Happy 2020

The bell rings and with every strike 2019 fades away. This moment is a little bit sad, because the challenges we overcame, the lessons we learnt and the love we gave seem gone. The memories travel further and further with every strike, because we know this time will never come back.

But as nostalgic this time might be for some, this is also a time of rebirth and revival, where our dreams and lives are given a second chance.

To be given another chance at life with the people we love and treasure is a gift, a treasure we must hold tight.

And as I am saying good bye to 2019, I would like to thank you ALL for such a wonderful year together, I have learnt and discover many things in 2019, a year of growth, change and personal acceptance for me. And it is thanks to you, who read these lines that I have been able to continue this journey.

Thank you VERY much, and Happy 2020 ❤️

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Bye Bye: Yoneko sensei

Seven years ago, on this day, I worked my last shift as an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher). Yes, I used to teach in elementary schools as an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) I used to create games, some of them planned well in advance because my motto is ” be prepared for everything and anything.” However, some of the games were created in the spur of the moment, when the ocean of little faces told me my games weren’t up to their standards.

They wouldn’t say it with words, but their little eyes did the talking for them. And those little shiny eyes were very VERY convincing.
And I obliged not because I wanted them to like me (which they did ❤️) but because I wanted them to learn, and to remember that learning something new needn’t be scary. And I have to say; I think I did a good job because from time to time, those little ones, who are now not so little anymore contact me and tell me that they STILL remember my lessons. My dear friends, can I tell you a secret? When my students contact me, it moves my heart because in every lesson I created for them, I put something of me in them. So, for me, when they remember my lessons, I feel like they remember me. That somehow the games, and my teaching methods as unorthodox as they were (still are), I was able to share my knowledge with them. But most importantly, it means that in those lessons while singing, sharing laughs and studying together for an ephemeral moment we were family. And once you’re family, you are always family.

Her piercing blue eyes

 

Her piercing blue eyes went through me like an arrow.

“Yes” I replied “I kissed her”

She stared at me without blinking making me feel like the cockroach I was.

She stood up from the red sofa she had been sitting on all this time.

I expected to be slapped. I deserved it. But instead, she went to the room, gathered her things and walked to the door

I wanted to stop her but what for? I’ve had hurt her. I needed to suffer her absence.

She opened the door and turned.

I held my breath. Maybe she would stay, I stupidly thought.

“I hope you can find happiness, somehow, somewhere” she said and slowly closed the door without looking at me again.

And I have been looking for those piercing blue eyes ever since.

Tsutaya Ginza Books: Cats, art and Christmas

 

 #猫とアートとクリスマスhttps://store.tsite.jp/ginza/event/art/1153-1134441107.html

 #GinzaSHIPSCAT https://store.tsite.jp/ginza/event/art/1180-1420391110.html

 

 

Arthur Huang: The artbytecritique, his drawings and Nakanojo

Knowing Arthur Huang is knowing an artist and scientist who has decided to use art to make an impact on society.  And following his desire to make an impact on society he actively participates in exhibitions and open shows in different parts of Japan, being his last exhibition in Nakanojo Biennale (中之条ビエンナーレ) where he showed not only his talent but his commitment to helping remote towns reviving and sustaining their economy.

Arthur Huang’s work is subtle  and yet it has a big impact on you, because it is just so beautiful to look at.

And if you see his work from afar, they resemble rain drops

Arthur Huang’s work is Friends and locals visited Arthur Huang’s exhibition

Here with Nick West from gensojapan.org discussing about what they know best, art.

Arthur welcoming visitors’s questions.

You can also find Arthur Huang in #artbytecritique group on Facebook and artbytecritique’s website is https://atobaito.wordpress.com.

The “successful” guy: The poor girl

 

The guy sitting at the cafe nervously looked at his phone. 

Someone was running late. And we were all witnessing his impatience and the cruel ticking of the clock that wouldn’t stop for him, or anybody.

A few minutes later, she came almost running through the door, ordered a cup of coffee, and sat at the table mumbling apologies that he wouldn’t listen because he had news to share. 

“I have finished my book” he announced with a big smile.

“Congratulations…” She said happily “And……” she tried to continue. 

“You have no idea how great my book is” he said with an intoxicatingly happy face that started to resemble a hysterical mask. 

“Yes, I see. But…” She tried again 

“You know? Most of my friends are writers, journalists, poets, and editors. And they all say my book has potential” His happy face has mutated into the joker’s face. He had a happy grin on, but there was something scary and obscure in its expression. 

“Great..” She managed to say

“I mean my friends just love it. They love my book. I am sure that in less than three months I will be an international success, and you will be the luckiest girl in the whole world for being with such as a great guy as myself” He said with a laugh that could freeze your blood.

 

She only nodded and started sipping her coffee knowing she was not invited to speak but to reassure him silently.

 

We all try our hardest not to look at them, but we couldn’t help to feel sorry for the poor girl sitting with the “successful” guy.

 

 

Fairies and my insomnia

Late at night, fairies visit me whispering stories and old tales. Some speak familiar languages, some talk in dialects I have never heard. Nonetheless, they all come to share their stories and their secrets. They fly around me, tickle me, pull my hair softly until I wake up and agree to play with them.

When my husband is awake, they hide and wait for him to fall asleep to come out of their hiding place. Once he is asleep, they pour magic dust on him, so he doesn’t wake up. And when they are sure, he won’t wake up some kiss him on the cheeks, and some lie on his chest looking at him with goggly eyes. They like to flirt those little ones. Those cheeky little fairies.

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But the fairy queen sets them straight “there is no time to play” she says “there is so much to do and so little time.” They take me out of my room. And I write, what they share with me.

While the world sleeps, the fairies tangle their stories around my fingers, whispering their stories in my ears, and laughing at my mistakes. I write until dawn when they must go back to spread morning dew, so nature wakes up. But I know they will come back. As they do every night.

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Quechua: The bleeding wound

 

One of the biggest regrets of my life, if I had any, is not being able to learn Quechua while I was growing up. I was not taught Quechua, either at home or school. And living in the city made learning it, or even knowing about it, harder than it should have been. 

I do not speak it, and I know it’s because of my inability, but not for lack of trying. I even moved to Cusco so that I could hear it every day. But alas..! My brain doesn’t retain it. 

I know we can’t know it all. But still, every time I hear a song in Quechua something primal wakes up in my heart, and I hum to the melodies while listening to the unknown words that wake up a swirl of emotions in my latino heart. 

It is the same with all of them, William Luna with his “Niña chay” and “Valicha” make me think of lullabies because the lyrics are just soft and lovely. But lately, I have found a new song that makes me dance (Being bad at something does not prevent me from trying 😁) from Damaris “Tusuy Kusun,” which won her first place in “Viña del Mar”, which is the most prestigious music festival in Latin America. 

I will keep trying to improve my understanding of this ancestral language which not only accompanied the Incas but it is the vessel of our mystical culture. And which secrets are contained within it, still waiting for us to discover them.

Did the world end yet? 😫

 

I have heard so many times the world is ending that it is getting exhausting. Seriously..! Don’t you maniacs have anything better to do than scare us all?
And to make things worse, I have been so busy that I haven’t even had time to freak out properly, you know?

That’s how busy I am.

In Japan, we have North Korea trying to nuke us, and then we have these “experts” in numerology and Bible that have finally cracked the exact date of the “end of the world”.

Let me put this out there

If the Maya didn’t get it right, neither will you, ok? So stop the nonsense.

So, pick up the pieces of your life, clean yourself and gather strength because we have to keep facing the same things we have to face everyday.

The world still spinning, we still here, we gotta give it our all with hope and courage.