wet and weak

I'm afraid I've been wet and weak-hearted. I'm a little bit impatient about my leg. Take it easy, karin--I say to myself.

At first I felt very happy to be at home. I enjoyed reading, writing, watching, using a computer, sleeping. eating etc. as much as I wanted. As I had been extremely busy before the accident, there were no boring days or tiresome days. I could do anything---except going outdoors.

But now I've done all I wanted to do at home so far. I'm getting bored these days, I'm afraid. How I long to lead a physically active life ! But according to the doctor I will have to endure this quiet life patiently for two more months. I have to make another plan---how to spend these days and night alone.

I watched a video of The Third Man. This was the film I watched in a movie theater when I was a university student. I remembered the climatic chase through the underground network of sewers. There were friendship, love, suspense, treachery, betrayal and music in it. The last scene was so beautiful and touching that everybody would remember it. The film was voted the British Film of the 20th Century.

Keep your spirits high, karin.

2000 steps!

30 days have passed since I broke my ankle. The doctor told me the fracture would heal in three months. Last week he advised me not to walk if possible. It was impossible for me -- I did go out today.

I live in one-bedroom apartment which has only six mats, tatami. I have been here in this room all these 30 days. As the pain was getting eased day by day, I thought it would be all right to walk to the supermarket. It took me four times as long as usual. What took me so long? I couldn't manage my leg at all. I was limping. I walked slowly and with difficulty, leaning on a stick.

I always walk with a pedometer on. The pedometer showed that I walked 2000 steps today. I was completely exhausted by those 2000 steps. I should not have walked to the supermarket. I wonder if the day will come when I can enjoy climbing mountains. The doctor was right. Two more months are really necessary for me to get well. I must become a better patient,

homestay in NZ (5)

During my stay in Christchurch I attended a wonderful evening concert. Mr. and Mrs. G (my host family) invited me to the concert on my birthday, November 17! Mrs.G was a member of the Christchurch City Choir and was to sing on the stage that night. The concert was given in the Town Hall on the Avon--the beautiful river running through Christchurch.

How did I enjoy the concert? It was a very impressive concert. First the audience stood up and sang "God Save the Queen."
Then they sang their national anthem, first in Maori and then in English.

In the first half of the concert we enjoyed classical music performed by the Christchurch Symphony. After fifteen minutes' interval we enjoyed light music and songs by a famous soloist or the Christchurch City Choir. The latter half program aroused the audience to a passion.

Each member of the City Choir knotted a blue, red or white scarf around his or her throat. These were the colors of the NZ national flag. When the orchestra played the light music, the audience waved their national flags! some flipped blue paper ribbons on the stage, others red or white ribbons. They were singing to the music. They were excited but not noisy at all. The performers and the audience were really unified---one heart and mind. The reaction of the audience was exciting!

At the end of the concert they all stood up and sang, "God Defend NZ." I felt how much they loved their own country and how proud they were of it. Mr. and Mr. GO and some of their friends invited me out for a drink after the concert. I shall never forget the taste of the wine I drank at a cocktail lounge in Christchurch---on the Saturday night of November 17, 2001.

to Haruna, a high school girl

Your comment last night reminded me of my high school days. You like English very much and so did I. You are brushing up your English by attending English conversation school after school. I had no chances to speak in English until I went on a school excursion to Kyoto and Shikoku. I had never seen any foreigners before, because I was born and brought up in a small town in the mountains.

It was when I was on board a ship that I first saw foreign people. I met an old, kind English couple traveling around the world. I spoke to them in English! I was not sure if I could make myself understood in English or not, but I had already begun speaking in English. You can imagine how happy and excited I was when they answered me in English and I could understand them. My teacher of English asked me not ask him for help, because he was not good at speaking in English!

I hope you will achieve your dream.

homestay in NZ (4)

When I went to Christchurch in NZ in November, it was late spring there. I felt very cold and asked my host family for an electric blanket and heater on the very first night I arrived. They laughed and said, "Oh, karin, you are extremely sensitive to the cold. " I was happy they were kind enough to accommodate my request. To them it was early summer. They wore half-sleeved shirts and short pants and enjoyed the sunshine, lying on the deck-chairs in the front yard-- reading or sometimes sleeping.

On November 5 there was a popular annual event---fireworks on the beach of the South Pacific. The sun set around 9p.m. and so the wonderful show started at 9:30p.m. Wasn't it the time for fireworks to end in Japan?! People from throughout Canterbury drove to the beach at night. To my astonishment they drove at the speed of 120km an hour--not on a highway but on a country road. However there were surprisingly few accidents during the night, the next day's paper said.

The crowds, cheering and screaming, enjoyed a very large number of blazing colors. I thought how much they would be surprised if they had a chance to enjoy fireworks in Niigata.