Learn about the world through lit

KLiterature us truly a gateway to the world! To learn about different parts of the world read novels and plays! My world grows through lit. So here's my list: 

Countries 

Bangladesh- sona

South Africa- heart of redness, mda, and out of bounds, naidoo

Singapore- telltale , here and beyond, boom, Tay

India- midnights children, rushdie and 

White tiger, adiga

China- waiting, ha jin and the good earth, buck

Bay of Bengal- the hungry tide

Philippines, forgot! 

Sri Lanka- Ondaatje 

Japan- memoirs of a geisha but with a huge dose of salt! 

Indonesia- footsteps 

Topics

English history of kings - Gregory and mantel 

Euthanasia- whose life is it anyway

Mental illness- sharma

Conquest of incas- royal hunt of the sun

Africa- death of the kings horseman 

Survival at sea-life of pi

Papua new guinea- mister pip

Autism- curious incident of dog in the night time, Marcelo in the real world 

WWII- Anne frank's diary 

Soul searching

I think... I need to do some soul searching. Why am I so eager to go. Ack early? 

Yesterday I was miserable coz I came to the hotel late when I thought I should have got back early. 

Today I was miserable coz I came back early and felt stupid sitting in my hotel room from7.30 onwards - likely that's how I would have felt yest. I hated dinner yesterday. Today I hear j went for dinner with two others and it was fun I'm jealous. It's like I'm determined to be unhappy :( 

Even before coming to Japan I was finding out how to come back if nec. I'd been looking at ashwin longingly likd I'm missing him. Don't know what's happened to me! 

Secret of Japan's clean subway stations

There are no 'no littering, no eating ' signs and only a few dust bins  Yet there is no rubbish. 

Secret? Cultural habits! 

Firstly the Japanese generally don't eat while travelling- walking sitting in trains etc- they consider  it rude. Secondly even if they do eat, they would not fling rubbish on the floor coz that would look bad on the person .besides they consider it bad form to cause trouble for others! So- no mess! 

And in the trains - people don't rush for seats. So generally if an old person or pregnant woman gets in there usually is a place to sit. Others who don't need seats just stand. 

Such a gracious society!  

Latest on the leg

I worry I have hurt my tendon. Think I need an x ray. Want to leave on mon morning instead of tues evening. Means giving Kyoto a miss but doubt I'll enjoy it with this leg. 

Please pray that I have not done any permanent damage! 

What I can learn from the Japanese

Take pride in how things look as well as taste

Politeness 

Don't trouble others where possible

Respect people

Go out of the way to help

Tired

I'm pushing myself- body is giving signs but I am ignoring them. My right leg is hurting so bad. I keep walking. My cold is bad. I keep working. Well it's going to end right now. I give myself 3 hours of rest the next three days. Tomorrow my day starts only at 10.30 or maybe 11. It ends by 8. Sunday it starts by 7.30 ends by 6. Mon it is while day.?tues morning I'm back home. Resting on the plane 

You ask me - what would I prefer- walking alone through mountains and waterfalls in Japan or dinner with my family- I can tell you my answer! Family! I miss them more than they miss me

Day 3- not so good:(

Started the day unsure of what to wear. 

Shoes were a problem. 

Coat was a problem

Chose my suit that would go well with shoes that were perfectly comfortable yesterday- but they hurt! So limped the whole day. 

Conf opening was a bore. Wanted to go shopping for baby clothes but Janet took me to a high end place where I could hardly get anything. 

Foot hurt so bad! Kept leaving the room every few minutes to blow my Bose do I could breathe- worse than yesterday

So hiked back to hotel to soak the feet the bum- which started having cuts- long story! Decided to see doc dog the cold thought he'd give me antibiotics 

He said- you pregnant- best take no meds!! And charged me 4000 yełn for Chinese herbal meds that is safe at 6 months but Dudley for 3-4 month preggo women! No thanks paid 3500 instead! That's? 45 dollars! For nothing! Back to conf and now it's pouring. Sigh one of those  days truly!!

I like Japan

Clean place! 

Polite respectful

So we reciprocate - nodding saying thank you using two hands to give and receive 

Amazing toilets- bidets! Everywhere you can get a bum bath! 

Flying into Japan

Had a window seat- night flight and could not sleep- outside had the blessing to see the beautiful night sky above the clouds - stars ! So many- real starry starry night. Then had the honor of witnessing dawn breaking - again above the sky line. Such beauty! 

Nara park

Day 2 of Japan solo holiday:) 

K this is supposed to be a work trip but today it's still holiday mode. 

Am at Nara park now awaiting a steaming hot bowl of noodle soup with mountain veg

Very scenic place. Spacious! Green woody. 

Saw deer - have biscuits to feed them plan to do so after lunch. 

Beautiful big Buddha statue - prayed well. Bought two flutes and a couple of pretty nodding toy deers

Cash is running out really fast! 

On my way to Japan

Our airport is really quite beautiful! Crayons and drawing block paper easily available , slides for kids, shops galore! 

Feel like I'm on a bit of a break:) my traveling companion seems to prefer being alone which is ok with 

Me of course.  :) result being I almost feel like how I felt when I went to Ireland alone and then before that kanya kumari;) 

Might sleep though am tempted by movies! But I need sleep or I'll fall ill I think! 

3 am

Can't sleep. Was sleeping but ashwin cried and woke me up. Akshaya went to sleep with her father. And now I'm awake with tummy rumbling;) 

Going to Japan next week. I should be more excited. But am afraid and wary. Why? One- Simon's incessant questioning- what's the value of the conf? Second the program- not so much on lit which I love the most. Part of me is scolding myself for not having planned better for the people to go for a proper lit conf. But I am one of those people who really gleans a lot from training. 

But- I am going to present. Last conf I told myself next time I go  I will present and god has made it happen! 

I  leaving kids in good hands while I'm away. Run is here. Saro my parents his parents. Lots of support. They will bond as I did with them when saro was away. They need to be prepared for me to be with new baby a lot more too. 

Such opportunities are rare at moe- to travel for work. God is with me and my kids. Just silly things on my mind. Rather travel now than within a year of kutty baby's birth coz of breast feeding. Everything is working out. Just will miss my kids but I know they'll be ok:)