My Name.

People has been asking me number of questions regarding my name... so here is the quick answer.

One of them is, "Is Kuristina your real name?".

The answer is yes. My father chose the name "Christina" (there was Margaret, Daisy,Caroline.... ) when I was enrolled in Catholic elementary school. Long ago, it was not easy to enroll your kids to International or any English speaking school. You either had to be an expatriate working in Japan or had jobs for a foreign company to get the recommendation needed. My father, being the genius he was, decided we be "baptized" so we can enroll in Catholic school here- where all classes are taught in English.

The spelling "Kuristina" came about when I moved to New York. When I got accepted in my high school  (RLS) my creative sister decided, accidentally- on- purpose, to misspell my name. Her reason was since I did not go to church and did not represent Christ (lol) it should be severed from religious connotations. The change though, made me more comfortable with my own name.

So this is the story of my name and the spelling (^;^)/.

A year in review... Good bye 2010 and Hello 2011.

Work:  Started new job's... yes plural... one is very white-collar and those who know me well knows I am not a corporate person. The recession here hit hard too and my other work as a writer/ translator got moved around a bit b/c the magazine companies either got shut down or bought out.

Health: I have been feeling really run down so one major shift I did was to adopt raw food diet. It worked really well here during spring and summer but I had to wean off it during cold seasons, like now. It chilled my body too much to do raw with all meals. Not to mention my family started to complain they felt like farmed animals, grazing on greens. lol.

My Aunty had been in and out of the hospital this year too. I made her some soup whenever I visited her. She is a strong, strong woman.... she fell and hit her arm and her leg- fracturing in two parts. She went thru operation and rehabilitation like a trooper! She is over 80 and recover almost perfectly. Makes me realize how important balanced diet is. She does not drink or smoke and eats everything in moderation.

Laptop: I am in midst of saving to switch to another computer this year- at the moment the consciousness of my poor apple is sporadic- this affects my work at home too. I am debating whether to go back to Windows or stick with my Apple... 

Photo's: I took many pictures and some video's but had not found the time to edit them!!! So it will be something I will do in 2011.... 

I am just glad I made it thru 2010. I feel it cleaned off many unnecessary ties with people who were not meant to be so helpful in our life. When there is an opening, another will come.... (^^) 

Random Photo's.... (^^)

Hello Everyone, 

I do not share much of my other activities here but since this is not just a blog for Kyokushin, I would like to start by sharing some random picture's from 2010. 

The small bowl above is called "Makkori" a traditional Korean sake. Sweeter version of Japanese one so by the time you feel tipsy, usually you are already drunk. This was a home made one at my Japanese uncle's restaurants.  

This is my aunty- my mother's sister. She is amazing really for her age. Can you believe she is in her 80's? 

As naughty as any preteen can be, our son is being prepared for the buzz. 

More to come.... soon... 

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2011....!

"Most people live their lives on the surface of their being, exposed to the touch of external influences. And when they meet some unpleasant being behaving just like the way they behave, they become extremely upset.

You must always step back into yourself. This means that you must learn to go deep within.

The problem here arises out of their being not used to stepped back.

Why, allow yourself to be influenced by superficial forces of the external world?

Even if you are in hurry of doing something, step back for a while. You will be surprised at how much sooner or easier you can accomplish your work with greater success.

Even if someone is angry at you, do not get caught up in his or her vibrations. Simply step back, and his or her vibrations, finding no feedback or support, will dissolve.

Always keep your peace within.

Resist all temptations to lose it.

Learn to go deep within before you speak.

Teach yourself to step back before you make a decision.

All that which belongs to this material world is useless and temporary so there is nothing really worth getting upset about.

That which is lasting, eternal and infinite is indeed worth having, worth striving for, worth attaining.

Divine Light,

Divine Love,

Divine Life,

are worth attaining as Supreme Peace, Ananda and mastery over egoistical dimension.

Practice inner peace, so that when you call on the Divine Force and as you await for the answer, you will know exactly what to do.

Be the inspiration.... find Divinity in all beings.

If you cannot see the divinity in them, free them from you. "

Excerpts from "Words of my Perfect Teacher". 

Some Pictures to Share.

Hello everyone... ^^ I hope you are having a wonderful holiday. Just sharing some photo's... 

One of the bars we had the event held for my book signing. 

This was the "ceiling" of the alley we had to walk through to get the cafe bar. It was just so beautiful. 

This is one of the up and coming artist. The gallery owner also happen to host Sosai's calligraphy writings here before.