11-7-01

It has been almost a month since I last wrote. Actually, I did write a few weeks ago about a movie - which you can check out on the JET page of my tangled web. October came and went. Looking upon it, I think it was a pretty good month. I remember feeling towards the end of October that I was entering into a new phase of my stage here in Japan, and a new level of operation. I was hesitant, as I tend to be, i think it runs in my blood - but in the end, my destiny outran me, and now, my days are filled, in a good way, and I feel I am happily occupied.

Oh, incidentally, I should let you know what my goal for November is. October was to live with gratitude, Novembers is taking that a step up - creating a home of the heart. So, I want to try to become a person where my home can be created everywhere - where I can possess the kind of serenity of home alone, but also among people. November, I have heard is the crunch month for many JETS. Thanksgiving passes, and the holiday season begins, homesickness becomes pretty bad. In preparation for this - both for me and the JET community, I want to build a stregth that will help make the cold, central heatingless Japanese winter, warm with homely company. It is kind of far reaching - but I can at least try. If I have to extend the goal - so be it.

I feel like I am rambling. Lately my body has been pretty busy, in the meantime - my brain has gone into cruise control. Not a good sign. My body needs my brain - but brain wants to take a vacatin. I have to learn to dicipline my brain with my spirit.

So, I got 7th in my age group in the marathon. It was good training and I enjoyed myself. I think I will be running one again soon.

Kendo has started, and I am really enjoying it. It is making my character grow in places it has not been challenged for a long time. The other day I was sparring the sensei - and he stopped and looked at me. First he said, "Awatenai," which means, don't rush. Then he said, "The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Why do you take the curved path?" I was dodging him. Instead of charging right at him, I was charging around him. So I am learning to be more agressive, which is a good exercise for me who has become so timid throgh the years.

Other major news, I got an oven! Now I can bake! Just yesterday I baked almost 10 dozen cookies! What fun! I also watche "Sugata Sanshiro" without falling asleep. What a great movie. Kurosawa is indeed a movie god. I will fill in the page in the Kurosawa sectino of Sugata later.

In closing this entry, I would like to say - I want to extend myself beyond my limits - to become "mu" only to be able to be fuller. Kay, I better stop before my brain runs away to Timbuktue and I cannot retreive it.

Much love to everyone. Take care

This is hanako signing out..