Fussa - UMUC graduation Part 2

Graduation was so unlike the usual  I attended. Many family with children attended and during the 1 and half session, the wailing or yelling children were constantly the main attraction lol! Poor parents! I heard from okaasan that graduation in Japan is very serious, not a sound is allow hence of course children are not allow to attend, all graduates wear suits unlike gowns.They were taken back how different it was compare to a typical Japanese graduation especially how the speaker would make a joke and the rest of audience would laugh at it. This would never happen in a Japanese graduation.

As we took the free bus out of the base, we walked around to realise no cabs and nowhere to find them! Had to call them and thankfully it came. S's good friend came to visit us bringing his gf.... Finally! He was single all along since I first met him and that was 3 years ago. I always question him annually when he came to our house to have their annual fishing trip together. They sure look alike when they smiled!

way too famished, this was second helping

Suppose to be standing actually but we went to take chair. Too tired to keep standing

family photo

With S's friend, thanks for the cookies and coming over to see us!

Did not get to see anything 

Fussa train station

finally get to see "them", thanks for taking 2 hrs just to see us!

Fussa - UMUC graduation Part 1

Due to my nationality, I nearly could not enter Yokota base in Fussa City for S's UMUC graduation. Just only 1 day before, I finally got the clearance to enter. Graduation was held on Saturday and we were to reach before 2.30pm. We took the Shinkansen and reached Tokyo at 11.10am. From Tokyo to Fussa will take around 1 hour plus and just when everything seems to be on time. The train we boarded announced that a bird was stuck and our train was delayed. Everyone in my family was in panic mood and started to search for another route. We made it to Fussa hotel to leave our bags only to realise another problem: there was no cab to take us on base -_-:::. Apparently it was not common to have cabs since everyone drives and we waited another 15 minutes..... 

At the base entrance, the security force personal was checking my documents when another security was shouting to my father in law. He was not allowed take photos of the base and was made to delete the pictures he had just taken (In Misawa base, all tourists were allowed to take pictures). We finally made in just in time for S to change and started their rehearsal. Phew what a day........ starving and anxious if we could make it in time   

starving! Gulp down everything!

trying to take S and my fil but the lady's stare was so scary

waiting for commencement to start

like a star

met fellow graduates from Misawa, the one in grey was the oldest graduate 69 years old.

congrats!

Chihayafuru (ちはやふる)

Was drawn by the movie trailer when it was shown on TV. I like the lead actress, Hirose Suzu and the energy I saw in the trailer. Kept pestering S to remind me to watch when I am back. S warned me not to ask him any question during the movie since he won't understand. Turned out both of us liked the film, he liked the ancient/hidden meaning based on the cards (poems from past Japanese poets) from karuta game. Even though I hardly understand the game (Karuta) they were playing in the movie, I like the storyline and effort they made as a team.

Came back home and start researching on the manga it was based on: Chihayafuru and finished reading 31 (still ongoing ) volumes in 3 days. Moving on the anime next lol.... Had not been that crazy over a manga in recent years.

Anime:
https://kissanime.to/Anime/Chihayafuru

Online Manga:
http://mymangaonline.us/manga-info/chihayafuru.html

waiting for part 2 in end april!

the anime version 

お母さん, お誕生日おめでとうございます!

Today is okaasan's birthday! Quite easy to remember since it is the same date as my mother birthday just in different month. She is not feeling well today when we called, hopefully she recover soon as we head to Tokyo over the weekend. Thank you okaasan for helping and taking care of us (especially me) ever since I came to stay in Japan. Always preparing delicious food when we came to visit and return back home full groceries she paid for and food she cooked and frozen it in advance. I even received money during New Year, birthday, trips with S and trips back home. In my "liking" rank chart, the top is okaasan, S only came second place. 

お母さん大好き！お誕生日おめでとうございます!　

When S is in high school

during 2011?

when I first visited Aomori in 2010

maybe 2012?

In Singapore after my wedding in 2013

Last 2 days in Spore

Initially S wanted to go Jurong Bird Park but I was too sick to go anywhere. We ended up with me visiting the doctor in Punggol (I was hoping to see the doc that consulted me for my eye infection, he was very nice) but it was lady doctor this time (also very nice). He was quite disappointed not being able to go to bird park (I could tell) but my persistent fever refused to back down. The doctor said it was a case of nose allergy and the yellow mucus and fever were all part of allergy reaction. She had warned that it will not be cure so fast..... (So true...... I still have slight cough and mucus up to today and its been 1 month since I got back from Singapore, Spore doctor visited once and Japanese Doctor visited 3 times!).

On the last day, S wanted to go army market at golden mile market and we came back home with loads of his goods. He must be feeling very satisfied lol, loads of badges, with army raincoat and even name tags. He spent over hundred getting his items. We went super early (around 10am) but half of store were closed. I hope they will continue to carry on their business as it was the only place we can get many local military goods that not on sale elsewhere. 

My dad and brother sent us off at the airport and we went in after my brother reached (He ended work late and we had taken dinner with dad). My mum said I was mean for not eating with my brother and parted! I wanted to look around inside the duty free actually hehe. Intended to sleep on the flight but I ended up watching movies again! The final movie Hunger Games was available and how could I not watch it and I was kinda of scared out of my wits (certain scenes quite scary and S recorded it down with my face frowning and jerking out of my seat) that I could not sleep after that.

It was a great trip, will be even better if I did not fell sick but I was glad to back home in Japan.

I would not even go near my mum without her crying

S looked so old!

my mother could not make it in time and she would be crying anyway

did not expect they would be serving dinner so late. Last pieces of spore style chicken!

Meeting S's ex house mates!

S had stayed in Spore for close to a year, he shifted a few times ( very long story) before he finally settled into a condo in Northeast line. In that condo, there were 2 other being rented out and both couple were Japanese lady with their Singaporean husband/ boyfriend. He got along well with them and even I joined in their trip, and dinner gatherings. Both the couples still stay in Singapore and now both had kids! We really appreciated during our ROM and S had none of his family with him and they came (1 of the couple) to show him support. 

I so envy that they did not seem to gain weight after having kids! Seem like most Japanese ladies have such good genres that they remained just as skinny. I do not have any kid but yet I am ballooning as I continue to stay in Japan! Arghhh!! Hope to visit them when they are back in Japan or they come visit us! 

The Bank Bar

so so so adorable! that bambi eyes!

hopefully we can meet again soon!

Visit to Seng Kang Fire Station

Made arrangement to visit Fire station ever since S saw my friend visit, he was looking forward to it. If anyone is interested, most fire stations have open house on every saturday until 11 am. Grace gave me brunch of pre-mixed herbal soups and local sauce packs, thanks! 

Unfortunately after the morning visit, I was feeling under the weather and kept questioning S if we really have to head out again in afternoon when our next appointment was at 7pm. S remarked that he did not fly to Singapore to stay at home and we went out to walk/shop around. In the end, I was so exhausted that we ended up in Chinatown point library with me sleeping while he read. At the time I did not realised I was sick.... very sick.... S wanted to cancel the dinner appointment as he said I looked bad but I refused since we were already near our meeting area and 1 hour from the schedule time. S wanted to eat dim sum and we found out that the restaurant did not serve dim sum at all. He was pretty disappointed. My cousins wanted to go for drinking session and we said no as I was feverish, eyes were red and voice was hoarse, I actually wanted to go haha... Luckily I did not, because on the way home, I was on the verge of fainting. 

that's for kids to try not you!

only picture we had before they went off to feed the hungry kids

yummy prawns! too bad I was feeling too ill to eat more

beijing duck, also very good

pity that we could not go for a drink after that. I was on verge of collapsing. Thanks for the treat!