3 month to go!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.