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10K

Just to motivate me toward something, the plan is to be able to finish the Singapore Quarter Marathon (10K) on the 3rd of December this year.

It might not seem a lot to some, but 10K while be a challenge to me after having put aside running shoes because of plaguing foot injuries over the last 10 years. 

Audio: Kite by U2.
Biblio: The Circle of Reason by Amitav Ghosh.
Cerebrio: Slow mileage build-up... s-l-o-w...

I HAVE TO EAT MY FRIDGE OUT

I think I just bought my last batch of groceries in Japan. Took the day off work so after a chilled morning of errands, I went for a tour around the reopened  Daiei すぱ("supa"market). As I walked around I had to think, "how much should I buy for the week and would I use it all before I left?"

I came back to hang out my せんたく(laundry) and as I pulled out my whites which wern't really white anymore, I realized that they probably shouldn't come home with me. It's nice that when I move there, it'll be in time for the Great Singapore Sale. Think wardrobe makeover!

Although...

After 3 years of sedentary living (excused sans language-challenged gym) I have decided to get off my behind and do something. I'm looking forward to heaps more tennis (from 0 a year to 1-2x a week!) and to the chilled atmosphere at the gym. The target is to drop 5 kg and 2 inches by the end of July. The plan is simple; a little less intake and more movement. I need to get out more and do stuff again.

Audio: The brand new Smile, It's The End Of The World by Hawk Nelson and Hearts Of The Innocent by Kutless.
Biblio: -/-
Cerebrio: 10 days.

FOR POSTERITY'S SAKE

When thinking of the ideal place to live, I factor these things in.

I want to be understood.
It's a simple human need to be understood empathetically and literally. Nothing like living in a foreign country and struggling to make yourself understood and to understand. It gets better day by day and its now more than 900 days in this foreign land. But, there are days you feel so useless when you see a need or desire you could give to but are handicapped by your lack of language. Today was one of them.

I need (a mix of) cultures.
In a land of homogeniety in persons and thoughts, to be different can either bring together or draw apart. When so many come from different backgrounds, cultures, lands, religion; there's a lot we can learn with an open mind. It constantly bewilders me the different perspectives to be had in the international community. Utopia would be mix of cultures, not just pockets of different cultures. It is somewhat unfortunate I have yet to meet another Singaporean in my path here in Japan. And when all of the expatriates have that in common, social forces mix our cultures together.

I like the tropical heat.
Ideally there'd be cool and warm but if I had to pick one over the other, I pick warm. You get to do so much more and have so much more fun in the sun! I like winter, I like the snow, but I don't like the short days and hibernation mode. Tan is my last name. Really.

Asia is the place to be.
I used to want to live in the East coast of America. But now I know its colder than I like and more life-threatening to my person (this apply's to the whole country). I am also some what more suspect about the lifestyle and have thought more about the West coast now. But then again, if we all went to where we were comfortable, what would there be to learn? I have always wanted to move to Europe and maybe one day I will still grit and bear the cold but its Asia that's happening, more things that are needed to be done here. There is more Third-world need here that goes unseen. Sydney is still high on my list of Best Places To Live.

Low cost of living would be very nice. It would be very nice to maintain my current income with lower expenditures and more options for bigger investments.

When thinking about what would best suit my life right now,

I want to go back to school to do a post-graduate in Education. That skill is my passport to the world.

I don't want to be in debt cause what good would it be to arm myself with Education skills to offer help in the nearby Third-world if I have to find a means to pay off my debt and set me back by years? I don't know if that is what I will be doing, but if it should be, I don't want to have to reconsider factors of debt.

I want to be able to travel easily in Asia. Ideally, I would be close enough for frequent travel and I would afford time and money to do so often.

I'll need a source of income. Standard given.

Now, there are many places I could go from here. Back to Australia, move to the West coast Stateside, or live my dream in Europe but its because Singapore fulfills all those statements for me now that I am moving there. I am going there for school on a full scholarship and while studying I will be paid. I will have job security for at least three years hence. We are among the lucky few in the world who have that kind of luxury, how dare we complain and yet we do. Singapore is Asia and I will have the luxury of time to visit places like Myanmar and Thailand often and easily (hopefully). When calculating total gross, factoring cost of living, I still come out tops compared to the global income scale. Singaporeans really do take for granted the nature of our multicultural ethnicity. Some societies are almost totally homogenous and yet others allow pockets of cultures to exist, happily, quite distinctly and separately.

I also know that it is not the best place to live necessarily, I know there are many trade-offs I am making in choosing to do so. But then, there is no place perfect, they all come with their trade-offs. It's which trade-offs you are willing to make, take a sacrifice for and live with and for how long you would be able to do so and maintain sanity. So, ask me again in four years where I want to be then.

Audio: Secret Garden (Jerry McGuire Remix) by Bruce Springsteen.
Biblio: The Circle of Reason by Amitav Ghosh.
Cerebrio: Because I know I will be so tempted to retract these statements in six months time.

THE SLOW LIFE

We slowed down our heartbeats this weekend and chilled out in 小豆島, a small Japanese fishing village that Mizuki calls home. More here.

(IT'S) NOT JUST WHAT WE LIKE...

For better or worse, I need the break that I'm taking tomorrow. I leave you with this for now.

We need to do what enables more people to meet Jesus... not just what we like (to do). Preferences, not prejudices. Differences, not divisions. Is it faithful to the bible? Is it fruitful for the people? 
- Pastor Mark Driscoll (Mars Hill Church; Seattle, Ballard). 

Audio: Inside and Out by Feist.
Biblio: The Circle Of Reason by Amitav Ghosh.
Cerebrio: -/-

I CANNOT TALK

After 6 days of being ill, I woke up at 3 this morning gasping and coughing for air and having no voice.

This is the second time I visit the doctor's in Japan in the time that I've been here. Antibiotics. Pharyngitis.

I made a date last week to call Australia for a good 'ol chat but not much use in setting aside the time and the opportunity if I can't really say anything to the other side... :-/

Audio: Honest Goodbyes by Bic Runga.
Biblio: The Circle Of Reason by Amitav Ghosh.
Cerebrio: I was supposed to go to Shodoshima tomorrow but I'm wonder about it if I should join the gang the day after.