Scrapbooking Online Class - Part 4

The class was four weeks and we had an assignment each week. I was so busy that last week since classes at work had started and I was also preparing to start maternity leave. I was kind of lucky to have come across this piece that I wrote about a year ago for one of my classes. I was asked to write about the theme "The Road Less Traveled" since my students were studying the poem in their English class. I had always wanted to use the essay again, in some way, and found a perfect excuse to use it on a scrapbooking page. Yes, I did cheat a little because I didn't write it specifically for the on-line class.



Journaling for the "The Road Less Traveled"
When I was a high school student, I suddenly made a decision. I wanted to study abroad for one year. I applied to an exchange program, but my parents thought I would not be accepted. They were very surprised when I got accepted. Then, they had to start worrying about me and my future path.

At that time, I didn’t know that this decision would affect the rest of my life, but it did. While living in Japan, I came to understand the culture and language a little. I also made some great friends. I learned a lot about myself as well. But, most importantly, I fell in love with a Japanese boy in my class.

After I returned to America, I finished high school and then went to university. I tried so hard to live an ordinary life. My parents encouraged me to live a normal life too. But, to be honest, I was not satisfied. I often thought about Japan, the language and culture, my old friends, and of course, the Japanese boy I fell in love with. I sometimes regretted that I had studied abroad in high school at such a young age. I wondered what it would be like to live a normal American life.

When I was 24 years old, I made a big decision. I decided to marry that Japanese boy, move back to Japan and change my life forever. Sometimes, I envy my American friends back home who are living normal lives. What are they doing? They go to graduate school, they have BBQ parties with their friends, they go shopping at their favorite stores, they get married and buy houses, they can communicate easily with their husbands, and so on.

Instead, I am a foreign wife living in Japan. I have to speak Japanese a lot every day. Sometimes, my husband and I don’t understand each other and we become very frustrated. I have to eat Japanese food a lot, and I can’t shop at my favorite stores. We have to live in a small apartment because houses are too expensive. I can’t talk to my mother every day because of the time difference between Tokyo and Wisconsin. If I want to call her on the telephone, I have to wait until the weekend, and it’s expensive.

Sometimes, I do regret that I took the road less traveled. It is hard, frustrating and sad. But, there are good things about it too. I have learned so much about myself, other people and the world. My husband and I have a strong relationship because we have to make so much effort to understand each other. Yes, my life might be easier if I lived in America and married an American guy, but I don’t know if I would be happier. I think I am a stronger person because of my decisions.

Scrapbooking Online Class - Part 3

These are the 2 lay outs I did for Week 3 of the Deep Journaling class I took. I want to do a little more embellishing on the first one, but have not had time to do it yet. I usually save embellishments for very last.
My reason for doing the 2nd lay out about Yusuke and the very first time I saw him is because during the class, the teacher showed an example of a page that highlighted a "pivotal moment" in her life. I thought the idea of scrapbooking about pivotal moments would be a great idea and nice addition to one of my albums. After that, I made a list of "pivotal moments" in my life and looked for photos that would represent them. This is the first one of the series. I plan to do more in the next few months.



Journaling for "Ailin no Mama"
When you put your arms around my legs and say “Ailin no mama!”, what are you feeling?
Everyone knows I am your mama.
When I drop you off at day care, and other kids come to the door to greet us, you sometimes do this. Is it out of pride? Ownership?
When I pick you up at the end of the day and you run towards me smiling and giggling, you sometimes do this. Are you proud to show me off?
But other times, after a long weekend or holiday, when I drop you off, you wrap your arms around me and say, “Ailin no mama!” Are you sad? Do you want to stay home with Mama?
At home, when we are playing happily, you sometimes turn to me and wrap your arms around my neck with a gleeful “Ailin no mama!” Are you joyful?
No matter what you might be feeling, I am proud to be your mama. I am not just someone’s mother, I am Ailin’s Mama, and hearing you shout it out, whether joyfully, possessively, sadly…this gives me a reason to love my life.




Journaling for "April 1993, 16 years old"
It was a spring day early in the new school year. I was sitting in my new classroom, 2A-gumi, in the second row from the door, the 3rd seat.
It was English class, and our teacher, Kenzo Matsumoto, was asking students to go up front and write the Japanese translations for the English words on the board. It was for my benefit. I was supposed to be copying them down in my notebook.
He called on someone, but I didn’t catch the name. The boy seemed to be hesitant because Kenzo chided him, “Come on. Get up there and write it on the board, please. Hurry up.”
The boy was sitting in the 1st row, somewhere behind me. He slowly made his way up to the board, and wrote the word out – deliberately, hard – the chalk squeaked.
He turned and faced the class. We didn’t make eye contact, but I watched him as he walked back to his seat. I turned my head to watch him as he sat down and, for the first time, I saw his face.
That moment.
That face.
He seemed cold-shouldered. In Japanese, they say “tsumetai.”
I never liked boys who were cold-shouldered. My type was usually the class clown – out-going, transparent guys.
But, that reluctance. That deliberate, hard writing on the chalkboard. That face.
That was the moment my life changed. I forgot about my current crushes, my past heartbreaks.
I just knew that, if nothing else, I had to get to know him.

Online Scrapbook Class Part 2

Thanks for the feedback. I'll put my 2 layouts from Week #2 up here.

I was a Creative Memories consultant for about 2 years, but I recently let go of my status. I didn't have enough customers and with working full time, had no chance to offer workshops. Plus, I really would like to go a different direction with it. Not sure yet, but foremost in my mind is the idea to write a book.

Okay, so here are my Week 2 lay outs. I had wanted to add more embellishments to the Convention lay out, but couldn't think of anything in time. I might add something later. The next page in my album will feature the printed program.



Journaling for AFWJ Convention 2009:
To tell the truth,
I hate conventions because…
Despite my outgoing personality, large gatherings of people make me feel uncomfortable.
I hate sharing hotel rooms.
I sometimes make social blunders because I forget people’s names, or I blow someone off accidently.

I joined the planning committee for this convention because…
Some of my friends were already on the Committee.
It was to take place in Chiba, so I figured there was no way I could NOT attend.
I thought I would have more fun if I was part of the planning.

My main role on the Committee took place before the Convention. I was in charge of making the printed programs. I like using computers and doing lay outs, but I didn’t realize I would have to pull together all the information about the Convention. I guess I thought it would be handed to me, but I had to pull it out of people. In the end though, I loved the look of the program, and I got enough compliments on it to make me feel it was worth it.

Highlights
 Our ABBA performance at the Cabaret
 Having my own room
 Hanging out with Kirsten
 Meeting hilarious new members like Erin Nakamura & Nicole Dunbar
 Assisting Kirsten with the Scrapbooking Workshop
 Attending the Dream Workshop with Sheila McNellis Asato
 Sitting with Sheila and learning more about her work and the history of Dream Interpretation
 Listening to the inspiring Panel Discussion
 The food!!







Journaling for Baby #2:
No, it wasn’t planned. And, it is a little sooner than I hoped. Yes, I was quite surprised…maybe even shocked.
Despite that, I was excited to tell Yusuke about it. I knew he would be really ecstatic. I wrapped up the positive test sticks like a present and gave them to him during a special dinner date. He didn’t know what they were at first, but his face quickly changed from confusion to utter excitement when I explained.

I couldn’t help but wonder how I would manage though. The pregnancy while raising a toddler and working full time was proving to be hard enough, but having a baby AND a toddler? I was seriously starting to doubt myself. Not to mention the fact that I would still like to return to work after the maternity leave. What to do?

My dad was most encouraging though. Even though others were saying how hard it would be, he assured me that having two kids close together would be so much fun. It would be easier too. When I asked him about going back to work, he said that the quality of the time was more important than the quantity.

The next exciting thing was to find out we are expecting a boy. Truth be told, I was hoping for a girl only for practical purposes. Wouldn’t have to buy new clothes or new toys, they could share a room easily, etc. But, so many people were truly happy for us when I revealed the sex.

“Boys are so much fun!” “You will fall in love with him and vice versa.”
“Having a boy is different. They’re easier, somehow.”
“He’ll be gentle because he’ll have a big sister as a role model.”

The 2nd pregnancy has been a different kind of experience for me. I am not at all worried about the labor and delivery this time. Aside from being able to feel Baby #2 kick a lot sooner than I did with Ailin, I sometimes forgot I was pregnant. There was no morning sickness in the 1st trimester, and the 2nd trimester was smooth sailing. The only issue I had during the 1st trimester was needing extra sleep at night and not being able to finish my daily chores. Now, in the 3rd trimester, I have had 3 colds in the past 3 weeks. Not easy to deal with, and I feel stressed about cleaning and preparing for the new baby. My body was not in great condition before getting pregnant, so physically, I feel more worn out and weaker as the baby gets heavier inside my stomach.

This too shall pass though. Soon, we will have a cute little baby boy to hold and cuddle. Ailin will have a little brother to entertain. Max will get a little lower on the totem pole, but at the same time, he will gain a new playmate. And, we will have the seemingly perfect family – Mama, Papa, daughter, son & dog.