replaced with cucumber(they look alike).
Now dinner time, luckily dad's the one cooking!
First olive oil, garlic and ginger into the pot.
Next the blended pumpkin and carrot, followed by the cut cucumber, tomato and onion. Cook for 10 minutes and it's ready, but I added Quinoa, which takes another 10-15 minutes. It's then ready. I finished the whole pot!
The missing ingredient was sweet potato, so I had tomato instead(since they rhyme) and zucchini, which I replaced with cucumber(they look alike).
Now dinner time, luckily dad's the one cooking!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Zero Interest
Not talking about interest free loan offered to cover the credit card. But about the kitchen. We are all born differently, and I believe in my past life I was an unsuccessful chef who swore that I'll never stepped into the kitchen again.
My motto has been - if I'd have to cook, I'd rather starve. That is really problematic, especially now that I cannot rely on outside food which is full of MSG, and with ingredients beyond my control.
So, imagine me in the kitchen. First washing is relatively easy but not a fan, knowing that worms could come out of the vegetables, or fruits! And after I soak those vegetables and fruits with enzyme, and walk out of the kitchen to do something else, I would have completely forgotten that I have started cooking. Then chopping and preparing, which could potentially be dangerous, as I have cut myself several times in the past while doing it absentmindedly, but with extra care and conscious effort lately, I have survived so far. By the way, my favourite part of cooking is in slamming the garlic! I use a bottle to flatten the garlic so that the skin/peels come out without having to cut it! Next steaming or cooking with pot which sounds very easy but things will go wrong when they do, as I will either forget to put water when steaming, or forget to turn on the switch, or drop something along the way. And finally the food sometimes does not turn out as it should - I put pumpkin cubes in the pot and want it to turn into creamy soup in 5 mintues!
Part of me just resist the act of cooking, which I am learning to embrace, bit by bit. So I start watching cooking show, but end up admiring the kitchen, the host, the ingredient, the process and the food but still with no additional interest in cooking.
I would cook to eat, just as I would eat to live, but I do not live to eat, and definitely not live to cook.
My motto has been - if I'd have to cook, I'd rather starve. That is really problematic, especially now that I cannot rely on outside food which is full of MSG, and with ingredients beyond my control.
So, imagine me in the kitchen. First washing is relatively easy but not a fan, knowing that worms could come out of the vegetables, or fruits! And after I soak those vegetables and fruits with enzyme, and walk out of the kitchen to do something else, I would have completely forgotten that I have started cooking. Then chopping and preparing, which could potentially be dangerous, as I have cut myself several times in the past while doing it absentmindedly, but with extra care and conscious effort lately, I have survived so far. By the way, my favourite part of cooking is in slamming the garlic! I use a bottle to flatten the garlic so that the skin/peels come out without having to cut it! Next steaming or cooking with pot which sounds very easy but things will go wrong when they do, as I will either forget to put water when steaming, or forget to turn on the switch, or drop something along the way. And finally the food sometimes does not turn out as it should - I put pumpkin cubes in the pot and want it to turn into creamy soup in 5 mintues!
Part of me just resist the act of cooking, which I am learning to embrace, bit by bit. So I start watching cooking show, but end up admiring the kitchen, the host, the ingredient, the process and the food but still with no additional interest in cooking.
I would cook to eat, just as I would eat to live, but I do not live to eat, and definitely not live to cook.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
No weight
The doctor reminded me not to carry weight on my left hand, for a very long time. Apparently, they removed the "drainage system" when they removed the lymph node so if I use my muscle, the fluid will build up, and since my body is not able to drain those fluid, it will swell up.
Wish the surgeon explained this better before the surgery.
So, no weight. Not that I need to carry any weight, but I want to! It's weird not being able to move my own things, and to have to depend on others. And I recently realized many of my friends are not suppose to move heavy things as well, either because of their backs, or their other conditions. This is one of those time when you wish to invent anti-gravity. In fact we do have it in us even though we may not know how to use it. Our energy is weightless, or I assume so. Apart from physical strength, we all have hidden energy, which appears in different forms and names, be it thoughts, mind, faith, spirit, soul, etc. When we find a balance point, maybe we can experience weightlessness!
Wish the surgeon explained this better before the surgery.
So, no weight. Not that I need to carry any weight, but I want to! It's weird not being able to move my own things, and to have to depend on others. And I recently realized many of my friends are not suppose to move heavy things as well, either because of their backs, or their other conditions. This is one of those time when you wish to invent anti-gravity. In fact we do have it in us even though we may not know how to use it. Our energy is weightless, or I assume so. Apart from physical strength, we all have hidden energy, which appears in different forms and names, be it thoughts, mind, faith, spirit, soul, etc. When we find a balance point, maybe we can experience weightlessness!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Gender Balance
In the effort to ensure there is gender balance among the school teachers(currently 70% female), the education minister will recruit 50% male teacher.
Just heard 8pm news and I just couldn't believe my ears. The teaching profession is one of the very few areas where women outnumber men. It is important to look into the reason why the number is skewed, but is it necessary to put a gender quota? Probably too early to tell until we understand why the number is skewed.
Would they do the same to ensure gender balance in other fields, especially among the legal and medical professionals? I would cheer if they also implement this for the judges, and ministers too! If we apply the same logic, we should also have gender quota in many other professions.
Just heard 8pm news and I just couldn't believe my ears. The teaching profession is one of the very few areas where women outnumber men. It is important to look into the reason why the number is skewed, but is it necessary to put a gender quota? Probably too early to tell until we understand why the number is skewed.
Would they do the same to ensure gender balance in other fields, especially among the legal and medical professionals? I would cheer if they also implement this for the judges, and ministers too! If we apply the same logic, we should also have gender quota in many other professions.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Need a Job?
When I'm asked by friends or newly met acquantance, "so, what do you do?", I would reply, "studying Japanese". "What else?". "I live."
Often, we are defined by our job so when we are out of job, there is a mixed feeling of "loss". Some may feel "worthless" and "useless",as we are expected to have a job. However, when we have the job, and spend most of our time in it, many also feel "trapped", as we do not have time for ourselves, except on weekend, and our schedule is dictated by the job requirement.
So, the best is to redefine our goal(s) in life. What do we want in life, and how do we align our plans to achieve the goal(s). For now, I'm just happy living, and would like to redefine how life should be - living every moment to the fullest, in whatever activities I choose to do.
Often, we are defined by our job so when we are out of job, there is a mixed feeling of "loss". Some may feel "worthless" and "useless",as we are expected to have a job. However, when we have the job, and spend most of our time in it, many also feel "trapped", as we do not have time for ourselves, except on weekend, and our schedule is dictated by the job requirement.
So, the best is to redefine our goal(s) in life. What do we want in life, and how do we align our plans to achieve the goal(s). For now, I'm just happy living, and would like to redefine how life should be - living every moment to the fullest, in whatever activities I choose to do.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Day 1 Post Chemo
Woke up fresh, after a fairly good sleep. Went to bed right after the last post, woke up at 1am, 4pm, 6pm to release and replenish body fluid and finally got out of bed at 8am. Had a big plate of char bee hoon browsed through paper and here I am.
It was one of the worst chemo sessions, unexpectedly, as I felt so fit, especially after taking a 2 hour hike to number 4 of the Penang Hill the previous day without any difficulty.
The chemo day started as usual:
8:45 full blood count
9:15 check body weight, blood pressure, temperature, urine pH
10:30 see doctor, who conveniently said that I must have heard wrongly about having only 4 chcle of chemo instead of 6, even though I was very sure what he mentioned earlier. Decided to give him face, as he said I need 6, and since I've taken my pre-medication the previous day
12:30 go to ward, and start preparation, with Saline, more premed.
Finally taxotere. About 3-5 minutes later, I got chest discomfort and called the nurse who immediately stop the drip
Doctor came, asked me some question and I didn't have the energy to speak to him. They administered Oxygen, which dropped to 88%, with heart beat shot up to 102. My body reacted badlly, my face flushing, my torso turning, and my limbs twisting around.
It got better after some time, and I asked the doctor if I could discontinue. He asked for ECG. Doctor asked for ECG, and said that the first one looked funny, and the second one is normal. So, we restart Taxotere at 3pm.
The rests went well and got home at 6:45pm, a little tired.
Am feeling alright now so life goes on!
It was one of the worst chemo sessions, unexpectedly, as I felt so fit, especially after taking a 2 hour hike to number 4 of the Penang Hill the previous day without any difficulty.
The chemo day started as usual:
8:45 full blood count
9:15 check body weight, blood pressure, temperature, urine pH
10:30 see doctor, who conveniently said that I must have heard wrongly about having only 4 chcle of chemo instead of 6, even though I was very sure what he mentioned earlier. Decided to give him face, as he said I need 6, and since I've taken my pre-medication the previous day
12:30 go to ward, and start preparation, with Saline, more premed.
Finally taxotere. About 3-5 minutes later, I got chest discomfort and called the nurse who immediately stop the drip
Doctor came, asked me some question and I didn't have the energy to speak to him. They administered Oxygen, which dropped to 88%, with heart beat shot up to 102. My body reacted badlly, my face flushing, my torso turning, and my limbs twisting around.
It got better after some time, and I asked the doctor if I could discontinue. He asked for ECG. Doctor asked for ECG, and said that the first one looked funny, and the second one is normal. So, we restart Taxotere at 3pm.
The rests went well and got home at 6:45pm, a little tired.
Am feeling alright now so life goes on!
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