Another great story of a great man.

After loosing his wife last year, Tombo-san, our Japanese father, decided to make a pilgrimage as a tribute for her and to take the path of inner reflection. The Shikoku Pilgrimage is series of visit to 88 temples in Shikoku island of Japan. The pilgrimage can be done in different ways, by car, bus or other mode of transportation, or on foot. The last one has been chosen by Tombo-san.

So in the o-henro’s (that is how a pilgrim is called) costume - white clothes, sedge hat called sugegasa and a walking stick, he walked from temple to temple. All the compulsory 88 ones and some additional Bangai (temples which not included in the compulsory).

Eight hours in a day, with 8 kilogram bag on his back (included in it a laptop), under the heat of summer sun, under the chilled rainy days of rain season, in fourty six straight days. Tombo-san completed the one thousand and four hundred kilometers walk, July 2006.

I asked him, what did he think when he was in the walk?  He said, it is the essence of the journey. To think about your life.

Only 40% of the pilgrim able to complete the journey. Many stop after some blister developed on the feet, change mind after a week of very painful of long and hard walk, etc. But not Tombo-san. He walked and walked and walked. His will as strong as the hardest rock. His love as deep as the deepest ocean.

I should not forget to mention that, he was 72 when he did this pilgrimage. Yes, seventy two years old.

So next time we need to walk a bit to the mall/building entry from the far parking space we got, or any small trouble came on our way, let’s quiet and think for a while, before complain.

Tombo-san, you are such an inspiration.

For you who curious to see (not to taste!) how the Dendekesuika Watermelon from Toma Town in Hokkaido island of Japan which earlier this month sold at fruits auction for 530.000 yen equal to $ 4.355 equal to Rp.39.200.000 looks like, here it is:

Yes, of course it is seedless : )

Photo credit: Fareastgizmo.com

I hate it when people going around the world to make a simple point. Come on, I don’t want to be late for my next meeting.
I got only two minutes to run to second floor for my next meeting. This is important appointment. Hard to get and I’ve been looking toward it from yesterday.

The secretary caught me and said " Dian, I moved your 5PM meeting to room 1055, N-san need 1058 for….." I just run and said "Catch me later…"

I was some minutes late but was welcomed nicely. A man in white suit with big smile on his face.

"We’ve been waiting for you. Would you change to this, please?" said him while handed to me the purple jump suit wrapped in the plastic from the dry-cleaner.
"Once you changed, please lay head down, call me and I will be right with you."

I put down my laptop that I haven’t got chance to put back on my desk and start to put on the costume. Laid myself down and said "I’m ready!"

He came back with his never ending sacharin smile (sweet but artificial).

" I can see from my data here that you have a lot of late night teleconference schedule? You must feel tired? "
" Yes I am. That is why I have so fatigue muscle and need you to help me with that"
" Ok, let me see what I can do"
With that, he started to massage me.

For the next forty minutes, I was hypnotized with the perfect firm squeeze on my muscles with the background of earth music. Some hands just got really the gift for good massage. I almost fell a sleep. I forgot that this forty minutes was sandwiched between some project meetings with many demanding parties.

This small room in this huge office building, is a sanctuary, a small escape from the jungle of business.
Thanks to the company to care about our wellness. This massage service is provided by the company, 70% subsidized. Employee still need to pay small money. It’s ok, otherwise people will forget to work and queue for the free refreshment.

Forty minutes  flew so fast.

I was refreshed but instead of the next meeting, I really wish my cozy bed will be my next destination.

I’m not that lucky.

I heard countless time from girlfriends or female colleagues that she wished to quit the 9-5 career world and dedicated the life to the kids and home. I myself have that feeling deep in my heart. Perhaps, with the mother and wife role on our shoulder, each of us have this feeling. Remember that guilty feeling to leave our kids home with nanny or at day-care-center? That guilty for not able to spend enough time to help kids with the homework, or just to play with? To rush all the love in only 2 hours (if lucky not trap in the traffic-jam) time frame we have with our loved ones every evening? Leave kids when they are not feeling well, bad grade at school, miss the school event, even pushed us more to feel guilty without reasonable doubt. After all, isn’t mothering is one of our main role in this planet earth?

I think, it takes hell of courage to really quit and shift from professional career at office, to a stay-home-mommy/wife.

Why? This is my opinion from the perspective of a working woman:
1. In this world of emancipation. We women feel we are equal with men. Equal in ability, right, opinion. Having work, or even better, a good career supports and proof women to have the equal position. So deep down there, women somewhat feel insecure, if leave this fancy corporate world and turn to stay home, deal with house chores and watch the nowadays low quality programs, gossiping around with friends and not updated with the chic professional world, will leave her in the unequal position, perhaps affect the self-esteem as well and worse become worst, affect your relationship too.
2. Changing the status from money-maker to money-spender. Even your husband take-home is much more than enough, being a modern, educated, smart women, you still feel it is uncomfortable to spend and spend. Before, you don’t need to think twice before spend $40 on a Channel lipstick, spend $80 for nice dinner in a girls-night-out because you have this feeling like: Oh I work so hard, I earn, so it is OK to treat myself this small present.
But imagine, if you stay home, income-less. Not only you have this guilty feeling to spend, you would unintentionally feel like you need to justify the reason to spend that luxury to your beloved money-maker. You don’t want him to think you are not a money-wise person.
3. Afraid to loose the social tittle of so-called career woman. Not to mention if you work in a Fortune 100 company. Or a rocket high career.
4. What will I do at home when junior go to school? I am not that type to gossip around with the neighbors, I can’t enjoy the day-time TV soap opera. I can’t go to shopping mall whole day, whole week, whole month… I can’t have chat-lunch with many friends gossiping around. My intelligent brain will suffer. I used to be chased by datelines, client meetings, project assessments, complex deals, business trips around the world. My schedule always full for every single hour for the next three weeks. Staying home? What will I do? I will be die of boredom.

This list can continue. And yes, as a professional, I am trained to provide the reasons, the justification, the root cause and the alike.
But, no matter how long and convincing the list will be, this is my honest answer to the each point:
1. It is only our women brain think we need to proof that we are equal. This is not 1950. Our modern husband think we are equal. If not he may not choose to marry you, a girl who has career aspiration at the first place. There is no requirement to proof anything.
2. Who say stay-home-mom can’t earn. There are selection of part time job. Or even better, create your own job. Enhance your hobby to a money maker project. And after all, being more considerable in spending is a good thing.
3. This is that time to show the world the new status of stay-home-mom. That not all of them is TV, gossip, shopping lover. A lot of us are smart mom. That is  our personal choice to leave the glitters of corporate world to work on more rewarding job.
4. If we open our eyes, there are tons of smart activities can be done. Community service. Social organization. Hobby club. Enhance education and skill. Stay-home-mom can be busier that ever. Proven. How many of you feel more exhausted after weekend compare to weekday? I do. Who says handling two super active toddlers is easier than handling a grumpy boss?

So, this writing is dedicated to a friend. Who last week told me that she quit the job and is now a stay-home-mom. I told her, why? It is not your type! You should work to develop your self, etc.

I quiet for sometime and think. This is my take on your decision:
It took hell of courage (which until now, I and millions other women haven’t been so lucky to have it). I hope my time come soon.
What ever you decide, to stay home or search another job, please decide wisely. My points above can be for your input.
Congratulations, dear.

I thought it was over many years ago. But I was a bit surprise some months earlier when Raisa asked me if she can get Tamagotchi if she behave well. Still I remember this tiny little egg-shape digital game was a hit in Indonesia like ten years ago or more. But then, like many other seasonal-hit toys it just disappeared.
Then I saw Raisa’s friend brought it with her when she visited our home. Apparently it is still got a market here.
Hubby, at last gave his approval even he doesn’t like digital kind of games which keep the kids’ eye on the screen and lead to addicted. (Well, wait until the DS Nitendo and PSP attack to come so soon!)
But when I explained that this toys teach some responsibility as you have to keep the Tamagotchi from egg, hatched, baby till grow by caring of their food, toilet, health, etc. he, reluctantly, agreed after Raisa behaved so well when I was out of home for days for biztrip. I hope this toy will also let her know that it is not easy for Mommy and Daddy to care of the kids and it is good for her to see things from the eyes of the care-giver, not only the care-taker.
Beside, this is better than the real pet kitten or puppy which Raisa has been asked to keep for several times.

I was amazed to see the Tamagotchi collection offers at  our neighbourhood’s Toys R Us. They have this Ura-Tamagotchi, Oden-Tamagotchi, Tamagotchi School, Tamagotchi Sports and many other types that I can’t recall the name. Basically it is more advance selection involve the personality of the Tamagotchi, the education, the hobby, etc. It also can communicate to each other using the rays which all type has. Can be connected to your mobile phone. Some machines at games center are available that you can connect your Tamagotchi to it and your "baby" can go to selections of amusement park, restaurant, dating service(!), etc. This Bandai company, the producer of this games, really know how to make money.

Raisa ended up choosing the Ura-Tamagotchi which she named her "baby", Urara. So Raisa carefully care of Urara-chan. Feed her when she was hungry, bring her to toilet when she got the pressure, read her book when she got bored, bring her to doctor when she felt bad. All done by pushing one of the three buttons on this tiny blue colored digital egg. Within days, Urara-chan claimed her self as a healthy and happy two years old girl, weight 18 grams.

Monday came and Raisa need to go to school, she was worried. Children should not bring toys to school. I remember years ago even some school banned Tamagotchi as it distract student from lesson when their "baby" cried for looking for attention. So she got to leave Urara-chan at home. But Urara-chan can died if nobody feed her, bring her to toilet and care for her health. She can died buried on her own stools, super duper bored plus rocket high fever like 42C without no one brought her to doctor. Then, Raisa have to encounter the experience of death of close "person", and to make the matter worse that person is the one of her responsibility. Oh…I should think about this before…

So today sitting nicely on my working desk, Urara-chan. Which from time to time screams for food, toilet, walk to the park and else. I asked the secretary to take a look at the "baby" while I was in the meeting room.

I think after a while they will ban Tamagotchi at the office. Until then, I need to think on a strategy here.

I thought it was over many years ago. But I was a bit surprise some months earlier when Raisa asked me if she can get Tamagotchi if she behave well. Still I remember this tiny little egg-shape digital game was a hit in Indonesia like ten years ago or more. But then, like many other seasonal-hit toys it just disappeared.
Then I saw Raisa’s friend brought it with her when she visited our home. Apparently it is still got a market here.
Hubby, at last gave his approval even he doesn’t like digital kind of games which keep the kids’ eye on the screen and lead to addicted. (Well, wait until the DS Nitendo and PSP attack to come so soon!)
But when I explained that this toys teach some responsibility as you have to keep the Tamagotchi from egg, hatched, baby till grow by caring of their food, toilet, health, etc. he, reluctantly, agreed after Raisa behaved so well when I was out of home for days for biztrip. I hope this toy will also let her know that it is not easy for Mommy and Daddy to care of the kids and it is good for her to see things from the eyes of the care-giver, not only the care-taker.
Beside, this is better than the real pet kitten or puppy which Raisa has been asked to keep for several times.

I was amazed to see the Tamagotchi collection offers at  our neighbourhood’s Toys R Us. They have this Ura-Tamagotchi, Oden-Tamagotchi, Tamagotchi School, Tamagotchi Sports and many other types that I can’t recall the name. Basically it is more advance selection involve the personality of the Tamagotchi, the education, the hobby, etc. It also can communicate to each other using the rays which all type has. Can be connected to your mobile phone. Some machines at games center are available that you can connect your Tamagotchi to it and your "baby" can go to selections of amusement park, restaurant, dating service(!), etc. This Bandai company, the producer of this games, really know how to make money.

Raisa ended up choosing the Ura-Tamagotchi which she named her "baby", Urara. So Raisa carefully care of Urara-chan. Feed her when she was hungry, bring her to toilet when she got the pressure, read her book when she got bored, bring her to doctor when she felt bad. All done by pushing one of the three buttons on this tiny blue colored digital egg. Within days, Urara-chan claimed her self as a healthy and happy two years old girl, weight 18 grams.

Monday came and Raisa need to go to school, she was worried. Children should not bring toys to school. I remember years ago even some school banned Tamagotchi as it distract student from lesson when their "baby" cried for looking for attention. So she got to leave Urara-chan at home. But Urara-chan can died if nobody feed her, bring her to toilet and care for her health. She can died buried on her own stools, super duper bored plus rocket high fever like 42C without no one brought her to doctor. Then, Raisa have to encounter the experience of death of close "person", and to make the matter worse that person is the one of her responsibility. Oh…I should think about this before…

So today sitting nicely on my working desk, Urara-chan. Which from time to time screams for food, toilet, walk to the park and else. I asked the secretary to take a look at the "baby" while I was in the meeting room.

I think after a while they will ban Tamagotchi at the office. Until then, I need to think on a strategy here.

I thought it was over many years ago. But I was a bit surprise some months earlier when Raisa asked me if she can get Tamagotchi if she behave well. Still I remember this tiny little egg-shape digital game was a hit in Indonesia like ten years ago or more. But then, like many other seasonal-hit toys it just disappeared.
Then I saw Raisa’s friend brought it with her when she visited our home. Apparently it is still got a market here.
Hubby, at last gave his approval even he doesn’t like digital kind of games which keep the kids’ eye on the screen and lead to addicted. (Well, wait until the DS Nitendo and PSP attack to come so soon!)
But when I explained that this toys teach some responsibility as you have to keep the Tamagotchi from egg, hatched, baby till grow by caring of their food, toilet, health, etc. he, reluctantly, agreed after Raisa behaved so well when I was out of home for days for biztrip. I hope this toy will also let her know that it is not easy for Mommy and Daddy to care of the kids and it is good for her to see things from the eyes of the care-giver, not only the care-taker.
Beside, this is better than the real pet kitten or puppy which Raisa has been asked to keep for several times.

I was amazed to see the Tamagotchi collection offers at  our neighbourhood’s Toys R Us. They have this Ura-Tamagotchi, Oden-Tamagotchi, Tamagotchi School, Tamagotchi Sports and many other types that I can’t recall the name. Basically it is more advance selection involve the personality of the Tamagotchi, the education, the hobby, etc. It also can communicate to each other using the rays which all type has. Can be connected to your mobile phone. Some machines at games center are available that you can connect your Tamagotchi to it and your "baby" can go to selections of amusement park, restaurant, dating service(!), etc. This Bandai company, the producer of this games, really know how to make money.

Raisa ended up choosing the Ura-Tamagotchi which she named her "baby", Urara. So Raisa carefully care of Urara-chan. Feed her when she was hungry, bring her to toilet when she got the pressure, read her book when she got bored, bring her to doctor when she felt bad. All done by pushing one of the three buttons on this tiny blue colored digital egg. Within days, Urara-chan claimed her self as a healthy and happy two years old girl, weight 18 grams.

Monday came and Raisa need to go to school, she was worried. Children should not bring toys to school. I remember years ago even some school banned Tamagotchi as it distract student from lesson when their "baby" cried for looking for attention. So she got to leave Urara-chan at home. But Urara-chan can died if nobody feed her, bring her to toilet and care for her health. She can died buried on her own stools, super duper bored plus rocket high fever like 42C without no one brought her to doctor. Then, Raisa have to encounter the experience of death of close "person", and to make the matter worse that person is the one of her responsibility. Oh…I should think about this before…

So today sitting nicely on my working desk, Urara-chan. Which from time to time screams for food, toilet, walk to the park and else. I asked the secretary to take a look at the "baby" while I was in the meeting room.

I think after a while they will ban Tamagotchi at the office. Until then, I need to think on a strategy here.