Japan is already Dec 31th, but I don't feel today is New Year's eve! 

Yuki : I am still working.... sleepy sleepy

Nyankichi sensei : You know? San Francisco is still Dec 30th. 

Frog : Having something to do is better than nothing to do, work!!

2011 was rabbit year in Asian calendar, so I would like to greet with bunny clothes. Have a happy new year~!

Since I was a child, a strange idea comes up to my mind sometimes. It is about self and other. I remember, sometimes I was wondering like 'why you are here as my mother?' I still think of this idea sometimes. 'Why you are here as frog? why you are frog??'

Yuki : I don't know why this idea comes up to my mind....I feel strange...

Nyankichi-sensei : yes yes..

I went out with my friend from the morning to night for this four days. So I was very sleepy and literally slept entire day, today....

Frog: her posture is the same from the morning to night...

Nyankichi sensei : yea...

2011 is only three days left. Hope everybody have a happy new year. 

My friend from Japan, she bought a loooot of stuffs. So when we back to home, we spread all the stuffs on the floor and took photos of them. It looked funny.

Frog : What are you gonna do with those bottles?!

Rabbit : I will decolate my room ♥

Vietnamin's Pho in the U.S is very big. It's about two times bigger than the one in Japan, but price is the same, around $8~12(700~1110 yen). I shared it with my friend today. yumyum.

My friend's dog didn't take to me easy. It took a long time for me to play with him, but finally he brought a ball for me and did 'hand' and 'drop'. yey! 

I went to see Christmas tree at Fairmont hotel in San Francisco, but I was excited about a candy house more than Christmas tree. The candy house was made from all real candies, cookies and chocolates! How cool!! Great job for chefs in Fairmont hotel!!

Christmas is coming. Downtown San Francisco are very Xmas thesedays!

Yuki : I wish to have big christmas tree in my house!

In the U.S, since people have different religion, people often say 'Happy holidays!' instead of 'Merry Christmas'. 

Today's was winter solistice. I was sleeply from the morning to night. Maybe it's because today was the shortest daytime in a year.

Learning Eniglish is not the new thing for me, but I would like to say I want to study English again.

Yuki : Still...People ask me what I said sometimes, I think my pronunciation is not clear.

I decided to start shadowing practice! Shadowing is that you follow some sentences right after you hear them. The sentences should be read by native English speaker to get the correct rhythm, intonation and pronunciation. 

Nyankichi-sensei & Frog : seems very steep to reach the level that she wants.  

Since I haven't back to my countries for while, I haven't visited to my grandpa & grama's house. so.....I feel like my grandma is still alive. 

Nyankichi-Sensei : you sure? it's been 3 years...!

She always feed me a lot. I remember I ate a lot of mochi during New year season. Also I remember the sound of kettle making steam.  I look back on those scene with nostalgia. December makes me a little bit emotional!

Because of the holidays, the postoffice near by my place was super crowded. 

Yuki: uhhhhhhuuu, I am not big fun of being in a line!

It seems everybody trys to send their gift to thier family and friends by Christamsday. That's why today was very crowded. There are lots of gift box on the table, some are for Vietnam, some are for Israel, it was very international!

I played ipad game, concentration. I was into the simple game for while...and thought about creating my original game which makes my brain more active.  

Yuki : I wish I can make a game which helps my brain being clever.

Nyankichi-sensei : If you want to make that kinds of games, you have to be clever first! hehehe.

I suddenly hit an idea about a healthy dishes today. It was napa cabbage and pork's dish! (but I haven't actually cooked yet, so I don't know how it will be.)

1. make layers with sliced pork and napa cabbage, and put them to a pan. 

2. steam it (maybe) around 5 min.

3. serve with Ponzu and green onions.

Nyankichi-sensei : it may be healthy!  

Frog : I am getting hungry by hearing your explanation!

Today was also busy as yesterday, I feel it's DECEMBER! 

In Japanese,  December is also called as 'Shiwasu' which means very busy month, as your teacher runs around. Although I am not a teacher,I picture my self running and jumping and eventually flying! 

I supposed to have more free time on Decemeber....but I feel very busy these days...

Nyankichi-sensei : Because now is December!!

Frog : Be careful, try not to catch a cold! For people in Japan, try not to drink too much :P

I forgot my favorite scarf. 

Yuki's mind : I might forget it at the store....(but I'm super tired and don't wanna go back to pick it up), ... I think I didn't wear it today, and it is in my house. I didn't forget anything at the store.

Then, when I came back to my house, it wasn't there.......

Yuki : NOOOOOOOOOO!

I should have gone to check it at the moment....I hate this situation..... 

Nyankichisensei: You can not judge correctly when you are tired.

Frog : Be careful...

It's cold these days in San Francisco, so I prepared for hamukichi (my hamster) to prevent the coldness. 

1. I am going to use the warm mattress I brought from japan.

2. Cut it to appropriate size.

3. put on the wall.

... Hamukichi's house looks like kitchen because of the color of warm mattress. 

Yuki : Today's diary is not doodling but sketches.

Frog : I don't see frog vehicle...

1.A tadpole submarine

2.A hermit crab crane 

3.A turtle car

and a fish jar, a plant.

さてこれがどうなることでしょう。またどこかで紹介します。

Let's see how those items go! i will introduce them again, in the near future. See you tomorrow.

I used to live the area called gotenyama in Japan, since I was born until 6 years old. I spend most of my childhood at the area, especially the park called Inogashira Park, where next to my apartment. I enjoyed seeking tadpoles, dears, the elephant, and a lot of trees. In tokyo, there are less nature and more buildings and stores, but I was very lucky to have that beautiful nature surrounding me. I have loved the park and small zoo so much. 

I was surprised to find a newspaper called 'Inokichisan', all about the Inogashira park.  This newspaper is made by the people who love the park same as me. Nowadays internet connects all around the world, and we see more grobal things, but interestingly, I think, people tend to focus on more local things. I love the idea focusing on local. Looking forward to see next issue of Inokichisan.

いのきちさん(Inokichisan)↓

http://www.inokichisan.com/

It's already december. 

Yuki : Time flies

Nyankichi-Sensei : yea

I hope the people in disaster area are having warm environment. For example, they can take hot-spring bath, or they can have hot pot with friends/family/whoever spend time with them. 

Today is December 11th in Japan, 9 months after 311 earthquake. 

I like to think about my original animal creatures, but I don't like to research legal things....... 

Yuki : hummm....some words sounds difficult...I don't know the meaning......blablabla....

Frog & Nyankichi-sensei : oh, she is working so hard! 

then....I couldn't help to think of animals....

Frog & Nyankichi-sensei: oh, she is not functioning properly.

When I got on the muni, I saw the sign 'free ride' on the money machine. I guessed the machine was broken and couldn't take the money. so I just ride on the bus without paying :P If it's Japan, I guess, buss driver would still collect the fee, maybe????

Today'd doolings are hermit crabs.

First one is a hermit crabs with a sea anemone. Second one is with sea flower. Third one is with very comfy fluffy shell. The last one is with kotatsu,  japanese style foot warmer table, called Kotatsumuri.

Nyankichi-sensei : don't you come out?

Recently I think about the world of under the sea . I invented a tadpole submersible & hermit crab. hehehehehe. 

This is what I wanted to have when I was a child. 

In my drawing, there are two empty room. You are welcome to put anything you want!

I also like Peter Sis' works. For instance....he draws unique characters like...

Raddish +Shark = Raddishark

Poteto +Frog = Potatoad

Yuki : this characters are from a children's book called Scaranimal.

Frog : ..o ok...

Nyankichi-Sensei : chuckle chuckle....

ピーターシスのウェブサイトはこちら↓

Peter Sis 

http://www.petersis.com/index2.html

Scranimals

http://www.amazon.com/Scranimals-Jack-Prelutsky/dp/0688178197

I loooooove Kuniyoshi Utagawa's 'Ukiyoke', I would like to call them as 'illustrations'. Especially the animal ones are amazing! They got very unique character, and look like they have soul.

Yuki : I can see more about Kuniyoshi's illustrations.

Frog : ....o...ok...

Nyankichi-sensei : (is looking at something andchucling.

In the U.S Miso soup comes with spoon. 

Everybody eat miso soup with spoon, which looks kinda good manners, but still it looks strange for me. Usually Japanese people don't use spoon for miso soup, they(we) just bring the bowl to our mouth. Interesting.

I cleaned up my room very hard today. I moved my bed, desk, my and book shelf. Now I feel like having totally new neat place! yes! While I was cleaning up my shelves, I found my class works and texts. It was a lot, and off course they were all English. I was surprised myself that I read this much of English! I put them into a box instead of throwing away. I gotta keep my room clean!