Yoneko
Dear everybody!
Good evening. Here you can already feel the autum, as the temperature got much cooler than before. We Japanese say fall is the season for study, food, sports or everything you would like to try :D
You might guess what yoneko is? Yoneko is my grandma's name, who already passed away 3 years ago. Around 10th to 15th is the season for praying the ancestors in Japan and that's why I always remember her recently. I learnt so much from her so let me have a talk.
She was born in Tokyo in 1925 and graduated women's school in 1941. After graduation she started work as an administrative staff in a company. I heard she wanted to work more, but the situation of the time did not allow her to do so. At the time before WW2, women usually got married before 18 years old. So her parents - grand grandparents of mine - made her married with my grandfather. A funny thing was, my grandaunt told me she was so angry at the wedding ceremony! My grandma, yoneko, wore the white Kimono for wedding, and walked there with big and rude footsteps and angry face! Even so she could not resist it, because children must not lose face of their parents. The other reason was -as you imagined, it was war time in Japan so she could not say that.
When I was a child, I sometimes asked her about the WW2. After I got into university, I traveled in China with my grandma and asked about it. But she always said she did not wanna talk about it, even not remember so I could not ask more. Still it was interesting to hear her life after WW2 - because I got to understand how Japan grew and developed as well.
In the end of the war, she was in Yokohama to avoid the bomb, and she was alone with her expecting baby and was even 19 years old! I was surprised by how strong and mature she was. She said all the people in Japan were very poor in the end of WW2. However she worked so hard for housework and rasing 4 children. She even told me that she slept only 4 hours every day to finish every daily work!
She told me one thing and I can not forget this word. 'the dawn is always breaking. You can not resist it but should try your best.' Everytime I remember this word, I feel I can understand her effort, hardship or everything she did. I am so grateful to her for telling me this story.
I am sorry that this blog is so serious. However it is one thing I would like to tell, and think it is interesting to know of older generation. It is almost history.
Dear Amy, would you be so kind to point my usage of 'even'? Or if you already finished blogging, it is okay. Thanks for your kindness as always.
Good night everybody!
Silwal> Thank you so much for your comment. Yes I briefly had a look at episodes of Manchester, I should go over though. The story of your childeren are very interesting. I will try more listening, which I am too lazy to do everyday. I hope you best wish for your family. I am sure your work attitude already made your english better. Regards,
Ana Paula> Glad to hear you are finally on vacation! I really wanna go to beaaaach tooo! It must be great to swim and play there, and see pretty-beautiful fishes. We might have caqui pie here but need to go to the fancy cake shop. ah, I'm getting hungry again, hehe! Hope you enjoy your vacation xxx
Adek> Thanks for the comment. I think you are very true. How to behave in line with that culture is even more important. I agree. Yes, I sometimes cover my mouth with hand, when I am laughing at something, or when I feel ashamed. Would you please let me know more about the behavior which you noticed? Thank you again for your helpful comment!
Sevinc> As far as I know, Korean also has the gramattical gender. I learnt Korean for 3 years so I wish it is right. happy week ahead for you!
Adriana> Well, I've worked just for a year and that's why it is difficult for me! I miss being a student but need to get used to my real life. Regards x
Annette> Thanks for the comment and nice to meet you! I am a bit relieved as I was not totally wrong. This BBC website has so many tips for English learners, so try exploring here. Best regards, yumi x
Pilar> I know how you felt when you found the email from your boss!!!! I also sent wrong emails sometimes. Apparently email is so convenient but dangerous as you can not make up when you have mistake! Don't worry so much, your boss will understand your situation. What is more, she would be also Spanish, who has the generous character. I hope your luck for new work environement:)
Comments
Hi Yumi! It was great to read about your grandma. It was amusing to read about her wedding day.I must say you have contributed a wonderful piece of memory to your web-diary. You reminded me of grandma, she was also married at a very young age,only 17yrs.She was born in 1932 and left this mortal world in 2000.There are only few days left of your blogging and I feel so bad that I missed your previous blogs, as I was busy with my studies and exams.But I will try to be regular in these few days.Naheed
Hi Yumi! Don´t feel sorry about the serious blog you wrote today. I enjoyed very much indeed reading it, and moreover the more you know about how your ancestors have survived on the difficulties in the past, the more you value your roots and who you are now. When I need strength to go on and reach my goals, I always remember the stories that my mum and dad told me about their lives. Oh, I guess I´m getting to serious too, uh Yumi? Aren´t I? :-) PS- Thank you Yumi :-). I´ve had a whale of a time on the beach indeed. All the best, Ana Paula xxx.
hey! thanks for your reply. Japanese experience in reducing disasters and their adverse effects is a successful example for many countries, and my country is not an exception. My responsibilities in my organization is coordination of educational events that is i am responsible for capacity building and awareness raising in the field of disasters. Besides, I am a fifth-year student yet and combining work with education is very tough I should say. That's it for now. take care.
Dear Yumi. My grandparents used to tell me stories about the Cicil War in Spain too. I know some of them are very sad, but it's an interesting way of learning about the story of my country. I would like to tell you how my grandparents got married during the war. As it wasn't possible to get married in a proper way, and they had to live together. A captain made a document where he said that Mr X (my grandpa) and Miss (my grandma) were married. Two months later, when the war concluded, they got married. Best Regards
I appreciate the story, but if the writer went ahead to reread several times this story, he/she would have avoided making too many errors.
Thanks Yumi for answering my questions, you are so kind. I like all your blogs, I'm just having problems with my computer, but it's beeing fixed. Very interesting what you've said about the elderlies and I agree with you. Bye
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