Childhood Memories: Japanese and Wuxia Series

The other day a FB friend posted a video clip from an old Japanese series that we used to watch when we were kids. Back then computers were still a luxury and there were not many TV programs for kids, so video rental providers were popular (along with handheld game devices). I was saturated mostly with Japanese series (anime and non-anime) and wuxia (martial arts) series ever since I was young and I still have fond memories of these even until now. I still love Japanese anime and wuxia series.

Let me share some of my memories that have recently brought up to the surface by watching that video clip. Here goes:

1. One of my most remarkable memories of a Japanese anime series was when a bad guy in the series died and the girl who loved him the most did something extraordinary. She used a machine to take over his body to get some revenge. This body switch was such an amazing concept for a young person like me and it's left such a profound mark on me. In an anime world, imagination is the key!

Side note: the thing is, I don't remember where I saw this scene, but it's been stuck on my mind for the longest time ever, so I can't find any links to this just yet. 

2. The said video showed a superhero that could produce fire from his hair (and could shoot fire from the hair). How awesome is that? :-D I don't care how the mechanics work, but the sheer possibility of making it happen on screen is super cool. 


3. In one Japanese series, there was a female robot that could shoot boob missiles. The only downside of this was that once both missiles were shot, then she was doomed. I just found some info on this robot. No wonder she wasn't built with lots of weapon. She was built for peace! Here's the link if you want to read about her: Aphrodite A.  

I couldn't find any video clip of her in action in the anime, but here's a video of her action figure (including the boob shots) in case you want to see it: 
 

4. I loved watching wuxia series when I was young because of the many female characters in the movie who could do martial arts. As a tomboy, I loved the idea of strong women he he he he...Funnily enough, though, I never questioned something that I considered an epic love story in one wuxia series until much later. You see, in one story, this "forever young" female loner took in a young boy and trained him in martial arts. As he grew older, they fell in love with each other, but many people thought it was unnatural for them to be together, so they were separated for many, many years. They went through a lot of hardships, but in the end they were reunited (the guy lost one arm at one point in his journey). Here's some info on the female character: Xiaolongnu.  

Move away, Romeo and Juliet! LOL!!! 

Here's a video clip that some scenes from the series. You can see how the guy has progressed from a young adult into a mature man in it. 

CNY Memories

Chinese New Year has come and gone. I didn't feel anything at all because I have no Chinese friends here, so it's kinda pointless to celebrate it on my own (plus it's too tough to try to make some of the lovely CNY cakes that I love). The other day I was talking about CNY with a relative of mine and it brought back my CNY childhood memories. :-D

You see, we lived with grandma (mom's mom) from the time when I was 4 years old until her death (I think I was around 17 years old at that time). Grandma was a Catholic and when we were younger, every CNY she'd prepare a big table. On the table there would be special CNY food offerings for those who had gone before us as well as an incense bowl (now I seem to recall she also put the photos of her ancestors on the table). She'd burn some incense and put the incense sticks in the bowl. As kids, we just enjoyed doing something like that because we could only do it once a year and we'd just mimic her even without understanding what it meant.

Because my grandma was a pretty prominent figure in her family, many relatives would come to visit us on CNY, including her elder sisters. Normally (as far as I know) the younger ones are supposed to be the ones visiting the elder ones. As young children, we enjoyed being able to meet our cousins and play with them. We also enjoyed meeting our aunts and uncles because usually they'd give us red enveloped filled with money HE HE HE HE HE HE...Oh, and let's not forget all the delicious CNY food that we'd be able to eat! My mom's family (grandma's big family) is famous for being wonderful cooks (including the men), because from ages ago, they had learnt to earn money by selling food. Even until today there are still many people who know my grandma's name related to her delicious food.

Because we weren't rich, mom would sometimes made us some new clothes (she always has a stack of cloth ready to be turned into new clothes) for the event so that my parents wouldn't have to buy new ones. 

Anyway, what I suddenly remembered while replying to my relative's email about CNY was one of the traditions that we did a few times when we were still young. Grandma bought some fake paper money and then she taught us how to fold them into something like this (when I googled them, I found out they were called joss paper). Click on the link to find more info about joss paper.

Here's a video clip on what we did back then:



I remember with the help of many cousins, we ended up making dozens and dozens of them. And after that, we'd burn them one by one in a huge tin. Of course as a young child, being allowed to burn stuff safely was fun ha ha ha ha ha...One thing I think I missed during our childhood was the dragon dance. My mom told me that when she was younger, the dragon dances used to be held on the streets and they were so beautiful. I think these days there are more dragon dances because the government has considered CNY as a national holiday. Still I'm glad for these lovely memories. :-)

Childhood Memories: French Baguette

One of the memorable treats that we got when we were children was the long French baguettes. At that period of life in my hometown, it was quite a rarity. At that time kids were still playing folk games with their friends and computers were unheard of. Plenty of my neighbours didn't have any fridge yet. There were no big malls, just small private owned stores selling daily needs and snacks and goodies. It was a very different period of life.
 
At that time there was this HUGE supermarket in Dago Street catering to expats and rich people in Bandung. Well, the place looked especially huge for small children with short legs, though if I compare them to the huge malls all over that city nowadays, it's not that huge after all. 

Anyway, this particular supermarket sold plenty of exquisite goods at a rather high price and at the back of it there was a bakery. The bakery sold lots of things, but we only went there to buy French baguettes and some ham or sausage. The ham and sausage were so delicious when eaten with the freshly baked baguette, but we knew they cost a lot of money, so it was a rare treat and we enjoyed every bite of it. :-D


Until now I still remember clearly coming home on a motorcycle behind Dad while holding the French baguette in my hand tightly while the neighbours' children looked at the long bread in awe, because it wasn't something that you could find everywhere. I remember feeling as though I was holding a Light Sabre in my hand HA HA HA HA...I don't know if the supermarket is still there now or not. The last time I was there years and years ago, I think the supermarket chain has changed owner or something (my memory is getting blurry), but don't know what happens to it now. 

Do you have any special childhood treat that you remember fondly? 
 

3Doodler + Handicraft Lesson

I'm not really good making things (I feel more at ease writing stuff), but I still think this creation below is cool. 3Doodler. What do you think?



I remember when I was in elementary school we had a "handicraft" lesson and the teacher made us learn to create different things. What did I do? I got plenty of help from my Mom. I had no patience nor interest with that kind of lesson, whereas my Mom did. I remember at one point we had to make an Easter chick with wool. It's something like this: Easter Chick. 

I don't remember how old I was when I had to make it, but I remember getting some help from my Mom LOL!!!!! Even though I know that parents weren't supposed to help, but still I was stubborn enough to stop doing something if I didn't feel like it. 

I also remember having to make some "tapai" (peuyeum) in one class, but for some reason it didn't turn out too well, so my Mom told me to just buy some from a tapai seller and bring it to class LOL!! Each of us was supposed to bring our own homemade tapai and eat it together at school. The teacher asked us then if the ones we brought were our real homemade tapai (not bought) and I stayed silent. Sorry, teacher, but there was just no time to remake a new batch of tapai to bring to class he he he he...Ah, memorieessss! :-D 

Music + Memories: Salaisuuksia

This Finnish song was played on the radio a lot when I was doing my training at the library, so this song got stuck in my head and whenever I hear this song, I just close my eyes and am reminded of the days I spent there with the lovely library ladies. 

It was the first training place where I had to engage in active conversations with many people at one time (usually around the coffee table) and I still remember how overwhelming it felt at that time because when they talked to one another, they talked REALLY fast, but if one of them tried talking to me in particular, she always tried to speak more slowly. THANK GOD for thoughtful people! :-D 

I remember doing a presentation on blogging in front of them (of course R2 helped me prepare it at home and I had memorized what I was going to say anyway), but it wasn't that stressful because I had known the ladies for a while, but still I still remember the feeling of having achieved something different in my journey to learn Finnish. I wouldn't have been able to do it without them. It was actually the boss who had asked me to do the presentation because she was talking to me about blogging and she wanted to know more, so she challenged me to do the presentation. I'm REALLY thankful for her challenge! :-) Here's a post describing my last day at the library: A Sentimental Day.

OK, now let me just post the song and the lyrics in Finnish and English. If there are mistakes in the English version, pardon me or let me know what to fix. Here's "Salaisuuksia" by Johanna Kurkela.


The lyrics in English:

SALAISUUKSIA (SECRETS) - Johanna Kurkela

Do you remember our childhood summer
When the mornings smelled like honey?
When our feet got wet in the grass
When nothing else seemed to be more important?
I also remember the rainbow
Arching over the field 
Near the standing stone
The rowboat embedded among the rushes
And the meadow covered with mist

Reff: You were the boy with sooty hands full of strawberries
I went with you to steal the apples
With a picnic basket full of kittens
I was the girl who had a flowery dress and a treasure map
With a hoody and a handful of seashells 
Covered from head to toes with secrets

Reff 2: Those memories remain
When everything has gone away
Those memories remain

Do you ever miss going back in time?
To our hiding place in the granary?
At midnight under the starry sky
We lay down on the meadow
There I'll look for you again
While I roam the realm of memories
Where time is precious like gold
There will I build a fortress

Reff
Reff 2

Where do the secrets belong now?
What kind of treasure have you found since then?
Are you still the one who can ignite the sparks
And burns like fire?

Reff
Reff 2

In Finnish: 

Muistatko sen lapsuuden kesän, 
kun aamut tuoksuivat hunajalle. 
Kun jalat kastuivat ruohikossa, 
eikä mikään ollut hetkeä tärkeämpää. 
Minä muistan myös sateenkaaren, 
pellon yllä luona kivipaaden, 
soutuveneen uponneena kaislikossa 
ja niityn joka usvaan häviää 

refrain:
Sinä olit se poika jolla oli nokiset kädet täynnä mansikoita
eväskorissa kissanpentuja, matkalla kanssasi omenavarkaisiin
Minä olin se tyttö jolla oli kukkaleninki ja aarrekartta
huppari ja kourallinen simpukoita ja salaisuuksia päästä varpaisiin 

refrain2:
Ne jäljelle jää
kun kaikki häviää
ne jäljelle jää 

Kaipaatko koskaan takaisin
piilopaikkaan sinne vilja-aittaan
Sydänyönä alle tähtitaivaan
niittyvillalla sijattuun vuoteeseen
Sieltä etsin sua uudestaan
Matkalla muistojen valtakuntaan
Missä maailma on ajankultaa
sinne merenrantaan mä rakennan linnakkeen 

refrain
refrain2
 
Mihin salaisuudet kuuluvat nyt
minkä aarteen olet sittemmin löytänyt
Vieläkö oot se, jos kipinä saa
sijan syttyä ja tulena palaa 

refrain (2x)
refrain2

Music + Memories: (I Wanna Take) Forever Tonight

Some songs help me remember certain memories and this time I'm gonna talk about Peter Cetera's and Crystal Bernard's "(I Wanna Take) Forever Tonight", which became a hit in Indo in 1995.

Here's the video clip:


This song took me straight back to my High School trip to Bali because they kept playing this song on the radio during our Bali trip. I was on my last year in High School and was in a different class than my closest friends. There were 6 classes altogether (about 40 students per class) and we went by buses.

I was in a bus with some of my closest friends. Luckily the teachers weren't very strict on things like this he he he he...However, I spent most of the bus trip resting 'coz I had such a bad case of motion sickness despite the fact that I took some medication already prior to the trip. If I remember correctly I threw up 6 times altogether during the bus trip and once on the ferry trip to Bali. Yeah, my sea sickness is even MUCH worse than my motion sickness. Mind you, the ferry trip only lasted for 30 minutes but my mistake was looking at the waves!!! On the way back by the ferry, though, I sat down and closed my eyes the whole time and it went fine! Phew!!!

Anyway, our bus stopped for a few hours during the night due to an accident. I was asleep at that time so I didn't know what was going on. It was dark outside and I woke up 'coz the students in the bus were getting hyped out about something. Turned out that the driver must've dozed off and then our bus accidentally hit a minibus. I don't remember anymore what happened to the minibus or how bad the damage was. :-( So we had to wait for the bus company to send us another driver while the police took the other driver. I certainly hope the driver and the people in the minibus were fine in the end. There was at least one teacher in each bus, though, so we didn't have to do anything much because the teacher dealt with it.

The delay meant that we were late when we arrived in Bali (it was probably around 2 or 3 am when we arrived at the hotel) and we went straight to our own rooms to sleep (again luckily I could be in the same room with some of my close friends - the main point was that each room was filled with 4 students). Back then there were no ATMs whatsoever (no debit cards, either), so everybody took cash for the trip. There were no mobile phones, so many of the students went to a phone rental place (there were several booths of phone that one could use to make long-distance phone calls) and I remembered having to queue for a while before I could contact my parents.

Every day there was special programs for us where we toured around the place together by buses except for one free day when we could do whatever we wanted. My close friends and I rented a car and we went around for a while, though it wasn't really effective because we got lost many times (no GPS at that time!). 

Here's a pic of me and two close friends at the beach. Yeah, I had that kind of face 'coz my naughty friend took off my hat!!!!!!!!!!! Pardon the quality of the pic 'coz the photo was taken with a regular camera ha ha ha ha ha...

And what did the teachers do while we were having fun at the beach? They had to watch our belongings he he he he he he he...

One last memory that I'd never forget. A bunch of us were already in a bus somewhere in Bali, waiting for the other students to come so that we could go somewhere else when all of a sudden this young blonde tourist just came inside the bus, smiled at us (with the tip of his nose covered in lots of sunscreen) and then went out from the back of the bus whereas some of the girls in the bus shrieked out and tried to snap a pic of the guy HA HA HA HA HA HA HA...oh dear goodness!!!! Memories!!! :-D

Lab Experiments

When I was in Junior High School, we had Physics and Biology lab experiments. I don't remember anymore if we started on the first grade already or second grade, but we had to buy a white lab coat for this purpose. We were spread into several groups in alphabetical order, so I was in a group with my friends whose first names started with either an A, B, or C (remember that in Indo first name is more important than last name). 

I don't remember too much about Physics lab experiments other than a few glimpses of memories, because I find the Biology lab experiments to be more interesting. For example we got to dissect a frog, a fish, and a house lizard. 

Luckily, though, because there were at least 5 people in a group, only one of us had to dissect. After the deed was done, then usually we had to figure out the insides of the animals and then drew them in our lab notes and marked them according to their own colours. Yep, we had to bring colouring pencils to the labs, as well.



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I remember being the one bringing a big bagful of live frogs from the traditional market where my Mom sold food. Because she knew the guy who sold the frogs (yes, we do eat cooked frogs in Indo), the school could get a special price, so in the morning before my Dad took me to school by motorcycle, we went to this market first to get the frogs. When my Mom sold food at this market, she was there already at around 5 or 6 am (and school started at 7 am), so there was enough time to go get them with my Mom's help.

Anyway, at the end of each school semester, we had lab tests as well. Other than the first semester, each of us had to pick a number before going into the lab. The numbers are written on pieces of paper which are then balled and then put in a big bowl, so it was pure luck which number you'd get. Everyone was really anxious because there were some experiments that we weren't really keen on doing on our own. After picking the number, we would get into the lab room and then go find the table with the same number on it. That was then the test that you had to do. 

I remember one of my close friends having to dissect a fish. YIKES!!!! Dissecting a fish was the worst because it smelled so strong and the fish was much bigger than the other animals and there was more blood and therefore more slimy compared to the other animals I mentioned above (I don't know what type of fish it was but it was big). She had to do the experiment near the sink due to the possible amount of blood produced during the experiment. I myself wouldn't mind having to dissect the frog, but didn't want to do the fish. Luckily that day I got something easy that didn't require any dissecting he he he...



 
One time we also had an experiment with cockroaches. EWWWWWWWW!!! I really HATE roaches, especially flying ones. They're just gross! I'm not 100% sure whether we did dissect it or not, but there was also another experiment where we had to put it inside a tube and nobody in our group wanted to do it, even though I was the only girl there ha ha ha ha...So finally one classmate of mine grudgingly did it, but because he was grossed out as well, the sneaky little thing managed to run away and that caused hysteria because all the girls near our table were screaming whereas the boys were all trying to get away from the roach instead of trying to catch it. Thus our lab teacher got angry and told us (our group) to catch it ASAP hi hi hi hi...What a memory! :-D

Well, not long after that, though, that classmate of mine managed to grab it again somehow and shove it into the tube (mind you, the tube is rather slim, so it's not that easy to shove the live roach into it!). We all felt so relieved once the poor little thing was safe and sound inside the closed tube. Phew!!!

Other than dissecting animals, we also used a microscope on many occasions. I found that interesting and exciting!!! Each group was given a microscope so each member could take turns to use it and then we had to draw what we saw in our lab book. However, if one of us broke something, then the group had to chip in to buy the same thing for the school. Nobody had ever damaged anything much other than a few tubes if I remember correctly, so it was all good.


In High School I had no lab experiments because on the second grade I chose to study more Economics than Biology or Physics, but I'll always have fond memories of my Junior High lab experiments.

Reminiscining Dad...

I've been feeling unwell the past few days and finally I start feeling like human again now. Called Mom today (the first time I talked to her after Dad's passing) and there are just some things that made me choke and cry...I'm writing them here more for my own sake...so that I'll never forget...

1. While Dad was being taken to the car during the heart attack to go to the hospital, he was screaming in pain and one neighbour kid heard it and told her Mom, "Look, Opa's screaming, Mom!" But at that time her Mom was too busy to pay attention (it didn't help that it was raining so hard that day and it made everybody else stay inside).

The next day, when they heard about my Dad's passing, the little girl broke out in tears and said, "See, Mom? I told you that there was something wrong with opa yesterday. Now there'll be nobody else who's going to greet me every day."

I don't know this particular girl, but it seems that every day when Dad went out to play chess somewhere, he passed by their house and he always greeted her.

When I heard this story, I wanted to yell to heaven, "See, Dad, how many lives you've touched?" And I could feel him smiling from up there...

2. Earlier that day he said to Mom, "I prayed for Ken (bro's son) so that he'll get healthy. You know, I've had a wonderful life and everything I've ever wished for. Our kids are both married and they're good kids."

THANK YOU, Dad, THANK YOU
for all the memories...
I'll make sure your legacy lives on in us...

Back to the Past: Junior High

The other day I was reminiscing the past with my closest friends in emails, particularly our Junior High School years. Some of us went to the same Junior High School so we have similar memories 'coz some of us were in the same class even.

I remember that back then before each quarterly exams at school, they divided them into two sections: the theories and the non-theory exams. The non-theory exams included sports, singing, playing a musical instrument, biology and physics lab tests, and one extra-curricular activity (at that time I had to do a typing test - yep, typing with a typing machine, which we had to bring to school on our own. It was HEAVY, you know?)

Anyhow, before the non-theory exams, we were each given a number (a series of 3 or 4 numbers) and then we had to make ourselves a numbered tag with specific directions (on a piece of carton) - they even gave us details on how big the numbers should be and how thick they should be. Then the carton needed to be shielded with a sheet of plastic so that it'd stay intact for a few days (for as long as the non-theory exams lasted) and then at the back we had to attach two pins at so that we could wear the number in front of our shirts (yeah, just like runners or something) so that it'd be easier for the teachers to mark us.

I remember that one time during lab tests, one particular year we had this "knock" system. So we entered the classroom and sat alphabetically by name and try to solve each problem in front of us. When the teacher knocked her long ruler on the table, that meant we had to move to another table beside us - and it went on until everybody had got to each table. I remember being anxious 'coz we had to solve the problems in front of us right before the teacher knocked the ruler.

The year after, though, we had this kind of "ballot" system. So the tables in the lab were numbered and before entering, we had to pick a number. I still remembered that I was SO glad I didn't get any yucky experiments such as dissecting a fish (and having to describe its insides and draw them) or any experiments that had anything to do with cockroaches (yeah, we did also dissect roaches and even house lizards). Cockroaches are my enemies - especially flying roaches. YUCKKKKKK!!!!

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Anyway, during the theory exams, they sat us down either with someone a grade below or above us and we had to leave all our bags outside the classroom (or in front of the classroom) and we were only allowed to put our pencil case on top of the table. This was meant to avoid cheating. Pretty harsh, eh? HE HE HE...So during theory exams, they put maps on the doors so we could find our names and our seating places.

Back then we had to buy our own exam sheets and one time when I sat next to a third grader, I ran out of my answer sheet, so reluctantly I had to ask one from him. Good thing he gave it to me without any fuss HE HE HE HE HE HE...I still remember his name even until today. Funny how memories are, don't you think?

Anyway, today I went to the police station to apply for citizenship. We'll see how it goes. I sure hope there'd be no trouble with my passport 'coz the Indo Embassy took my old passport and gave me only a copy of it, but at least the woman in charge wrote it down that my original old passport was held by the Indo Embassy. I sure hope that I can get a decision before next year - before my current residence permit is no longer valid 'coz if I have to wait that long, I have to renew my residence permit and it's going to cost me at least 120 Euros. So keep your fingers crossed, people!!!

I'll be busy tomorrow 'coz I have a morning shift (a change of work schedule) and then in the evening we'll have a small birthday party with Arttu's family in my MIL's place. WOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!! :-D We may even spend a night there, though I'm not too sure yet he he he he...

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Memories From the Past: Schooldays

Let's reminisce again, shall we? I have a funny story to tell about my brother. I'm glad he doesn't read this blog 'coz I think he might kill me if he reads this one ha ha ha ha ha...But first, let me tell you about me.

The other day my closest friends and I talked about our first crushes. One of them had a "boyfriend" when she was as young as 6 years old. I told them that my first crush was probably when I was around 7 or 8 years old. I was still in Elementary School back then and we had two 10-minute breaks during the day or one 20-minute break (they changed the system during the time I was there). As usual, kids would play and run around the school yard. When I had a crush on that boy, I used to suggest playing cops and bandits. I LOVED playing as a cop since I ran pretty fast and then I could catch the bandit (the boy I had a crush on) by hugging him HI HI HI HI HI HI HI HI...Ahem!!!

It was an innocent hugggggggggggg!!! And of course he didn't mind it since it was a game and the cops were supposed to catch the bandits by hugging them, OKAY? That's the rule HI HI HI HI HI HI...Doh! Who am I trying to convince here? LOL!!!

Anyway, do you remember your VERY first crush? How old were you back then? Do you remember his/her name? I still remember the boy's name and his face, though he's probably changed A LOT now that over 20 years have passed by he he he...

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Now on to my brother...unlike schools in America, in Indonesia the teachers come to our classrooms, so we stayed in the same assigned classroom all through the school year (except for university students). Most teachers disliked it when the students asked to go to the toilet, since it bothered them, I guess. Usually they only allowed one student or two to go to the toilet, but no more. One time my brother's teacher was unhappy since one student after another asked for permission to go to the toilet. Then she stated in front of the class, "I will NOT allow anyone to go to the toilet during MY lessons. Period."

Being an obedient student, my brother obeyed her. However, one day during the teacher's lesson, a girl sitting next to my brother yelled at the teacher, "Teacher, teacher, he peed on the floor!" while pointing to my brother.

The teacher was shocked, but then she came closer to inspect the situation. She immediately asked my brother to tell my Mom that she had to go to school to have a meeting with her hi hi hi hi hi hi...

You know what she said to my Mom? She said that when she went to inspect my brother's desk, she realized that my brother's pants were dry, yet the floor WAS wet HA HA HA HA HA...And she said that she was sorry for having told them that she wouldn't allow anyone to go to the toilet during her lessons. Oh dear...Actually, my brother had done the act more than once already, simply to obey the teacher hi hi hi hi hi...Ain't he something? LOL!!!

Now I hope after publishing this post, this blog will still be considered family-friendly HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE...