The HeArt of War

This was probably around the time when I was 2nd or 3rd year in uni.  I was on my way back from my a part-time job late one night. On board the train, I was trying to make my way out of the crowd of passengers and onto the station platform to exit. But the other passengers couldn't seem to find it in themselves to budge.  So no other way but to bust out a " sumimasen " ("excuse me") in my best irritated Japanese accent. They made way for me sure enough.  Only what came out was actually a faint  " irrashaimase " ("welcome!") but with an "excuse me" tone.  And...that's how you know you've been working at a cafe way too much.  I hope I at least made some of the passengers chuckle inside. #

It’s Saturday and the weather is looking great. Had a lie in, took my sweet time tidying up things and then prepped to go out. My goal: Nata beach. I’ve been meaning to visit this much-hyped beach in town so I planned to devote the rest of the day there with a good book that I just bought last night. While checking out Google Maps for the route, I spied a little Italian joint on the way to the beach so I decided I’ll make a lunch stop there too. So far so good. Now on to the trip itself. Took a good 50-min drive to reach this little town. Then I went off in search of the trattoria in the middle of the residential area. The food itself was alright -- got the soy sauce-based pasta and sponge cake -- and the vibe of the shop was very relaxing. (Funny how the staff clocked me as a foreigner as soon as they saw me pull out my new book which ofc is in English!) Anyway, once I had my fill, I set out for the beach, ready to spend the day reading my new R. Osman detective novel. Google Maps sai...

It only took literal years but this blog is back from the dead! Some quick updates for y'all since the last time I posted: I have successfully graduated in 2020 (sry for bringing you memories of covid) Have been an asst. English teacher at public schools for a total of 3 years Moved to Fukuoka and have been here for 5 years On my third year now at a travel agency    Anyway, planning to post more regularly here. I hope to make it up to you for the veery long hiatus.  I have a lot of stories to tell.

ISANG HAKBANG LANG NAMAN ANG KAILANGAN      Sabi nila, "Those people who love to see, draw or take pictures of long, continuous roads are the ones who have a better outlook in life -- usually hopeful or courageous ones -- because roads portray forward movement and destination."      Habang patuloy kong binabagtas ang daan sa aking paglalakbay patungo sa aking patutunguhan,  hindi ko maiwasang lumingon pabalik sa nakaraan kung saan ko binuo ang mga desisyong nagturo sa akin patungo sa kinalalagyan ko ngayon. Sa bawat paglingon at panandaliang pagmumuni-muni ay malalim na buntong hininga na dala ng mga saloobin na may halong pagsisisi. Pagsisisi hindi sa mga bagay na pinaninindigan ko pa rin hanggang ngayon. Kundi sa mga bagay na kung maibabalik ko lamang ang kahapon ay mas pipiliin kong mag-isip ng hindi lang base sa emosyon at katayuan ko noong pinili ko ang hindi ko na ikinatutuwa ngayon at piniling hindi piliin ang mga bagay na asamin ko man ngayon a...

Okay, so I just came back from the konbini (convenience store) a while ago and... yea that was weird.  I was just supposed to go there for a quick konbini run.  So I came in and made a beeline for the cash register while looking at my phone. But as I made my way there, a customer holding various drinks and snacks looked at me like he knows me.  I don't recognize him at all so I just kept glancing at my phone. He looked like he's also gonna make his way to the cash register so I ended up behind him in the queue.  He's not that old. Prolly the same age as me or a bit older. If I had to guess, I'd say he's working in construction or maintenance, based on his clothes and cap. Average height, a bit thin.  He kept glancing back so I was already getting annoyed inside. I'm pretty sure there's nothin wrong with my clothes or hair since I literally just stepped out of my flat. So that's prolly not it.  Then suddenly he turned to me fully and started saying some...

Okay, so this happened several years ago when I was still in uni so some of the deets might be hazy but the weird parts are def true. Here goes... Early one morning, I was on my way to my baito (part-time job) so I was waiting in line for a bus downtown. Then one random guy, who I thought was a lost tourist, came up to me. I could tell he was hella nervous. He started asking questions about bus routes and I answered politely, still under the impression that he's a hapless tourist.  Then, he complimented my English and said he would like to improve his language skills. (Based on his accent, I was quite sure he's Chinese.) And, get this, he wanted me to teach him.  Uh, where are you going with this, man? He then started asking for my number or email address (whichever works for me, he says) so he can ask for my help with English in the future. O_o   Huh. Is this how guys hit on random girls on the street now? The moment he mentioned something about contact details, I w...

Phew, that was one long last day huh. On top of the regular classes, we had a special event and then a major desk clean-out for me. It was fun tho. The regular classes weren't actually regular coz we just played games for the whole period.  It was a bit difficult to explain so it took a while for us to get going but once everyone got the system, it went well,  I think. Shout out to my two colleagues who were absolute MVPs, btw. I decided to alter the game a bit as I was coming from another class where we had a better outcome using the altered version. So they ended up having to come up with random words for every round. And for that, I am much obliged. Also, I really am happy that my students wrote me messages and created those very cute message boards. Well, that and also coz I already know about the "surprise" when I walked in on one of them literally making one of the message boards.  It took me a while to get through all of them but I finished reading them tonight a...

 I know it's raining and it's cold as heck. To top it all off, I'm not feeling so swell, if I'm being real honest. So what am i doing outside? Right. To keep an appointment. (I have this sinking feeling that I'm gonna kick myself later for this decision tho...) From the moment I got off the train, it's becoming clear that this ain't no typical stomachache or whatever. This is starting to morph into something really terrible -- the same kind of pain I had that one time many years ago. The first time I felt like I was dying.  I'm not even kidding man, it was THAT bad. I just hope to God I'm wrong about it  this time. I was not. Five minutes later, I'm cancelling my appointment and frantically making my way to the restroom. I'm feeling faint and my body can't seem to decide if it wants to take a dump or throw up. So just to cover all my bases, and not to look like a zombie standing by the sink, I get into a stall and brace for what's to...

Song of Solomon 5:2-8 The groom knocked but had gone out. The bride opens the door but found him not. She called and find her beloved but the watchmen found her. The watchmen who intended to guard the city and protect its people. They were the one that abused and took advantaged of the bride. What does it pertains? Where is Jesus in the passage? Every book of the bible points out to the One and only Saviour, right? If He is the groom, why did He knocked and leave? Why did He turned away and allow the bride to be taken advantaged by the most trusted people?  Where are you watchmen? Why instead of guarding and warning the people of danger, you were the one who do harm to those who are weak?  I don't know what it means but it brings hurt to my feelings. Grieve and sadness that visited my heart. Asking, why these things were needed to be happened? Why the people were so wicked? Why they took advantaged of the weak and needy? Why this world was so wild and cannot be trusted? Why th...

 You are very cold like you are freezing, paralize and stagnant. You struggle about it and you cannot comprehend yourself or even control your own emotion and you are unable to lit yourself again cause your passion dies down. There is no joy in it but only a temporary happiness and pleasure. You know why? Cause you always grieve the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the fire that can only lit your passion to burn again. So keep the fire burning by being always filled with the Holy Spirit. Repent and do not be the lord of yourself, even you don't want to be controlled by others, don't always control the situation cause your wisdom will fail and your understanding can be a lie but what is revealed by the Holy Spirit is truth and lasting. Learn to submit cause you are not your own, you were bought at a price. The One who paid for you is the One that you can trust. His plan and purpose will never to harm you but to bless you and make you prosperous and successful.