2nd Week - Friday (180108) My First Zadankai!!!

Was cycling with Claire as usual to office. On our way, Claire saw the temperature board on the building's advertising screen and was shocked that the temperature then (8.30am) was only 3 degrees!!! I was shocked cause I always thought the temperature would always remain at 9 degrees! This explains why my hands, cheeks and ears become numb and hard from the cycling and usually takes 10 minutes to thaw! Haha... But I still prefer the cold temp than the temp in Singapore. Those who know me will know why! Haha!!!

During lunch time, went to buy Bento from a convenience store and while coming out of the building saw my big boss. He was waiting for other staff to come down to go for the brisk walk. I told him I'm joining them today but I will join them next week. Pai Seh sia!!! Must really exercise, if not I will grow fat in Japan. Hehe... (And today's Bento cost me 420yen. Aarrgghh... Must really prepare and bring my own bento lunch next time liao...)

The junction near my office building

After lunch, Claire and I both received e-mails from the big boss's sercetary saying that they have booked an Italian restaurant next Friday to have a Welcome Lunch for us with all the staff! Wow!!! I never imagine this would happen to me as an intern!!! I must really cherish this moment in Japan and live life to the fullest!!!

After work, which ended at 6.25pm today, Claire and I cycled straight back to our apartment cause we are meeting Mrs Hashimoto-san at 7pm at our apartment's ground floor. Just when we parked our bikes, we saw Mrs Hashimoto and she brought us straight to コタケ's (kotake) house for Zadankai! We reached just a bit past 7pm and Hashimoto-san was leading gongyo. We joined in but I suddenly remembered that I forgot to bring my beads and gongyo book! But Mrs Hashimoto lent me a spare beads and we chanted for 10 minutes. She also passed me a Japanese gongyo book which I can't catch up when reading jap words and so I just did gongyo without the book. It lasted for around 10 minutes and after that, we started the meeting. Hashimoto-san was the MC and he talked and create laughter for everyone. One difference about the japanese meeting is that the MC will give eveyone a chance to speak out and share their experiences with this Buddhism. (Of course I was not excluded! Haha...) I was really touched and filled with emotions at that time to really have the chance to experience and learn from the meetings in Japan. I feel like this is a dream and everything is just too good to be true...

Me outside Kotake where we have our monthly zadankais...

After a few members' speech, Hashimoto-san introduced me to the audience. I stood up and began to introduce myself. I spoke in Japanese about myself and explained that my jap was bad (とても ヘた ですね！！！) and the audience just laughed. Hashimoto-san said I'm an SGI member but poor japanese but Claire was not a SGI member but her jap was good. The people laughed again. Haiz, need to really brush up my jap everyday liao...

After everyone has the chance to speak, 2 YWDs came up and gave a quiz to the audience on Soka Gakkai and we must say whether it is wrong or right. As they were speaking so fast and the sentences so long, me and Claire just whacked and give an answer. Haha...

After their segment, a YMD leader came out and shared with the audience teachings on the Daishonin's Buddhism. He quoted from the book "The Daibyakuren" (大白连华）(someting similar to our Creative Life, CL). Although I could only understand less than 15 per cent of their conversation, I could see their passion and enthusiasm in wanting to share this Buddism with others, something that not all Singapore members are doing...

For the last speech, I think it was being concluded by the WD Zone chief. I think she mentioned about me about the gongyo part or something else which I am not so sure. She also mentioned about last Sunday's Sensei video (Oh no! I just discovered that Hashimoto-san has been delivering Seikyo Shinbun to my letterbox every morning but I never open it at all! When I went to open just now, all the newspapers were gone!!! I must go and sort out this matter asap... Cause Hashimoto-san said that this is my present and want me to strengthen my faith and reading and improving my jap at the same time! And that he would continue giving me newspaper until the day I leave Hiroshima! Ahhh, I was really very touched!!!)

After the meeting, while eveyone was packing and ready to leave, I suddenly have the urge and hold them back to tell them my resolution for my stay here in Hiroshima. (For this, I shall not tell you... Hehe...) And then, we went on to take group photos together...

Claire and I with the Jo Shibu

Taking a group photo with everybody!!! :)

The meeting lasted from 7pm to 8pm and then we went for dinner with Hashimoto-san and wife but this time, 2 other YWDs (Ton-chan and Emi-chan) joined in. We went to a Yaki-Tori restaurant and Hashimoto-san ordered a lot of dishes!!! (We ate until there were leftovers that Claire decided to put it inside her Bento for tmr's lunch. Haha...) During the meal, they informed me of other meetings, one will be on Mondays, another is YMD & MD and it is held on Tuesdays and there's a Youth Division meeting next Sunday). Claire is ok with the meetings and I shall keep you guys posted again then... :)

Me and Mrs Hashimoto-san inside the yaki-tori restaurant...

Delicious Tori Karage...

Hmm, can someone tell me the name of this dish? I forgot already. Hehe...

Ton-chan and Emi-chan joining us for dinner...

We ate until 10.20pm and left the place cause me and Hashimoto-san need to go office for work tmr (though it's a Sat but I have to make up for the Monday's "Adult Day" holiday) Lucky Claire, she don need to go back office and I wonder what she will do tmr...

Taking another photo outside the restaurant before going home...

And so yap, that is how I spent my first Zadankai... :)