Pussycat video clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4Sh9uCq8U0


The songs of Pussycat were the favourite of one of my aunts who passed on. Usually when I'm listening to these songs, I'm feeling very sad, caused she had a brain tumour and passed away on a very young age leaving three small kids ages 6 months (youngest) - 4 years (eldest), behind. They are adults now (about 20-26), but they lost their mom at a time they needed her most! These songs are therefore very special to me and I was quite surprised to get it on the net and could not help to download at least one....

Digital photo shooting

My final product of our digital camera shooting exercise of which I scored 100%. Very interesting, believe it or not, it's all about technology! Three photos became one photo!! You need to have fireworks software on your computer, the needed knowledge and skills (obviously), then it's magic from there!

Do you think that photography is such an easy story? Forget about that! You have to consider conditions called aperture, focus length, wide angle lens, shutter speed, focus lock, etc. But, once you understand the theory and you are able to apply it in practice, it's very much enjoyable!

Observation trip to Nanjo city

The IEC (b) group accompanied by Nana san and Miyagi san visited Nanjo city, in Okinawa island, as part of the course.

It was quite interesting to hear about all the activities going on in the city as well as the involvement of the community members and the city council.

We also had the opportunity to observe a dental check-up that was arranged for kids of the age of 2 and a half years. Men involvement was quite evident and the way of arrangement of such an activity was very good.


I think some of the health promotion strategies used in this city can definetly be used back home. I do believe that with the positive contribution of every member in the community, including policy makers, leaders, etc. the world will be a better, safer and healthier place.

Video clip - Superwoman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5EevnyrHjk



This clip is just to remind all the men to appreciate women, PLEASE (including your mom). We are only 'human' and need more than occasional hugs. Do not think that whatever we do for you is because we have to do it..... No, it's because we care. In any case, what will men do without women??? Please listen to the song, then we'll talk again.

video clips

just url (to show the video, click on the line below)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMO4tuhq9eE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzIE3mRFypQ

showing video (video clip is embedded from Youtube)

The monorail train

Another experience in Okinawa, Japan: being in the monorail train... (for me, the Namibian girl, I should say: 'As seen on TV'). At least I managed to experience it, being in the monorail train. I was reliably informed that whenever you get into a bus or a train, you should not make noise. It's actually making sense that the Japanese people prefer silence obviously to think of a next business opportunity. They were indeed very quiet, so we also tried our best, even though it was so difficult!!!

This is quite an experience, looking down on the busy streets and getting to your destination so fast before you could even get bored. You board the train after you bought a ticket for approximately 200 yen, depending on your destination (actually quite affordable comparing to the taxi and bus). You should make sure that you do not loose your ticket, otherwise you will not exit the station! We were so lucky to have a very patient co-participant (the one sitting next to me), who've been here longer than us and who can at least understand some basic Japanese. Another important thing to remember, don't get off at the wrong station! Until next time.

Candy floss or floss candy?

Candy floss or floss candy
whateva it's called
A light yellow/pink 'thing' in a transparent plastic
One person thought it's the inner for a pillow
Another one ask whether it's a teddybear (Imagine!)

Some others agree that it's definitely something eatable
Something sweet...
Guess what?
We used it as to display the pregnancy
of my teenage mother on my poster!

Candy floss or floss candy
whateva it's called
I took it to class to share the joy of something eatable
Something sweet...
Even shared it with some student visitors
and all agreed that it was indeed eatable and sweet

I was told that in Japan they call it 'wate ame'
So, let's call it whateva we want to call it
Candy floss or floss candy or wate ame
as long as the taste remains sweet!

Busy, but fun: balancing work and play

You know, life at OIC is so hectic that you have to use your diary not to miss out on any event! The funny part of it is that some of the occassions are not compulsory to attend, but the girls of 08iec(b) keep on signing up just for anything!

Just imagine my schedule yesterday, a BLUE MONDAY:
06h30: Woke up and took a walk around the block and ran upstairs with 81 stairs (yes, i did!)
8h30: Breakfast
09h30 - 17h00: Class: Very hectic, busy to prepare a poster for submission on Thursday, 12h00, as well as editing of photos and creating one photo with three different images, due for Friday, 20 February. Today we visited 2 schools, so we were preparing for the visit yesterday ------almost too much, hey?

But you will not believe it, we are maybe angels from heaven or devils from elsewhere, because we signed up to attend a flower demonstration from 17h30 until 18h30!! So we attended! Very interesting indeed, but we skipped one Japanese (Nihongo) class last week and we had an extra class yesterday from 19h00 until 21h00.... Good people outside there, how much can my poor, aged body really take?

Yet, I still came to the PC room and only got back in my room by 23h30!! What do you call this? Supernatural powers or am I crazy? Anyway, please see the photo of the flower arrangements. It's beautiful! Chao for now. Until next time.

Dining out....

There's a time and a place for everything in Okinawa.
It's about balancing work and play, don't you agree?
So, Nana san our course leader arranged a dining out for the M-TEC students of OIC and some instructors/administrator at a restaurant having a buffet of healthy food. It was indeed healthy food with a lot of varieties, including not only Japanese food, but also some western food. Our instructors were at all times nearby to assist us in case we wana try out a 'ryori' (dish), if you were not sure about the ingredients.

It was a night of not only exploring a lot of different dishes
and the use of chop sticks, but 'overeating' was also allowed.
Uramoto san entertained us with his jokes and because he suffered of abdominal discomfort, he was willing to 'serve' us whatever we requested like water or juice. Thanks so much for your kindness...

My sincere gratitude towards Nana who arranged this and we hope
that it is only the beginning of many more outings to come while we are at Okinawa!

Karaoke nights at OIC

Wow, karoake nights at OIC... yebo, yes, the place to be on a Friday or Saturday night, safe and sound... the karaoke room of OIC!!! You think I have a beautiful voice? Of course not, but who cares! It's about having fun and pretend you are Whitney Houston or Celine Dion or Lionel Richie or even Michael Jackson.

The day at the aquarium of Okinawa

We went on a bus tour to the aquarium of Okinawa on a Saturday, i think it was the 30th January. We were told/warned that it would be very cold, but the weather of Okinawa is so full of surprises and I really didn't take it seriously. My dearest fellow-men, outside there, I got the shock of my life! Just imagine a cold wet, u know 'coast' weather, who want to be exposed to nature in all it's glory? I would have preferred to be under the blankets while drinking a hot cup of soup and listening to slow jams.

However, here in Okinawa, we try our best to be good team players and therefore I did not pull out. The aquarium is maybe one of the most beautiful places I've seen this far in Okinawa. The flower decorations are marvelous!

We also observed a dolphin show and I could just stare and appreciated the wonders of God. Meanwhile, it was so cold that I can now honestly admit, that I just wished it was all over so that we could go home!

The girls took a lot of photos and because I was not really interested in the shots, I sort of got lost from them. I was so interested in all the different sea creatures and did not realized that I'm alone. Take note, it is a very big aquarium! Your entrance is not your exit!! So, I exited myself and just decided there and then to go back to the bus. I did not even know the direction back to the gate and the chances to be understood by any Japanese was almost zero, therefore I did'nt even try to ask. I just followed the flowers back until I reached the gate again.

Outside there, I found a lot of busses and could not recall with which bus we came, becoz it was not the JICA bus. After I passed almost twenty busses, (remember it's cold), the driver of the bus recognized me (obviously coz am not a Japanese!). I was so exhausted and almost fall asleep in the bus while waiting for the other members to return to the bus.

A day that was suppose to be wonderful, almost turned out to be one of my worst nightmares! However, at least there were some marvelous moments in between like the dolphin show, the beautiful flowers and of course, life in the deep oceans of the world. Chao....

Oh, what a night....

Ten (10) participants from OIC (Okinawa International Centre) were invited to attend the 50th anniversary party of the Rotary club here in Okinawa. The participants were Mathew (Samoa), Sashko (Macedonia), Patta (Kenya), Sahadatou (Niger in Africa), May (Tanzania), Rita (Uganda), Theus (Belize), Boitshoko (Botswana), Grace (Kenya) and of course me myself and I, Suzie all the way from Namibia.

We considered ourselves as very priviledged that we could have attend this party with the Director of OIC accompanied by a very patient coordinator and surrounded by the VIP's of Okinawa and some other rotary club members in and around Japan.

We performed a mixed dance on a South African song. The harmony was marvelous for a group of eight people from different countries dancing on the same beat!! I think we did a great job. We enjoyed the feast and all of us received gifts. I got an umbrella, most of the others got towels, Rita got 24 tins of kohi (coffee), Sahadatou got a jewelery box and Theus received a cup set (guess he should take it home for his wife).

There are so much to say, but I think it's enough for now. I just want to make use of this opportunity to express my gratitude towards my team members who represented OIC with proud, to our companion, to our bus driver and to the Director of OIC for the wonderful opportunity that we could represent OIC. Arigato.....