Totto Chan and her quest for the welfare of the children.. An early morning on Saturday..

Totto-Chan, does the name ring a bell? This was a little gal who was a little gal during the second world war. A little gal who was different from others because she was more curious! In yesterday environment, this was equivalent to being naughty and unruly and children were not supposed to ask more questions nor disobey their teachers. Totto chan was expelled from elementary school. Well, Totto-Chan's mum did manage to find her another school and this school called Tomoe taught children to be themselves and used their curiousity as a method of education. Totto-Chan learnt in these classrooms of previously train cabins.

This was shared at the reading club yesterday at SYC. The attendance was not that fantastic but I think everybody did bring back some Totto-chan's spirit back home. This Totto-Chan really grows up to be someone true to herself. It is a true story of a Japanese lady who became a celebrity and an UNICEF embassador.

The Japanese version of Totto-Chan. The Englsh version is called Totto-chan - The girl at the window. This book has been translated into many languages including Indonesian, Vietnamese and Thai. Of course, I have the English version. Read this a couple of years ago and certain episodes in the book touches me so then.

I woke up early today not simply to blog about Totto-Chan. I had something in mind. While my laptop started just now, I was reading about Ikeda Sensei's dialogue with the Youth on GOYA. One thing that striked me then was being true to oneself and to live by one's standard rather than to others. When we stand up for ourselves, we truly find our purpose in life. It is a shame to live in the shadow of others cos other won live for us. We live only once and if we are awkward about it then, we really have live in vain.

This morning, I was reflecting on my behaviour and my dialogue and conclusion with myself was I want to meet people and talk to people with my heart. Ok, this does not mean to dig out my heart n ask it to talk. It means to dialogue with sincerity. In chinese, it should be 以心比心. Hopefully by using your "heart" to dialogue, it will reach into the heart of the other person who will reciprocate with their "heart" to you. This is also the avenue to start a heart to heart and meaningful relationship, a way to develop trust n peace among people. I talk about this because I find I might be too artificial at times and I don really like people to be that too especially those I consider as friend. I guess age and time and life do harden people as time pass by but we should not let this hard fact of life control us. Like what I was saying, we should live true to our life n not the standard of others. In using the heart, we appreciate associating with this person. After that, there is no regret. I would like to say to this person that I like at work (Whether or not he has any clue I like him), I have use my heart so please treasure it!

More picture from Taiwan and I would have finished the whole installment!



Another picture of damage by earthquake in Taiwan during Sept 21, 99. This scene was preserved in the Earthquake museum.

Last meal in Taiwan and the best! Japanese steamboat and eat all you can! Tuck in everyone!

Standing in front of the mall that houses the bookstop that I had been pursuing the whole of the trip. My final trip to the bookshop before heading home with lots of books.

The last leg to home. Taken at Kaohshiung airport, the corridor send passengers to their respective flight! Ciao n till next time, Taiwan!

"Trust is as difficult a coin to earn and it is easily lost - the trust built over a decade can be shattered in an instant by one offhanded remark or deed. A person who is not swayed from their chosen path, even during the most trying times, will ultimately find that he or she is trusted from virtually every quarter. "

- Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

An ept quote from Ikeda Sensei on today's blog.