I'm really trying to improve my communication. Work and personal communication... more frequency, more details... alas, it is still such a struggle!
Tokyo, Japan was an amazing surprise of a city. I had imagined glass, high-rises, traffic, danger, but instead, was greeted with a bus ride through the country (from Narita to Tokyo), and a city with a European feel. The buildings were ornate and 6 inches apart from one another. The taxis were immaculate, doors which automatically opened and shut. There was bowing out of respect, bowing as a farewell or greeting and bowing as appreciation. The city was clean, safe, and the sushi was amazing. I was especially glad that I finally went to a sushi restaurant with a revolving belt which carried a crop row of sushi around the diner-like seating arrangement at the bar. Hot green tea and color coded plates made this restaurant a quick dining delight. I got to see the Prada store, the Chloe store and bought a lot of "pasalubongs" - (pinoy, for gifts) to take home for friends and family. It would be hard to just "go out exploring" due to the language challenges, but if you can decide where you're going, the hotel will write the directions in Japanese, so you can communicate with the taxi drivers. I would go back in a minute.
After a few more weeks in Foldertown, I went home for the family reunion and time at home. It was a new holiday experience for me, as I made plans without knowing what any of my family members were going to be doing. As it turns out, I had good time with family, and alone time for 2 days after they left. The reunion was fantastic... very well organized, and the typical cast. This year seemed more "spread-out", more contemplative, and I knew that we desperately wanted to connect with each other, but we weren't sure how. There wasn't the impetus, the starter, the match.. I don't know how else to describe it. I did get to see my favorite cousin, drink beer and sing karaoke, so who am I to complain? :)
Every time I'm home at my house, I love dreaming and planning things I want to do to improve my house. I feel desperate to nest when I'm home, which makes sense given that in 07, I will actually be at home for approximately 10 weeks out of the whole year. I'm not sure how much I should invest in my little house. I really don't need a bigger one, but I would like a garage. I would also love to be able to host parties and have guests stay over. I also need to think about how I want to plan my finances moving forward. Having accomplished my 12 year goal of paying off my debt, I am really looking forward to actually buying with cash. This will be a bit of a switch for me. I'm thrilled to think about buying a car with 1/2 cash, or a house with a sizable down payment. Good thinks to be able to think about, I think.
I bought a guitar. I saw Rush Hour 3 and Bourne Ultimatum. I'm going to see Evan Almighty tonight. I watched all of Prison Break Season 1, and am 1/2 way into a short book called, The Dip. I have gone to church this Sunday and last, and have made Sundays my manicure/pedicure and laundry day, as well. I feel much better about the week when I have taken time to do these things for me. The busier I am, the less I feel lonely. Logical.
There are some things I should be doing, that I just don't have any desire to do. I would really like to find a counselor/coach here in Foldertown. I wonder if the pastor at church would have any recommendations. I signed up for small groups last week, but I haven't heard from anyone yet. Maybe they'll start that this week...??
There are very exciting things happening at work, but to stay up on my email and meetings, I realize I need to work 16 hours a day. I just had an assistant start for me this past week, and I am hoping and praying that this will take some of the load off for me. Now that we have her email and computer and workspace, it's just a matter of her attending orientation, and she'll be 100% operational.
It's 5:19am on Sunday morning at home right now.
I dropped a quick email to Kip last Monday night. He happened to be on-line. He responded right away. I responded back, and then he never replied. Weird. I don't think I'll ever get him out of my head. I know I'll never get him out of my heart. He's the closest thing I've ever seen to someone being a real match for me, and he's someone else's. I hope I meet someone half the man he is or was or is or was... oh crap, who knows... I have a very random fantasy everytime I get off the plane at any airport, that he will be waiting for his flight (just by coincidence at that very airport), watch me walk off the plane, shout out my name, and we will run to each other, bear-hug and both start crying. Isn't that hilarious...
Well, enough for now... Signing off these random thoughts on the 2nd Holiday weekend in a row here in Foldertown. Love, asiL
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Halfway Mark of 2007
What a week! It's hard to believe it's already July 1st of 2007. This past week was a doosey. I was running pretty low on energy and had to do the main push of the project I've been working on here at Acme, Inc. :) I finished the week with a Leadership Conference for my team, all day on Friday. I think the team leaders got a lot out of it. We had a vendor (DDI), which I know from my 3 year Acme hiatus at Cernith, do the facilitation for us. Loads of positive feedback from the team members.
Friday night, Davis, MA, Swedish Lisa and I all went to dinner in a very metropolitan place in Foldertown. We went through 3 bottles of wine and laughed our tooshies off. It was a well-needed time to blow off some steam. Swedish Lisa is our newest expat here in Foldertown. She'll be here for approx. 4 months. Her blond coiffure and nordic accent land her a lot of attention here in Foldertown. Between my large size and her blond hair, we can't go anywhere without drawing a LOT of attention. The Folder-ites here were never EVER taught that it's not polite to stare or point or laugh when you walk by. It really wears on my nerves at times, and other times, I can forget about it. It just depends on my mood and how much sleep I've gotten.
I leave for Tokyo a week from today to teach a course at one of our Acme offices there. I am hoping that I can overcome the language barrier, and that the courses go smoothly. My good friend, K-dog, from Tahoe, will be there, and then she'll head back to Foldertown with me, so we can teach the same course 2x back in Foldertown.
Yesterday, I called about finding a "boxing gym", and lo and behold, there's one across the street from my bunkhouse. It's called "Red Corner", and I went with a friend, and I got to box! It was pretty cool. Certainly a hard work-out. I look forward to going back.
Today's sermon was on the Holy Spirit guiding us into Truth and Glory. Truth has two meanings: 1. Greek - (alithea, i think)... intellectual, something "known" not trusted. and 2. Hebrew - (emit, i think)... which means relational, trusting something because of familiarity. Glory means to give something weight or prominence. John was a Hebrew, but knew he was writing for both Jews and Greeks. The Holy Spirit will lead us into BOTH head knowledge, AND relational knowledge of Jesus - and by focusing on the Spirit's presence in our life, we will find ourselves giving more weight or prominence to God's influence. He is WITH us - always. He doesn't walk out ahead of us and show us the way, he rides in the car with us and holds our hand.
Sometimes it is so so hard to feel that way. Sometimes, I really feel like God is walking behind me, letting me lead the way - and then shaking his head at me when I make a stupid mistake - or when I continually let him down. I feel the weight of so much guilt - the gap between what my head knows to be true and right and what my body decides to do, seems to be a spacious canyon with no rope-bridge from one side to the other. I need to decide if I'm going to make decisions about eating, or sleeping, or exercising that aren't what "God would want me to do" - then, I need to make the decision and do it guilt-free. OR don't make the decision in the first place.
6 months into the year, and I'm taking stock of where I am with my New Years Resolutions. argh. Not good. I have a few options to check out here in Foldertown. The resolution about having a greater focus on my health has not progressed at all, and I'm thinking about seeing a counselor - or a doctor. I miss seeing Dr. Bhanu in bangalarooo, he was/is soooo warm, patient and knowing. I just need to dedicate the time to exploring these options. More on that later...
May God Bless your Week - Love, Lisa
Friday night, Davis, MA, Swedish Lisa and I all went to dinner in a very metropolitan place in Foldertown. We went through 3 bottles of wine and laughed our tooshies off. It was a well-needed time to blow off some steam. Swedish Lisa is our newest expat here in Foldertown. She'll be here for approx. 4 months. Her blond coiffure and nordic accent land her a lot of attention here in Foldertown. Between my large size and her blond hair, we can't go anywhere without drawing a LOT of attention. The Folder-ites here were never EVER taught that it's not polite to stare or point or laugh when you walk by. It really wears on my nerves at times, and other times, I can forget about it. It just depends on my mood and how much sleep I've gotten.
I leave for Tokyo a week from today to teach a course at one of our Acme offices there. I am hoping that I can overcome the language barrier, and that the courses go smoothly. My good friend, K-dog, from Tahoe, will be there, and then she'll head back to Foldertown with me, so we can teach the same course 2x back in Foldertown.
Yesterday, I called about finding a "boxing gym", and lo and behold, there's one across the street from my bunkhouse. It's called "Red Corner", and I went with a friend, and I got to box! It was pretty cool. Certainly a hard work-out. I look forward to going back.
Today's sermon was on the Holy Spirit guiding us into Truth and Glory. Truth has two meanings: 1. Greek - (alithea, i think)... intellectual, something "known" not trusted. and 2. Hebrew - (emit, i think)... which means relational, trusting something because of familiarity. Glory means to give something weight or prominence. John was a Hebrew, but knew he was writing for both Jews and Greeks. The Holy Spirit will lead us into BOTH head knowledge, AND relational knowledge of Jesus - and by focusing on the Spirit's presence in our life, we will find ourselves giving more weight or prominence to God's influence. He is WITH us - always. He doesn't walk out ahead of us and show us the way, he rides in the car with us and holds our hand.
Sometimes it is so so hard to feel that way. Sometimes, I really feel like God is walking behind me, letting me lead the way - and then shaking his head at me when I make a stupid mistake - or when I continually let him down. I feel the weight of so much guilt - the gap between what my head knows to be true and right and what my body decides to do, seems to be a spacious canyon with no rope-bridge from one side to the other. I need to decide if I'm going to make decisions about eating, or sleeping, or exercising that aren't what "God would want me to do" - then, I need to make the decision and do it guilt-free. OR don't make the decision in the first place.
6 months into the year, and I'm taking stock of where I am with my New Years Resolutions. argh. Not good. I have a few options to check out here in Foldertown. The resolution about having a greater focus on my health has not progressed at all, and I'm thinking about seeing a counselor - or a doctor. I miss seeing Dr. Bhanu in bangalarooo, he was/is soooo warm, patient and knowing. I just need to dedicate the time to exploring these options. More on that later...
May God Bless your Week - Love, Lisa
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Sunday
Today, I slept in under 12:30pm. Very nice. I baked brownies and had Mac'N'Cheese for lunch. I went to the "Nail Bar", which is right next to the bunkhouse, and got my weekly mani/pedi for P640. ($13) I then saw the new Nicholas Cage movie, "NEXT" - and it was okay. Just okay. (I found myself thankful that it cost P110 ($2.20) - not too big of a loss.) I love that "Chris Johnson" (Cage) can see into the future, but the movie was reminiscient of watching those shows where the main character dreams something aweful (unbeknownst to the audience) and just when the audience is puckered tight, the balloon is burst with a quick zoom back to the bed - main character laying on his/her back - with eyes wide open.
Ahh - it was only a dream. I feel tricked.
Mang J (codename for my driver) picked me up after the movie, and I indulged myself in some sushi at my favorite Japanese restaurant here in Foldertown. I have returned to the bunkhouse with plans to watch a little TV and retire early to begin the week rested and with aspirations of HIGH productivity. Dear God, May it be so.
Ahh - it was only a dream. I feel tricked.
Mang J (codename for my driver) picked me up after the movie, and I indulged myself in some sushi at my favorite Japanese restaurant here in Foldertown. I have returned to the bunkhouse with plans to watch a little TV and retire early to begin the week rested and with aspirations of HIGH productivity. Dear God, May it be so.
Welcome!
Welcome to Asil's Space!
After two years of avoiding the blogging community, I have succumbed to the pressure. :) Actually, I miss feeling "connected" with my friends and family while I am working halfway around the world. If you're reading this, it's YOU I miss, and with YOU I want to stay in closer touch. So, I hope this is effective and opens up more of my experiences to YOU and allows you to respond to me whenever you feel the urge!
Now, for the secret decoder ring:
The place I work shall be called, "Acme Corp."
The place I live shall be called, "Foldertown".
The specific hotel I live in shall be called, "the bunkhouse".
My hometown shall be called, "Cowtown".
How's that for a little mystery in bloggerville?? :)
Just protected the privacy of the innocent. (Me.) hee hee
After two years of avoiding the blogging community, I have succumbed to the pressure. :) Actually, I miss feeling "connected" with my friends and family while I am working halfway around the world. If you're reading this, it's YOU I miss, and with YOU I want to stay in closer touch. So, I hope this is effective and opens up more of my experiences to YOU and allows you to respond to me whenever you feel the urge!
Now, for the secret decoder ring:
The place I work shall be called, "Acme Corp."
The place I live shall be called, "Foldertown".
The specific hotel I live in shall be called, "the bunkhouse".
My hometown shall be called, "Cowtown".
How's that for a little mystery in bloggerville?? :)
Just protected the privacy of the innocent. (Me.) hee hee
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