Appearing for Japanese N5 exam

Its quite some time since I wrote any exam. Learning Japanese and appearing for the N5-proficiency test 2010 was an experience that kindled my mind. I always feel that learning something,makes you feel younger. !

Though we (I am learning along with some of my friends) were able to pick up the Hiragana and Kanji sections fast, the listening and understanding was bit tough, especially their accent. May be when we do the next level it may be better.!!!!

Vow to Learn something

Many a times I have felt a feeling of vaccum or a missing feeling in my heart. My heart will be so heavy that I feel that I have missed something.

If at any time I am idle my mind becomes restless. So to keep myself active, I have joined for the music and japanese lessons. I read somewhere, learning new thing keep your mind active and hence reduces the risk of many ailments that come at the later part of life.

Many ask me what I am going to do after learning Japanese. To be frank even I am not sure. But merely for the joy of learning, I wanted to learn something. Thats a VOW for me....There is so much to learn in the world....Knowledge is an ocean..katrathu kai alavu.. There is always more to learn!!!

Ikebana Exihibition - Chennai

After I joined the Japanese Language course, I take interest what ever related to Japanese. Though the Japanese cultural was there for more than a week I could visit only the Ikebana and Bonsai.

Ikebana is a Japanese art of flower arrangement. The exihibition at chennai displayed Ikebana and Bonsai arrangements.

http://picasaweb.google.com/rani.lalitha/IkebanaExhibition#slideshow/5458443931277205778

Solar Eclipse July 22, 2009

It is truely Nature's wonder - amazing and mystifying man each and every time. Its like Earth, moon and sun in a hide and seek game! Imagine the small moon hiding the huge Sun from earth!

I still remember - in my childhood days, after the Eclipse is over, we used to have head bath and go to temple. At home also, we used to do some puja's, give dhanams etc after the eclipse. Then only we should have our food. We are not supposed to eat during the ecipse time. Even the plants and animals sense this. It feels so quiet and calm during the eclipse time. People used to try watching the eclipse in cow-dung water, though I have not seen. Also am not sur how much it is true.

I sat with Abhi and explained the phenomenons fromt the newspapers. Probably a pin-hole projector is a good idea to view sun.

How to make a pin hole projector

The July 22 2009 eclipse is a rare one - it is the longest in the century or so. Also India is witnessing the total eclipse. I found that there is internet broadcast of the total eclipse in some sites.

Broadcast for Jul 22 2009 Solar eclipse

At least thinking of watching that! Have to wait and see how it will turn out.

Imported Children’s books

I have membership in BookWorld Library, where they have many imported childrens books - i think mainly from US.
Along with my son I also read these books. I wonder at the number of books they bring out for each age group. There are many things that fascinate me to read those books along with my son!

• The main characters are boys and girls of that particular age group to which the books is categorized.
• The story tell simple things like fighting with brother and coming to a compromise, clash between two friends in the class or school, going to the zoo with father etc
• There is nothing specially told as moral, but it is there all the time…. Advise should not look like advise
• Ah, and the pictures – beautiful depictions. Visual medium is the most effective way to understand things.
• There is one main point (which in turn points to my previous post - My dream about India by 2020). I still remember one book which touched my heart - where the friends go to a library and the picture shows the Librarian as lady in a wheel chair. But the story mentions her only as the librarian. The picture tells everything….And another one, where a cousin who throws temper tantrums come for sleep over….Soon the boy realizes his cousin’s talent as a football player. And many other books which shows people with special needs as part of our life… The child learns to understand and gradually it extends to the real life. I have never seen such depictions in our own books.
• Many of the classic books are available in a smaller version for the children like Christmas carol, Around the days in 80 days and many others

I feel our Indian children’s books have a long way to go.........

India2020 - my dream

Today December 3rd, is World disability day. Do we need a specific day to remind that we need to extend our helping hand to our fellow beings?
I was just thinking about this when I was trying to cross the main road near my house at Velachery, Chennai. I wanted to reach the Medical shop opposite and it took me 15 min to cross the road because of the traffic. There is no pedestrian crossing in the visibility and none of the vehicle seems to bother about the few people waiting to cross. If this is our situation, then imagine for a person with special needs or even children or aged people.

Then I was thinking the situation in India: (when I refer the problems below it is for a person with challenges like physical, mental, visual etc or children or aged)

• How will a person go the top floors of a building where there is no lift?
• How will a person access the suburban train in the platform across, where there is no over bridge or ramp
• Imagine the condition when you are having your nature’s call and the toilets are in different floors or on the ground floor…..
• I read somewhere people with calipers are not allowed inside the temple to pray…..
  ..............and the list is endless

Just like the great poet Tagore or our favorite President Mr.Abdul Khalam, I also dream for our India to be developed at least by 2020)

When people with special needs can move about freely
Just as independent as any of us
They can cross the road with out fear
They can go to any floor of the building where they want to go
They can commute by the public transport as others
They can access any public facility or utility as others
Children are not restricted education or opportunities
Due to their special needs……
When that day comes, India is a developed nation!

Till then let us remind everyone atleast on this day about the need for to extend their hand and time for their fellow beings who are not the same as them.

P.S:- Awareness walk or camp alone is not enough. More than the individuals, every corporate, institution, organization should come forward to support people with special needs.

Michael Phelps – the inspiration

It was unbelievable for me when I read that Michael Phelps was diagnosed with ADHD in his childhood. It has not stopped him from achieving great success. Now at age 23, the whole world’s attention is on him!!!!

Is there not a learning lesson for every one of us from this legendary story or even many other similar stories?

When we tell that some children are having ADHD, LD, CP or what ever it is, does it not show that we do not have the patience to go with them and support and encourage them? Every one of us has to analyze the reason behind this success and take our own decision as how our children have to grow. We have to find out the hidden talent in each child and nourish that.

How I sincerely hope that parents, teachers and ofcourse the society does not discriminate children and is able to provide a positive environment for every child to thrive. Especially in India we have to change and go a long way…….

Read on..

http://jockbio.com/Bios/Phelps/Phelps_bio.html

http://www.edgefoundation.org/blog/2008/08/15/michael-phelpss-adhd-is-not-an-attention-deficit/

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/beijing/swimming/2008-07-31-phelps_N.htm

http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/1998.html