Maggie is a student nurse in Japan

Radiation Leakage

2011-03-15T05:52:00.000-07:00

Nuclear power plan in Fukushima,my home town, leaks radio active substance to the air. The government warns that the people in 30km radious need to evacuate the area.
I watched the TV weatherforecast and tomorrow it will rain.
I got an email from my friend in fukushima,she distributed blankets to those evacuated from Soma-city where Tsunami took away thousands of people. My friend is a high school teacher, but she helped giving out rations and stuffs since evacuees staying in her school. Now She is on the way home under the rain.
As you may be aware, the first rain after the nuclear power plant accident is the most contaminated with radiation like Chelnobyle. I am still worrysome. She mailed me that there is no gas and no lights on the streets. Just walk to home under the rain. Lord, please help good people like her.
Today I watched a nurse straggling to care for the elderlies in the shelter. It was obvious she has's sleep. Those in the situation had sleepless night with work. I wish I can join them. I hope at least road blockage in here and there are cleared so that goods and food can reach to the people. I really feel helplesss. Lord, please help us!

Earth Quake, Tsunami and aftermath

2011-03-15T05:12:00.000-07:00

Scary Quake hit the easten Japan last Friday. I was in the classroom to sit for a doctor lecturing on the 4th floor of school building. Though I am quite used to quake but this quake is really long and big. Like roller coaster ride shake, as you know Magnitude was 9.0 revised yesterday.
My home town is Fukushima,and as you may know it holds the two biggest nuclear plants in the prefecture. My mom is still living there, running a small Japanese restaurant. Luckily she still survives, she is staying just next to the prefecture office but the office building can not bare with this big quake so that main operation has moved to the new building next to mom's restaurant.
I could't get through till last night, I finally talked to my mom on the phone. But I was able to exchange text messages on the day of the quake and I confirmed she's fine.
Last December I went home and visited my friend in Sendai by local train. I passed some of the points where this quake hit. I still cannot believe that these cities taken away by devasted Tsunami.
Friday was the day and I could not go home since all the train stopped and stations were closed. It was sort of emergency case. But people on the street didn't know what to do, and some of my friends walked through the night to get home. It was dark and chilly night. The power supply was stopped and even traffic lights were not working and police were here and there to clear the congestion. However, traffic accidents occured and my husband saw that some gave CPR on the spot. Everyone tried to get on buses and roads were choatic. Now even not much gas to buy.
I was lucky I was able to get through to Ellen(daugher)'s daycare from payphone.
Since the daycare is a part of civil service, the phone line wasn't cut off.
Right after I confirmed Ellen is OK, I decided to stay in my school. Nobody negociated but I would if I needed to. There were several students and teachers who did not have any means to go home. The school provide a room to stay and we had 4 folding chairs to lie down with a blunkets. I thank God for the safe and peaceful night I had.

Just forgot to tell you!

2010-09-07T18:25:00.000-07:00

Forgot to tell you. I moved to the town by the beach this april. I hardly had taken this kind of clear photo with Mt.Fuji by the shore.
This day the sky was so clear and special, it was the day the national observatory announced the ending of reany season . The air is cleaner than the place where
we used to stay and seems like the pace here is a little slower to breathe well to me. Oh,yes! especially good for Ellen since she has asthma.

Kidzania Tokyo

2010-08-14T09:20:00.000-07:00

This week I took my daughter for Kidzania Tokyo to join my friends from Hong Kong.
My daughter E really had fun there. She tried a flight attendant(this reminds me of Jetblue guy to me, though!), pizza cook and several other jobs. This time is the second time for us to go there, but this time we didn't lined up for a long time( last time we lined up for more than 2hrs for a job and ended up experience for only two jobs for USD 80!). The difference is they organize well and prepared the booking card to fill in and kids can try less popular jobs while waiting for popular jobs like flight attendant. As for me, half day session is enough but my friends from Hong Kong spent whole day there. Kids never get tired when they have fun time.
On the way back home, I asked my daughter E what was the best event of that day.
She answered that she played with Cherry(from Hong Kong) in a restaurant while having supper.Now E wants to learn English to talk to Cherry. What a good experience!

Uplifting!

2010-08-13T00:24:00.000-07:00

Last 5 months I was busy(I guess any nursing students are!)and hardly have time to sit for blogging. Some of my friends tried to catch up with me in this blog, so I decided to try write a few words as a new start.
Last week I attended "schooling " of a corresponding course. I took two subjects, one in the morning and afternoon. The morning class was so exciting to me, because I felt so happy about the class and I fitted in there so well. The class was about intercultural communication and the teacher planned and facilitated the class so well that many of the students( actually many of them are teachers)were so free to speak up and discussion was so fruitful. I find that I still have life to live and I feel so free to be myself in English speaking backgrond. In the nursing school, I tend to conceal my outgoing character to get along with others. The school is so Japanese that I can hardly raise my hand and ask questions like I used to be. I have been a little suffocated. I understand that the school is the school should be, and the rigid social norms are there. But after attend the "schooling" last week, I regain the energy to live up, though I get my tonsill swollen by commuting 2hours morning and night each in the packed train. Besides, this summer in Japan is really hot. I need a little rest both for body and mind. I hope I can start freshly for the next semester !

My first diaper cakes

2010-02-14T06:13:00.000-08:00

Today I attended my friend's gathering. My classmate in an airline induction will have a baby this spring. Though this wasn't formal wedding or baby shower,I wanted her party very special. Last night I made my first diaper cakes. I surfed web sites and I found quite a few websites showing how to make diaper cakes. In Japan, not many know about diaper cakes so some even make the profit out of selling them on the websites. But I thought making them by myself isn't difficult. I found it's fun, special and heartwarming, even inexpensive rather than buying one. I spent US$100 including some decorations for making two of those.
I wasn't sure how the people would react when they see my diaper cakes, because I wasn't able to prepare as much as I planned. My daughter E had high fever with vomiting since Friday night. I didn't have much decoration stuff, I made them while E was in bed to rest and I wasn't able to go out for decoration shopping. But I gave it try. Unexpectedly, many of my friends appreciated the diaper cakes(Most of them are moms).They even told me that they want to try making it when I showed these two. So happy to see their positive reactions!! It is always worrisome whenever you try out something new, but it's worth trying today's stuff.
Besides diaper cakes, it was such a joyful gathering which is so rare to attend these days.The majority of today's attendees are ex-airline crew who shared good time and hard time together in Hong Kong in the 90's. We appreciated today's gathering more than anything, after many of us heard the sad news of adorable Japanese colleagues in the late 30's and 40's departed by cancer last 10 year continueously. It is too early to go... And lately we are so busy and we almost contacted each other only notifying the sad news to share and not many chances to enjoy recreation like throwing a party like today.
Lord, thank you for your blessing. Please show me the right way to go.Thank you for letting me feel and appreciate things happening on me. Please guide me where I should go. I know you have planned to use me to change the world, but I still do not know how.

Chill out!

2010-01-27T08:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had an exam of Maternity nursing. But the results I know before the paper return, it was not good. Even multiple choice, there are so many misspelling and wrong word usage which the teacher meant to be right. None of our class said it was satisfactory. Anyway, so far I really haven't had any time for myself. This morning my shoulder hurts,my face swollen and didn't have feeling of having good sleep. So I decided to go for Aerobics class. I haven't exercese for last three month, simply no time like other nursing students. What a nice feeling after sweating a lot with music! The music played in the class was my favorite and my time's music. Olivia Newtonjohon etc. I was even singing and dancing. As a Japanese I look like a crazy woman. But I really don't care. I was in the studio for myself to feel good, besides the music was so loud and others could'nt hear me. Well, but my hip joints hurt and I often slow down the movement. I really did not admit my cells are aging. But...face the reality!

My new neighbor

2010-01-27T07:54:00.000-08:00

A week ago, new neighbour moved in to the room next to mine. My daughter E was so excited because the neighbor have two young boys. She was dying to play with but so far we did not match the timing. Today we have great present which you now see in the picture. The neighbor's husband is a pastry chef who is teaching bakers. We got three flavors of rusk or sweetend melba toasts(caramel, milk and bitter chocolate) and Chocholate bread(picture) and some pastries. When my neighbor came, it was almost 8 o'clock and E supposed to get ready for bed but instead tasting bits and pieces. It was irresistable even for the adults. I never had such a wonderful bread and pastries. I once in the service industry and tried first class food and hotel meals but I was surprised for the bread I got tonight. In my area, it is pretty famous for tough competition among cake shops and bakeries. I hope the neighbor will success on the business and I think he will!

PRK operation

2010-01-22T08:48:00.000-08:00

I had PRK(Photorefractive Keratectomy)opearation two weeks ago. My vision is regaining and every morning I wake up I have wonderful feeling of no glasses. I had been thinking of having the operation for quite sometimes. Since I was in an airline, I suffered from dry eyes, pain, infection, and migrain. So far I have no headache or migrain since the operation. I still have problem seeing near but it has been getting day by day. I have no regret to have the operation. Using contact lense for more than 20 years, I know I am not able to fit for contacts anymore and my dry eyes get worse for sure.　The reason I chose PRK is I do not need to make a flap with cornea and I am able to take cataract lense operation. Besides, I like my doctor best and he answered all my questions I asked and the explanation was reasonable. I love his philosophie towards medicine( he did this PRK operation to 10 familiy members before he started practicing following his doctor-family philosophy.

I can only do so much!

2010-01-22T08:11:00.000-08:00

Today I attended nursery's parent meeting. Since daughter E is going to graduate this spring, parents organize farewell party to show respect and gratitude. I am a party group member and my group communicate well and no one had an hard feeling so far. But the other group to make graduation writing booklets seems to face the communication deadlock. One is so dominant and made a decision based on her feeling and mood, not majority's opinion and logics. There is no sense of cost effectiveness and time frame concious. So that my friend really had a hard time and frustrations. I am not in that group and member but I could not just overlook the problem and one person suffers from the pressure of the task. Actually I found today my friend is the only person to coordinate the writings and negociate with printing company. She wanted to communicate directly to the company but one of the parent wants to be a middle man to talk (but nothing )to the sales rep. She may have some undertable or briberies. And my friend is sick and tired of going through the middle man and sales rep channel to communicate with a printer in charge. What a heck! Everyone has own job to earn money and suppose the parents are volunteer to help each other but not in reality often. Politics move the world around not financial priority or economical reasons. The class has budget and more than half of it goes to the printer just only dominant mom. The printer was not selected democratic way, is this 21century's decision making process? Besides, only 210yen per person, what can we eat for the party? Not even afford for 150yen a bottle of tea or juice and no snack?
Suppose the writings should be the icon of showing our gratitude to the teachers and each family will receive the proper photo album with pictures besides the writings. There are so mamy wonders still exsists in this world.

Santa Came !?

2009-12-25T08:19:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to you! Today was the last class at school and the last exam in this semester finally over! Yay!
And today we have two guests to cheer our home, young charming little lady of my daughter's classmate and her wise and hardworking mom. We had a tiny little dinner party. I cooked garlic and ginger marinated grilled chicken wings. I simply did't do much work besides house cleaning so I bought assorted Sushi and sponge cake to decolate with fresh cream and fruits. I just wanted to let the kids decolate to have fun! I missed taking photos! because...I was busy chatting with my friend. Sometimes working moms need to chill out and release our stress, yes surely we need. The more I know the person, the more interesting and attractive sides of the person I discover. I certainly had good time.
My dauther E said" I had the best Christmas ever! Because my friend visited me and play together". It's so right to me and this event may brought us the true meaning of Christmas(brought peaceful feeling after emotional turmoil with family loss) rather than much more commercializing and glittering Christmas.
E got a beautiful big popup book from Santa this morning. Santa cares that E might be leftoutin her class if Santa did not come on the night before Christmas(24th)because kids surely breaking the day with talking about present they found this morning.
To my understanding Santa comes on the 25th night, Christmas day, and keep the box under the tree and open it on the 26th. That's why we call 26th as "Boxing day", am I right about it ? But it seems the majority except E planned to have the present on the 24th night. So...our Santa has come one day earlier than I expected. E asked Santa for Nintendo DS(computer game) and She drew picture and words for Santa on a piece of paper. But this morning E found the book besides her pillow and screamed
" Santa knew what I want! I wanted to buy this book in London this spring but the bookshop did not have any copie. I am so Happy!"
Santa is so happy too and relaxed now! But my heart was pounding when E was asking me a question while having breakfast, What about kids in Afganistan and Iraq ? Did they get any present? Did Santa come to them?" I lost words for a while and said " The kids there might not have chance to have meal like us peacefully. They may always feel scared of bombing. Do you understand?" Then, we had silence for a while and E's eyes told that she was thinking something. I hope she did and I hope she will realize and found the happiness in people by doing something for others not buying stuff to get selfsatisfuction.
Merry Christmas to all and peace to be with you. Maggie

Gone...

2009-12-23T05:30:00.000-08:00

In-law-mom has just gone without saying anything.
Everyone around her puzzled and felt emptyness needless to say.
Life is hard sometimes.
All the efforts we made seems so useless to me.
But...
I know Life can be easy sometimes someday.
I should keep walking the way ... the way to be a nurse.
The nurse who should learn and the experiences I have and
apply them to clinical practice. That's the way should be...

Wanna straght A !

2009-09-10T06:55:00.000-07:00

Today Biochemistry exam paper was returned. This time I was not sure if I pass or not.
I was so lucky I passed but this time I was not take A. Never mind! I will study harder!

Start over!

2009-08-31T08:38:00.000-07:00

The class has started with an exam.
This is imcomprehensible biochemistry. Till the end of the class, I comprehend none of the words. Can you believe this? I am a Japanese and Japanese is my first language and the class was conducted by sololy in Japanese. But the instructor just read the textbook aloud. It seems like we are sitting for a corresponding course, even I asked for some other book for reference the instructor told that the textbook is the best book ever. "Huh?" Since then, I spent half of the summer vacation to follow and study a guide book with simple explanations. But I do not think I learned a lot. Some of my classmates told me that if this is a private short qualification course, many of the students would ask for refunds. I think it is true. Besides, our course is four year course and the national exam is still 2 and half year away and the tuition is only USD 150 per month. Probably we can not ask too much. But I still feel so unfair. Other nursing students in Japan may have better instructors and have better marks and we all will sit for the same national exam. Wow, I started with complaint. I should be more positive!

BasicPathlogy for my reference

2009-06-10T19:03:00.000-07:00

Thease are some of the subjects I studied in Pathology.Just for my reference only.
Since I study nursing in Japanse I jot down English for my future reference.
Describe following status:
Iatrogenic disease,
pathogenic organism
classification of diseases
Gout
Jaundice(hemolytic, obstructive,hepatic)
dialysis
Causative disease of pleural effusion(cardiac failure,carcinomatous and tuberculous pleurisy)
Pulmonary embolism(PE)
IHD ischemic heart disease
Primary healing
Metastasis(hematogenous,lymphogenous ,disseminated )
Tumor diagnosis
Cancer treatment
Cancer with poor prognosis
Biological Carninogenic factors
Cachexia
Hashimoto disease
Causative disease of ascites
Melena
Hematemesis
Diagnosis of colon cancer
Virchow metastasi
Causative disease of DIC
Diagnosis of fatty liver
Pulmonary edema
Adenocarcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Schnitzler metastasis
Knuken berg tumor
Shock classifications(Hemorrhagic /Cardiogenic/Endotoxic/Anaphylactic shock)

Pathology exam

2009-06-10T17:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I sat for Pathology exam. I feel relief to finish it. But one more exam is comming up next week. Geriatric nursing theory. I am a kind of person to write to momorize. But my wrists are painful with tendovaginitis especilly under the rainy weather. Meteological agency announced Metropolitan area are in the rainy front. It means the rainy season has started and my hands are aching for a month. Funny, I now can understand the patients feelings or the eldery complain about their arthritis pain. My joints are aching, too, in wet season. The best treatment is not use hands. But how can I do without using hands!?
Anyway...

Mom's Friend

2009-05-30T06:51:00.000-07:00

Today my friend told me that she and her family will move to the new house. She is my neighbor and our children get along well and often they play together. My little E follow the neighbor kid as if they are sisters. They both are the only kid to the families. As for me, it is still hard for me to find the good friend and create close bond among moms but my neighbor is very open-minded, honest and friendly. Beside, we both used to work in travel industry and have so much in common. We share the similar sense of value as well. We are in the same age range.She is the rare person I can open up my heart to talk about and she has always good listenership. It was a little sad to hear that the whole family will move to another town for good. But I am happy for her,too. But on the other side, I will miss her for sure to share good laughter and our dream holidays. In Japanese one proverb says, " One chance, one meeting" or"Treasure every encounter, for it will never recur." This shows my feeling at the moment. How short life is! Yes, I should never take it for granted. Thanks to my friend and share such good and bad times. All the best for her!

My health promotion

2009-05-28T08:58:00.000-07:00

Recently I feel I gained weight. Actually I did. I am stressed out and I ate.
This week I tried new program called "Zumba". I watched the TV commercial of the "Zumba" video but I am not the person to follow the VTR. I am live music type. I get excited and I love myself most while I am exercising because I feel I have my own time to enjoy myself and I am able to keep the high self respect there.
Anyway, Zumba is more like Latin Aerobics class and much faster the movements but I was OK to follow the class. I had a good time for sure. I should do more exercise rather than just being still and thinking something negative. I can be more positive and feel better in this way!

Mask !Panic buying!?

2009-05-28T08:15:00.000-07:00

These days I spent quite a bit of time to do several homework. The pharmacology teacher gave us English to Japanese translation of one of WHO website regarding Swine flu. I enjoys doing it. As you know, Japan has over 200 patients. It seems slowing down the epidemic in Japan. Believe or not, there is no disposable masks on the shelves in stores. Some of my friends working in medical fields are suffering, because no more stock even in hospitals.Luckily, I bought some this spring while pollenosis or hey fever season to reduce allergic reactions. I even bought some boxes from my daughter's school. This phenomena reminds me of the time of " Oil shock" in 70's. I was only four or five years old then, I lined up que for a supermarket cashier to buy some toilet rolls and packets of sugar. That time some rumors like " No more toilet rolls on the shelves!" made us panic buying. This mask incident seems so much alike to me. Maybe I am wrong. But funny I rarely see passengers on commuter trains wear masks. Hummm.....

Uplifting

2009-05-16T08:28:00.000-07:00

The capping ceremony has just finished. We sang "Nightingale song" and the "Nightingale pledge" standing with a lamp on hand. Somehow I felt OK in the day. But thesedays my feeling is a little sagging. Just feel so dry on anything. I want to feel much more happy in any sense but seems a bit tough for me. Strange feeling...seems helpless on my feeling. I hoped I may feel better by writing in English because when I speak in English I feel so free and free from the stress to follow the same as others like what they expect me to be a Japanese like Japanese.
Lord, show me the way how to make myself happier. I feel so useless in myself. I need help in somehow. Someone who can really share my deep down... like you. I thought I can feel happy by giving but sometimes it does not work. What I can do is...kneele down myself before you and just listen till you give me a word. Somewhat uplifting!

London tastes good!?

2009-04-17T08:48:00.000-07:00

We only stayed London for 4 days. Since we had hard time adjusting our body to the local time, we skipped several meals. Till this trip, I always had hard time to find good food, but this time was a bit different. My friends introduced some good food places. My friend took me to a "Waffle house", I happyliy finished a whole plate with banana and chocolate and E ate a plain fully. The place was 45 mins drive from central London and facing to the beautiful park. It was sunny day! So fortunate!
I've never experienced sunny days in London, that was my first luck I ever had there.E even enjoyed picking flowers.
E made friends with a ballet student from Japan, and she took us to a nice pub where serves good Italian food. I should stop talking about food. Should change to nursing!

Delicacy in Hong Kong

2009-04-17T08:24:00.000-07:00

Yum!Yum! Yummy!
I wanted to buy more Jenny bakery's Cookies especially Pineapple cakes. The last day in Hong Kong, we woke up so late and rushed into the Bakery. Luckily we were able to buy pineapple cakes. This is so good! E and I could not wait to open the can at home, so I opened it on board on the way back. We almost finished it and left only 3 pcs. I should have bought more. The cake does not last more than a week, so the bakery does not bake much. Next time I want to buy more. Even a can of "8 mix" with nuts cookies was tasty.
I compared the egg tart from a shop in New territory and famous Tai Chong Bakery.
Tai Chong is so good. As Chris Patten (the last HK Governor) said " the best egg tart ever in Hong Kong". Though we stayed very near to the milk pudding shop where I was dying to go, not much time to go there. I dare not to leave E in the room to go there after she fell in a sleep. But we enjoyed every food. E enjoyed Yam cha or Dim sum with her friend. I enjoy food with good companies better than good food itself.
Again, Thanks you all to my friends to help me there.

Travel or trouble?

2009-04-17T08:04:00.000-07:00

Looking back Hong Kong London trip, My daughter E and I spent 6 days flying out of 10 days. I really wanted to spend the time with my friends and their kids. We both enjoyed every moment. Thanks to my frends, to feed my E, because E seemed lost appetite once the place changed. She ate when she felt secure and safe with kids in the same age range. Withour my friends help, we ended up with very bad shape in London. Luckily, E did not get sick throughout the trip.
At my friend's wedding registry, E did not behaive herself and I could not control her. She certainly felt uneasiness and insecured at her first place, besides I was a witness and an makeshift interpretor throughout the day. E pushed me to keep her seat right next to the bride where I supposed to sit. The supervisor suggested me to take that seat but E was so stubburn and kept her seat right next to the bride. When it came to the signing as the witness, again E took my seat of the desk I supposed to sit. I felt so embarrased. But the people in the room was so generous to us and kept smiling warmly. Instead of my feeling, my best friend appreciated E. E is just 5 years but a little girl can break the ice to start the conversation among the strangers or first time in-law meeting. Lord, thank you for helping me!

Scary!

2009-04-10T09:52:00.000-07:00

Back to school life, this week was a bit tough for me. Struggling with jet lag, facing to quiz and practical session in the same day. Handling a syringe and needle seems real nurse's job to me, but in real life I was so frightened to sting even grapefruit skin.
Without license, not supposed to sting a real skin, but even for grapefruit, my hand was trembling with fear when I tried an intramuscular injection. My mind was full of ifs....
If I sting nerves or wrong spot,... I really need to study hard anatomy again! I played hard last 10days! It's time for studying! Yes!

Starting hectic life!

2009-04-10T09:50:00.001-07:00

Red Cross First Aid and CPR class

2009-03-11T07:33:00.000-07:00

Today I attended for Red Cross CPR and AED class. This is practical. For CPR, I used to learn 15 to 1(Compression to blow)ten years ago, but now this ratio has been changed, 30 to 2. When I was working for a Japanese airline as an interpretor few years back,somebody pointed out this changes.
However, in mind old knowledge hampers me. I do need to revise these information time to time. Though this class is scheduled for students to attend, but the results are not affected to the study at all. But it's always nice to know and practice skills to apply properly for any chance. Now time to sleep. Day 2 is coming!

Banana Yogurt cake

2009-03-09T17:37:00.000-07:00

When my mood sagged, the best remedy is a baking cake. I added yogurt instead of sour cream. I love sour cream but after I tried yogurt, yogurt works similar to sour cream. Taste OK and the cake texture did not spoiled. My family enjoyed eating this for this morning for breakfast.To tell you the truth, I was just running out of the cream, so I used yogurt instead. Try and enjoy it!
Ingredients
Butter (Unsalted) 60g
Yogurt 1 cup
Sugar 80g
Egg 2
Flour 200g
Baking powder 1 teaspoon
Baking soda 1 teaspoon
Sold 2/3 teaspoon
2 bunches of banana
8 Dried apricots or 60g of raisin

1. Mix flour,Baking powder,soda and salt.
2. Cut an apricot for 4 pieces. Mash Bananas with folk.
3. Mix Butter in a bowl till it gets white color.
4. Add yogurt and sugar in to the bowl and mix.
5. Beat eggs and add them in to the bowl.
6. Shift mixed flour and powders and add it to the bowl.
7. Add apricots and banana.
8. Bake it in 180 Centigrade over for 30-40 mins.

Jabberwocky or incomprehensible!

2009-03-09T08:17:00.000-07:00

Today I had a very first class of biochemistry. I totally lost. What the instructor told was incomprehensible. Even it was conducted by my mother language, Japanese! Oh! another hard time has come like anatomy and physiology. New torture began! I took chemistry class when I was in high school but my grade was so bad. I remember that the teacher was nice and he was writing a thesis for PhD. while he was teaching. I only remember his philosophy of life but not the chemical formula. Yes, Sir !I have to study now!

Birthday

2009-03-09T07:28:00.001-07:00

Our family celebrated my daughter's grandmother's birthday yesterday. We visited her house and just warmed up the house a bit with a flower bouquet.She was quiet and did not comment much for anything. She used to be a " Super douper housemaker,wife and ideal mom for two sons.( I envy my husband has a mom to read bed time stories!) Now she has bipolar disorder and suffered for more than 6 yrs. Once I thought she has the empty-nest syndrome after her husband collapsed in cerebral infarction. But I was informed that she had the same illness twenty yrs ago. I used to feel I was so useless and helpless when I confronted her and her illness. Even now I feel the same. I believe the best cure would be the most significant person can be closer to her. But he had gone already and the substitute will be my hubby. I did not mean to complain about him, but I often lost myself how to communicate with him to send my message across. Recently I found my hubby D greatly affected his feelings especially after talking with his mom on the phone. I really do not know how much medicines help her. Being alone in the house with no noise, even I will be a bit down in that situation, too. When my own mom losts his son( my only bro), she was so down and went crazy for a short time. It was only natural, even we did not know Crisis theory and models. My mom was lucky she has a job, sincere friends who had shoulders to cry on and was able to look at her objectively. But my in-law's case, there's only so much I can do. Lord, please help me. Give us a hope!

Something to look forward to!

2009-03-05T18:09:00.000-08:00

Somehow the final exam in this term has ended ! Yeah! I will have nearly 2 wk spring holiday virtually no study at school. I spent most of my time at school to brush up my technical skills during summer vacation. I never had a feeling so free so far. Probably any nursing students in the world feel the same. And even during the nursing practice at hospital, seems none of us had enough sleep and I was not the exception. This October I will have 3 week on line practice at a hospital. I am so afraid that I can continue with not enough sleep for 3 weeks. I better not think about anything like this it's useless.
Right now my best mind shifting is thinking of going to London to attend my best friend's marriage registry(not wedding!) via Hong Kong. I will take my daughter with me. While staying Hong Kong, I am planning to see my ex-colleagues whose have children there.
Another thing is I want to try Chinese sweet with good reputation among the local.
I can not wait to go! Before that, I have to take care of my daughter and myself since the flu restarts prevailing recently.

One after another

2009-03-03T05:51:00.000-08:00

It's been nearly two months since last time I posted here.
January, I had clinical practicum,then submitted reports. Then term end exam lasted till today. I learned a lot in the hospital. Just happened to have many opportunities to care for the patient. Taking Vital signs and using Pulseoximeter to check SPO2 etc. My patience was old and had hypostatic pneumonia,cellulitis,rheumatism,and NBM.I was so scared to stretch the paticent's bent arm to take BP because of the pain complaint.The last day I had changed dipers all in the morning three times. From that morning finally the patient had bowel movement stared and had diarrhea with blood after 14days of no movement. The patience was lonely, skinny, bony person. What I was able to do was just listen. When I touched him in every occasion, I did it with tender loving feeling towards the patient. Seemed lonely person had rare visitors.
The patient conditions changed everyday and the last day was the worst conditions with low oxygen level( applied O2) with high fever. I just felt so attached. Even at home while writing care plan, I could not help thinking of.
What I learned there most is, I now have confident that the way I chose in last year to be a nurse was correct and I am in a right path. I love patients. I love to learn more to help patients professionally.

3 month to go!

2009-01-09T11:50:00.000-08:00

This week class has started with microbiology test.
During winter holidays I hardly had time for myself to concentrate on my study.
New year days are supposed to be busy for housewives here. I am not the exception.
I sometimes feel that I can not cope with my aging. I feel fatigue and joints are aching. Besides I have been suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, and ganglion pushing my left palm nerve for more than 5 years. Since I gave birth to my daughter the pain started and it never cease. The nursing plan for a virtual patient report suppose to be handwritten but my hands could not stand with hardwork of housechores and homework, I finally decided to use PC and type it.
Anyway...
We will have group presentation of the plan before we go to the clinical practicum in two weeks time. I was selected as a groupleader without my consent, and I don't like it. I am not the leader type. I am just older than my group leader and it does not mean I can act as a leader. I know this is a challenge. Lord, please help me.

Osechi or New Year dishes

2009-01-01T05:39:00.001-08:00

Today is the new year day. Our family supposed to be mouning this new year according to the tradition but noone ever cares such tradition within us. We'd rather get together to warm the house especially for the in-law-mom who's been weary lately.
I brought some home made new year dishes. But seemed all men (my husband & his brother) did not care about traditional food. Like any man, they love reading papers?
We've got some gift from American Japanese friend of belated in-law-dad,Ted.
I like Ted and it was a great loss to everybody in our family and friends.
Ted worked for an American companes(incl. U.S. army) for a long time and spoke beatiful English and a hardworking engineer. He loved Jazz so we sent him with Jazz playing while the ceremony. (This was also not traditional way to send someone off).He was so lovable, warm and had a sense of humor always. He gave me a chance to get into the nursing world. The last 5yrs with him Ted taught me a lot to think about my life and carrer in different prospects as I had before.
I am so grateful to get involoved with him and his family to lead me to nursing path.

"Kadomatsu" or Gate pines

2008-12-29T07:05:00.000-08:00

Today I saw the big gate pines for new year celebration in front of the supermarket neaby. I'd never seen these big pines back home but in the big city and polulated area like Yokohama can display big pines to entertain people.
I like the weather in the Kanto plain especially in winter.
It's so sunny and warm compare to the north east of Japan.
But I sometimes miss white Christmas back home.

Recipe for Non butter Chochlate banana cake

2008-12-25T21:31:00.000-08:00

Ingredients
2 fingers of banana
100 grams of Cake flour
30 grams of Cocoa powder
1/2 tea spoon of baking powder
2 eggs
70 grams of sugar
50ml of milk
Vanilla oil
1 tablespoon of Rum
How to make
1. Mash bananas with a whisk to puree.
Mix flour, Cocoa and baking powder and sift together.
2. Beat and whip the eggs in a bowl and suger together until creamy and light.
3. Add the bananas and milk and mixed with rubber spatula.
4. Add sifted powders, vanilla oil and rum.
5. Bake it in 180 centigrade over for about 15 mins. Sprinkle powder sugar if preferred.

Winter Solstice Dinner

2008-12-25T20:55:00.000-08:00

That's my Winter Solctice dinner.
Yellow tail fillet Grill with boiled spinich
Tangle rolls
Sweet cooked pumpkin
White and Browm rice
Stewed Dried Radish and carrots
According to the Japanese tradition, "Eating pumpkins on Winter Solstice prevents from catching a cold".
To my understanding, winter solstice dinner for Japanese does not carry much of the meaning, but in Chinese culture the people have meaning and I found it so special.
While in Hong Kong, my ex- took me for his family dinner on the day, then I found it so special and keeping the tradition is really nice.

Finally! The last class was over on Christmas day

2008-12-25T20:16:00.000-08:00

Yeah!The last class was over.
From now on I'll have 10 days winter vacation.
There are so many on my wish list but I really do not know where to start.
At least I spent 25th morning alone to enjoy shopping.
What a nice feeling being alone and enjoy myself!
Some of my classmates even told me the same thing. Especially, mothers.
(In Japan, hiring baby sitter or nunnies are minor, unless you have
someone like parents or nice hubbie, having own time is difficult.)

This year the whole town seems quieter than usual Christmas
day, not so many people were town center than I expected.
I guess that the worst recession in post war hits Japan and
the economy is sharply going down. I never have a day to hear the news of
business restractures and cutting down the manpowers.
I am scared that the crime rate may increase.

Anyway I deserve(we all do!) just a little time to enjoy myself, right?
So...
I painted my nails to have a good mood of Christmas and shifting my mind
to enjoy this relaxing moment.
Anyway, all the practical tests in this school year was over.
The rest I need to do is writing my first nursing plan based on
virtual patient (that's dry run for clinical in January)
, a report for "Social Science" and lyric making for music class
and preparing myself for the end term examination.
As for me, painting my nails used to be a part of the uniform when
I worked for an airline and it is the pleasure and fun part of the job,too.
And I still like it, especially after banning in the nursing school and
medical field in Japan. I am a little rebellious today, huh!
I

Kid's ballet

2008-12-20T08:41:00.000-08:00

Today my daughter E had ballet lesson. She has a lesson almost every Saturday in a nursery school. On the first Saturday of this month, E had a bad cold and she kept vomitting so that she missed the lesson. Last Sat. E's nursury had drama and dance performance . Again she missed the lesson.
E was so cheerful and lively in her ballet class today. She had sparkles in her eyes. Surely E loves to attend the ballet class. E is a type of person to express her desire clearly and strongly. When it comes to a ballet lesson , she is even clearer and strong to express her feeling . I never forget the day E had asthuma attack and the GP asked us to go to the nearest hospital with the referral.It was Saturday and E insisted on going for the lesson. We ended up seeing the lesson for a little while before going to the hospital. When one has strong desire, one can do then.

Socializing!

2008-12-20T08:24:00.000-08:00

Finally last practical test was over on Friday! Yay!
The result was unknown yet, but at least I feel relieved.
The next week is less stressful than before.
Today some of us had drinking party. It was so much fun!
I was so talkative and we had good laughters.
Ladies love to talk about relationship.
So do I. Everyone else except me is single but my love
life is dead anyway. My passion for love or romance has gone somewhere
but I am not so sad. I enjoy peaceful and stable life
in my emotional side. But funny part was everyone was so nosy about my
love life before my marriage. I wish I could have told exciting story to
entertain my friends... Anyway, I had a good time. My social life is back!
Yes! Finally after 5 years absence of such fun time.

Lunch Box

2008-12-16T06:49:00.000-08:00

I've been so busy lately 'cos the day after our class will have Bedbath practical test.
The class starts 13:30 but in the morning, I brush up my skill to pass the test.
So I bring a lunch box like this everyday.
I do hope we all pass the test so that we can go to our first clinical session for a week.

Gingerbread cookies

2008-12-09T05:47:00.000-08:00

Today I brought the Gingerbread cookiesto the class. I passed them around , but no one knows this is for Christmas season.
All ate them just as any ordinary cookies.
Well then...
I expected some may realize this is special on this season, but not...( a little disappointed)
Now I feel like making Christmas pudding.
I've eaten Christmas pudding once when I lived in Hong Kong. My BBC (British Born Chinese) friend made it and it was so Gooood!

Be specific!

2008-12-09T05:11:00.000-08:00

I've been practicing my skills for nearly two month, 'cos our class will have evaluation on next week. This time we will have bed bath.
Anyway, today I practiced with one of my classmates but her comment was not good enough
to reach her message. I simply do not like " It was not good" or "bad" or even "Good".
What I really want to know is more specific information where I need to improve.
In general, not many Japanese are familiar with giving the specific feed back and almost make it habit to start with some negative and vague comments.
The otherday in the class, someone made a comment on a group performance, but even a
teacher did not give any advice how to give feed back.
I wish many of our class can have chance to learn how to give feedback.
Be specific! I don't care if my skill is good or not, but I need to know where and
which part I should improve! Oh, well, maybe I demand too much,then?

Music for this time of the year!

2008-12-08T06:59:00.000-08:00

Every year of this time, I feel like listening
some of the music, particularly the album
from Windhamhill Records "A Winter's Solstice "
and Amy Grant " A Christmas Album" posted
on this site.
The Amy's album I used to have one as a cassette tape and I lost it
somewhere. I really missed the first song of the album
" Tennessee Christmas".
Actually, after I tried some of the songs introduced in "Nursapalooza"blog (thank you Heather!), I start missing the album.
So...I bouught it through Amazon, togherther with a paperback
" Chicken Soup for the Nurse's soul".
I once wondered what kind of book is "Chicken Soup series"when I first saw the book read by a front desk lady in my Hong Kong apartment gate.
A Winter's Solstice is one of my favorite Windham Records album,
I love acoustic guiter sound and piano of the first song of the album,"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring". I feeling buying a memory stick for music to listen while I commute in the train to the school. Well...I have to save some for my daughter's Santa gift.

Non butter cake

2008-12-06T05:39:00.000-08:00

Thesedays I enjoy making cake with no butter.
Baking is easiest way to chill out .
When I stress out I want to go out for aerobics
but no time. So...Baking is easiest way for me to shift
my mind. Plus my daughter E enjoys eating.
She loves butter but I don't want her to over eat fatty
products. I've read that some companies use a chemical stuff to extracting butter from milk and a chemical stuff often remains
in the butter. I got scared since then.
Besides E has asthma and allegic to some artificial colors.
I try my best to give her safe food and I have fun at the same time.
I actually emotionally involoved and felt down after dissection tour in a hospital.
It reminded me of my late and only brother. Too bad I still can not get over it.
Anyway...These cakes are Chololate and banana cake and Square cake with apricot.
Both tastes good for me. The recipes were made by a public health nurse.

The last P.E. class-valleyball

2008-12-02T05:20:00.002-08:00

Today our class had the last physical education class.
Like other nursing school, P.E. class is compulsory, though I took one
in my college more than 20 years ago.
I am not athlete type so I'm not good at playing with balls.
I love dancing and swimming but not with balls.
But I guess that the school aims at communication or let us stress
out with sports, so the teacher decided to do some games with balls.
I had hated to play with balls when I was a high school student, 'cos
I hit the ball then the ball always gone to somewhere not supposed to.
But now I enjoyed to yelling and shouting for the game and the players.
Funny... I yelled in English though I only spoke in Japanese in school.
I even said "Aiyah..." to show my disappointment and it came out from
my mouth naturally. When I was in Hong Kong and worked with Chinese
people, the exclamatory sound "Aiyah!" was here and there.
I had used "Aiyah!" very often then. But not now.
After "Aiyah!" sounds came out , my classmates could not help laughing
and told me " You represent what we all feel and kept it in our heart!"
Me? Yes, everyone in my team always wondered some did not touch ball
in a game or even did not move and try to pick the ball.
Funny again, those teens are not so active and didnot even try.
People around 40 and late 30's try very hard to pick the ball.
Anyway, I did'nt know today was our last class till the end and
I excited most and I enjoyed most. I felt a bit sad afterwards.
Because... most of us has work in the morning and 80% of our class is single
mom's and busy.
Seems like this is the good chance to knowing each other.
Anyway, tomorrow we have a university hospital visit to see dissections.
I heard that the smell of formalin is really strong.
I'd better sleep now 'cos I am so sensitive to strong ordor or smell.

The last P.E. class

2008-12-02T05:20:00.001-08:00

Ginger Bread House!?

2008-11-30T06:51:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, my husband D, daughter E and I went to IKEA for Christmas shopping.
We spent almost all day there.
(IKEA there is a lot bigger than one in Hong Kong.
It takes at least 3 hrs to come to the exit with crowds)
What I wanted to buy was Christmas cookies and Ginger Bread House kit to build our own and decolate it. Since I saw the real Ginger Bread House at a convent last Christmas with E, I really wanted to try to make one. I found the one on a news paper inserts last week. I pinned it on the bathroom wall to see it everday since then.
E and I had been looking forward to buying one.
So...we were so happy to buy one.
But after a long day for shopping with crowds and
warmth in the shop, I hardly had energy to do anything.
But...E demanded to build and decorate the house
rightaway. I know she is only 5, it is only natural
to feel so.
As for me, I was exhausted then after finishing a report for online studying
the night before and I felt sleepless.
But again, I started to make her feel happy.
E kept touching icing and lick her fingers each time she put some chocolote balls,
I now can understand it is natural for her to taste suger and eat some chocolate for decoration.
However, I could not stand it .
I grumbled and scolded her.
E had tears in her eyes and said, " Yes, no more licking" and
then next moment her fingers were in her mouth.
I know no one can stop her and What's wrong with licking tasty icing?
I felt so bad after I scolded her and raised my voice.
But she still smiles and said that
" Can't help it. It was only first time to build the house"
I know the roof was cracked and the wall was torn. Icing was dropping...
I felt so crancy so I let it out on E...
I love you, E. Please forgive me. I don't care what other Japanse thinks of me,
I simply want to hug you and kiss you, 'cos I love you!

2008-11-30T06:32:00.001-08:00

Last 3 days was tough!

2008-11-28T07:43:00.000-08:00

Nov. 26 Vital Sign practical test
Nov.27 & today The first clinical session at a hospital
27th was rather easy because our team had orientation and the hospital tour.
But today was the first visit to an ward so everyone of us was a bit nervous.
Our team visited internal medicine ward (respitatory)and 95% of the patient were elderly( over age 70).
This is reality of Japan now, yes that's aging society.
In the ward, many suffers from deglutition pneumonia, some has lung cancer, carsinostatic treatment, palliative treatment, pulmonary emphysema, and average stay is around 17-19 days which is shorter than it used to be in Japan. (Due to the government policy change, many have to vacate the bed earler than it used to be)
We had chances to see nearly 10 patients closely today.
First 3 patients had bed bath and one had bed bath and pudic bath as well. Thanks to our mentor, she gave us a lot of chance to help and assist her with our maximum knowledge and practical skills we learned so far.
In the afternoon, every one of us had chance to take Blood Pressure.
In my turn, it was my first time to use a mercury manometor because
I always used aneroid manometor at school.
Anyway...
when I heared the systolic BP it was 220mmHg, it was far too high.
The mentor heared the pop through the dual scope at the same time and
she told me to remove the manchette immedietly.
The patient eyes were spacing and obviously the patient looked not well.
He is in the 70s and able to hear but has problem expressing himself verbally.
I sensed that he was not very well because he spitted out phlegm by himself and
coughed a bit just before I started measuring BP.
I was so carried away and just looking at the manometer but I should be more watchful to the patient condition anytime. That's more important than taking a vital signs.
Wow, I learned a lot more than I expected. One of my friend really got shocked to see elderly's pubic region and she even starts to rethinking her career. I believe we will have opportunities to feel satisfactions, or joys or even peaceful happiness through out clinical experience in next 4 years. I hope not she quits the school because she has a quality to be a nurse.

Thanks for visiting!

2008-11-23T08:12:00.000-08:00

Thanx for visiting my blog.
My name is Maggie and I've started studying nursing 2008 spring in Japan.
The coming week my class has a nursing skill check.
I did my best to practice my skill, but I still need more time to ensure my skill.
Anyway, Japan has 3 consecutive holiday and today is so called "Labor Thanksgiving Day".
I enjoyed running and sunbathing with a 5 yr old daughter, spent almost half day in a park nearby.
I love playing with kids . Today I chatted 8 yr old kids strangers in a park, the kids seemed enjoyed being with me. E(mydaughter) seemed to enjoy being accompany with them. E is a only child.
E does not have siblings but I do hope she will take advantage of any chance to socialize with other children and learn a lot like children with brothers and sisters.
I wonder how this blog will be, I am a busy , ordinary, early 40's woman with full of curiosity.
I do hope this will produce positive and hopeful links to people.