My mom is Mrs. Claus

I got message from my sister. It warms my heart and feeds my soul.

This is the true story from our beloved mom.
One evening mom asked for my sister's opinion about giving present to my sister's sister-in-law.
My sis said it's up to her.
Then another day, mom came up with the big smile on her face. (at this moment, her face comes so clear in my head)
She planned to give them a present.
Her surprise is in a box cover with lots of "heart".
She said it's a decoration for the new home (after it get all ruin because of the flood)
She acted as a Santa !! She gave it on Christmas!!
Afterward, when they open, it's too much that they couldn't take it.
They tried to give it back to her.
She denied.
Then lots of tear from many people thereafter.
-end-

I love her.
I love her so much that while reading the message, my tear also drops.
This is truly pure golden heart of my mom.
This is the unconditional giving.
I am proud to be her daughter.
Love you mom.
I love you so much.

My lil ones

The conversation goes...

A: So, are you going back home over the holidays?
W: No.
A: Why?
W: No reason.
A: So when do you plan to go back home?
W: 2013.
A: What??? Nothing in between.
W: Nope.
A: I can't do that. I will die. That is why I am heading back to Niger during this holiday. Don't you miss home?
W: Yes, I do. But before I left, my mom said don't come back before you graduate.
A: I see. Don't they miss you?
W: Well, I asked. My mom said 'If i am going to miss you, i would not let you go, yeah?'
A: ....
W: Yeap. That is my mommy dearest. Ha ha...

...
Of course, i do miss them. Especially my little ones. ;-)


Love Love,
--
Weaw J.

1st semester done!

Time flies, I survived the 1st semester here.
Peace studies ain't that easy or simple. If it is, there should be peace all over now, i guess.
There were many challenges for me in coming back to the study and academic world though.
Everything seems so beautiful and interesting. At the same time it's also frightening and challenging.
It is what i am actually long for in study though. To get my brain cell chances to exercise, jump up and run around.
Class is in small number, last semester the largest class is with 15 people. It is with 6 nationalities. Awesome!!
The smallest is about 10. It is so rich with reading, presenting, analyzing, discussing, comparing, talking, and sharing.
The cell in my brain is out dancing everyday! Aint' that grande? I think so though.
From the class, I have many time to think and compare back with my beloved country, Thailand.
First semester gives me to see Japan history clearer as well. I know that Thai loves Japan so dearly.
Most of the time, we compare TH & JP.
Almost everything shows JP is better in this and that.
However, by being here it ain't always as it seem though. It is easier to look at blooming flowers than the opposite.
At start point I asked do we need to know war in order to create peace, for now I would say yes.
More discussion and opinion, better understanding and clearer.
Another leaning point for me is that it is not only when there is war or conflict that need peace.
It is not the matters of egg and chicken.
Peace is here n every breathe that we take, every steps that we walk and in every thought that we have.
Yes, I survive and live on.

Love
xxx

Real JOY! たのしですね

Once in a blue moon here and there, we all are in the spot of doubting our decision.
The move that we made, the steps that we took, we all know that it's the good.. no.. great one.
Still, once in a while, just can't help to think of 'what-if?'
I'm not the girl who repeat this question over and over again.
It ain't healthy, you know. (i know)
So a bit of refreshing, a bit of reflection, a bit of re-energize, shall we?

As simple as the question 'what does make you happy?', can makes you feel like swallow the giant bitter cucumber down the throat.
Okay, here we go.
I know what brings smile on my face.
'Sunshine'
'Warm soy milk'
'Laugh of the children'
'Smile of everyone'
So i tend to find the source of all those, i got it through what i like the most, volunteer.
Since I got here, 3 volunteers that i have done.

1st start of the impressive one, out of town doing the 'Herbal Garden' for the unused land in community.
With the local and the warmth heart people, life can't be more wonderful.
Good fresh vegetable with the simple homy cook. ;-)
To work with the local Japanese and foreigner, it is just beautiful and fun. Joyful all the time, with smile and laugh.
Task-to-do: To prepare the herbal garden for the area.
So i got to do the labor work, to get my hands and feet dirty.
Quite impressive hard work though.
Got the blue sky, got the smile, got it all shine. ;-)
$$ : Transportation 3,000 yen. On-sen: 1,000 yen. Free food, free accommodation.

More of what i did ;-) 'CLICK'

2nd one is even more fun!!
I didn't have to go far at all. Just right here 30 mins bike ride.
Mitaka International Festival 2011.
Volunteer with Rotary Mitaka district.
Task to do: Play the drum with the kids all day long!!!
Woo hoo, the sky was so clear.
The laugh and the joy of the children just got me high.
Up and Up and Up.
Jumping around here and there.
Energy is up high.
The universal language of all, Laugh & Smile.
Love that much and much.
Got to be under the sun.
Got to jump around and give kids the smile and laugh.
Got the breeze, got surround by amazing energetic people.
What else can you ask for more.
Great time!!
$$: 400 yen for lunch. Free drinks and dinner afterward.


3rd one is charming.
Got to help my Thai friend at the booth at Japan Home and Building event.
It all starts with whatapps msg 'Will you be free next week at any day?'
I replied.
Got the reply: 'oh, can you help the eco-business for the booth, there?'
'Sure' i replied.
It's the eco-board that makes from the agricultural waste.
Pretty cool, check the website then '.....'
So i got to travel across the town, got the wrong trains here and there.
Got my eyes wide open to make sure i got off the right bus stop.
Got to practice words by words of Japanese.
Got to laugh and speak a lot in my mother tongue with other Thais' booths.
Real fun. haha
Glad to get it around. Glad to be able to help.
Glad to get the 'thank you' note.
Fill the heart with joy and smile with the little help that i can do.
$$: 1,500 yen for transportation 700 for lunch (I will get back from them though)



So there it is. The drive that keeps me running and jumping around here and there.
To keep what inside of me alive.
To keep me not wondering too much or seeking far for the meaning of my life.
It is MY LIFE anyway.
No complicated.
Just do what i like and what make me happy.
After all, Weaw without the SMILE on the face would not be ME at all, right?

ありがとうね。たのしかったですね。

Each Tear ~

Here, sun rises at 5.15 am and set at 5.45 pm, my time to absorb the energy is lessen.
Temperature around 14'c - 20'c on and off.
Crazy weather, i blame to that.
The feeling of having hole in the heart that ready to draw you in deeper and deeper in that darken tube.
Could not help to let the tear come.
Could not help to long for you to be here.
Could not help watering that seed of loneliness.
I blame to the weather.

I have friends here.
We are like family, no doubt to that.
Still, the changes in the air, the cold wind blows, the new line of clothes, etc.
Just that....
More of the mixed feeling and the hole seems to take this chance to pull you deeper and deeper.
Lose the balance. Not enough energy to pull back.
Need to fill the hole.
Need to find other source of energy...

And here comes the rescue. Mindfulness trainings, i come to thee.

"Aware that looking deeply at the nature of suffering can help me develop compassion and find ways out of suffering, I am determined not to avoid or close my eyes before suffering. I am committed to finding ways, including personal contact, images and sounds, to be with those who suffer, so I can understand their situation deeply and help them transform their suffering into compassion, peace and joy."

All i have to do is breath in and breath out.
Enjoy my in breath, out breath.
I am alive. What a blessing.

It is the suffering of myself.
The one that i create on my own.
I know it's there. Just need to not water it.

I will be fine. It will be fine.
Breathing in, i take one step.
Take another, breathing out.
Feel the breeze.
Take the sunshine.
It's simple and it's free.

I can make it.
I learn from each tear.
I can make it.

xox
---

My 1st Japanese speech ;-)

わたしはりょこうのたいけんについてはなします
わたしはりょこうがだいすきです。
りょこうでじんせいおならいます。
いろいろなところであたらしいひとにあって、はなすのがすきです。
それわおもしよくてたのしです。
にほんでわことしはちがつじゅさんいちからじゅよかまでふじさんいのぼりました。
わたしわはじめてやまにのぼりました。
ふじさんわとてもおきくてゆうめいです。
てんきわはれでした。でもよるわさむくなりました。
ひのでわとてもきれいでした。
でもあとでわたしわあしがつかれました。
わたしはみなさんいふじさんいのぼりましょうどすすめたいです。
ありがとうございます。

FAMILY ;-)

We are Family!
I have all sisters and brothers with me!! ;-)

Everyone has personal story.
Comes from different path.
Here our road has crossed.
Then, family we are in.

It's such a beautiful moment for me when you see how bits by bits, we are here for each other.
Warm, beautiful, bonding have started.
The more you give, the more you get.
When one does not expect anything in return for the love, warmth and energy one put in.
You gain more in return.

I am still in the mood of overwhelming with love and joy from all.
Thank you very much.
I feel warmth at heart.

Thank you.

Thank you for letting me fly.
High, high above the sky.

Thank you for letting me smile
Smile, smile through out day and night.


Rotary Peace Fellow Class X
International Christian University, Tokyo Japan

Warm at Heart

I am known as 'Peace Leader'
By hearing that, the room just filled with warmth and bright up sunshine.
Big smile on my face.
Warmth in my heart.

I got a chance to meet up with Mr. Sakuji Tanaka, the president elect of Rotary International.
The conversation is very fruitful as always.
Charismatic he is, inside out.
The first thing that comes to my head was that this person is going to be the president of one of the biggest global organization, still he has translator.
I was in doubt though, at the beginning.
Then, out of the blue, just that 'BAM!! this is it"
This is the right way to be.
You don't have to be perfect in everything in order to be leader.
Don't limit yourself.
If you are not good at it, find other way out.
I never thought of that before though.
This is such an amazing moment for me.
That is the first.

Later on the round-table conversation starts with the very simple questions as follow:
'What is peace to you?"
'What is your purpose in life?'
'Do you see challenge in positive or negative way?'
'How will you promote peace?'
Simple as that you know.
Normal daily life topics like as you just got back from grocery shopping.
There is no tension in the air though.
Fun and easy talking likes tea time or coffee talk with your family members.
That is just nice.
Laugh fills in the air.

Another Interesting point that Tanaka-san said though.
He believes in the potential of individual.
Starts with oneself and the others will be just fine.
At that moment, I recalled what They writes in one of his books that
"If in our daily life we can smile, if we be be peaceful and happy.
Not only we but everyone will profit from it.
This is the most basic kind of peace work. " Thich Nhat Hanh.
I feel warmth at heart.

Another interesting thing is also his idea on strengthening the organization.
To live in diversity and accepting the unique individual.
Even though you are in the global organization, it does not mean that you have to be the same.
That will just not be it.
You need to find the strength within yourself and your chapter.
Then align that with the vision of the organization.
SWEET ;-)

More and more that we got into the conversation, more and more i fall for my Rotary Peace Fellow here.
I am blessed with this opportunity.
I am blessed to be surrounded with these amazing people.
My mind is blooming.
My heart is warm.

Smile, life is beautiful ;-)


"Rotary Peace Fellow Class IX & X with Mr. Sakuji Tanaka, The president elect of Rotary International"

Eat, Joy, Laugh

There is someone who listens,
someone who cares.
someone who understands,
And someone who shares.

I wouldn't ask for anything more.

Arigatou,
--
xox

Kamakura