I Eat Everyday

     It has been non-stop since I got back from Mongolia. First, I had to move. I had three weeks before I had to return the apartment. I moved several boxes a day. Then my father came to help. While he was here, we had to drive to Kochi, which took three days. I drove 12 hours each way. Then it was moving week for both me and my cousins. A day before we actually moved the last of the furniture, my cousins got a phone call. It was dreadful news. Their father had passed away due to his illness. As soon as we finished moving, or more like shoving things into the house, they had to prepare to go back to Mongolia for the funeral. That week was horrible.      Then it was time to look for a parking spot for the car. The house comes with a parking spot, but we have two cars, so we needed to find a spot for the second car. It was a stressful week right after my cousins had left for Mongolia, because I had to park the car at the coin parking since my cousin hadn’t f...

     It always feels sad to say goodbye.       It has been almost a month since I came home. I helped my parents, especially my mom, move things and clean. My mom just started a tourist base an hour from the city center. There were a lot of things to do, specifically, little things that needed to be done. Then I became an inpatient at Bodi Setgelten (the one I was hospitalized back in May of this year). I spent 5 days and got home today. Now, I have a few more days before I go.       No matter how many times I have said goodbye to my family and friends, I always feel sad. Initially, I felt like crying. I cried once when I had to leave my 3-month-old brother. Even though I don't cry anymore, I always feel sad.       Back in May, I thought to myself that I needed to come back home at least once a year. It helps my sanity and physically ( I am in a cooler environment when it is the hottest in Japan).  Also, I g...

     It has been a couple of weeks since I posted.       It was hectic for a couple of weeks.       First: Work. During the summers, we offer themed programs in English (of course). This year we had two different themes: Dinosaur and Pirates. There are a lot of things that go into putting a program together. From tiny details like who is going to buy the snacks or who is going to sweep the floor, to what each teacher is going to teach and make. I am responsible for all the seasonal programs. So, I had to delegate some of the logistics tasks to other people. The first week went fine. We had wonderful kids who could understand and speak in English to a degree. Also, we were more prepared for the week. Then the second week comes. We weren't prepared as much as in the first week. There were a lot of ideas, and we did them all. Even though it felt like we weren't that prepared, we were prepared enough to have some activities that we didn...

     So, it was a long Saturday.       In the morning, I had First-Aid training, which I wanted to attend to refresh my memory (I got certified last year).       A background story is needed here.       A few weeks ago, the person, whose position had only received a name makeover, wanted to have a training session without consulting anyone. That is fine. It is a good chance to learn from each other and discuss more about our programs. Then he sent an email about BBQ. In the beginning, everybody thought it was only for the staff, where we would casually hang out and get to know each other better. Then he sent another email saying that we are going to open up the BBQ to our students and their parents. It got escalated quickly because he decided he wanted to do it. Then he complained about the menu item, which he wanted to cook a burger. Also, he was second-guessing (or more like doubting) the lady who is working wi...

 Today, I had a dental appointment. Going out in this heat, I didn't want to but I had to.  As soon as I open the door and step out, the humidity and the heat hit me. I immediately start sweating, and I can feel that my cap is getting wet. I was worried about my body because my stomach was weird last night which made me vomit.  Then as soon as you step into a carriage of the train, it is cold. I felt cold. The extremes of hot and cold affect my body. It sounds weird, but I usually get cold during the summer in Japan because of this.  My dentist got a new chair, and it looked very fancy. She told me that I need a small-headed toothbrush for my molars because my Oral-B head is not small enough to reach back there. So, I got one. On the way home, I stopped by the supermarket. Purchased avocados to make a toast. It was yum.  Right now, I am sitting and finishing my last assignments of a course I am taking online, and sweating.  Oh, I restarted my fasting and di...

 Work drama 2 Here is what happened.       At the beginning of the year, several structural changes were implemented. At least, they are in work-in-progress. My position didn't change but got the official recognition of the work that I was doing for the last 5 years.       We had a head teacher. That person became the English School Director, which is basically the same position but a different name. Because he is in this new position, he thinks he has to butt in everybody's job. According to his new job description, he has to know everybody's work and schedule. However, he is not doing a good job of it or demanding the position responsibilities from the lady who does all the things aka my supervisor. It has been years since he only has a title and she does everything because she is Japanese. He can't speak Japanese even though he has been living here for more than two decades. I understand it is very easy to live in a bubble where you don't ...

     Every day has been over 30 degrees Celsius. During this heat, it is smelly if you are riding trains like me. don't think Japanese people realize that they stink.       Imagine this: you are standing next to a guy whose arm is stretched to hold on to the rail. You get a whiff of his underarm smell, and you must stand next to him until he or you get off because the train is packed. After all, it is rush hour. OR… you finally get a seat next to a guy. That guy is talking to someone that is sitting next to him. Every time he opens his mouth, you get the smell of someone who is not in the habit of brushing his teeth. Again, you must sit next to him because the train is packed. AND…you wish you had a mask to put on.       I don’t think Japanese people realize that they stink or don’t care about personal hygiene. Sounds ironic. Japan is the land of onsens and public bathhouses.       The majority of the time, you w...

     It is mid-June, and it is starting to get hot. We are still rainy season. However, it is hot when it is sunny.      Japan has a lot to see if you are traveling. On top of that, if you like the summer season, I applaud you.       I don't like the summer season. It probably is my least favorite of the seasons. Japanese summer, I would call it, the sweaty season.       If you are like me who sweat easily, the one you sweat through the crack of your butt, you will not like Japanese summer.       So, the sweaty season of the year has started. At this moment, it is tolerable. There will be a nice breeze, like today, once in a while. I feel overall okay when going out (of course with my hat and sunscreen).        Once July starts and rolls over to August, that is when it becomes unbearable. I would sweat just sitting still. I felt that last year when I broke bones in my foot ...

I always wanted to create stuff. I use and create a lot of slides and worksheets. I thought I would share my creation here.  There is a little voice telling me "There are better creators than me." Then there is another voice telling me "Go ahead, you will get better." Before, I might have listened to the first voice, but I am learning to listen to the latter.  Here we go. We cook several times a semester. This is the first one that we made. I have read several recipes and adjusted the ingredients based on my students' allergies.  PS: I forgot to take a photo of our finished product. So, I used a photo from MySpiceTrunk.com.  Korean Pancake  

     I always wanted to own a house of my own. Since returning from my vacation, I have been seeing properties along with my cousins. Up until now, there wasn't any property that I liked. However, yesterday, we saw a property that I liked that everybody liked. Right then, I thought I would go for it.       So, after seeing the property, I applied for the mortgage. After sending my application, there was a feeling and thought that I might have decided on my emotions instead of rational thinking.       Right now, my mind is trying to justify the decision that I made yesterday. Other factors that affect whether I will get the house is getting approval for the loan. We will have to wait and see. 

     There are so many easy fixes that help with traffic jams around the world. Two arguments are happening in my mind. One is that those easy fixes work because everybody is polite and mannered while driving. Good manners happen everywhere and all the time. Maybe Mongolians lack that and cannot be better than they are now. The other argument is Mongolians ignore road safety rules and laws. Rules and regulations are in place to provide everybody with a safe journey from Point A to B. Maybe Mongolians ignore all of them when they are behind the wheel and think it is "survival of the fittest."       Like any problem, it is a combination of everything. One part concerns the lack of mannerisms, another part is the ignorance of the rules and regulations, another part is that everybody feels that everybody else has to give way, another part is that lights change too fast, and another part is maybe the lack of sufficient parking.       One...

     I have noticed that people do things with a half-assed attitude in Mongolia, or rather, people who are building stuff don't have any architectural sense or imagination. Here is what I mean.       I went to a specific store with my parents. Right next to the store, there was a ramp and a staircase (built together). The only purpose that was done was to provide access to people, including a wheelchairs. The ramp and staircase are providing that. However, it was built only using the concrete mixture. There is no architectural sense or beauty. When I saw them, I felt ashamed and sad for everybody. I felt ashamed because even now, at least during my lifetime, people are treating their job out of spite for the Mongolian corrupt government. I felt sad because the project could have brought some gentrification to the area, and the people who executed the project don't have the decency to think a little more than what was required of them.   ...

It has been a few weeks since I posted.  I went home for a couple of weeks. It felt nice and comfortable, but upsetting at the same time.  One of the nicest and necessary things that I have done for myself was getting traditional medicine treatment for my body. This was also my mom's hope when I went home.  In Mongolia, we have a traditional medicine. The doctors feel your veins and arteries and diagnose how your internal organs are performing. It may feel very alien to Western ears, but such medicine exists in Asia.  So, I had my doctor's appointment. The doctor felt my veins and arteries, and said the following. (1) She said I drink too much water, especially cold water. Because of that, my kidneys are working very hard. Moreover, because Japan is very humid and cold, my kidneys are cold. Normally, the kidneys are supposed to feel warm. The symptom, I realized later on, was frequent urination. (2) Because of my excess water consumption, my internal organs had local...

  It was a weird week.      It started as normal . My normal working schedule has been back in place since the second week of April . I needed a little adjusting, but otherwise, it was pretty normal.      A friend of mine stayed for two days before going to South Korea.      Toward the end of the week, I checked my upcoming flight information . I have a transfer at Daegu International Airport . There was a notation saying "I need a transit visa." So, as a rational person, I went on to the embassy website to check and get the list of materials I would need.      That is where I encountered the website language can be set to either Japanese or Korean, not English . The website is designed for Japanese and Korean people . For people like myself, who can converse comfortably, but hard time reading Kanjis, the website doesn't service . So , I went to different countries (USA, Singapore, and Mongolia) embassy websites ...

     I just checked my BGL and it was normal.       I had carbs (even though I am cutting it out) on April Fools Day. In my defense, there is a time. A time when everybody can sit down and enjoy their lunch and each others' company. April 1st was the day.       For the rest of the week, I ate clean. I had been craving veggie omelet and I had it the majority of the time. I guess, it is becoming warmer and that affects what I want to eat.       I exercised every day this week including weight lifting (simple moves with lighter dumbells). For the first couple of days, my body was sore. Now, my body feels better.       I prepped lunch components (all frozen individually). This makes packing lunch much easier because I can choose and mix in the morning.      There was excitement when I saw my Etsy shop ( if you want to visit: PracticalJapan )  had its first order. However, the b...

     So many things happened in a week.       We are waiting for a business visa for my dad because he established a company in Japan. We have been waiting for a year. Yet, we still have to file for taxes and even pay local city taxes.       I know it is weird to pay tax on a company that cannot operate because the person who established the company hasn't gotten his visa, yet. We cannot open even a company bank account because Japanese banks ask for the owner's residence card. There is no residence card if you don't have a business visa.       In Japan, if you are a business owner, you must file for taxes 3 times. First, it is the national tax. You or an accountant prepare the financial statements and you go to the national tax office for tax filing. You may or may not pay taxes because it will depend on whether you had a good year or a bad one. Second, it is the city tax. It is the tax you pay where you have yo...

     I have been teaching English where I worked part-time as a student. I accepted a position at another company where I worked (part-time, of course) during the pandemic before moving to my current employer (non-profit organization).       For a couple of years in the beginning, I learned a lot. It is a set of skills for navigating tantrums, conflicts with a toy, or whatever the situation may be. The skill set you have relied on might not work on the next kid. You have to update and refine the skills constantly.       Don't get me wrong, it is rewarding to work with kids, and I am humbled (thankful for their trust) by the fact that the parents are leaving their kids in my care (there are other teachers, of course). However, after a while, once you have gotten the basics of child care and development, everything you are (I am) doing becomes routine. That's where I struggle.       Last week, I had a meeting with ...

       It has been a busy week. My parents went home after a sudden trip to Japan. A friend and I helped a co-worker move (which they forgot to get me lunch when I said get me something on the way back). It had been a long tiring week. This week is going to be a busy one as well. However, my friend from Australia and I are gonna catch up when she visits.       It had been a few weeks since I last checked my weight and BGL. However, everything that I am eating is sugar-free. From next week, I am cutting out flour.       Finally, my foot feels like my foot. My calf muscle hurt so much this week. My thinking is that my leg is starting to relearn how much I move. Also, the shittiest part of recovering from a foot injury is that your toenail will bother you so much which it hurt so much this week.       On the positive side, I swam 4 times a week and I didn't snack much. Yesterday, I had a big bowl of salad for d...

     For as long as I can remember, Mongolia celebrated March 8th. In my teenage years, I found out that it was the International Women's Day. The day that women fought for their rights, today my rights.       On a personal level, I don't care much for celebrations. Basically, I treat them as any normal day.       In Mongolia, celebrations are on different levels. That celebration always means excessive drinking. If the celebrations are about women, that means women expecting, more like demanding, some kind of gifts from their significant others. I find that whole thing bizarre.       Yesterday, my dad was reading the news and pointed out that in Mongolia more than 700 women spent the night in a place we call, eruuljuuleh tub or sobering up centers (roughly translating into English). Based on that, I am amazed at how low Mongolian people get.       It is not just this day. The majority of cele...

     Getting home on Sunday evening from our Lunar New Year celebration, I started to feel sick. The funny thing is that I know what I ate that made me ill. It was the good old lamb meat.       Living in Japan, I mostly eat beef, pork, and chicken. Sometimes, I cook internal organs such as the liver or heart.       For the celebration, my cousin and his girlfriend cooked some lamb meat. I had a few pieces along with the famous buuz. Halfway through the dinner, my stomach started to bloat, and it began to feel very uncomfortable. Right then, I knew I was going to be sick.       I got home fine and started to continue working on the small gifts that I was making for my students, who were graduating in a couple of weeks. Slowly, my stomach started to act up. My visits to the toilet increased and I felt sick every time I sat in front of the toilet ready to vomit. After a couple of hours, it happened, everything that ...