thoughs of in-betweener...

I was in Canada for one year. I just came back to Japan last week. I've met many people and many things. Looking back this one year... The faces of the people I've met this time come up to my mind... and remember how was I one year ago, what I've been learned and have experienced.

Nature and People I met gave me lots Love... Teachers gave me enthusiasm. City gave me lots different point of view.. And Trip gave me special meeting and all the inspirations and awaressness...

My teachers encouraged me to continue blogging everyday... I have been lazy last 3months while I was traveling ...

I came back to Japan, now I'll try to start blogging everyday again !I will try my English studies all my life.One thing I am trying is reading English everyday....Now I am reading a book named ''eat pray love''

It's about one woman's search for everything across Italy, India and Indonesia...One chapter, On the journey, She was looking for her word which the word defines, identifies herself.The word for herself finally she found when she leaves India was ''ANTEVASIN''. It's Sunskrit word.It means ''one who lives at the border.'' Antevasin was ancient spiritual seekers, an in-betweener. He was a border-dwelller. He lived in sight of both worlds,but he looked toward the unknown.

When I looked the word... I feel the some kind of similality between authour and myself.
I've been thinkinig what I want to be long time or every time.... When I left Japan last May, I couldn't find the answer .... I'd lost what I wanted be.. but One thing I could tell was I want to be a cultual bridge .. that was only I could tell at that time.... I wanted to be a person who can understand many different kind of people.... I know... (I have always abstruct conception...that's one of my problem... ) then I was wondering how it will go, how I can make get my blurred vision into a shape .... then I went to Canada to find something more blightness in my life. I learned many things. although, I still don't know what I am going to do and what can I do for the world...

However, One action I did already was volunteering as an Interpreter for Oxfam Japan last weekend. This event named Trail Walker 2008 is a challenging endurance fundraising event. It has become a global event. People challenges two things, One is a commitment to fundraising and the other is walking a distance 100k within 48hours with team of 4. its all for helping people fight against poverty. The money is used for the project of Oxfam for Sudan, South Africa,India,Cambodia,and Advocacy, other campaigns...

It was increadible event... I was in the last check point for supply drinks and food for Walkers, Eventhough I didn't do much as an Interpreter, I had a wonderful experience...
Walkers are from all over the world..There were many emotional drama ... It's amazing to see people who give it everything they've got... I realized.. In my life, when and what I would try if I give everything to something with all my efforts... I haven't seen anything yet. I am far from finished. I still have a long way to GO !

Life is Journey.. The journey will continue all my life.

Existence of “I”

This was a poem that my friend sent me, and would like to translate this a little bit.

Under the fall sky

There are many branches and leaves getting together.

They don't have a division or a notion.

All their energy is harmonized.

And I realized they don't have a notion of “I”.

There is no restriction to being branches or leaves.

They are just one part of universe.

They don't even know what they are.

They don't need to be something else,They are just existing there.

Same as all of us.We are all a little part of the universe.

We don't need to be something else,

We are just existing in this moment.

Pain born from the frame of “I”.

“I”want you to understand.

“I”want you to love me more.

“I”want to be like that.

Once you know the there is a frame of “I”,

Why restrict yourself ?

You will go beyond the division of your self.

And we become oneness. The borders disappear.

This is from Tomo-san's website "Yurishisu no Mori"
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/ulysses/diary/

When I read this, I wondered when I started “I”myself.It's really hard to go beyond myself. “I”is sticking deeply inside me since I was born in me, and “I”grew up with myself untill now, however, if I go beyond “I”, I would explore the world and be more natural, become one with the universe, the borders removed. ThankYOU Tomo-san.

FUREAI

FUREAI

The Japanese word “FUREAI”represents the sharing or exchanging of things and feelings on a mental level and also shows those thoughts and feelings that come from meeting,touching,understanding with people when they communicate with eachother.

In my opinion, This word is one of the significant and beautiful words in my country.

When you were given Love, tenderness, strength and also when you gave those to someone, wouldn't your heart have been warmed from bottom of your heart ?

And those feelings keep living in a heart to make us more kind, happy and strong all the time.

That comes only when you show someone and yourself in true colors.

That is very important.

I ponder the issues of education.

Today, Japanese children are born in days of plenty, however many children need mental help.

They want love and They need “FUREAI”.

They need to laugh, to show anger,sadness,joy from the bottom of the heart therefore being human.

When I went to Myammer, I was given lots of love from the children. They express themselves from the use of their whole the body and in their hearts.I was moved and given love, which is something I have never had. They were laughing, showing anger, sadness, joy in a genuine way.

Now,I want to tell Japanese children,“Don't be afraid to show yourself, to be different and Jump your hurdle. You are not alone, just be yourself.”

The Japanese pay serious attention to hormony and cooperativeness in the group, to disagree with someone can be considered impolite.In the education, Japan is still a society based on an education background, many companies based on academic background.

Many children go to cram schools, to pass the entrance exams.

There are a lot of reasons to make them stressed and to give them pressure.

They've been losing something important in our lives by the society and the adult people.

Creativity and personality should be emphasized more.

They need a chance to “FUREAI”with people more, and make a relation ship in true colors.

pic : 2003 in Myammer

Happy Thanks giving day...

Hello, my friends...

I remember 2 years ago,
I was invited a Thanks giving supper by my friend of American family.
and the wife Val asked me What are you thankful for?
I would say 'I am thankful for I am living in this moment.'
Tomorrow, If she asked me same thing, I will answer same thing.

Tomorrow is Thanks giving day.Now we are living in the days of plenty.
The things we are having everyday, things it happens everyday become nothing special...
but They all have meanings and very special in our life.
Tomorrow is the day reminds us that special feelings.

What a good day Thanks giving !
Have a wonderful Thanks giving day.
and Thank you for you too !!!
You always make my day !!!

Loves and hugs..

Meeting

We are walking each way.

Everyone goes a different direction.

Everyone has a different life.

Although we go different directions, we have lots of meetings.

Family, Friends, loving some one, even meeting for a short time sometimes makes you feel very special.

so, I think what is important is enjoying the moment, caring about each other, treasuring the time spent with people.

Each moment has meaning.

Meeting makes my self.

pic:2001 in Eritorea

Loves and Hugs

A friend sent me a video. I want to share this Video from Australia.

It is about a man who was doing a free hugs campaign.

< “Free Hugs” is a real life controversial story of Juan Mann, A man whose sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger to brighten up their lives. >

We do not have the custom of the ''hug'' in Japan. Japanese people express how they feel with self effacing actions and facial expressions, not very well, and we tend to be shy.

In my opinion, sometimes Japanese people keep strangers at a distance. I mean it’s hard for us to open ourselves to others, but I think that everybody wants to share the delights, sadness of life; everybody wants to be with someone and wants to feel that someone is next to them. So when I saw this video, I felt something we don't have.... and my friends felt it too.

Enjoy with music! Play the short movie!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4

I was really touched when I saw the video.... I got a feeling of love. Japan does not have that custom 'hugs', but I sometimes feel that people should express themselves, their own feelings, more and more... show the emotions more and more. I have friends of many different kinds of people, any generation. I like to be a person that can understand difference. so I always try to think of things from another point of view.

Love and hugs

Erie

This is a picture Big Hug (?) from 2001 Kenya Africa...