Transportation

One of the shocking things that I have faced since I came to Oregon was transportation. In Japan, we use public transportation all the time. When Garfy and I were in Japan, we took trains and buses to go everywhere.

If you are interested in reading our trip to Japan, here are the links for you!

(Tokyo, Tokyo Disney World, Nagano, Nara, Osaka, Kyoto 1, Kyoto 2, Japan)

I will never recommend you to compare transportation in Tokyo and in ... Oregon. It's just so inconvenient! I have to have a car to survive here in Oregon. However, there are always pros and cons about everything, so I am getting used to this.

Bus (city bus)
Capital city of Oregon, Salem, has public buses for everyone. The buses only run from only Monday through Friday. Weekend = no bus. Holidays = no bus. The bus which I take daily comes ONLY 5 times per day. If I miss a bus, I have to wait at least 1 hour to get another one. If I miss the last bus at 5:30pm, I have to wait... till the next day. Oh how sad. I have never experienced this situation before in my life. People's attitudes towards bus are very negative. A LOT of people say "only 'weirds' use bus." :(
Train
It's also very inconvenient (location and time -wise). Trains don't come every 5 minutes; they come every couple hours and we have to book the ticket through the website. However, I think it's really comfortable. (comfortable chair & enough space for everyone) If you are a Japanese or have been to Japan, you can imagine the inside of the trains... something like American style bullet trains. The stations are usually very pretty buildings. The train has a dining place where we can buy foods, drinks, and snacks. If I have to use trains to commute on the daily base, I will be not happy about it.

How do people transport?

Car!

People in Oregon use their cars all the time. Even within a walking distance, people use their cars. Oh, how rich. haha The people who have cars and who I met in Oregon HATE taking public transportation. It's interesting. We do have and use cars in Tokyo, but we also use public transportation.

Bicycle!! Walk!!

(especially when it's not raining)

The weather in Oregon is just so beautiful. Oregonians love sunshine! They appreciate how great weather it is outside and always talk about the weather. I had never appreciate the weather like Oregonians do when I was in Japan. Their life-style definitely helped me to realize what I couldn't pay attention to. It may sound so silly and boring to you. However, I noticed how boring my life was because I was seeing the world without paying attention to what we have already. My life has become more relaxed and peaceful. hehe

Since I don't have a car, I have to use the city bus, walk, or get a ride everywhere I go. It's a bit inconvenient for me as an international student since I want to travel around, shop, and hang out with my friends all the time. On the other hand, it's good for me because I can save some money and always have to walk (= a bit of working out?) haha

What is the transportation like in your city/country?

What do you use the most?

What was your experience with the transportation in a different place?

Talk to you soon!
smile

:)

Find out your Marriage Date

Since I write about the relationship as well, I thought it was an interesting article to share with you guys. This post is not about MY wedding date. I am not engaged or anything near that. haha
Before I say another word, here is a question for you.

Have you thought about marriage?

I have once.. well, more than once.. thought about "when am I going to get married?" I remember my friend telling me that her dream is to be a wonderful wife of a prince when she turns to 26. I am sure some of you have dreamed about being "princess" or "prince" of the most special person in the world in your life. or... some of you have heard somebody saying stuff like that.
Although I have talked with my best friend about by which age we will get married, I wasn't really interested in marrying someone. I didn't care about marriage as much as my friends did. I have always wanted to be a career woman! Work like crazy! I have dreamed about coming home and sleep immediately. I have a time for only friends and work!! BUT as I get older, people started talking about marriage around me. I went to some weddings. A lot of my friends on facebook are married now. Oh, I can feel how old I am really now. "Marriage" became more realistic with me.

Then, I saw this article on facebook. For my curiosity, I tried it. I would never thought I would click a link like this. It's almost scary how much others can influence me. Don't you agree? haha

It's a great app because...

• The app doesn't post the result on my facebook page
• I can decide whether I want to keep the result to myself only (or share with people)
• It takes a second to get the result
• It's fun

It's very simple.

1. Go to the website
2. Read the article (option)
3. Click NEXT under "Is it time I got married?"
4. link to your facebook
5. get the result

Here is a link to the page

Click and Jump to TIME Techland

I am not sure how accurate the result is.

But

just for fun..

aren't you curious to see your marriage date?

smile!

:)

Human Race

Today, in my Communication class, we learned about stereotyping.

The professor asked us, students, that

"How many races are there?"

All of us started saying

"million" "too many to count" "three"

As we discussed how many races are out there,

The professor put his index finger (first finger / forefinger) up and quietly said

"one"

"human race"

All the students became very quiet. It was more like nobody could say anything and argue with that.

That's it. It grabbed my heart and caught everybody's attention. I had to write this down on my note, so that I can share with you... so that I can never forget what he said and how we reacted.

Then, he asked us

"There is a girl who is half Caucasian and half black.

What ethnicity is she? What is her race? MIXED? It's not a race. What is it?"

Nobody could answer this question.

One of the students shared his experience. He is a "Caucasian" who has grown up in the US and has never been to any other country. He doesn't speak any other language but English. However, he is partially Asian. 

So, people asks him "where are you from?"

He answers "US"

Then, they go "No, No, No.. Where are you really from?"

He shared with us how frustrating that is. He mentioned that everybody is mixed and nobody is from here except Native Americans, but many people ask him the same question.

It happens to me so many times, but I don't have any problems because I am actually born and raised in Japan. It was just very sad to hear that from him. It sounds like, to me, that.. people treat him like he doesn't belong to his own country. Can you imagine that? How would you answer to the question? How would you react to that?

There is no clear line to separate people.

So

Why do we still force ourselves to put people into categories?

I just loved the answer; "Human Race." That was such a great lecture!

I really wish all of us can be friends no matter what categories we belong to.

I wish all of us can share the great moments together, love one another, and smile happily from our heart.

For "Human Race"
smile!

:)

Hello 2014 !!

Happy New Year

2014

To Everyone

from Vivian and Garfy

Here is my lists of what I will do in 2014. It's very realistic for me. haha

This year, I will....

1. Graduate from University
2. Find a full time job
3. Eat less
4. Travel to at least one different country in the world
5. Get a different hair cut
6. Try to be ON TIME
7. Make "working out" as part of my daily routine
8. Write a new blog post once a week
9. Get a driver's licence
10. Get some licence or certificate
11. Do all the homework
12. Decorate my apartment well
13. Find a new hobby
14. Get a year older (haha)
15. ENJOY rest of the student life in the US

Hope I can complete all of them by end of 2014 :D Do you make lists like this? What is on your list?

Hope you had a happy new year's event

Smile

:)