Yay! Learning Japanese now~~!

  It has been four weeks since I began my first Japanese lesson; it's been four lessons so far. It's really quite amazing! My Japanese tutor is teaching Japanese in Singapore Polytechnic, and it so happens that she lives on the second floor while I live on the eighth floor of the same block.

  I've always had an interest in the Japanese language and culture. It's so nice sounding while the culture is so couth and refined. Now I've this opportunity to learn the language from a professional at a discounted price. It's a real privilege.

  Today was my fourth lesson and I was tired still, but I pressed in and managed to get through that tiring hour. So now that I'm done with that, I'm going to hit the sack and go to bed now.

Till next time!
Mark

And so I've simmered back down to myself; just satisfied for the moment

  I've told you about my mood swings and when I was deep down low in self-esteem. Now I'm telling you that I have now simmered down from a high - don't think it was all medication - to just being satisfied with myself at the moment. That doesn't mean I'm entirely satisfied with my physical status, it is just like how a curved graph (that one particular type which goes up, at it's apex it'll remain stable for a while. then come back to it's origin), only that I don't expect to go back down again. Maybe a few minor dips, but never down low; that I do not expect. What I expect, is that I maintain life at a stable pace.

  Now I am practising to walk and maintain my speed at a moderately fast pace. For now, I still perspire a lot, or maybe it was just the weather. Whichever it is, I intend to be able to walk consistently at a moderate pace like everyone else. Today it was definitely the weather that made me sweat so much, or maybe it was my shirt's material.

  Today I went out to meet my friend, Grace. She seemed tired from work, but was able to maintain a conversation with me. I'm glad there weren't any awkward moments! There was a slight setback though. I got her flowers, since it was just a few days ago that it was valentines, prepared a speech, and if God permitted, I had a song in case. Here's how the song goes:

Every time I see you
Every time I see you smile
I get warm and tingly inside
Nothing can stop me
God hold me

Every time I see you
Every time I see you laugh
It makes me happy
To see you oh-so joyfull

Every time I see you
Every time I see you cry
Although I haven't
I'll be sure to cry with you

I'll always be with you
If not personal
I'll be with you in spirit
If neither of the two
I promise you
God'll be with you

Every time I hear you
Every time I hear your voice
I'll listen to every word
(you say)
Listen to you
Note hand gestures you do

Every time I see you
Every time I hear you
You give me such happiness
You are the joy of my heart

I love you


I thought it out nicely, but I can't blame her. Although I had flowers, she said she doesn't accept flowers from guys. Although I wrote a song for her, it never came into play - time did not permit for it. Despite all these, she accepted my speech, and I was glad I didn't add in any lovey-dopey lines. Anyways, what I felt towards her was probably fond likeness for her bubbly behavior. Overall, the day was good(: I'm glad I went out with Grace; we're good friends and nothing more. Phew! I think I'd like someone even more if she had a fuller chest. Hee hee :D

Till next time,
Mark

Yeah! I'm at the apex in life.

  In this post, I will be sharing with you the difficulties I've had to, and am, experiencing. Then I'll talk about where I'm headed to next.

  So I'll start it off with what I'd call, "what I was before". Before my accident I was an active sportsman - mainly basketball - and a good student. When my accident happened, I instantly blacked out and awoke in a hospital. I have already mentioned in a previous post regarding waking up in a foreign land, how it felt and the entire experience; felt like an alien down on earth. Now, after all the trauma, I now accept who I am, I care more for myself. Sure, I believe life is about taking risks; it's an adventure. However, life is more than taking risks. It's also about caring for yourself. I've always believed in God, now it's different. Now I revere Him; respect and adore Him. My body is a temple where God dwells. So I must take care of this body.

  When I was recovering, I faced several difficulties. My right hand was badly impaired; really inflexible and stiff. My right leg had such a muscle imbalance, and was much weaker compared to my left leg (same with the arms), and I would have spasms on my right foot whenever I was tired, over-working myself. Now the spasms have reduced significantly and is much stronger - though not as strong as my left - all's well end up well.

  Now I'm practising art and am pursuing music. Now my ambition's to be a musician as well as an artist; composer and pianist and cajon drummer. The music I compose, is all for God. Already, I've composed one song and it sounds brilliant. Raw and acoustic. I'd like to upload a recording, but I'm still practising.

  Till next time!
Mark

My faith

  Recently I've been molding into the person that God wants me to be; not only have I been going to gym to get fit and healthy, I've also been going to bible classes that will help me know God better. In fact, this evening I'll be going to a bible class studying the book of John. At first I was slightly resistant to go for the class, but after watching the Bible - a series of episodes showcasing a summary of the bible in 6 episodes - I felt motivated to know God more and to spread His word throughout the world.

  I believe that my ambition to become a translator, a linguist, is because I am to spread the gospel to several areas of the world that don't speak English. I'm starting off with Japanese and right now, once a week I have a neighbour who is willing to tutor me Japanese. I can't say that everything will be smooth sailing, but it's a good kick-off to start with; a great start. Now that is my dream, to become a linguist to spread the gospel around to all people.

  My faith is there, I know it. I can't pray in tongues, yet. That doesn't mean I'm not a good christian or anything. Yet my faith is strong in him.

Till next time,
Mark

Bastille with the song, Pompeii

  Today, and from now on, I'm going to do away with the name Music Wednesday. Any day, I'll talk about any one song. Today I'll be talking about the song, Pompeii.

  The song starts off with an acapella melodic line that repeats in the chorus. In any case you're wondering what the song means, well the town-city Pompeii (within Italy) was destroyed somewhere-way-way-back by a volcanic eruption. If you look at the lyrics, "We were caught up and lost in all of our vices
In your pose as the dust settles around us" it simply mentions that the people of Pompeii, back then, were caught in the onslaught of the eruption. The song also talks about chaos amidst the city; that is probably when the city had run amuck. Now you have to know that Pompeii has been 

But if you close your eyes,

Does it almost feel like
Nothing changed at all?
And if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
You've been here before?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

  Now you have to know that Pompeii has been a tourist attraction for 250 years and counting. I'd imagine that if you were there (I haven't), I'd close my eyes and imagine a comparison between the past and present. It might feel like I had been there before, some weird nostalgia. I'm an optimist of the possible change since the volcano eruption. Alright I think I've been cross-referring over my head, but there is the possible co-relation I mentioned. Then again, it's up to you on how you'd like to interpret the song.

  Now have a listen and enjoy the song! Till next time! 
Mark




or enjoy the acoustic version! It's even better (I feel)

I'm refreshed!

  It is now coming to four years since my accident. Ever since then, I wasn't quite the same as before; not just physically, but mentally as well. The three years after my accident have had been grueling; big and sudden mood swings, those awfully dark days that are bound to pass. Let's just thank God those times are now over. Recently, my family including cousins deep in the family, had come together to celebrate Chinese New Year, and I met an uncle Ken who now lives in England.

  He's quite an interesting fellow, but sometimes he talks a tad too much. Overall, we get along swell. There may be a large age gap, but we somehow seem to click together. As he's only in Singapore for a short while, we met up today and had some talk over lunch and tea. He means well, but I find it a little annoying that he keeps feeding me books. After lunch and tea, we parted and bade goodbye to one another and I retired home while he went to my uncle Alan's workplace for I-don't-know-what. I enjoyed the talk we shared between one another, and I'm sure he did too.

  Apparently, he and I-think-his-whole-family, are able to speak Japanese! That, being an interest of mine, was somehow squeezed in as part of our conversation. He also shared with me that he was a dentist and as of late, a doctor as well! That's really impressive if you ask me. His brain must be a sponge! Of course, he credited all of it to God, I believe that is true as well.

  When I had reached home, I bathed and changed clothes. Then I played the cajon (for who don't know, a cajon is an acoustic drum box which varies in size, depending which you buy. You sit on the drum, right side up is cushioned. Then you use your hands to play the drum by beating against it with your palm.) and worshiped God. I really enjoyed doing so, I found I could play and sing the worship song, Majesty. I'm sure God is pleased as well.(:

  God bless all of you reading this. May the rest of your day/evening be pleasing. Till next time,
Mark