Radiation Leakage

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

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!

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

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!

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

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!

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

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

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!

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 !?

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...

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 !

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!

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

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

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

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

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!?

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

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!