One of my company’s great benefits is the vacation policy which requires employees to take 2 weeks consecutive holidays from our own holiday entitlement every year.

This is mandatory and we will need a high-level approval in case of going to against the policy for some special reason.

Maybe it’s normal style in outside Japan, still unusual in Japan, obvious in this survey result conducted by Expedia.

Anyway thanks to this long vacation, we can have enough time to refresh in various way, and as for me, always spend most days for travelling.

Vietnam & Cambodia in 2007, Okinawa Japan in 2009, Spain in 2010, Bali in 2011.

And 2012...

is NY!!!

It's gonna be my second visit but this time traveling alone.

Actually, at this time next month I will already be starting the first day of my NY stay at the rented apartment in Manhattan...

Ahhh, I can hardly wait!!!!!

before...　おもちゃみたいなパプリカ

after...　　

肉詰めー

もちろん赤ワインと　

褒めポイントは

味じゃなくて

残業帰宅後に、いちから作るところ

えらいぞ、私っ

Here is today's lineup :)

papaya 1/2

apple 1/2

banana 2

komatsuna(Japanese Mustard Spinach) 2

water 100ml

Simple yet tasty and effective.

Oh, and I renewed my nail art yesterday. This time the ethnic one.

Looks like "early summer", isn't it?

Precious GW is left only 2 days! Have an excellent time ahead

I could see rubbles were almost cleaned up and the road was paved already.

While having BBQ with local people currently live in a temporary house, some of them told us, with smiling eyes, that they are planning to build their own new house at the higher ground by cutting down trees.

Felt the evident progress there and at the same time, I got energy from victims who are thinking strongly and proactively the future of themselves and their hometown.

On the other hand I saw the unchanged picture at Minami-sanriku town, our second destination.

There were still nothing but the disaster rubble piled up everywhere.

I was really shocked by facing the real of what Tsunami did to people lived there, just stood there for a long time in silence.

Nevertheless such circumstances, we could find the “power spot” also in Minami-Sanriku which makes both locals and visitors energetic. That is 福興市 , a local market temporally held for the recovery.

Locals working there have an energetic smile and I again got the power from them. Not only the power but also got an Abrafu, freeze salmon, fried whale meat and fried octopus.

They all are yummmmmmy!!!

Fulfilling and meaningful two days for me.

Without media report, the memory of 3.11 may quickly fade away even it was such a horrible disaster. I am feeling that we should keep myself updated by myself to find out the real...

I was not sure what goes on at the disaster area now, what has been getting well, what has been neglected and how people there are feeling.

So last weekend I visited Miyagi pref. for volunteer work, destined for Kesennuma-city and Minami-sanriku town.

Tohoku Area is now going into the high season for cherry blossoms.

On the way we dropped in the plum farm, where has almost been recovered from the disaster. We could enjoy the plum and the cherry blossom at the same time there, too beautiful with blue sky.

Often said as Hana-Yori-Dango, I naturally bought Umeboshi, the sweetest one.

Not for with rise but for with sake.

We had one-day stay at Sugawara in Naruko Onsen-kyo, where is known for a hot spring inn with 9 types of baths containing 9 types of spring natures. Amazing!

To me so far, things seemed to be getting better in the past year.

But soon I was going to realize that the speed for recovery is totally different depending on the area, not only because of the interior or the coast.

<continuing...>

to work : The Devil Wears Prada, Working Girl, Erin Brockovich

to love ( I sometimes get lazy about love...) : He's Just Not That into You, SATC

You know, very stereotypical choice for women in 20s, yet they have a certain power to me and I do get motivated, lightly and happily.

Just imagine myself working at Manhattan, wearing stylish clothes like Andy(Anne Hathaway), having full of courage, charm and a quick mind like Erin(Julia Roberts) or Tess(Melanie Griffith), and

living with too-cool boyfriend like Neil(Ben Affleck) or Mr. Big(Chris Noth)...

Great imagination isn't it? I heard that day dreaming is cost-free...

Anyway, I was at some seminar the other day, the seminar for women interested in global career, where one of female leaders was saying..

"Stop expecting someone to motivate you, be a self-motivator".

So I guess Im already at self-motivator - beginner level.

I feel most people tend to change things around them when spring comes.

Not only materially, physically, but also emotionally...

This morning, I changed my tablecloth.

Recommended by one of my best friends.

Here is the very basic one having apple, kiwi, orange, spinach and some water.

Perfect Saturday brunch

My baseball season 2012 has been opened today and here is the beginning game.

Enjoyable match, though couldn’t see Ichiro hitting…