Japanese Art Work : New Year

Hi, blogger! I just want to share some pictures of what I did during this year's New Year. As you know, Japanese New Year is so different with other's countries new year. They don't have firework or parties.

They actually have some traditions such as going to temple or shrine at midnight to pray and take their first fortune teller paper of the year. Then they will eat New Year's Food called Osechi. The second photo is the example of Osechi that was made by my dorm. And we made it special because instead of Japanese foods, we cooked multicultural foods from all around the world. Other thing is usually kids and young people receive money from the elders.

One thing that made my new year special this year is that I went to Kagoshima on 1st January to visit my sharemate house. There, I tried Kimono for the first time. I was the one that wore the pink Kimono and it was so beautiful. I think I am so lucky that I could experienced such experience in my life =)

Actually, I am more emphasize on showing the photos because unlikely usual, I edited them a bit. I am more into photography recently. And I love to express how I love the Japanese Culture through photography, so I just made this short post.

Final exam is approaching, but after that, I think I can start to update this blog regularly. Thanks for reading and see you soon!

Maya

Two Different Worlds

Living in Jakarta for the past 12 years since I left Pittsburgh until about one and a half ago was really something. The thing is, it's completely different with my life in Japan right now. I never realize this until I opened my old album, my old blog, old photos with friends, and when I came back to Jakarta itself last summer. 


When thinking back about my life in Jakarta, let's say during my high school years, I found it somehow sparkling with metropolitan big city life, birthday parties, dresses, big malls, fashion, beauty, salon, hanging out with friends in some decent restaurants for birthday celebration, etc.


During my high school, I went to salon for hair mask or hair spa like every month at least. Went to mall with friends and eat like every 2 weeks or so. Especially during my holiday between my high school graduation and the time I leave for Japan which is about 5 months long. I went to salon just for hair treatment and straighten it afterwards, then went to movies with my close friends, watched cable TV or DVD at home, went to nearest Periplus to get the latest novel, etc. And I feel that I was more stylish back then. I treated my hair regularly. Because I love bags and shoes, I always borrowed Mom's and her collection are just right. Also, I loved to wear a low heels to complete my style. Life seems so much easy back then, but dependable.

Living in Japan, especially Beppu, gives me something completely different. No driver that will drive me wherever I want. No cheap salon to do hair treatment every week or month. I started learn how to cut my own hair because it's so expensive to get a haircut here. No movies every month because the nearest cinema is in the other city (I am not kidding). Watched DVD became something rare because my busyness here. I just wear my black Converse almost all the time, and just one or two everyday bags. No more birthday parties, or accompany my mother to wedding reception that allows me to wear beautiful dress and have excuse to do beautiful make up and hair do. And it's so difficult to check my favorite author's latest book since almost every novel here in Japanese and my Japanese level is not that good yet to read a whole novel. Doesn't mean my life here is bad or boring, since it's not at all. It's just different and in the good way, because I become more modest and simpler.


My life here full of study, activities, trying to survive, live independently, organize my time, get my work done, maintain a good relationship (not romantic one) with people I just met here, etc. My daily appearance is so different with mine when I was in Jakarta. My hair just being wash with shampoo and conditioner, apply some light make-up, dress simple, wear my Converse shoes, grab my backpack, and I am ready to go to campus. Instead of malls, I am more often travel around Japan which require simple outfit (more likely tops and jeans only) and my camera. 


Living in Jakarta and  Japan is completely two different things. It's like having two different worlds. When I am in Jakarta, I have another life which is different with my life in Japan. But when I live in Japan, I live in a life where I show up as a girl who shows who she really is without all the help from beauty salon, branded stuff and big city life.


Which one do you prefer?


With love,
Maya

I Wish Dexter Mayhew Said This To Me..

" You're gorgeous, you old hag, and if I could give you just one gift ever for the rest of your life it would be this. Confidence. It would be the gift of confidence. Either that or a scented candle" - Dexter Mayhew, One Day

This quote means so much to me, more than you can imagine. Wish this Dexter said this to me. Lack of confidence is my surname. I often have no confidence in almost.. everything. I lack confidence of myself, a lot. Keep thinking that I could bored people just a moment after we start to talk unable me to start the conversation with others. Entrust my own ability and doubting my capability. And sometimes keep thinking that what I have done so far, majorly because of my luck.


I really wish someone give me confidence. Life must be much easier now and then.


In the end of holiday,
Maya

Last 24 Hours Of 2011

Today is the last 24 hours of 2011. If I can choose what would I do, I would like to stay in my room, blogging all day long, writing things of my head, while enjoying some hot chocolate to begin with in this cold weather, some light content book to enjoy and taking some pictures of the last moments in 2011.

Too bad, the reality speaks louder. I have to work just like in 1 hour for the Count Down Event 2011. Well, good luck. And Happy New Year everyone!

With love,

Maya

New Year Resolution

Hi, blogger! It's already December 28th, 2011 which means.. it's new year resolution time! Cannot believe that one year passed this fast. It's too fast, you know. I always make a new year resolution every year and post it on my blog, but the thing is, I heard rumor that from tomorrow until 5th January, there will be no internet connection in AP House, so I decide to make this post earlier.


Well, let's see. Year of 2011. A lot of things happened. I can say, 2011 was a colorful year. Lots of joyfulness, happiness, laugh, smiles, and also cries. I feel that I grown up through the year somehow. 


Some highlights of 2011:

• My family visited me in Japan. We went to Fukuoka together and me and my brother went to Kansai Area (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe) on February 2011.

• I was selected to be one of the SAS Student Staff

• Indonesian Week 2011 which was so great

• Then, I was selected as one of the Resident Assistant

• I went home to Indonesia! Also, I traveled to Jogja and Bali with my sharemate and my Japanese friend! =)

• I traveled a lot (Fukuoka, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nagasaki, Kumamoto)

Some bad things?


Hmm, let me think. Well, maybe I was too busy through out this year that I cannot spend my time with my closest friends as much as I wanted to. And also, one of my relative passed away just like a couple weeks ago.



Here is my last year resolution. Wondering whether I did all my resolution or not.


1. Get Straight-A (and scholarship) -> okay, I failed to achieve this. Twice I applied for scholarship, twice I got rejected. And no straight A for me, yet.

2. Learn Korean Language -> hmm, it's kind of difficult to say. I learnt some phrases and I can read hangeul, but still I haven't learnt that much about Korean Language.

3. Better luck in my love life -> No boyfriend for me, but believe me, at least I got something that worth to remember ;)

4. Be a more talkative Maya -> I think I am a little bit more talkative than the last year Maya. Thanks to the all activities I joined so far such as SAS, RA, etc. I tried my best you know, to be more talkative Maya.

5. Mastering the Japanese -> Still not that master, I still cannot remember all those difficult vocab, Kanji and grammar, but I'm getting there. 

6. Be better Maya. Better personality. Better style. -> People said my style changed. It becomes more girly and lady-like. Then, does it count? I guess so.





I can say, this year was kind of successful for me. I changed through out the year, to be a better me. Well, then, it's time for to write down my new year resolution:


1. Change My Hairstyle 
Long hair with a bang. This is my style since like forever. I want to change my hairstyle this year. Maybe some wavy look? Or short hair? Perm? Still don't know.


2. Get Scholarship
Still the same me, aiming for straight As and scholarship. Well, I'll do my best for this.


3. Update This Blog Regularly
My absence for 3 months was unacceptable for me. Come on, where is that little girl that love to write more than anything? At least I should update this blog once a month.


4. Travel More
Explore the world. Maybe South Korea? Tokyo? Mount Fuji? Hokkaido? or even China and Thailand? And I absolutely wouldn't say no for Europe.


5. Take JLPT N2
Already plan this, so I should focus on it.


6. Save more!
Okay, I have to admit that I spent too much recently. So, this is one of my biggest resolution, I should save more next year! At least, learn to control myself to not buy unnecessary things.


7. Better In Cooking
To begin with, I am not really good in cooking and I kept feeding myself this past a year and a half with some instant foods. So, my new resolution is to be better in cooking, at least try a new recipe once a month. 


8. More Stylish, Maybe?
Well, next year, I am gonna be 20 and I think it's time for me to be more stylish =)


This year I didn't put anything about love in my resolution. Doesn't mean I don't need them, I just.. want to focus more about something else rather than that. Just like I posted on my previous post, love is not about boyfriend and girlfriend, love is everywhere, forming in different things. And also, next year is going to be my 20th birthday! Oh. My. God. I am turning into adult. No, I am not ready yet.


Then, for everyone that keep reading this blog, thank you!


Happy New Year 2012 for all of you regardless your place, time, etc.


With smile,
Maya

Life Is Good

Hi, blogger! Few more days left until the end of the year.


I just finished cleaning up my room, it becomes so comfy now. Well, people can see whether I am stress or not by coming to my room. More stress I am, the messier my room would be. Anyway, recently, I feel that I really enjoy my life, really.


I mean, I don't think I have more to ask. For now, my life is good. Not perfect, but nice. Let's see what I have so far. I living on my dream, studying in Japan, which is my dream, then I can learn Japanese, the language that I always wanted to learn from the first time I learnt it in junior high school. Having Japanese friends and talk with them about almost everything. Being an SAS Student Staff and learn new staff. Selected as one of the Resident Assistant and being in charge in M Building and have a fine communication with my partner.

From my room, every morning, I see a beautiful sun rise. In the night, when I lay down on my comfy bed, I sleep while seeing the beautiful moon and hundred of stars. I can see the sparkle of city night, amazing night sky, shooting stars and eclipse from my window when the sun goes down and see Beppu and Oita City, the blue sky and the deep blue sea in the day light.


I have a warm family that always support me and waiting for me back home in Indonesia. I have one big brother that even though sometimes he's so annoying that makes me want to punch him to shut him up, but really care and nice to me. A mother that loves me so much, and a father that always back me up and give me his hand whenever I fall in life.


What should I ask more about? I used to think that life is unfair because I never had luck in my love life. But, when I see around, love is everywhere. It's on the air but not a lot of people realize that it's always hanging there. Love from my friends. Laughing until I cry with them when things is not right. Doing silly things and still love every minutes of it. Getting Christmas Event from my sharemate. Having best friends from junior high school that even though we are separated by thousands miles we still keep in touch with each other, and when we see each other, we still have things and things to talk and laugh about.


Talking about the true essence of friend, I remember when I was in high school, I failed all my AS Level Exams even though I studied too hard on it. As of my disappointment, I cried and cried at my favorite place near the music room. Then, I was so surprised that one by one, my classmates came and be there for me. That time, it was my first time I realized that having friend is amazing. 


As now I am far from home, my friends are people that would give me hand when I fall and back me up. Not because some bad things happen in life, I should forget that when I turn back my head, I have friends and family that will always be there, giving me strength and love I need to continue my life.


Having all this amazing stuffs just in front of my eyes, that is why, I never dare to whine. God gives so much to me so it's so unfair if I ask more and whine about something that I already have. Instead, I want to be glad for everything. For having such a great life. For having such a warm and caring family. For having amazing friends.


Isn't it enough? 

The Traveler Story

Hi, blogger! I am back again =)


I just got back from Kumamoto for some shopping and sightseeing on this White Christmas Day. Me and two of my friends went to Kumamoto Castle and Suisenji Park which was so great. Also, I had fun a lot with my friends.


I do travel a lot. In Japan, I've been to about 9 prefectures so far. As long as I remember, since I was little, my family travel a lot. During my years in Pittsburgh, I never had memories that's not filled with traveling around States. Every summer, winter, breaks.. we did travel. Washington  D.C, New York, Florida, etc. My dad brought us to amazing places in States, while driving our blue car back then. In my home, there are bunch of photo album full with photos from our journeys.


In Indonesia, sometimes we travel as well. My parents hometown, East Java, Bali, Jogja, etc. And we did travel to Singapore. Once, before I headed off to APU, me and my mom traveled to Hong Kong and China. All the travel experiences make me love traveling so much.


Today, as I headed of back to Beppu from Kumamoto by bus, I looked outside the window. A lot of buildings and even super centers that reminded me a lot with America somehow, and also my family and our journeys there. When was the last time me and my whole family traveled together?


Oh it's last February, when they visited me here in Japan and the four of us went to Fukuoka for a one-day-sightseeing trip. 


..suddenly, I miss traveling with my family.