Lost in Translation

Our Real Prince Charmings

2007-02-26T11:05:00.000-08:00

  Remember, women, when we were kids, and dreamed of prince charming, a gorgeous wedding and a beautiful house? Well, most of us did dream of all that and found out the hard way that it could only exist in dreams and fairy tales.
  But not me. I waited, and suffered, thinking my turn would never come. While at teenage, I saw all those "relationships" of my friends that were nothing like I'd dreamed of and thought that maybe it would be the same with me. Nevertheless, I waited. Although I didn't find out by trying myself, in my mind everything had already changed. I even considered being single for the rest of my life, and pictured myself as an independent working woman, living alone with my dog, and having fun with a casual boyfriend... Getting married young, giving up things for a man, all that seemed like things only a naive, submissive woman would do. I couldn't know, since I had never lived a real love then.
  Now I understand it.
  My first relationship was great, and I was willing to marry him. It didn't work out, and for a while after breaking up I thought that maybe I could've made it work. But now I see that, as I had made a decision for my future regardless of him, then it wasn't meant to be.
That decision I had made now has changed because of another man. I've given up my plans for him, something I never thought I would do. I hesitated, a lot. But that's why I know how important he is for me. That's why now I understand.
  A friend of mine who's got a European boyfriend went to his country to spend 3 months there and ended up living there for 10 months. A completely different language, different food, no job, troubles with her mother-in-law. When she came back, at the airport she started to cry. Asked if she was happy to see her family after such a long time, she said: "no… I'm miserable because now my boyfriend is so far away!"
  Another friend who's just turned 30 and is doing her doctorate is thinking of giving up her academic career to support her boyfriend, who has to travel a lot because of his job. Her previous relationship had lasted many years, and her ex-boyfriend had even bought a house for them to live after getting married. She broke up with him nonetheless.
  Yet another friend, a strong and independent woman, with a bright future ahead of her, has never had a real boyfriend. She's dating this guy who says he's in love with her... after a week dating. She told him to give up, that she's not the kind of girl for him, she's rational, he's passionate. Still, this woman has caught herself missing his everyday messages on the phone, and feeling they've known each other for much longer than a few weeks. I said, go for it, girl. Love is a box full of surprises, and men can be much better and much worse than we would like them to be. So bad that we'd be better off without them, but so good we can't help loving them...

Summer 2006

2006-07-31T19:44:00.000-07:00

These are my first vacations in Japan without a boyfriend. Actually in my very first summer here I was single too, but then I had only a month and too much homework to worry about how I was going to spend those days.
What I mean is that, since my ex-boyfriend lived soooo far away, every vacations I went to his place and spent a month or so there. Now I have two entire months to fill with... what? Yeah, that is the problem. I mean, WAS, because now I've got three trips scheduled. But just before classes were over, the only trip I had decided (but not yet booked) was the one to Beijing. At first, I wanted to go in the beginning of August, but when I called the travel agency there weren't any more openings, so we (brazilian Fabio, indonesian Septa and japanese Eriko) postponed it to september. We'll be there for 5 days visiting cultural and historic heritages in Beijing, including, of course, the Great Wall, which is what I wanted to visit the most.

Before going to Beijing I'm going to Hokkaido, in the end of this month, to work as a volunteer interpreter at the Rally Japan 2006. It is a rally, yeah! My japanese friend Orie, who likes cars and actually takes part in some competitions with her husband, is the one who told me about this rally and asked me whether I didn't want to work there too. I said, why not? And here I go. It's volunteer work, so we have to pay for transportation expenses ourselves, but the organization will provide us with accomodation and food. I hope it'll be an exciting and unique experience!

Since I began with the last trip, at last I'll tell you about the first one. Next week I'm going to Nagoya, crash at my friend's place for a couple of days before going to a 2-day barbecue party in Gifu, gathering brazilian students from all over Japan (not all of them, of course). After that, back to Nagoya just to leave for a tiny uninhabited island to spend the day... and suntan, yay!

(sigh) Can't wait for it to start. It's so damn hot in here without an AC! Gee...

Back and wanting to go back

2006-04-05T21:52:00.000-07:00

Yes, back to Japan, but wanting to go back to Brazil. Spring vacations were awesome, and I couldn't help feeling there's nowhere else I belong but Brazil, my beloved home! The land and the people are warm, and despite of the problems (economic, political, social etc. etc. etc.), it's home, sweet home.
So I made up my mind about what to do right after I graduate: going back, of course. I don't know whether I'll go back for good, or whether I'll try to make my life in yet another country. I might even come back to Japan, eventually, but in April 2008, if you wanna find me, Brazil is where I'm gonna be.
If you know many brazilian people (and I say many because you can't tell about a country by knowing just a few people from there), then you'll probably have noticed that we tend to be patriotic. Especially when it comes to football! Yay! And this year is World Cup year, so you'll (hopefully) see some green and yellow celebration around. I'll do my nails green and yellow...

Plans

2005-07-08T06:02:00.000-07:00

Hi...you (is there a you?). I know it's far, but I've already got my plans made for next spring break. I'm going back home, but first, I'll make a stopover in America and visit San Francisco! Yay! If you didn't know, I very much sympathyze with the gay community (though, as you did know, I'm not a member). And SF is worldly famous for the large number of gays, which must make of it quite a gay (i.e. bright and cheerful, according to the Oxford definition) city, uh?
It seems to me that California is a nice state to visit. Maybe I've been influenced by Hollywood and Californication, but at least it's as far as it could be from Washington DC... no, dun wanna go there...

About summer vacations, um, does anyone wanna come over? I won't be here most of the time though. Anyway, hope all of you are doing fin, 'coz I haven't spoken to any of you lately. Send me news!

Catcha later!

Homesick

2005-05-22T20:26:00.000-07:00

"Homesick" has been the label to describe me lately. What can I do? I really miss Brazil. It's not that I'm seriously depressed or anything, but I can't help my mind from turning away to whatever reminds me of home. It's hard, I had never been like this in Japan. And it makes kinda worried, cause I've got 3 more years ahead, which means I gotta hold on. Well, of course I'll go back home in the meanwhile, but right now even that doesn't sound good enough.
It's such a paradox! I miss home so bad, and that means, of course, I'd like to go home. But at the same time, if I was planning to go home soon, if I had any concrete assurance I'd really go home soon, I wouldn't be homesick, I'd just be longing for my trip. So, what can I do to feel better? I don't know! I've not a clue...
I hear some of my friends are facing the same situation. Is it the time? Second year in the uni, 2 entire years in Japan, success x failure, good x unpleasant discoveries, cultural shock - overcome x suppressed, a lot of experiences anyway.

I've been led to this idea that the 1st year was like childhood: we learned how to talk, we took our first steps in this land, we learned a lot in a short time span, everything was new, interesting, we could see almost no harm in people, and there was always somebody to help us, take good care of us. But then we grew. Growth hurts. Growing requires sacrifices. We left our home and the ones who took care of us to lead an independent life somewhere else. But we can't go back home. Not that home. Who's gonna take care of us now? Ourselves.
We discovered a new world, the real world, where people aren't always gentle, where you might be anonymous, or just "one of", a face in the crowd. Things won't be given to us, we have to go and get them, fight for them. Does it matter what we think, our wills and desires, our hopes and dreams? Sometimes, but not for everyone. Maybe the ones you wish would listen to you will not.
And, however some say we don't have to follow them cause we're not part of them, yes we do. Or else, what are we doing here? Somehow we have to be like them in order to accomplish what we are to: studies. Though I do think we should be ourselves, stand for what we think and not care if our grammar is wrong or if we wear normal clothes.

We're growing. We'll reach something in the end. What? I guess we stay and see...

2005-02-01T12:04:00.000-08:00

Hi! It's been a long time, uh? Yeah, vacations, and after vacations exams... You guys know how is the whole thing. Well, this week I have only a big report to write, but I also have to stusy for 3 important tests next week. I'd have another test and another report for my English class, which I haven't attended this entire semester, but I decided not to do them... because I've recently discovered (something that I was supposed to know from the very beginning) that I can replace my English classes for Japanese. -.- So, as I have more than enough credits for gaikokugo, I'll spare myself the trouble of studying and the time for writing the report. That's also because there's a possibility I might fail it. I have no idea of what they've studied, but it's about Japanese Economy... no more kabushikigaisha!!

Yesterday I watched a great program on the TV - they were asking foreigners on the streets what in Japan they didn't like. A girl said she'd had 3 of her panties stolen from the clothes-line. A guy said that in the train or bus, some people avoided sitting beside him. A Korean girl said that Japanese people just say they like Korea now because of Yon-sama, hahahah. A man said he didn't like the way girls dressed in Harajuku, and then on the stage they showed some awkward pictures of those girls... and the Japanese audience: "ee, naruhodo..." haahhahahah Finally, a guy who's been in Japan for 11 years said that, even though he speaks Japanese all the time, some salarymen will always try to reply him in English. Then he went to a big train station to interview some salarymen, asking things like "Have you drunk a lot today?", in Japanese, and they'd say very loud and happily "YES". "What do you want now?" - "Biiaa"(beer) or "Rabu"(love). Haahuhauhauhhauh... ah it was very ridiculous. I think they should do that kind of program more often.

Oscar and I are probably going to Korea in the beginning of March, for about 5 days. I'll put some pictures here when we come back.. See ya!

Yatta

2004-12-07T20:51:00.000-08:00

All my life, I've had only a few joys when doing some sport. I was that kind of kid who does much better inside the class and many times the PE grade was the worst one on my records. Even outside the school, I couldn't enjoy all the games the other kids would play, because I used to think I wouldn't be able to, I was too weak, too coward...
Looking back at my history, maybe that's why today I felt that good. Tuesday is PE day at the uni. I'm playing table tennis this semester, and it's a lot of fun! But today it was more than just fun. I played seriously and, despite having been a very diputed match, I won at last. However, my team is still in a yabai situation. We won 2 of the 5 games, and the last game haven't finished for lack of time. The problem is that this last game is now 2 x 2 sets. So next week an only set will determine the winner. I really want to win this time. Of course everybody wants their own team to win, but this time... I guess I could finally overcome my childhood frustration, and believe I can actually do something when it comes to sports.
Although some people say "ping-pong" isn't a real sport...

Tired...

2004-11-06T20:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my first day at the school. Fortunately, the other girl who used to be the assistant in my class was still there to advise me. But I don't know what'll be next week... It seems like I'll have some hard work to get along with those kids and make them listen to me. Nevertheless, they seem to be great kids, very smart. They speak English so fluently I think I'm the one who should be sitting there watching the classes. And though sometimes you hear them talking in Japanese, they usually speak English even between them.
All teachers are native speakers, and so is great part of the student staff. I'm a bit afraid I might not understand exactly what the teachers ask me to do and look like a complete dumb. It already happened yesterday, but I hope I'll get used to their way of speaking. Besides, I'll study more English. It'd be OK to work in a place where everybody speaks English, but when you deal with learning children, it's a much bigger responsibility. If you make a mistake, either they'll follow your example or they'll lose their trust in you...
Well, let's see what happens next. I really don't wanna mess up this opprtunity.

Finally, a baito

2004-10-17T04:49:00.000-07:00

That's it! I've got a baito! I'll be class assistant in an international school, near Kita-Senri! I know, I know, it's far from Kobe... and I won't receive that much either... but it's a school! I'll have the chance to see how it works, and stay with kids, and observe them, it'll be like a internship. And much better than the internship they offer students in my faculty, which is not paid.
I'm happy. It's my first job. Saturdays only, though. I'm gonna start in 2 weeks, perhaps more. Have to wait for my work permission...
I'll tell you when it starts.

Taifu & classes

2004-10-08T20:35:00.000-07:00

Taifu is coming... again. Dear no.22 brought some rain today, will keep us in our dungeons tomorrow and mess with our plans to go out on Sun and Mon. But it's ok, cause thanx to taifus there's no shortage of water.

Classes... The schedule seems so empty... only 13 classes, 8 of them being Nihongo, Eng, French and table tennis. Tuesday is the only day I have the 1st period. I hope with all my heart I won't fail any subject this semester (I did last semester!).
I wanted to take table tennis from the beginning, but when we got to the class, there were more applicants than places, so they did a draw. I lost. =( There wasn't any other sport I wanted to do in that period, so I just walked away, felling hurt by my bad luck. However, it turned out to be good luck. My friend, who was chosen in the draw, actually wanted to take badminton, but she thought all the classes were full, that's why she went for the tt class. But then she found out there were places for badminton in a certain class, so she dropped tt. She wanted to directly transfer her place to me, but that was not allowed. The point is: I was there with her when she gave up her place, so tecnically I was the 1st one to appear for the place, that's why I got it.

Something really, really strange happened in my Gakka. We were supposed to choose Kyouyou genron classes before the term starts. 1 class per field, in total 3. But, when the term started, and they announced our classes, all the Gakka had got the same class for one of the fields. There was a paper on the bulletin board saying we had to take it, because... we had to. Then, in a orientation about the courses for next year, the chief of the gakubu mentioned we didn't have to take that class. ... ? ... ! ... What?!?! but now it seemed late to change, after all, the application period was in the end of vacations. Then my friends went to the jimusho to ask about it, and they said we were put in that class by draw... all the 120 students... yeah. And, they didn't know about that paper saying we had to take the class. Does anybody explain it to me, or I'll have to start believing in yuurei?

2004-10-06T02:59:00.000-07:00

This is one of the typical handicrafts you can find in Fortaleza: landscapes "painted" with color sand inside a glass or bottle. Some nuances of yellow, orange, red and brown are natural, and are found in that region.

2004-10-03T16:40:00.000-07:00

That's me, having ice coconut water on the beach... in Brazil. I spent a week in Fortaleza, a city in the northeast of Brazil, visiting several beaches nearby (some of them not so near).

Getting started

2004-10-02T05:28:00.000-07:00

Hey, guys!! I've moved from Xanga.com cause there I couldn't post pics and neither you could add your comments. Here we can do it.
So I hope you'll visit this blog to check out what extraordinary things are going on in my life and see some pics, leave your comments and and think about what kind of life you don't wanna lead, what stupid things you should never write to the public and, of course, remember this funny girl who once has been part of your days.
Love, Mina (^-^)