Paper Quilling Workshop

About 4 weeks ago I went to the big shopping mall called Q’s Mall and found there one shop, which is artisans and artists wonderland. ABC Graft. It’s a big big shop, containing anything you need for the artwork. I was moving around between the shelves and there were lots of workshops going one there also, all kind of.
On workshop did catch my eye more than others. They were doing something I never seen before and I stopped to watch. The teacher asked, do I like it! Ooh, somebody is speaking ...in English! I said, I do like it and  very much and I would like to enjoy. She told me, that she will be there every forth Saturday and if I’d like to come, is better to have a ring to the staff,  before I come up and gave me a flier. It was a Paper Quilling Workshop.
I booked the place for me the same day and I was lucky, as there were just few places left. The date was 22nd October.
I had to cancel one other meeting on this day, as I couldn’t miss it.  As that place isn’t that far, only some 4 km from my mansion, I had a walk to get there.  Lately i’ve been walking nearly everywhere.
It was easy to go there, as it was near by the tallest building you can see.  Standing at 300m, Abeno Harukas in Osaka is the tallest skyscraper in Japan.

My class started 2pm. Master of this workshop was Ms. Keico Tomato, Master of Paper Quilling.
All together there were  6 enthusiasts. All others been earlier in this class, except me.
Two people made tree leaves, two made Santa, cannot remember the one made and I made  acorns.
As most people know, I’ve been a Menswear tailor 35 old good years. So making something by hands not strange for me that strange. But this quilling work is so different. Details are so tiny and I had real trouble to handle them:) But all this mastering was pure pleasure and I just fall in love with it.

If you have a good look, the necklace Keico is wearing, is an paper quilling necklace:) So beautiful and original!

I am so glad and happy, I met such a wonderful artist Keico Tomato. Thank you so much for teaching me. Love Eha

Yume Paratiis

My next training place was at Yume Paratiis. Director of Special Care Nursing Home, Yume Paratiis is mrs. Akiko Fujimoto and Sub Director is mr. Kenichi Kuratani.  This is the newest building of Ryusei Fukushikai  nursing homes. Yume Partiis is providing retirement homes for 120 people. Also there is the Day Center, open 6 days a week providing care services  about for 40 people. Customers are picked up in the morning from their home and called in and late afternoon there is provided a shuttle back to home.

This time my guide was Nayra to get Yume Paratiis. Usally she is working in the head office, but the reason, she game with me, she had a Yoga Class in Yume Paratiis, She is Yoga Teacher too. To get here first we took the subway Tanimachi line from Tanimachi6 -chome to Minamimorimachi (¥240). Then transfer to JR Tozai Line, and by  train from Osaka Temmangu Station to Amagasaki(¥220).
And a little walk approximately 15min.

                           

First, who’s seeing inside, is a friendly seal called Baro( i do hope I’m right with the name:)

                                               Lobby, anyhow lounge sounds much better.

Both sides on the lobby is beautifully designed internal garden, presenting for seasons.            Autumn and winter shown here. 

First three days I was working at Retirement Homes.  Introducing my self went quite smoothly already. After little ceremony, we all made morning exercises together. Then wiped hands with hot towel and served lunch.  After lunch we had a drawing and origami class. I got a welcome card from one customers 103 Years old. Just how amazing people are here.

On the second day 2 other carers and I went with two lady’s to the Sushi Restaurant. Company car took us there and back too of course.
                                   

                                                 

Sushi was very delicious. Two elderly ladies were very pleased, as they had a lovely time out.  What a refreshing experience and good topic to talk about even few days later on.

One day we made together  Takoyaki. Takoyaki is also one of the Osakas famous food. All 40 people from the unit,  called Forest, were included.
All staff  in different Yume  Nursing homes are absolutely amazing. They are always around, for and in and it’s the secret for the  good care of. Customers don’t even have to ask or say anything, as their wishes will be read from their face or eyes or from their body language.

On Friday afternoon all customers were taken downstairs, as there were concert going one Lyrics were provided and carers helped to follow the line, so everyone could sing with. There was one song, which , surprise, surprise! I knew too:) Black Cat Tango or Guro Neko No Tango in Japanese.

Last two days, Monday and Tuesday, I was in the Day Centre. The day starts here from health check, then customers will choose, what kind of exercise they would like to do ore would they like to have a leg massage first or warm up their legs in the foot bath. Or if anybody do  fancy a board came, there is much of choices to play it. Two fellows were playing hours different games with different game partners too . No body seems to never bored.

About 11 every started the rehabilitation training session. I managed also those two days to get Master class fitness training free of charge:). Even I walk every day at least 5 km, the elderly people here can do better I can. What a shame for me:) and I am quite fit and energetic too. Well but there we are.

Tuesday was one other extraordinary day. It was an Undokai. In English it’s a Sports Event Day.
It started just after lunch, and nobody didn’t complain, they are too full to take part of. We played a Borrowing came; after that Which Team have more balls in a basket. The last was  most challaging game. Three bags hanging sweet rolls inside. And you have to take this of with your mouth and run to the finish. It was also most amusing too.

                                    Physiotherapist leading the warming up for the Undokai:)

Japanese elderly people likes all sort of physical activities, and of course you cannot forget Karaoke. Karaoke is every day the last activity before going back home. All Japanese likes singing and they know the lyrics too. Maybe this is the secret, why Japanese people seems so smily and happy most of the time. This is the love of the music.

And at least but not last and once again I would like to say a big grand thanks  for all the people in Yume Paratiis for all those nice and lovely days You shared with me! Arigatou gozaimashita!

Last thing at Yume Partiis were Yume Olympics at Friday night. Three Yume Wards had competition who’s the best in helping Customer who has had the stroke. Second competition was who’s the best making bed. Next part was Recording and Reporting and computer skills. And last was Squeezing. Several questions about basics in Health and Social Care and translations from Japanese to English:)
I have only couple of pictures as after very busy day my phone just went black out.

Tomorrow is the new day and new place for waiting me. Ja mata ne! 

Miyakojima 2

There’s been a while since my last post. Six days at Yume Miyakojima were filled with lots fun and activities. Monday the 10th of October was the 10th National Holiday, called Taiiku no hi. It’s a Sports Day. All institutions are involved and everybody is participating. Schools are organising different kind of competitions, same are doing Kindergarten, Day-care centres, Nursing homes etc.

                                                     As far as possible! Come on!                

                                                                 Rock Paper Scissors

What I never told is how do I communicate. Well it’s a bit tricky thing. Mostly the communications with staff is in an old good English as much as possible. Staff here is trying hard to practice English and I try hard to practice Japanese. And we are working out quite well. If it’s not enough there is always body-language too. Poor language skills in Japanese allows  very limited conversations with customers though, so there somebody from the staff has to be always as a translator between me and customers. Even so we all had lots of fun and and good laugh. The main thing is you are with it and in it!
I remember, when I went to UK in 2011. It was my first experience to living and working abroad and   my English skills were quite poor but motivation was high. Even how hard I tried to learn the language by my self,  it did not get any better. After six months being in UK and talking and listening only in English, I dared already answer the phone!!!  But it wasn’t still good enough, to have a conversation with elderly people I was working with. You have to know the local accent!!! Elderly people does not catch what you saying, if you are not talking the way, they do. But after being two Years in UK I was abele to talk in local accent well enough, even my English grammar still needs improvement.
The same situation append, when I moved to Finland. I started at the beginning again. So I’m not expecting that I’d speak Japanese well  being here just a few weeks. But I’m doing my best!

On Tuesday morning I met Shirley. She’s been living in Japan some good old Years and she’s speaking fluently Japanese and English as well and few more languages. Next 4 days I had the great opportunity to ask about Japanese Healthcare and Welfare system. Also about general knowledge  about living and working in Japan.

Here are few more picktures, what did I experience during the six days in Yume Miyakojima.

                                                    There 100 paper balls made together!
                              Reusing existing materials. Its also a rehab for your hands and memory too.

                 Reuse. Japanese are reusing everything. There are examples for a litter bin origami.

                                          Preparing something for a snack-time all together.

                                                                    Baked Sweet potato

  Before can you start to eat, there are some very important exercises for your fingers, to hold the chops sticks.

In my last day we had a taste of one Japanese very famous Cheese Cake, I found in the caffe on my way to work. It was fantastically delicious! Yammy!

                                                   
                                                                           Yammy!

And at least but not last, I would like to say a big thank you for all of you at Yume Miyakojima for the wonderful 6 days filled with love and fun! Arigato gozaimashita!

Yume Miyakojima

Today I started my next six day training in Yume Miyakojima. To get there, was a bit of work for the brain. First we took the subway. (It did cost ¥240). Arriving to the Tenjimbashisuji 6-chuome, we had to take exit #11 and to walk to the North, about 10 min and then take the bus nr.34(¥210)!  Do you know, where the North is!? I don’t. Anyhow we (me and Akiko) got happily there just on time 10 o’clock am.

Morning started with health check (well not for the stuff, as they should be in the good condition before they leaving home anyway), but for the customers.

Director of Yodogawa Community Service Station for home care Yume Miyakojima mr. Ohno Yoshinori offering a nice cold cup of tea:)

That time I was drinking tea, all customers  in the Day center were advised find the seats. Then we sorted out, what’s the day and month and Year.

Next was my turn to introduce my self.

There we are finding out where’s the Finland :)

After that all the customers and staff together did their best in the morning exercises club. To be honest, last I remember, I had done so much exercises was maybe ten years ago:) And I am absolutely fond of it already after three week to being here . It just pure fun! There we are:)

Now everybody was quite hungry already, and the last lot of exercises before meal are fort the mouth and  for the fingers. That you can hold the chopsticks and use your mouth to chew and swallow.
And lunch can be served and began.

There is some rise with vegetables, salad, few french fries with kind of fried dumpling, miso soup of course, on other salad, cold brown tea and a dessert:) All very delicious and oishi too:)

After lunch there were a little rest time and after that we started prepare for the calligraphy lesson. Though,  If you ever feel, that there is possibility to loose your temper for a some very good reason, leave that all what’s was upsetting you and just take a calligraphy session. Nothing else matters anymore. You will be totally sucked in to this amazing world.

                          Every customer has their personal file, where all their art work are kept.

And throug out the day there is also a Physiotherapist on the place. The customers can have their rehabilitation one by one ore in the little group.

                                             There is some equipments shown for example.

Day filled with all sort of activities makes you thirsty and hungry, you will be offered a nice cup of tea ore coffee with cookies. 

And of course everybody needs to go to the loo. Please there it is!

My day finished at three o’clock. One of the office staff sent me to the bus-stop. On my way there was a Children’s nursery, which caught my eyes.

There was much more to tell about and show about, but I will finish with that for today.  Thank you for being with me! Arigatoo gozaimashita! Ja mata ne!

Tomorrow will arrive 4 other young students from Finland. We all be in the same mansion! Cool, isn’t it!