Tuesday, September 6, 2005
The typhoon is getting closer to the Tokyo area. Tomorrow I don't think I'll be able to get out of the house.
It has become time for me to start thinking of what I should do for a living after having enjoying a long holiday break. Yet, I have not done anything. By anything, I mean, sending emails to all my contacts to tell them I am freelancing now, and what sort of services I can provide, etc.
Watching the rain stream down the sides of the windows, ponder and ponder, and still, nothing has fallen into my lap yet.
A Beautiful Life
Tuesday, September 6, 2005
When younger, I just assumed I wouldn't want to get married until 35 or so. Graduated university at 26, and thought I wanted to have more time to enjoy life being single. Life was full of expectations. Possibilities were so infinite that I could not afford to waste them.
Somehow, after having worked for a year, I started to feel it was boring to be single. I couldn't imagine spending life on my own. What a waste of life!
Last June was my 7th wedding anniversary, and I have three kids now. Today I just turned 36.
That's life, huh?
Newton's Apple that Falls in Japan
Friday, September 9, 2005
There are these two sisters in Japan: the elder sister has worked as a nurse since graduating from college. The younger one worked in an office, also in her hometown, after college. Served tea when guests came, typed out whatever the 63-year-old boss said, etc. Nothing fancy, it was work. Then, she moved to Kuala Lumpur and lived there for a couple of years after she got married to a Malaysian, before moving back to Japan.
One day, the younger sister paid a visit to her family in her hometown. The elder sister lived less than a minute's walk from her parents' house. One afternoon, the elder sister called the younger sister at their parents' house and asked for help.
ES: "By the way, I was trying to print a duty roster for the town committee, but somehow it didn't work."
YS: "What (software) are you using?"
ES: "Computer."
YS: "What software did you use to make it?"
ES: "I made it with all my might (worked very hard!)."
The younger sister went over to her house and tried to have a look at the laptop. The elder sister had used Microsoft Excel. Pointing at the Excel icon, "yeah, I used this cross thing," the elder sister explained. The younger sister helped her out. Because the only printer was at their parents' house, they decided to move the laptop there for printing.
The elder sister closed the laptop cautiously, holding it with two hands horizontally, like she was serving tea. Why don't you hold it vertically, asked the amazed younger sister.
"Won't the data go odd?" the elder sister replied with astonishment.
Odd like how?
Desktop icons that display on Win XP
All the icons on the desktop would fall down to the horizon, according to the elder sister's Newton law.
The elder sister's Newton law
People say, this is the digital divide. The younger sister says, how on earth did you get the idea?
Malaysians in Japan
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
There was this one Malaysian who found me through my blog. It turns out that she lives in the city just next door.
There must be many like her, who meet their Japanese husband outside Japan, married and moved here, some having kids. There surely are more Malaysians like her. I was wondering about those who can't access the net, or can't even speak and write English. Like the one I met at the Embassy before. Where are they?
We have been spending too much time trying to figure out the tools for communicating. I wish we could just speak.
The Next Best Thing—Second-Class Citizens
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
I found a few articles I wrote for my English class in 2001. I thought I was so damn cute. More to come. The italic at the end was the comment from the teacher.
The article used in the class was this one in Time, April 2, 2001.
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Fighting for ones freedom is the way to change ones life. If you can't change the world, change yourself.
In Japan, there are lots of homeless on the streets; sleeping at the corridor in front of shops or stations. They are quite free to live as they like in society without attachment to any organization or any firm. Furthermore, they of course don't pay taxes, and they survive well.
The high-consumption society of Tokyo supports their daily needs: the expired hamburgers from the McDonalds or the leftover donuts from Mister Donuts are their supper. They know about what is going on in the society because they read the newspaper people throw in the dustbin. Sometimes, you can find some of them reading magazines or comics as well. They are more literate than any homeless in the world, I think. The difference between them and the other normal people in society is that, they are homeless and they don't pay taxes, that's all.
I consider them "second-class." But, seeing the quality of lives these homeless achieve, I wonder what's so bad being second-class in the society? It's not so bad.
What is a first-class citizen? Are they more superior? Are they having more privileges in law or in the society? May be they are better well off, they work with status, they earn more. At the same time, they spend more, and they have to work like a dog to maintain their lives of slavery. Furthermore, they need to pay more taxes eventually. Are these things needed for me? Or for the Nepalese people? May be the Time journalist wants it that way, but not everyone, I think.
Of course, in general, everyone wants to be first-class rather than the second. No one wants to be treated second-class.
But, the question is, does civilised society promise a wealthier society for people? Quite often, I have instant noodles for supper. Knowing it is not healthy though I still live with it. It is my choice for my life. I can't blame anyone.
So, I don't pity the Nepalese women and I can't. My life is not better than theirs. What can I do for them? Nothing. Doesn't it make things worse trying to feel superior but can't do anything to change the reality for the Nepalese?
What are they so concerned about the poverty in other countries considering the Westerners do not have a better society for themselves?
This is good analysis of a complex issue! What does wealth contribute to overall human happiness?