Reepie, Reepie

falling on the tatami
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I chaired the meeting on Thursday morning with the big guys from SF. After the meeting, I was eyeing the leftover sandwiches and think I should take them as my snack later. I took them to the stationary desk, found a tap, want to tape it up so I can bring it to the bank as my snack. as I did so, I was saying to myself (and the sandwich) "tape it, tape it, tape it...". That sounded so much like what my ex-boss in London would do "reepie, reepie, reepie" (mimcking the frog sound) so I felt amused and said it a couple more times. The big boss came to this side of this office and saw me. He was amused so much, he said he is going to take me to the hospital because I was having a conversation with a sandwich. We were laughing so hard, the office was all staring at us.

Kinugawa Onsen Trip (4)

Before leaving Kinugawa
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We finally arrived in the slightly bigger city, the train service again is stalled due to the strong wind. We lunched and went back to the station. No train is running, so I thought, since we are waiting for train service to come back, why don't we just go to Nikko. So I dragged both Susie and Auntie Feng to the platform, got into the train, only to realise the train service is also cancelled. However, we spot the express train parked in the platform next.

Susie went to make sure where the train is heading and the confirmation is assuring. The train is going to the next slightly bigger city, but at least we can move our way toward tokyo slowly (and perhaps the wind is not that strong, other train service might run). Sounds all good, but should we go? Should we wait for our train service to resume? Will our tickets guarantee us a seat?

Susie suggested to board the train, because she didn't really want to wait to get back to civilization. Quite a few people went on the train as well, but no one is brave enough to go around the train cart to find empty seats. Auntie Feng found us seats and I was a bit worried if the train manager came to ask us for tickets. She said we don't know any Japanese, that's not a problem.

After 3 changes of trains, we went back to Tokyo almost like taking the express train. We then went to refund out express train ticket, before we did that, we were a little bit worried. Obviously all express trains were cancelled, it is reasonable that we would like to get our money back. However, how do you explain that we were back to Tokyo just slightly over the non-existence express train's Tokyo arrival time? Anyhow, we got the money back.

Kinugawa Onsen Trip (3)

The yukata has so many different colours and pattens. Both Auntie Feng and I were so excited and we cannot wait to put on the dress the moment we got in to our room. Anutie Feng is always the girly one, I am just starting.

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As we left the hotel heading to Nikko, the train was stopped 2 stations away from Kinugama onsen station because of the strong wind. Of course, with my limited Japanese I wasn't able to figure out what's the matter. Susie ran around the train chasing the train manager, we finally figured out the train service is suspended, and no one knows then the service would be resumed. After 45 minutes of waiting, both Susie and my aunt were so impatient, they determined to find a solution rather than rest our fate onto the train company's mercy.

We walked out of the train station, the wind was indeed very very strong and bitterly cold. Susie made a couple of phone calls to the taxi company but nothing is available. After a couple of minutes in cold wind, auntie Feng was eyeing those cars coming to pick up people from the station. She ran over and demanded a ride to the bus station in English, unfortunately was turned down. Auntie Feng wasn't giving up, she started to walk toward the big road and raised her thumb. |O|, she is trying to hitchhike. As the weather got worse, it seemed hitchhiking is the only way out. So 3 of us made our way toward the biggest city Shimoi-Imoichi and try to hitchhike at the same time. However, no one really stopped, I was so amused by this, cannot stop laughing the whole time (I might look very mad, perhpas that's why the cars didn't stop). Those 2 finally gave up and walked along the road, while I was still trying to stop a car, walking backward, facing the incoming traffic.

While we were passing a bridge (the scenary is really pretty, if it is not so windy and cold), both my aunt and susie walked so fast that I cannot catch up (I was walking backward, remember?). My aunt later explained me she is afraid the wind is going to blow her over the bridge. Hey, wait a minute, how about me? You cannot be bothered to tell innocent and naive Joey to pass the bridge quickly? She said she think I am OK since I am carrying both her and my stuff in my huge backpack.

We finally found a bus stop, however, the bus just left when we arrived. So desparate and cold, Aunt Feng suggested that we should call the police asking for help because we are foreigners, trapped in the mountain and don't how to get out. I was like, again, hesitating whether I should embarrassing myself or just pretend I don't understand her. While I was checking the bus map, Auntie Feng waved frantically, she spoted an avaialbe taxi. Miraculously all 3 of us got on the taxi, warm and safe, heading toward the largest city to wait for our return train to Tokyo.

Kinugawa Onsen Trip (2)

First Course inclues 8 different small dishes, we are so excited and happy


Still very happy, because the toro sashimi is very yummy. The puff cream soup is also interesting.


Tiny grilled Ayu fish, piece of cake to finish. We later had the tempura, tofu stew, pictures cannot be found.


The picture of shabushabu is not too much to see. Shabushabu is the type of food asks for right timing, so hard to take picture of the beef while you are sending it to your mouth. This is uni rice and kani miso soup. But we are sort of starting to wonder when the course are going to end.


The alien is trying to come out from me
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The onsen dinner consists of 10ish courses, at least 30 different small dishes. After the dinner, we were so stuff and cannot even think about going back to the outdoor onsen to have a midnight dip.

Auntie Feng claimed she cannot sit down because of the full stomach. She dragged us out to explore the hotel, walking up and down the staire. After coming back to the room, she started to walk around our room in circle. I was also too full to lie down (though that's definitely not a problem for me), so I started to follow her walking around, swining our arms dramatically trying to burn the calories. We chatted on and off at the same time. We must look very amusing.

This reminds me so much of the story that Ilan was micmicking Achu's crippling (Achu was the older male dog when Ilan was young).

Kinugawa Onsen Trip (1)

Susie was very shocked to meet my aunt, who looks just a little over 40s. This small sushi shop made the viniger rice with the special type of red rice wine vinigar, the rice was not purely white.

I have never been a big fan of sushi. I think, good food is the product of mysterious concoction of temperature to mouth+stomach, smell to nose and taste to touge. This creates complexities and layers. Of course perhaps I am biased since I am raised with Chinese foods. And I do agree certain seafoods are doomed to have as sashimi, which the only and ultimate way to enjoy the freshness.
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The trip was rushed into. I was planning a one day trip so that Auntie Feng can hang out with her friend, Auntie May, on one of the weekend days, however, change of the plan in the last minute. I found the onsen hotel stay in a good price, and I also found out it is cheaper to find the 3rd person to share the room with, therefore, I convinced Susie to join us despite the fact that she hasn't really settled in her service apartment.

I also researched knowing that there is this world heritage train pass, which includes the free local bus pass, unlimited rides between Kinugawa and Nikko, and the tickets to Toshugu (the Tokagawa shogan built the huge temples in 17th century, um, they must had used up a lot of trees).

We had lunch in Tsukiji fish market, then traveled to Asakusa Tobu line travel agency to pick up our hotel vourchor. The travel agent lady was not very fluent in English, it took a while to explain that we want to buy the world heritage pass and I explained the pass is only valid for foreigner. "Do you need to have a look of our passports?" "No, I can see", she replied.

Auntie Feng is in Town (3)

Auntie Feng has very rigorous sense of right doing in her neighborhood. Shw saw this Chinese woman dressing in pajama walking around in her neibourghood in Toronton one day, she went straight to check with her network in the region, if they have identified the same woman, it is not just her imagination.

I asked, how do you know it is a pajama? She was so certain because it is a faded, pink-turned grayish pajama cut, with 2 large pocket in front. One day she was walking in the sidewalk with another neighbor, the hello kitty PJ woman walking toward them with a man like her husband.

She smiled sweetly and asked the couple where they are from in Mandarin. The man seemed very pleased to meet a non-Cantonese speaking person in Toronto. "TianJin" (a habour city east of Beijing) was the replied. Auntie Feng then asked "If people in TianJin go out in Pajama a lot?". The women was still not aware of this obnoxious attack "Yes, we do this all the time". My auntie followed it up "But in Canada, we don't do it. It is very impolite".

No one ever has seen the Hello Kitty PJ woman in the neibourghood since.

Auntie Feng is in Town (2)

Auntie Feng went to the driving range with her friend, who also just purchased the new clubs in the shop to try out the new toy. Her friend's 20 something, huge, atheletic son in tow. Auntie Feng encouraged the young man to try out the fasinating sport, golf, and try a few swing. He did, and perhaps stroke the club too hard both the club head and the golf ball flew out toward the field. Obviously he's swinging the club too hard, trying to kill the ball and the driver snapped when hitting the ground.

Auntie Feng's first reaction is to call the golf shop owner complaining about the low quality and demand a refund or replacement. After hours of argument, the shop owner agreed to replace the broken club. But the condition is that they have to return the fly-away club head with the stick.

It is impossible to go to the field to pick up the club head when golf ball flying around frantically. Auntie Feng exerted her influence to the driving range manager again and he agreed to go broadcast to the crowd to stop their swing for a minute so he can go to the field to fetch the broken club head for her.

Auntie Feng is in Town (1)

Auntie Feng came to Tokyo to hang out with me and her friend. She was telling me her latest golf excursion. She is a newbie in golfing. She spent a large sum of money to buy the whole set of clubs, because she said to herself, my husband would spend money buy toys for our children, why not spending money buy toys for myself that I can use them until I am 80's? Good deal. She bought the most expensive set in the store. She brought her friends over to the shop to do more golf equipment shopping in the same shop, to her surprise, the shop is about to clear the stock since they are closing the business. She saw her friend buying the same set of clubs with almost half of the money she paid. She then demanded the shop owner, you have to give me something to compensate my loss.

She successfully got herself 2 pairs of golf shoes.

GString

I went to the pool on Sunday, getting ready for my 1.5 km swim. While putting on my swimming cap and selecting which land has more free space and judging in which lanes the swimmers' speed would best suit me, I found this guy in GString. His whole butt was generously revealed, which showed off his slender and long legs. No matter how fit he is, it is still a very odd scene and I cannot help throwing a couple of side glances at him. There is only a very small piece of fabric, shaped like a small sack, covering his package. I could only try hard not to swim behind him since the land he was in is not very crowded.

Money and Women

I realised the importance of money since very young. Seeing my parents constantly struggle to get by and fight over financial arrangement has taken a toll. I am traumatized in a way that I feel very insecured if I am not in control of my own finance. I am more emotional regarding my financial situation than my family, it is not very healthy attitute. I would like to

1. Understand if a problem can be resolved by money, than it is not a problem
2. Be nice to my father. He might have treated my mother unfairly, making her work so hard for years. But I believe if he's had options, he would have not done so.

How to Make People

The Chinese phase, 做人 - "Make People" is the utmost important skill a Chinese person learn．　It doesn't mean to produce people, but to connect with friends, relatives, co-workers and superiors. As mentioned before, it seems women are the natural social bonding guru, thus, a lot of the "make people" skills were passed along by mothers. Mothers teach their youngs to be kind and to empathize with others. At the same time, we were taughted 規矩．This phrase is made of 2 Chinese characters, the first one is compass to draw perfect circle and the second is the ruler with 90 degree angle to help draw a retangle. Rules and manners help people to interact with each other without instigating conflicts.

I have been a kid who is very good at improvising. I observed and read without getting noticed, and I sort of figure out what adults or test makers are expecting us to do or answer in an exam. So, "GuiJu" means be nice to others, and I would be recognized as a good kid. I started to wash up whenever I was invited for meals since very young. But I didn't realise things can be quite tricky when doing the dishes in my boy friend's house with others around. I only start to realise there is also a "GuiJu" for being a guest, which is not to invade the host's turf.

Some people critize Japanese show pretencious manners and etiquette, which mold them into machinary. You hear the mechanical welcoming and farewelling phrases, you see the standard smiles. Do they really mean it? Perhaps not all the time. Would you rather like to prefer it to the rough, hot blooded, straightforward treatment in Beijing? I suppose most people would say yes.

The End of The Game

To my very sadness, I finished "The Game". At the end, Style (the protagonist) met the girl who he doesn't just want to have sex with but he really wants to hang out with. She has seen him through and was attracted by the nerdy, bolding, shy writer Neil covered under the pickup guru Style. He determined to cut off the links with his MLFMs (Multiple Long Term Fuck Mate). Some took it well but one girl didn't. She is hoping things would turn and he will be falling for her. Oh gee, when things like this happens, the party with higher expectation gets hit the worse. I've been around the neighborhood (or corner?). Shouldn't have taken it so seriously, there is no one to blame. The relationship was built on top of the shaky ground, it was no surprise it crumbled.

I am trying to be as honest as possible, it is too much work to pretend being another person in order to draw attention. Of course, I cannot make the whole world happy but at least I feel more comfortable.

Happy Chinese New Year

Joey in Gilbili Museum, the animation geek heaven. It displayed the making of the work of Miyazaki. We were invited to the 15 min long movie at the end of the visit, it is like hypnosis, I came back to the real world when the movie ended.

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My mom gave my father a another fatal blow, she abandoned the whole family and escaped to Hong Kong for Chinese New Year. I could almost feel that my father's embarrassment when being asked whereabout is my mom (and the rest of the family). Knowing that my dad would be left alone, I flew back to Taipei on the New Year's day. It turned out that my mom has arranged so that my sister in law invited my father to join the dinner party in her house on New Year's eve. Although I think my brother and sister-in-law should do so without being asked, my mom insisted it is not proper for my sister in law to invite my farhter to her house without her consent. Again, the subtlety of being Chinese, those sensitive issues among relatives are really beyond my ability to handle.

We all want to hang out with people who make us feel good about ourselves. I thought that's the number one rule to treat people around you. However, as we grow older, the relation is hardly a straight line. The social network can be best represented by spagetti in a plate, it is impossible to straighten one noodle without touching the rest.

Mothers seem to be the experts in dealing with those matters. Constant battles with in laws and family circle make them experienced deal makers. It is almost like an animal instinct, they bond with neighbours, friends, sending out the message of caring by accepting and receiving small gifts (which is pretty OK for women to do). They avoid dangerous zone, potential explosive conversation topic by serving large varieties of foods

The Game

I am reading Neil Strauss' "The Game", the confession of the group of pick up artists, who went about pubs around the world to pick up girls in pubs. The goal of their lifes is to approach girls, get their attention via various techinques such as hypnosis or neg (ignore and tease beautiful women who make normal men weak on knees), suck the phone number out of the girls and then one nightstand. In fact, the techniques they use are very simple reverse psychology. Most people feel uncomfortable when walking into a crowdy pub, a pick up artist simply does everything opposite. He would ignore the girl, talk to her less attractive friend, slowly approach his target, and attack her mercilessly. What action should be performed at what stage was timed perfectly, girls get surprised and impressed.

Pickup artists are usually not drop-dead gorgeous, they are mostly those who didn't lose virginity until early or even late 20s. They work extremely hard to decode the secret of seduction, possibly to make up the lost youth. Of course pickup artists only attract certain type of women, and they indeed like those women. Phone number leads to sex afterward but they are truely after being accepted. When getting women into bed becomes such as an easy task, when the pickup artist has worked himself into a nicer-dressed, more confident, humorous, a general better human being, what is next?

Water Soil and your Body

Having serious eczma attack while in London, I guess I was partying too hard and didn't give my liver a break, plus the weather is really too dry. The rash developed all over my belly and thighs. itching skin and break out face, it is very irritating.

Chinese medicine emphasises that your body harmonizes with the soil and water where you were born. Jetleg affects women more because messing around the clock asynchronizes their menstruation cycles, which was determined at conception.

Is Language Necessary?

In my favorite book “Trader, Guns and Money” I was again fascinated by the power of fine language filled with public school vocabularies and concise yet twisted sentence construction. The Indonesia noodle maker got themselves into trouble by entering the derivatives contracts with some prestigious brand-name investment banks and registered hundreds of millions of loss. The Indonesians wanted to bail themselves out by waging a legal action.

The i-bank people outnumbered the law firm, everyone from the law firm seemed wanting to run out of the door after the i-bank’s head of trading in Asia condemned with the most blasphemy language you could ever imagine “They signed the F****** contracts, they F****** knew what they are getting themselves in F******* to! The meeting is F******* wasting of my F********* time.” The head of the law firm was an old English gentlemen, in his 50’s, stood up and stared at the ballistic raging trader with no trace of timidity. He said “If you have finished your speech then it is my turn, and you sir, shall listen”. He’s stressed the Indonesian’s unsophisticated financial knowledge and implied the totally financial knowledge superior i-bank might have exploited that as an opportunity. He stressed that Financial Times might be interested to put the case into the front line because it has obviously violated her majesty’s FSA (Financial blah blah Association) regulation, which alleges financial institutes are obliged to sell products to customers based on suitability. The lawyers walked out without waiting any further response from the angry and silent opponents. Not a sure win, but at least the old English man has suppressed the “chi” at his enemy. Fancy words and supreme confidences had helped the tiny law firm to stand up in front of the filthily rich and rude i-bank staff.

The author remarked, there is no wonder that the tiny island used to rule the world, with its big vocabularies and legal system. You are easily to be convinced and steered though English is not your first language.

Language is not the most effective way to transmit emotions and feelings. I think most of the time it causes more confusion, does more harm than good because most of us do not want to listen, or the most common cause, misinterpretation.

Hanging out with friends in the noisy pub in city of London, conversation is limited. With different accents of English throwing about the air, I tended not able to follow conversation most of the time, but still able to have good fun, feel getting closer to your friends.