So this month, August, marks my two years in ballet. I have been starting ballet since 2019, with joining BalletFit class and later on the ballet class. To celebrate this, I’m going to share my favorite items from Grishko! Anyhow, as time goes by… I started to learn more details on things I wear in ballet class, and also other items I would never know if I never go take ballet class, such as these drying inserts and the ballet jumpsuits.

Well, Grishko is a Russian brand, one of my favourites. I remember when I first shopped my ballet stuff, I saw the shiny DreamPointe shoes and I was like.. soooo pretty! I want a pair of those. But I was a beginner, so the shop assistant told me, “Ahh… you’re still a beginner you got to wait for some time to put on these.” Well, it’s true. It takes super-tough feet to get into those painful shoes.

But I said, well… yeah, I will. but I want them now! For me, having them is like to keep reminding me how far I should go with all the training I’d go for.

So they fitted me and I got a pair!

Anyhow, as time goes by… I started to learn more details on things I wear, and also other items I would never know if I never go to ballet class, such as these drying inserts and ballet jumpsuits.

Leotards! The most comfy of all!

First of all, I must tell you that Grishko leotards are the best! Even though they’re famous for their long-lasting pointe shoes, their leotards (and other stuff are also great). 

If you’re on my Instagram (@brigidalexandra), you might have seen my Netflix show reviews on my Instagram stories which later became ‘Watchlist’ series on my highlight. Those Netflix shows have been my salvation, well, it’s one of my many salvations. I’m thinking to put those reviews with the categorized theme here on my blog. So, my first one is binge-watching worthy Japanese series available on Netflix! Whether you’re a big fan of Japan, studying Japanese, or looking for something new, here you go. 

1. Midnight Diner and Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories

Midnight Diner is a gem for those who love cooking or Japanese food, or heart-warming stories. This series was originally made and launched in Japan for 3 seasons before Netflix published another one to become ‘Netflix Original’ (the one titled: Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories) that lasted for 2 seasons so far. As you might know, Netflix Original contents are into unique and diverse elements, and this series ticked off all of those requirements for a Netflix Original. 

The story was made from a best-selling manga. A story of a diner cook, called Master, un-named yet wise and a bit mysterious—as he has an unknown scar on his face---and his encounters with daily customers, their stories, and how they become entangled. His customers are very unique and much different from each other as they come from various backgrounds. The only thing they have in common is how they can unwind and become comfortable as themselves once the day goes down at the chef’s diner. Master will cook anything the customer wishes, as long he has the ingredients. 

Each episode will share about one specific dish that plays a significant role, holding the shape of the story of one of either new or recurring customers, who will become a dominant part of the single episode. The drama will make you cry, laugh, or give you mixed feelings in very unexpected, cheesy, not cheesy, fresh, and simple plot. Even though the story feels new, it does not lack real Japanese culture and real issues. This is why I really like the show since it was all over important topic once thought of as taboo. It’s feminist, gender-mainstreaming, open-minded, and of course, therefore it’s progressive. I can say, it's light to watch yet rich in magical elements that will leave you feeling good.

The line of customers of Master consists of yakuza boss, stripper, gay club owner, scriptwriter, porn star, salary-woman, five-star restaurant reviewer, and many others. They can sit together, side by side, eating their own favorite dish specially cooked for them by Master, in peace. Exchanging stories, thoughts, life problems, and sharing their bites. By the end of the episode, Master will share how to cook the star dish. Many times he will narrate his thoughts and wisdom with his calm yet soothing fatherly voice. If you feel like needing a safe space, an open mind, non-judgemental place, the series is for you.

Midnight Diner is a truly beautiful series, reminding us of how different we are… we are human beings with our own stories and food is a great soul connector, with ourselves and others. I like the way the story tells us that good food isn’t always about a fancy place with a pretentious vibe, but it’s about personal connection linking ourselves to our heart and inner peace. Lots of wisdom in the story touches us, through mistakes, sadness, and struggles that told.

Well, South Korea also made their own version, too. 

Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories Trailer

2. Alice in Borderland

Also coming from the popular manga, Alice in Borderland comes in live-action series. This is a battle-royale story where the characters are secretly random-picked and sent to an alternate universe without their consent where they have to survive through playing games. The games are physical, tactical, and deadly, while along the way the survival is successfully putting friendship apart, re-questioning humanity, and challenging morale. 

The first three episodes were touchy yet gory. I cried! The storyline is super unexpected, I can’t guess what could happen at all. I was totally hooked with all of those cliffhangers of each episode. 

The characters of the story represent the world we’re living. Betrayal, a power-thirsty person who is lacked skill but has great charisma, losers who gang up for the sake of security, strategic person, ass-lickers, sincere ones, individual brainy, and sly chameleon. Totally a great mix of people to survive together while the only exit would only allow one person. 

Yes, of course, this will remind you of Battle Royale, Hunger Games, and Maze Runner. This is actually a blend of those three. But definitely, you should give this a try! Even the idea might not seem like a new thing, the storyline is truly special. Watching this makes me cry, deep-thinking, and of course, re-questioning the humanity inside us. I'd ask the question to myself, what if I were in such position? This will definitely challenge my humane side. The gruesome bits will remind you a bit of The Condemned (if you ever watched this one), only Alice in Borderland goes with class. I'm happy that Season 2 has been announced to be set soon.

Amazing acting by the actors matched with awesome CGI, too!

3. My Husband Won't Fit

Well, while seeing the closing credit, I was surprised to see a studio of full Indonesian names. Well, this is a Japanese series… 

The romance story is about a woman who married a super loving man, yet they can’t have sex. With a huge understanding, they keep trying yet still don’t work. This situation takes the wife for the first 5 episodes into a little adventure of sexual awakening, where she learns about herself, her past, the sex forum that set him with another guy and rethinking about sexual taboo. We would be taken to another 5 episodes narrated by the husband, where we would learn about how he thinks about the situation and digging down to a deeper understanding about sex and married life… and love. 

Though it’s actually simple, it doesn’t lack interesting bits that debunk parental mistakes that form their children’s minds and personalities, including their POV and abnormalities. At the end of the show, it also brings up the side effect of sexual absence.

I can find this a bit cheesy at some point, but this is truly a cute love story to watch. Surprisingly, this was from a true story. The story has spoken up a bit about the issue of having children nowadays and how broad 'having children' can be interpreted today.

The storyline for me is really surprising. It was all sweet in the beginning, and then BOOM, wow.... that was the kind of story that goes.

4. Naked Director

This is my favourite!!! Now it comes in 2 seasons on Netflix as their original series. 

The semi-biography story is inspired by Toru Muranishi, a guy who made history in the Japanese porn industry and was deemed as “Emperor of Porn” in the 80-90s. He rose from nothing to fame, through his controversies yet creative and breakthrough touch in directing. Watching this made laughing hard, yet amazed that I finally reach another level of understanding about the power of good directing. 

The series really speaks up about my issues, such as fighting the taboo-ness of sex, porn as a form of art, female sexual liberation, and the integrity of an artist. Through the acting of Takayuki Yamada, I can see the passion of the creative and crazy mind of Toru Muranishi, seeing what it takes to be a pioneer in that industry. He saw porn in another frequency, just like how he put it, "I want to sell sexual desire."

He translated the energy into art and created something new in the market. 

It is also interesting side to crack the business and work culture sides in the porn industry in Japan at the time. The differences Toru Muranishi brought in his company compared to his competitors, the fresh ideas to the market, and also how the demand and political game between the porn-video competitors-the riches-the police. 

Watching this series really made me know a lot of other interesting things. I just knew about Kaoru Kuroki and her empowering stories (and also her retaliation through showing off armpit hair). Who knew that Japan also had such a figure is almost the same era as Eva Arnaz who had almost the same ‘campaign’ in Indonesia. I wasn’t born yet, such an era is truly something.

As for Season 2, it reminds me of the early 90s as I was just born at the time. The madness over satellite broadcast, the super volume hair, and all of the bits were very nostalgic to my childhood. Meanwhile, the era of the 90s is the new era for Japan who just transitioned with the then-new Emperor. This era marked the more challenging time for Toru Muranishi, in fact, the story is about how he fell from power and his regrets. The season has more touchy moments.

This is totally about ups and downs, playing it fair or dirtiest as you can, strategic or experimenting at the maximum level, betting it all, or putting it all for your best. Watch this if you wanna know the guy behind the invention of bukkake!

P.S. They play a very nice cover version of “It’s Too Late”. 

I will add new series to this post =) 

Also, tag me on your Instagram or Blogpost or Twitter if you watch this, I wanna know what you think about these picks!

Yes, you read the title right!

I've been uploading on YouTube since last year or last two years. It all started with all of my gaming diaries. No commentary or such things from me. All gaming videos, uploaded, as it.

Since a few weeks ago, I'm trying to consistently produce and upload my cooking videos.
I have received great enthusiasm since my #CookingSunday series on Instagram Stories - some of them are still in my highlights.

Now I'm remaking those recipes I have made into IGTV and YouTube versions. Wish me luck!

I'm planning to create two streams. One is #CookingSunday and another one is CookingAtNight.

#CookingSunday - my homage to my own revelation to solace in solitude on Sunday while cooking. It's where I found peace and my true calling where I love most about myself and my life---cooking my Sunday off with new recipes each week.

CookingAtNight - the videos will have no song, like my original CookingSunday on IGStory. I found peace with the silence in the middle of the night, with only kitchen noise to be heard. I want to share that in the videos of me cooking something quick and easy to save me from the day. This series is dedicated to recipes with some shortcuts, like using spice sold in supermarkets or shops, not from scratch, to create the whole dish.

Enjoy my first---committed---video! I know I have so much to improve on video making. Especially I'm editing into two formats. But please do check my other videos and see my progress =)



Your comments and inputs are welcomed!

Thank you!

Such life phase might have been represented very well in her newly developed TV series called 'Aggretsuko' with its 10-episodes-long on Netflix for the first season. At least, that's as much as I see it. Her stories makes me feel like it starts and follows us through, while her white-blank page character develops along the bitter reality it serves one by one to reach certain point in her career life. Bluntly and unmasked---but still Sanrio way.

Retsuko started off her career with nothing but passion for the so-called 'real world'. Turned out, being a responsible citizen by having a steady job and pay taxes wasn't the point of everything. Sometimes, it's about what you do that makes you a whole and whom you work with that shapes who you are. Well, in 'Aggretsuko' case, mostly it is. 

Her passion developed into focusing on fulfilling what society and others expect you to be, which won't answer anything, but to become burdens when those common barriers in office do exist. At this point, I feel like, 'oh finally somebody is speaking out what I'm thinking!' 

Learning from Retsuko, it's time for us to review all the points of what it takes to be a good employee, including what's also good for us despite our responsibility for the profession and the company we work for. The show tells us that we have to have the urge to speak up when somebody is pushing all the norms of becoming good employee while they don't do the same. Fair play, guys! It's important. It's time to ask ourselves, 'Have I been a team player? Have they been team players as well?' 

So yeah, you have the rights to review and re-think anything you're into. And you have to!

Knowing When Breaking the Limit Means Breaking Your Own Good
Aggretsuko portrayed a real depiction of reality we might have in our work life. Everyday, Retsuko faced what most of us would face in the office in general, such as rumor spreader coworkers, irresponsible supervisors, lack of leadership skill bosses, and arrogant seniors. Those result in unbalance workload, unfair treatment, questionable job assignment (regularly making your boss tea? tidying up his desk?) to daily insult and harassment. 

It has been the problem for Retsuko as she's junior, lack of experience and total plain person that has no idea to survive in the middle of competition with fake and ass-licking culture. All she knows later on that she's neglecting her own happiness in order to keep on going. 

On top of everything, what bothers her most is her work load. But let's put it this way: life is unfair. And if we follow it all to let that just happen, instead of making it better for our own good, you might learn a hard way to accept it. 

Some seniors might say to you, "I give you this much load so that you will grow and have more experience than anyone else." This might be beneficial to you, I can see it's a chance. But certain kind of seniors only use this as an excuse, because they simply don't like you (impatiently looking for your probable mistakes due to overwhelmed situation) or because you seem more reliable than your peers. It could be giving you more work means giving themselves less headache (as they will handle lesser mistakes from your less reliable teammates). Due to the latest trending work method, bosses have less time to grow their team, as well as to grow themselves into better leader.

It makes things more interesting that the show appears amidst plenty of media exposures of Japanese hardworking yet unhealthy career life (karoshi) which attract global attention these past years. It's more than rumors gangs, seniority, etc... but the wrong way of work.

...working on weekends for weeks non-stop, too.... ok, I'll stop.

Sometimes, we forgot to think through wisely and further when we're drained by such situation. I know it's awesome to dedicate yourself for work, company and industry that brings up the economy. Thinking how huge contribution you give, but you got to know that... the world and yourself is much bigger than that. You just need to give yourself a chance to grow more instead of doing the same struggle. Because, maybe it's not you... it's them.

When it's too much for you to handle, time to review all this: Are you being groomed into someone more awesome or are you being tricked deeper into some miserable company culture?

Yes, there's a such thing called exploitation.

When it's too much, really too much to handle after you tried hard for so long and nothing happens for good, just remember, you need your sanity, physical health and time for more exciting things ahead. Don't spend it to cover some incapable leaders' faces which also benefit your temporarily.

It's ok when you've tried enough, nothing happens, and you're no longer ok with that.


What to Expect When You're Expecting the Awesome Beginning
So basically, what makes work unhealthy that we have to figure out how to deal with it?

Ok, you, first-jobbers... you might celebrate those finish line you've reached by partying hard, because I don't know whether you can still do that or not in... 'reality'. Why?



Lemme prepare you. As someone with burning passion after graduation like Retsuko, so ready to have real job experience, first thing first... never expect too high. What you do at first might not always be high-risk job that seems very interesting or cool from afar. Your superiors might let you do small stuffs and count on you for those things they are lazy to do... besides, they want to look cooler than you by having someone working on the dirty laundry for them. Get that well. It's okay. Remember: this too shall pass. Let's call this one as: first fact.

However, those small stuffs you did well or extra mile might give your credit for reliability level. Gain more trust from small stuffs. Shall you not underestimate it those small stuffs. Sometimes, you have to sweat them out for good.

Secondly, when worse things go worst, here's a useful note: I've learned that some leaders are actually lucky for the positions they have. Sorry. Just being truthful. So, they are basically unable to grow you into a better person and/or a better professionals. You might recount all impactful contributions you have delivered for the company, for yourself and for the profession you hold dear. If you haven't improved by 3 - 6 months, then you might suspect that things will be the same as it is in the next one, you know you have to choose to grow somewhere else instead of being in a comfort zone (read: a battlefield you're already familiar with, even though it's comfort at all).

In my experience, I met people who are proudly saying to me for having work in the same place for 5-7 years (some, for the same position). Turned out, their department didn't have Standard Operating Procedures (then I was the one who established the SOP design). When I deliver new fresh ideas, they seemed to be reluctant, too. Worse, as they said they knew the company in details for years they have spent there, I proved they knew nothing (like Jon Snow), about what they're doing and how their profession can be in bigger picture. Worst, they worked so slowly, no matter they said they were fluent in doing their day-to-day jobs. 

So, for years, they learned slowly and small. Seriously, don't be that kind of person. Always expect to be the game changer. If the company resists, well, you're too good to be there. In fact, I spent only a year and left. That was the best decision I've ever made, no matter how complicated I felt about leaving all the company's benefits and facilities. Note to myself: I should have left sooner than that.

I know some of my peers who are also tricked by flowery words of what's coming their ways after the hard work they deliver and how huge the game they're controlling to boost their pride about their jobs. As result, they work hard and harder. Sacrificing all the work-life balance. 


Those who trick them usually bombarded them with a certain kind of 'motivations', such as getting publicity, winning an award, invitations/offers to become speakers, and other appearances to be get acknowledged by mass layer of audiences, as sets of benchmark of success. I'm telling you, those glittery side of being well-known as expert (or anything) are not false, but they're not real. Once you grow up, you'll know adults can be a real Oscar-winning-level actors to gain such things.

I'm not saying for you to become cynical or pessimistic, but to become realistic and cautious. You need to stay alert.

Number one clue: 

First face

Second face

Anyway, what could become the daily problem? 

However, Tsubone is right, we need to build up the muscles, but it should not be too much about it. Anything too much is never good. At the beginning, build it up is cool... then maintaining is another story, another way. 

If you stay with the same obstacles, doing the same thing all over again, you might lose yourself while you don't learn anything new and more. Once you realize it, the world around you might have shifted too far that you don't recognize anymore. Yes, you will learn so much the very details in dealing with incapable peers and superiors within weak system. But, is it all about it? Of course not. You are more capable (and you should) than you think to deal with more challenges ahead which would mark a legacy. Change is a consistent nature, you need to balance yourself in adapting to its roll.


Release the Pain Gradually
Ok, you might want to wait a little bit more... with possibility that things might change. Here's a useful tip from Retsuko.

Unlike other dreamy and usual cutesy Sanrio characters, Aggretsuko (Aggresive Retsuko) has brought another representation of both sweet and feminine power. The story line also strongly shows how dominant masculine culture rules workplace and how it collides with person with different vibe. To keep up with daily anger she had, she secretly went to a karaoke place to let it out through heavy metal songs....  even for me, a Sanrio fans (with enormous anger still left inside), it's rather unexpected.

Hi, I'm still Sanrio's mascot, okay? Don't forget me just yet....

Ok, we all have our own way to release pain (and we have to release that pain). This 'Aggretsuko' show is a reminder that we shouldn't judge or be judged of our own power and how we deal with things, too (as long as we don't harm ourselves and others during the process, right?) 

However, this also reminds me when I was in college, in class we discussed a lot about Japanese workplace habits, such as punching bags prepared in a break room for employees to release their stress for treatments and pressures they got from their superiors. Well, I didn't see that in 'Aggretsuko' though, yet all I enjoyed was the after-work scenes where she went to karaoke place by herself.

Anyway... when things get heated up, sometimes being angry is a must. I mean, you have to speak up as many people are just too senseless to understand what you're into. Obsession of being reliable and responsible in reward of manipulation isn't an equal give and take.

If that doesn't work, you can always try Retsuko's way. Not exactly a heavy metal karaoke, you can always try something you like... and it must not always the same. Up to you! Your life, your control, you are welcome to change your habit anytime you feel like it.

The TV show might say a lot of Japanese culture, but it doesn't mean we can't relate to Retsuko's condition. From the whole bigger picture of company culture to her stages of personality. From being a passionate worker, responsible citizen to financially struggle young employee and desperation to get married in order to quitting work. 

Even so, marriage is undoubtedly becoming temptation. However, she's lucky to be warned by Washimi, the fierce eagle Yoga buddy, who can be the example for all career women. Retsuko's love story gave her a lesson: it shouldn't be distraction escape for your troublesome career life.

Another story often happens for female workers though. As leadership mostly dominated by men, there is certain unwritten expectation to female workers. Such as being easy, nice, smiley and always ready and receptive to be humiliated. I've mentioned earlier that Retsuko's alterego brings up the issue of what might seem to be two clashing personalities: being herself and being what people expect her to be. It's about time the two can't hide to collide.

... and it's okay.

Anyway, the point is... the show 'ruins' my so-so expectation as it has more entertaining bits with an unmasked intense bitterness of reality with comedy and it shocks me a little with the heavy metal thingy Retsuko is attached to as her secret power, which is for me it's a new trend way of release pain. Ha! Blunt twist, I like that.



What Sanrio is Up to?

But, once we got in that career life jungle, we would think of vacation and leave for awhile as a 'dream'. Because when we have to go back, we'd say, "go back to reality". Umm, it seems like 'reality' is another stop in life to visit. Now, your choice.


(all GIFs sourced from giphy.com and photos from Netflix)