Fifi

I guess the title says it all.

He sends me an email religiously every day, at around the same time, saying "Hello, how are you today" and general chit chat, but then when I reply, saying (for example) "im fine, how are you?" he just does not reply .. and then the next day will send me another email saying the same thing?

Why does he do this? Is it a bit weird? Anything I can do? Were only casually dating, so Im not really going to ask him about it, but it just seems strange?

we got divorced last year, and we have a 3 year old daughter, who lives with me full time.

I would love for him to see her more (at the moment it averages about once or twice a month) because I think its important for her to properly know her father. He says he is too busy with work, etc.

On a purely selfish note, I live far away from my family, and I don't have anyone else to help me.

I love my life and I love my child, but sometimes I just NEED a break, and seeing as its his kid ... I think he should be the one to help out. Any suggestions? Ive tried talking to him, but the end result always seems to be him saying "Im too busy..." ><

Im a single mother to a wonderful 3 year old girl. Just as a bit of back story, me and her father divorced last year, because he met someone else, and was generally not a very good husband or father. He only wants to see her once or twice a month, which is another issue in itself.

Recently I met a wonderful guy, who is gorgeous and very fun, and obviously knows im a single mother and is very understanding. The problem is, I am finding it hard to trust him. I dont think he has alterior motives, but I cant understand why a gorgeous fun etc guy would WANT to date a single mother. Am I missing something?

I only get (as I mentioned above) a couple of nights "off" a month by myself, and it seems unfair to get into a relationship with anyone.

Any thoughts or opinions?

So... recently I split up from my husband, i had to move kind of far away because our old house was too expensive. So now Im living really, really far away from my kids nursery, and the only realistic way I can get there in the morning is by bike. ( I have a bike with a child seat, also I cant drive, and it would take longer by taking a train or bus as there are at least 3 changes and a 15 minute walk either side of the train station. )

Currently, every morning I'm cycling from my home to her old nursery which is about 8 miles, and then another 5 miles to my job. And every night Im having to do the same route. I was fairly active before - I would do about 8 miles a day - but doing this route every day (it has a few really big hills and its with a 16 kg kid on the back of my bike) has left me absolutely exhausted after 3 weeks. I have to keep doing this until april at least, and was just wondering if someone had some tips to help me get less tired? Im going to bed pretty much at 9 every night, until 6 am, but Its just not enough. Im physically exhausted, not sleepy, and I know that exercize is good, but when you dont have a choice, its not fun anymore.

Any suggestions?

What do you think of this proverb?

I can read the kanji, and I can understand the meaning, but my Japanese is nowhere NEAR native level, and just wanted to know what you fluent or native Japanese think of it? Is it a really lame thing to say, or a beautiful thing, or wise, or what?

Basically, Its my favourite Japanese proverb, and Im thinking about getting it tattooed on me. BUT not if im going to look like a complete tool at the end of it... Opinions? Alternatively I like the "get knocked down 7 times but get back up 8" (七転び八起き) but EVERYONE seems to have that ... kind of common. And i like the one about the rain much better.

Many thanks :D

In the (English version of the) Tanizaki Junichiro short story (the blind mans tale), there is the quote ...

"Sadness lasts but a moment,

and once you awaken,

happiness was only a dream."

Does anyone know the exact Japanese translation of this? I looked online, but my J-E translation is really .. bad ...! Please help me native speakers.

Its like Im a snake, and the top layer of skin is shedding itself. Absolutely disgusting.

Can anyone tell me why? Or how to stop it? It looks gross...

I live in a really hot climate, (its very humid and 35 degrees at the moment) but this has never happened to me before. Im pretty sure its not due to sweat, (i have been alternating shoes too, to make sure its nothing footware related, and nothing has helped) and it certainly does not look like athletes foot. Its affecting the whole of my feet ( top and bottom, sole, ball, arch and toes) and has been going on for around 2 weeks.

The only other interesting point is ,,, Im currently doing through a divorce, and very stressed, and have been losing alot of weight. Could this be the cause? Any other suggestions?

kind of embarrasing, but ... does anyone know where I can buy (ahem) "western sized" bras in Osaka? I used to get them all in the UK and bring them back, but its been a while since my last trip and Im really running short on supplies. I have pretty big boobs, a Japanese 85 F or there abouts,so I would prefer an actual SHOP as opposed to buying online.

If ANYONE can help ... thank you so much...

A friend of mine had some terrible news, she is Japanese, living in the Uk and I am british living in Japan. I know a fair bit of Japanese already, but just need a hand phrasing these expressions in the best way、preferrably with the help of a native japanese speaker. Its kind of a sensitive subject.

よろしくお願いします

１−　I was so sorry to hear about what happened to ( DAUGHTERS NAME).

2 - It must have been a terrible shock for you as her mother.

3 - If it would help (Daughters name) please know that our home is open to her, if she needs to take a break or get away for a while.

Please help me :D

So ... yesterday I felt a little weird. I had a fever, but I was shivery. No cough/cold symptoms though and I went to work as normal. Last night me and my daughter came home and ate dinner, and then she went to bed, and I started feeling really nauseous.

At about 10 o clock I started vomiting, and Its been going on ever since. All last night, (I live in Japan) around every hour I would wake up and vomit, and now there is nothing left in my stomach and its just yellow bile.

Also (Sorry, TMI) my poo is completely liquid, and this only started last night.

I have no stomach pain, but I am still vomiting, the last time was just a few minutes ago. What should I do? Go to the doctor or just wait and see if its a bug?

Also ... I work in Social welfare, should I go to work today? Would I be contagious?

I would really really appreciate your insights.

Im going to keep this as brief as possible.

I am a Seishain at a medium sized Japanese company. I am based at one location at the company, but during the week I go to other locations, for meetings, or whatever my company needs.

I was at a different location for my last 2 hours of work this afternoon, which happens to be an elderly care day centre, and I was leaving to go home, and at the same time the customers were leaving to go home, and the staff were helping them.

One female staff member (who I have only had VERY passing contact with until now - only "aisatsu" really) came up to me, rubbed my stomach and told me I looked pregnant. I am not pregnant. Everyone knows I am not pregnant.

I am not "Japanese size" but nor am I obese or overweight. However I do have a child, so granted my stomach isn't as flat as it used to be. But I took this to be offensive, and pretty upsetting. I am not Japanese, but since I have lived in Japan for so long I have kind of got used to not being touched up by virtual strangers, and ... I was a bit flabberghasted.

I was pretty shocked at the time (no tears or anything though), and one of the people who I work with when I visit this centre picked up on it, and he said not to worry, as it was just a joke. But ... I still feel pretty uncomfortable. I think it is wrong to make jokes with people who are practically strangers to you. If It was someone I work with everyday it would be different ... do you think?

How should I deal with this situation? Go to my general line manager and tell her what happened? Find a reason not to go back? Or am I being oversensitive and should I just ignore it? I must admit, it has left me feeling uncomfortable, and reluctant to go back. I can guarantee that she would not have said it to a Japanese person.

Also .. I usually wear a suit to work, but today I Was wearing a slightly floatier dress with a pair of leggings. A little more casual than usual, but nothing inappropriate. And I have lost quite a considerable amount of weight recently. This comment was nothing more than nastiness, and I would appreciate some objective opinions on how to deal with it. Im not going to quit over it, but I just would like some advice. I really love my job, but its my first job with a Japanese (non english speaking) company.

Please be nice ... Im a bit upset.

I might be moving house soon, and as I have quite a lot of stuff (fridges, bookcases, bed etc) Im looking into hiring a removal company to help.

Does anyone know ...

a - of any companies which are reputable or you could personally recommend?

b - how much it will cost on average?

I will be moving within the same area, and I am currently on the 3rd floor of an apartment with an elevator, If that makes a difference.

I would normally just do it myself, but I have a small child and a lot of stuff...

and you have in your contract that you are eligible for the twice a year "bonus" how much would you expect to get? Can anyone give me any advice or experiences?

Im a foreigner working for a Japanese company in Japan (but I am a seishain) and In my contract it says i will get the bonuses in summer and winter. I was just wondering how much I can expect to get. My monthly salary is pretty average, and I work for a social welfare foundation, if it matters.

Does it vary by company? Or is it based on performance?

I recently joined the company and would rather not ask :) Dont want my honne to appear like Im only after the money after all ...

Many thanks!

So a bit of background - I am married, but my husband works 16 or 17 hours a day. He owns his own business and this year has taken 3 half days off. This is normal. I am for all intents and purposes a single mother.

I also have to work full time (9 to 5, mon to fri) and she goes to nursery while Im there. She really loves being at nursery and does not cry when I drop her off in the morning.

The problem is at night. I get her from nursery at around 530 and then take her home, give her dinner and a bath, and then right before bedtime she throws the horrific tantrums. (Although not exclusively then - sometimes she throws tantrums in the middle of the night, and also sometimes in the morning.)

I dont know how to cope. Im really struggling with dealing with this. I guess for working mothers juggling kids and dinner and washing is bad enough, but these tantrums (which last for approximately 90 minutes or so) just are killing me. It means im doing all the things I HAVE to do at like 10 or 11 at night, and Its just too much.

Please could someone offer me advice on what to do? We live in an apartment complex and I feel bad about letting her scream because of our neighbours. I know I have no support network, but I dont know how to get one. I live with my husband and child in his country, my family are 6000 miles away and he is never home. And he can NOT stop working so much so helpful suggestions like "talk to your husband" are not going to help.

I need practical advice. Tips to help me cope. Anything is very seriously appreciated.

I live in Japan, but in the eastern part, which have not had any major earthquakes. I want to say this before I explain - I am NOT trying to turn a tragedy into an "about me" thing. I just want advice if there is anything I can do.

So here in Kansai, we have had lots of after shocks. Im from a country which has no earthquakes EVER so the big one here was the first I have ever experienced.

The after shocks make me feel very dizzy and sick, and with "big" aftershocks sometimes I vomit. I seem to feel alot of aftershocks, while my co-workers and friends feel none. Im not scared of earthquakes, so Im almost positive Its not a psychological thing. I also suffer from really bad motion sickness (in cars especially) if that helps.

Is there anything I can do about this? Or is it something that my body will eventually get used to? Is there any medication I can take?

No nasty comments please.

The first one was off the coast of sendai and a number 9. It caused a Tsunami. A huge aftershock (at around level 8) was predicted in the following 72 hours.

The one just now (about 10 minutes ago local time) was in Shizuoka and a number 6.

Are they moving along the plate line? The TV are saying this was an after shock, but not the huge one they are waiting for. Was this the big aftershock? And If so why was it so far away?

I love Japanese horrors, and I just was wondering which one you like best? Either in Japanese or an English version is fine! :D

I was just wondering? I live in Japan, and all the ones I see seem to be semi permanent? They seem to wash out so fast and I need to cover my greys :(

also does anyone know the kanji for permanent on a hair dye. I couldnt seem to find it :-/

Let me start by saying I KNOW this is a cliche question, and I know people get frustrated by questions like this, but I have looked at the old ones and nothing seems to fit my circumstances. If you have something mean to say, please leave now.

Here are the facts. I am medically "obese" (not morbidly obese, my BMI clocks in at 33) however also have a (doctor diagnosed) large frame. I have a 2 year old child, and after having her it has been incredibly, incredibly hard for me to lose weight. I breastfed for 1 year and 3 months, but gained weight steadily throughout, regardless of calorie consumption exercise etc.

3 months ago I decided I had had enough. I do not WANT to be "obese" anymore, and Ive been making a dedicated effort to lose weight. Eating 1500 calories a day, and exercise. By exercise I mean - I cycle to work (30 minutes one way at fairly high speed) 2 times a week. On the days I dont cycle, I go for a 1 hour brisk walk, with the 14KG toddler in the stroller on top of the other things I do on a daily basis. On average I cover about 7-8 KMS in that hour. I sweat during it (Ive heard this is a good indicator of burning body fat) and last week, after gaining 2lbs I went to my doctor, who has run a thyroid test (no results in yet) but basically was pretty nonchalant and just said "these things take time and its best to do it slowly." I feel that he thinks I just sit on the sofa all day and eat donuts.

I eat alot of vegetables, and do eat the recommended carbs a day, although through wholegrains (brown bread rice etc) so Im avoiding the dreaded white sugars. Trying to eat small and often to help my metabolism.

Thank you if you got this far. I would really appreciate any advice you have for me. I feel that, at the weight I am now, weight should be falling off. Im finding it very hard to keep motivated to keep going on. I am gaining weight and not losing inches. Although my fitness is increasing, Its rather discouraging. I hope someone can give me some advice as to what to do, or what Im doing wrong. Please dont be mean. Im trying very hard.

over and over and over again. Its a pretty genki song, I think by a Japanese girl band, I thought it was akb48 but I cant find it anywhere and its stuck in my head!!! :D

Its pretty new I think, maybe within the last month or so?

Does anyone know the name of the band or the name of the song, or both?