Pan Asian Goes Global

*I will make another post regarding specific/objective information regarding Kumamoto Mosque, so stay tuned ^^ Kumamoto Mosque (Kumamoto Masjid) was a very special place for me while I lived in Kumamoto prefecture and still is. As soon as I got that email notifying me of my placement in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture, one of the very first things I did was google if there was a Mosque nearby. Fortunately, there was a Mosque in the capital, about 1.5 hours away from where I lived. I emailed the contact number given on the website, and received a reply from one of the *brothers that there was a *sisters' yahoo group (sisters and brothers is how we refer to our fellow Muslims ^^).  I was put in contact with an Indonesian sister.  She told me that there were a number of sisters at the Mosque, including a  Malaysian sister, and that they were looking forward to meeting me.  All of them lived close to the Masjid and Kumamoto University, where many of them went to...

Yatsushiro, Japan.  There isn't a day that goes by that I don't remember Yatsushiro.  With Kumamon paraphernalia, school posters, and letters decorating my room, songs on my phone/laptop that have already become associated with my time there, and the memories that I carry with me wherever I go, how can I ever forget? It's March 9th today.  The name of one of the songs from Remioromen. It's a graduation song. Soon, my 3rd year Junior High School students will be graduating.  I remember. When I first taught them when they were in grade 6, three and a half years ago.  I saw these children grow into the teenagers they are today.  I loved the energy and joy that these students had.  They'll soon enter high school, beyond the realm of whatever influence I may have had. Soon, my grade sixes will graduate.  I remember.  When I told a particular class that I would be leaving them for good that summer.  How some of the students cried, h...

月曜日、ラマダンが始まって、私が夏に帰るのを生徒にも伝え始めました。 小学校Bの６年生に伝えた時、一人の女の子が泣いてきました。その子を見て、私も熱いものが込み上げてきました。その後、他の女の子もほとんど泣きました。先生として、皆を元気付けようとして、「（昼休みの鬼ごっこで）私よりもっと速い人がいますか？」と彼らに尋ねました。鬼ごっこを始める前に女の子達からいくつの手紙をもらいました。一人が「 私はマナ先生は私たちが卒業するまでいっしょにいてほしかったです。。まだ２ヶ月くらいあるのになみだがとまりませんでした 」と書いていました。 心が。。。 引っ越しの準備の間、心の準備をするのはなんかつらいです。 On Monday, Ramadan started and I also started telling my students I am leaving this summer. When I told the grade 6s at Elementary School B, one girl started crying. Looking at her made me teary-eyed too. Soon after, most of the other girls started crying as well. As a teacher, I wanted to try to cheer them up, so I asked them "Is there anyone faster than me!?" in regards to playing tag during the lunch break. Before we played tag, I got a number of letters from the girls. One girl wrote " I wanted you to be with us until we graduated... Although there's still about 2 months, my tears haven't stopped ". My heart... Among the things on...

月曜日、八代のALTとして、最後の運動会（小学校）を見に行きました。もともと、日曜日にするはずだったけど、雨が降って、月曜日になりました。でも、月曜日は中学校で働いているので、行けないだろうと思いました。でも、聞いてみたら、ちょっと年休を取れたので、少しだけですが、私の二ヶ所の小学校の運動会を見に行きました。 中学校の運動会は普通は５月だけど、今年から１０月にする予定なので、もう見れなくなりました T.T。去年、小学校の運動会の日の前の日私が引っ越した(アパート、ずっと八代）のですが、引っ越し業者が遅く来て、運動会の日はまだバタバタしていたので、少しだけしか見れなかった。なので、去年の運動会から、ずっと、ぜひぜひぜひ、今年は一日中運動会に行く！！！と思っていたので、こういう風にしました。少しだけど、最後の運動会見られて、良かったです！  その他にも、中学校で、だいぶ忙しく楽しい日でした！特別支援の授業で、生徒と先生に  英語掲示板を見せて、カナダとシンガポール（掲示板の内容）に興味があるようでした！昼休みに、今年の最初のEnglish　Clubがありました！朝、一人の先生が中学校一年生１０人が興味がありそうだと言って、その後、違う先生が中学校一年生２０人に興味がありそうだと言いました。結局、新メンバーは４人だけど、嬉しいです！その４人は可愛行くて素敵な中学校一年生の男の子です！  残り時間はもう。。２ヶ月間ぐらいになって、あという間ですけど、最後まで頑張りたいと思います！！ 英語掲示板　（English Board) On Monday,  I went to the last sports undoukai (sports festival) as a Yatsushiro ALT.  Originally, the undoukai was supposed to happen on Sunday, but it rained, and the undoukai was moved to Monday instead.  But, because I had work at my Junior High School, I didn't think I could go....

Exile - Everything（英訳） エクザイル - エブリシング English lyrics (translation) Album: Exile Evolution Please ask if you would like to use my lyrics! MAKE SURE you credit me! ...even though my translation isn't perfect :S 眩しすぎる 太陽の下 明日へと続くこの道 新しいステージ目指すよ It's too bright under the sun This road continues towards tomorrow I'm aiming at a new stage  駆け抜けた日々の中で 僕たちが見つけたものは お金じゃ買えない気持ちと絆だけ Within the days that have gone past, The thing we found was Feelings and connections that money can't buy 遠回りしてもいい 近道しても結局 最後には大丈夫 大事なもの見えるよ Even if you take a detour, even if you take a shortcut  Eventually, in the end, it will be alright You'll be able to see the important thing *1 今新しいドアを開けて また一歩歩き出すよ いつになっても悩みは消えないけど 生きてることで すべてはOKさ! Now, open a new door I'll walk one more step Although there'll never be a time when my worries disappear It's a part of living, so everything will be OK! 青すぎ...

August 4th, 2014 1 YEAR JAPANNIVERSARY      It's been exactly one year since I've started living in Japan as a JET. I can't believe it. It feels like I've experienced a lot in this year - not just living here, in Yatsushiro alone, but within this year, I also travelled to a few other places in Japan, such as Tokyo and Osaka . I also travelled to Singapore , where my roots are, and Korea , where I lived for a year and half when I was still an undergrad student, not too long ago.     However, it's hard to believe sometimes that all of this happened within this year, within my own singular individual life. I know that may sound a bit strange, but what I mean is, visiting other countries, or even, to a lesser extent, to other cities in Japan, I feel like I almost enter different worlds. I am still essentially the same person, but I may just be speaking a different language, and living a different life. I can strengthen ties with different friends, op...