How to Cure Falling Hair in the Fall

Covered Garden at Fruit Park in Hamamatsu

Did you know that not only leaves fall during autumn? Hair, do too! Women's hair, especially. Even animals shed their hair during this season. There are two explanations for this occurrence. First, the hair has a growth cycle. It's during the months of fall that new hair starts to grow so the older are shedded off. It's like how snakes lose their old skin. The second explanation is that the air is dryer. This makes the scalp lose some moisture causing hair fall.

So how to deal with falling hair in this season? Here are simple and inexpensive things you can do:

Equality in Japan, Equality in the Philippines

Statue in a fertility cave in Chi Ki Iwa, Shinshiro City

I sat in front of my laptop with the full intention of writing about gender equality in Japan. I wanted to integrate Emma Watson's speech at the UN that has gone viral on the internet. Plus, I also wanted to feature the cheer leading routine of the University of the Philippines in last week's competition. It used equality as a theme. To emphasize the point, the ladies carried the guys while doing the pyramids. This is the PLAN. But I guess my brain cells are still half asleep. (At least you know that I had grand plans in writing this piece).

I'll just be direct on this gender equality issue and write this: There's gender inequality in Japan especially in the areas of business and politics. In fact, Japan and Korea are the only OECD countries that are in the lower ranks when it comes to gender equality. Bangladesh, a developing country, ranks higher than Japan. Interestingly, even with these findings, gender inequality doesn't seem to be a major issue in Japan.

Japanese Cheerleading

I'll write on cheer leading today. First, my university back in college showed a groundbreaking performance last week in a cheer leading competition. I just want to brag about about it. I'm a cheer leading fan since college. I even took a cheer leading PE course. No, I didn't pull stunts and made pyramids. I was just part of the crowd of students shouting the university cheer while watching basketball games. I got a 1 (or A) in that course cause I attended 10 games. Talk about learning while having fun!  I'll write more on my university's cheer leading routine next time. Here's the link, if you want to watch it. Spoiler alert; They only placed second. I'm still very proud though.

My next reason is because I want to share my students's cheer leading routines in the sports festival. Unlike American cheer leading, it's simple. There are no breathtaking moments, no lifts and tosses. It relies on pure energy and loud vocal chords. The routines are basic so that everyone in the team can participate. A little creativity was injected by each team to offer a good show.

Respecting the Elderly

''The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected'' - Robert Frost

A month ago, I met an old Japanese-man who fluently speaks in English. My friends and I were planning to go to a river in that small town where the man lives. This man is the only staff in the small tourist information. At that time, I just wanted to ask how we can go to the river. However, the old man did not only show us how to get to the river but he also talked about his life as a trader, his initiatives in tourism, his thoughts on politics and his experiences abroad. I think he would have continued talking had we not cut him off (as politely as possible). Clearly, the old man's thirsty for companionship. I would gladly listen to him if only we didn't have some place to go. Sometimes, the only thing old people need is someone who'll listen to them. It's not because they want to talk nonstop but because they want to feel they still matter.

Joys of an ALT

I've been feeling low the past few weeks. I have a lot of struggles in my personal life. I've also taken in too much part-time work that makes me so tired all the time. A couple of my close friends have left Japan. I'm vague about what should I do with my life. And, sometimes I just can't help but feel down.