For the love of RK

I can think of two things that kept my interest for a very long time now: Rurouni Kenshin and ARASHI. To some extent those two have become my 'obsession with caution'. Anyway, despite my apparent dislike for going to places I am not comfortable with, I went out the other day to Cubao to meet the seller of this poster. I'm glad I did. Finally, I have my own RK poster to hang. :)

Love Bells

A few years back, I went to a Japanese exhibit in campus. The organizers invited Japanese housewives to serve as hosts to the guests. There were several booths installed--showcasing Japanese arts, crafts and culture among others. There's also one booth where you can request the ladies to have your name written in Kanji. I readily queued for that one. Eversince, that Kanji for my name has been posted in my room. I am aware that characters in Kanji have meanings to go with it. I would stare at it for long moments making myself familiar with the image but not really attempting to copy it. When I took Japanese lessons recently, one of the characters we learned was found in my Kanji-name, the character for "gold". I tried searching through my Kanji dictionary and the first character seemed close to the Kanji for "love". That spiked my interest to decipher the meaning of my name in Kanji. So, to make the long story short, I took a picture of the image and sent it to my Sensei. This is what she said: Transliterally, the Kanji reads: Ai = Love; Lin = bells So, Love + Bells. How do you make sense of it? I'd like to take the liberty to translate my own name. I would like to think that Love + bells can mean any of the following: 1) Love bells (literal); 2) A bell of love; 3) A ring of love; 4) A sound of love; and 5) A music of love (quite stretched meaning). That was really fun trying to make sense of the characters. Anyway, it's my name afterall. It's good to think it has a positive meaning. Plus, the mere presence of the characters for "love" and "gold" in it, well, what a powerful name! Hahaha!

Learning Japanese

This summer, Nihongo has become my husband, boyfriend, and lover all at the same time; And yet, it still demands more time. Pwew.

GASSHUKU

IGA Kendo Club Gasshuku. Tagaytay City. 29-30 October 2011.

I survived Gasshuku! We passed the bogu exam! Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Sensei, sempais, and Kendo classmates. Awesome Training Camp! :)

Kendo: New-found Love

I'm not sure if I had written anything about Kendo in my blog as of yet. Nonetheless, I purposely didn't put this entry on my 'Favorites' page; I wanted it here in the main blog. Why? I just feel like Kendo is not like some craze that I will eventually outgrow (which hardly is the matter with most of my faves, surprisingly), but something lasting and, hopefully, permanent.

I am fascinated with Martial Arts in general; my own father is a practitioner, for one. I didn't learn from him though, since he decided not to teach any one of his children. Too bad. But I have grown to love sports and films that involve martial arts of sorts and physical strength in the very least.

When I was introduced to Rurouni Kenshin, I fell in love with the sword. Not only have the characters become alive to me, but the genuine interest to pursue the art of swordsmanship was born. Unfortunately, it was just a wishful thinking for the longest time; I didn’t have any idea how I will get to learn the art, I simply do not have any access to any knowledgeable person nor do I have the time and resources to pursue it. That was until I met my Sensei.

At this age (well, I’m way past the time of one tireless teenager!), it didn’t cross my mind that the dream of being a Kendoka can be given a chance. My classmate and friend in graduate school brought me to the Kendo class late in July this year. There, I met Igarashi Koji-sensei, the 5th-dan Sensei of the IGA Ken Club. Now, here, I can claim that it was love at first sight. The moment I held the shinai in my hands, I knew I would want to keep it.

So, for the last few months, I’m actively coming to Kendo class a beginner/trainee. To be brutally frank, I hold the undeniable position of being the slowest, sloppiest and helpless student in class. It’s especially embarrassing being with mostly teenager classmates. But with all honesty, I’m enjoying every second I spend in Kendo. I have the most wonderful, understanding and highly capable Sensei. My sempais are nothing but supportive at the very least. I enjoy the atmosphere in class. The discipline is simply creating a great ambience for personal growth –in mind and body.

I have so many good tales to tell about my relatively short involvement in Kendo; perhaps in another entry. But right now, I just want to tell the world that I am very happy to have found a new love… Kendo.

Thank you, Lord for the chance to pursue one of my dreams.

Amor

There's a new apple of the eye at home... a tiny kitten named Amor. She's Heart's baby; though Heart's been acting like a spoiled brat and not really nursing this tiny thing (which, of course, makes even my father, the one who's doting so much on Heart, to be really pissed off). Anyway, thought I'd share some cute captured moments over the weekend. Amor's almost two weeks old. 6 September 2011 Unfortunately, I was told over the weekend that Amor is No More. ;'(

“Little Sisters Theory”

Just recently, my 20-year old baby sister had found delight in teasing me into something we both know does not exist. Last weekend, I had to endure another unlikely scenario courtesy of my 25-year old little sister.

Old habits die hard. Since we grew up as playmates, even now as adults, we can’t help but continue the tradition. So, last weekend, my little sister and I decided to play modified Jack en Poy/ Bato-Bato Pik (a.k.a. Janken or Rock-Scissors-Paper). We saw this version in one of the gag shows on TV where the player grabs the other hand of the opponent (sort of keeping it trapped so as not to be able to run away) while playing. This is mainly because the loser would get smacked on the face right there and then. It was supposed to be something fun. My 23-year old little brother was there watching us with much enthusiasm.

So begins the game. I was so much itching into throwing a ‘scissors’ when at the last moment, dropped a ‘rock’. My little sister said she wasn’t really sure how she landed with a ‘paper’. All three of us seemed like in trance for a moment. In a split second, boisterous laughter filled the room.

I guess we all thought that there’s no way I’m going to get smacked on the face. Nevertheless, I loss so came ‘PAK.’ To my dismay, the punishment was done a little more forceful than intended due to excitement. My little brother’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets in disbelief. Then came another round of laughter. My little sister readily released her trapped hand and ran away. I asked for a chance of redemption—a rematch—but she never agreed. That glint in her eyes though makes the humiliation doubled.

So last weekend, I got a hard smack-on-the-face and was laughed at by my dear little siblings. Should I modify the theory into “Little siblings could be cruel” instead?

Little sisters could be cruel. Really.

My sister’s amusement; my demise.

My love life, or rather absence of such, is not an issue at home--at least, that's what I thought. Everyone acted oblivious of that fact and I'm perfectly fine with it. I prefer being the simple me, at home or outside, and I'm sure my family knows that. But little kids (for instance, a little sister aged 20) can be mischievous enough and do things that make afternoons at home interesting, to say the least. So this is what my baby sister cooked over the weekend.

She keeps on hinting that I was supposed to introduce 'someone' at home. This is the second time during the day already. Knowing our Dad, he would only be quiet but actually, he's listening to every single chat that my sister utters. We all KNOW that. And so he was a victim of my sister's funtime, and unfortunately, I happened to be the object of her amusement.

She kept saying that I will be introducing someone at home; winking at me on the side. And then she exclaimed, "Tatay, Ate's almost thirty, right?" And my good father replied, "Yes, I know that.' "She will be introducing someone to us soon. Do you know?" she insisted. " It's about time," he said. My sister grinned at me. "But you--you're still young for those things. You don't have any license to do so," he continued.

I was beyond shocked when I heard him. I shouted with all indignation, "Tatay, you're going to give me away just like that?! Seriously! I have no idea what Nene is talking about. She's making up stories and yet... I can't believe this! You're giving me away!” My sister was having the time of her life with my Tatay's reaction.

And that's one interesting afternoon at home. I'm sure my father really thinks there's someone out there he is supposed to meet. Heh.