Grateful for the help that has come full circle✨ I am supported by everyone✨🌈 Please listen to 'Peach'🍑🎶
Thank you for visiting.
Your likes, comments, and additions to magazines
are always an encouragement to me.
A little while ago, I reached
1,003 followers.
Both here on note and in real life,
I am supported by all of you.
Thank you so much!!!
This time,
I will talk about how the things I did with my child at school
are connected to the present.
On Friday, I went to a class observation.
The class observation was held in the gymnasium.
The moment I entered, the first thing I felt
was the 'sunshine-like atmosphere' of the homeroom teacher.
The male teacher is someone who
went to Africa and Madagascar
for overseas volunteer work.
He learns, takes on challenges, and
happily shows that side of himself to the children.
I felt that this was conveyed to the children
more than words could.
His way of interacting also felt somewhat like a game.
Lighthearted, bright, yet serious.
The first-term class observation
involved an exchange via Zoom with a Japanese teacher
at a school in Madagascar.
The second term was a half-adult ceremony and badminton.
I received a letter of gratitude
from my child to me.
The third term included
a quiz using something called Kahoot,
choral singing, reading aloud, vaulting box, jump rope, pole vaulting, and long jump rope.
It was a packed program.
Things that couldn't be done during practice
were all successfully performed by everyone during the actual event.
The teacher told us later that
they had been practicing
even during their lunch breaks.
I cannot forget the look of joy on the children's faces
when they finally said, 'I did it!'
after trying so many times.
My daughter belongs to the 'religion of hard work'.
She puts in the effort.
She keeps going until she succeeds.
And she gets results.
As her parent, I respect her for it, but
I wish she would relax a little more.
This past year,
around my daughter,
there were changes as she gradually headed toward puberty,
such as friends getting involved in romantic entanglements
or talking about starting their periods.
While her heart and body are wavering,
she is still looking forward.
In that, I felt a definite sense of growth.
And one more thing
that stayed in my heart.
This year, my committee work was in the Living Department.
Morning greeting campaigns.
Planting flowers in the flower beds.
Watering them during summer vacation.
Participating in school health guidance meetings.
I was on the committee with mothers from different grades,
including the teacher who was in charge of my son's nursery school
and the school lunch nutritionist.
Even during my dark period last year,
while taking medication,
I was doing district committee work
while being told by my caseworker
to 'just try to get through it'.
Other mothers also
worried about me,
saying things like 'your face has changed'
or 'are you okay?',
and visited my house many times.
I think the other mothers
realized that I was in a state of depression.
Before I fell ill,
I was more often on the
'helping side'.
Back then, I was proactive.
Although there were many things I found difficult,
I was happy to be of use to someone.
I also enjoyed interacting with the other mothers.
But, to take care of myself,
I also need the courage to say no.
This past week, the new school year's officer activities,
honestly, I felt it was a heavy burden.
My son's class was closed
due to Influenza B.
I wanted to run away from everything.
When I want to regain my composure,
I listen to Quruli's songs.
Naturally,
I thought, whatever happens, it will be fine.
Then, the new school year PTA officer position,
to my surprise, another mother
took it on for me.
Now, it is my turn to be helped.
When I saw the mother
who naturally raised her hand,
I thought, ah, perhaps God was watching.
Watching what I had done in the past.
Watching how I kept moving even while pushing myself too hard.
Kindness that returned through actions, even without words.
I felt from the bottom of my heart,
'I am always being helped'.
Because it is a small town, the connections are deep.
It is not about feeling stifled, but perhaps
a cycle of helping one another. (?)
My daughter is growing in the classroom.
I am living within the community, being supported.
It may seem like I am doing my best on my own, but
in reality, we are all supporting each other.
Class observation day is a day to watch the children's presentations.
But at the same time,
it was also a day to realize
that we live amidst mutual support.
The year after next, the role of district children's association officer awaits me.
Even if I were to run away from it this year,
some role or another would come around to me again anyway. lol
Summary
What you have done until now
is not necessarily evaluated immediately.
But someone is watching properly.
Whether I was on the side of helping,
or now that I am on the side of being helped,
both are precious times.
Supporting others and being supported,
both are equally noble.
Children grow up.
And adults, too,
are growing amidst mutual support.
Now, it's my turn to be helped.
The very fact that I could think that way was a big step forward for me.
Bonus
Hinamatsuri is coming soon🎎
It's the Peach Festival🍑.
she says. lol
It was displayed in the classroom.
Both the traditional Nagasaki lucky charms, "Peach Castella" and "Peach Kamaboko," have a gorgeous and cute appearance, but their origins are deeply connected to Nagasaki's unique history.
1. Origin of Peach Castella
Peach Castella is a confection born in Nagasaki from the fusion of the peach, considered the "fruit of eternal youth and longevity" in China, and Castella, which was brought over from Portugal.
• Influence of Chinese culture: In China, peaches have long been considered sacred food that wards off evil and brings longevity.
(The "peach of eternal youth" eaten by Sun Wukong in Journey to the West is famous, isn't it?)
• A crystallization of Wakaran (Japanese, Chinese, and Dutch) culture: During the Edo period, Nagasaki was the only place in Japan open to the outside world.
The "peach design" from China (Ka) and the "Castella" from Portugal (Ran) were combined by the hands of Japanese (Wa) craftsmen and evolved uniquely.
• When do you eat it?
It is mainly eaten around the Peach Festival (Hinamatsuri) in March.
It is a Nagasaki staple to give as a return gift to girls celebrating their first festival.
2. Origin of Peach Kamaboko
Peach Kamaboko (crafted peach fish cake) also carries the wish for "eternal youth and longevity," just like Peach Castella.
• A symbol of celebration: In Nagasaki, "crafted kamaboko" is indispensable for happy events such as weddings, births, first festivals, and "ridge-pole raising ceremonies" when building a house.
• Why "kamaboko"?
At the time, there was a custom of sharing joy by using fish paste, which was a luxury item, lavishly and shaping it into auspicious forms to distribute.
• Peach shape: If Peach Castella is the star as a sweet, Peach Kamaboko is the star of the "return gift dish (celebratory gift)."
It is often given as a set with kamaboko shaped like a sea bream.
💡 Trivia
In Nagasaki, it is sometimes said that Peach Castella is "too sweet to finish!" (lol),
but recently, bite-sized ones and those with less sweetness have been increasing.
🎧Today's Recommendation🎶
"Momo" kojikoji
#GratefulToMyFollowers
#ThanksForTheLikes
#TakeCareOfYourself
#PeaceOfMind
#ClassObservation
#PTAActivities
#PeachFestival
#Hinamatsuri
#Momo
#kojikoji
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