Chingay 2020 - Colours in Harmony

Happy Chinese New Year 2021!

Actually in Japan, we don’t celebrate Chinese New Year, just ‘normal’ new year which is the beginning of the year. It’s interesting since it seems as if Japan is a minor country in Asia where people don’t celebrate Chinese New Year.

Until I stayed in Singapore where many people celebrate Chinese New Year, I personally didn’t know about it..... (shame on me.....)

In 2019, I had an opportunity to stay in Singapore for a half year and experienced very diverse Singapore culture.

One of events happened in Chinese near year period was Chingay parade. 

Chingay parade is a street parade and basically it celebrate Chinese Goddess and Chinese new year.

Basically what I understood back then was “something will be on! Let’s check it out!” Hahaha

Actually I got to know this parade right after I arrived in Singapore in September 2018. Since there is a relatively big Japanese community in Singapore called the Japanese association, I was looking for an opportunity to get to know more people starting with Japanese people. There is a well established Japanese community and they were asking for volunteers for the Chingay parade. I really didn’t know what it was but wanted to join them. However, they had a very strict rules who can be volunteered.

1. You should be a proper member of the community ( meaning you pay a good amount of membership fee for the community)

2. You must attend all the practices

I find those very Japanese especially No.2. You need to dedicate yourself to the community and I bet that says “you need to attend all the practices and also never be late!” Haha

Anyways I was not qualified and I gave up to be a performer.

The pic above is a performance of the Japanese community. 

The performances are based on countries and also companies. Every organization had a different character and I didn’t get bored of looking at them. 

It is kinda same feeling when I watch football games but somehow I got excited to see Japanese performance.....

According to their official website, in 2021, this parade will be done digitally. This might be worth checking out!!!! https://www.chingay.gov.sg/ 

I hope in the near future as the picture we can gather at the same place to celebrate and enjoy this kind of events tho.....

It's been a WHILE!

 

So it is actually 4 years !! since I uploaded the last blog.....

My Life has changed a LOT so as the world. Now there is COVID-19 and I feel traveling the world is luxury of the ancient times. 

I remember I have this blog but now I am surprised that I started to in 2014...... I was still at university...... 

I feel a bit embarrassed to read my old posts but actually it is interesting to know what I was thinking back then so I will just keep them.

So short summary of what I did while I was away;

I wanted to work more globally so got a job which gave me an opportunity to work abroad for a certain period.

Now I am back in Japan. Because of the nature of my current position, for career wise, it is good for me to stay in Japan and deepen my knowledge. Actually after I came back to Japan about a 1.5 years ago, I think I have learnt a lot!!! 

This blog's info was "A Japanese girl's life in Japan" but now I think I am no longer a girl so changed to woman..... 

The global opportunity gave me experiences in 3 different cities & 2 countries (Germany & Singapore) AND a lot of trips! so I will try to write about all those adventures!!!

*I think my English is getting worse and worse but hopefully you understand what I want to say not exactly but roughly.......

Aoyama Farmer's market / Sunday Walk in Shibuya

It's getting cold these days in Japan.
Moreover, the weather is not great.
I thought Japan is a nice country because of the better weather than UK, but without it, I don't have no other good reason to stay here....haha

Anyways, it was a beautiful day yesterday so I went for a walk in Shibuya.

I looked up and I have found there is a farmers market every weekend at the united nations university headquarters.

This 100% natural juice was just amazing!!!!

They sell vegetables, flowers, plants and food.
People were very nice and I felt it's good to buy something from people who actually made them.

After this, I head to Meiji shrine in Harajuku since there is beautiful green.

I asked my boyfriend to take a good pic of me again and again and he was bit tired of me lol

It was such a beautiful day :)

I wanted to take a proper photo with the cute cardigan but it was too hot and I didn't wear that for long... hehehe