Long time, no see. I've been meaning to post, but...so many different reasons.
I have missed so many opportunities to talk about my life in Japan so far. There have been highs, and there have been lows. No matter how ready you think you are for, anything really, you never really are. In the past two weeks or so, my luck has changed, and I've been really happy. Still lonely, adjusting to life on my own, but I know it's not going to be forever. Like I said, my luck has changed :)
At the moment it's 10.26pm, and I'm sitting on a futon in my small little living room, listening to the constant rain, coming in heavy with typhoon number 15. Now is as good as ever to get updated, right?
Most of you who will be reading this are probably up to date on what I've been up to through Facebook or Skype. I'm too lazy to write about every little thing that has happened up until this stage, but from now on I will do my best to keep up with this!
My first 'enkai', or work party - all you can eat and drink for two hours, generally. This one went a little over time. I did karaoke for the first time! I sang Ken's part in 'Barbie Girl' :) I think people were surprised to hear me with such a deep voice. Then we had adventures! Below is my little car :) It's new!
Me in a borrowed yukata at the Hiyoshi Matsuri. It rained all night, my feet itched, but we had a lot of fun and made lots of friends with the locals :)
My job was to basically put my hand on the long wooden pole. Two men would carry the front on their shoulders and make the whole thing bounce up and down, and there was another man at the far end of the pole. The guys I was with weren't very good, and the box kept hitting the ground, which isn't good. It sounds awful, and it puts the guys out of time. I had to hold the whole pole up, so I had a more difficult time than the other girls. It also meant the sleeve of my kimono was soaking wet by the end. I felt really bad considering the kimono was borrowed - I knew I should've brought my set along!
Alcohol is ridiculously cheap here, if you want beer or sake.
My house :) I'm very lucky.
I included this photo because I don't think it looks like me!
View of the river from the bridge close-by to my house
The after-after party for the Hiyoshi festival (one week after to be exact!). I ate a whole chilli which was the spiciest chilli of my life. My stomach was on fire for hours, and I had to sleep in my car for a little bit.
Matsumoto, a city far from Kiso, but very pretty
Matsumoto Castle. I imagined it to be a lot bigger than it was, so I was a little disappointed. Photos are very decieving! However it looked amazing, I should've appreciated it at the time. We didn't go inside, but I plan to next time around, hopefully with Dede.
Agematsu - an amazing place, only a little drive from Kiso
Okuwa-machi - the most clear water I have ever, ever seen. It was amazing, and I just wanted to swim! We ate bento, took photos and just enjoyed ourselves.
There are nicer photos of me on Facebook - I must remember to save them!
Enkai for Fukushima Elementary School. I've only been to this school a few times, so I shouldn't judge it too much yet...but I haven't had an enjoyable lesson yet. I don't know whether the HRT's need more confidence, or they just don't care/don't like me. This guy (I'm sorry, I can't remember his name!!) is a 2nd Grade teacher, and he's 21 too. When I took this photo we had already moved on to the after-party at a karaoke bar. I sang O'Zone's 'Dragostea Din Tea', or the Numa Numa song, Lady Gaga's 'Judas' and 'Poker Face' (which a teacher trying to sing along with me, but he had no idea!), 'Kabuki-cho no Jouo' by Shiina Ringo and 'Spiderwebs' by No Doubt. Obviously it was the alcohol that helped me along; normally I would have enough trouble singing one! I did have a fantastic time, which amazed me, but next time I am going to keep a better eye on my drinks. Japan makes it too easy to over-drink! It probably didn't help that all the teachers kept saying 'Lorelle-sensei, you're such a strong drinker!' and I felt pretty good about that - the other women wouldn't even have one...
I have missed so many opportunities to talk about my life in Japan so far. There have been highs, and there have been lows. No matter how ready you think you are for, anything really, you never really are. In the past two weeks or so, my luck has changed, and I've been really happy. Still lonely, adjusting to life on my own, but I know it's not going to be forever. Like I said, my luck has changed :)
At the moment it's 10.26pm, and I'm sitting on a futon in my small little living room, listening to the constant rain, coming in heavy with typhoon number 15. Now is as good as ever to get updated, right?
Most of you who will be reading this are probably up to date on what I've been up to through Facebook or Skype. I'm too lazy to write about every little thing that has happened up until this stage, but from now on I will do my best to keep up with this!
My first 'enkai', or work party - all you can eat and drink for two hours, generally. This one went a little over time. I did karaoke for the first time! I sang Ken's part in 'Barbie Girl' :) I think people were surprised to hear me with such a deep voice. Then we had adventures! Below is my little car :) It's new!
Me in a borrowed yukata at the Hiyoshi Matsuri. It rained all night, my feet itched, but we had a lot of fun and made lots of friends with the locals :)
My job was to basically put my hand on the long wooden pole. Two men would carry the front on their shoulders and make the whole thing bounce up and down, and there was another man at the far end of the pole. The guys I was with weren't very good, and the box kept hitting the ground, which isn't good. It sounds awful, and it puts the guys out of time. I had to hold the whole pole up, so I had a more difficult time than the other girls. It also meant the sleeve of my kimono was soaking wet by the end. I felt really bad considering the kimono was borrowed - I knew I should've brought my set along!
Alcohol is ridiculously cheap here, if you want beer or sake.
My house :) I'm very lucky.
I included this photo because I don't think it looks like me!
View of the river from the bridge close-by to my house
The after-after party for the Hiyoshi festival (one week after to be exact!). I ate a whole chilli which was the spiciest chilli of my life. My stomach was on fire for hours, and I had to sleep in my car for a little bit.
Matsumoto, a city far from Kiso, but very pretty
Matsumoto Castle. I imagined it to be a lot bigger than it was, so I was a little disappointed. Photos are very decieving! However it looked amazing, I should've appreciated it at the time. We didn't go inside, but I plan to next time around, hopefully with Dede.
Agematsu - an amazing place, only a little drive from Kiso
Okuwa-machi - the most clear water I have ever, ever seen. It was amazing, and I just wanted to swim! We ate bento, took photos and just enjoyed ourselves.
There are nicer photos of me on Facebook - I must remember to save them!
Enkai for Fukushima Elementary School. I've only been to this school a few times, so I shouldn't judge it too much yet...but I haven't had an enjoyable lesson yet. I don't know whether the HRT's need more confidence, or they just don't care/don't like me. This guy (I'm sorry, I can't remember his name!!) is a 2nd Grade teacher, and he's 21 too. When I took this photo we had already moved on to the after-party at a karaoke bar. I sang O'Zone's 'Dragostea Din Tea', or the Numa Numa song, Lady Gaga's 'Judas' and 'Poker Face' (which a teacher trying to sing along with me, but he had no idea!), 'Kabuki-cho no Jouo' by Shiina Ringo and 'Spiderwebs' by No Doubt. Obviously it was the alcohol that helped me along; normally I would have enough trouble singing one! I did have a fantastic time, which amazed me, but next time I am going to keep a better eye on my drinks. Japan makes it too easy to over-drink! It probably didn't help that all the teachers kept saying 'Lorelle-sensei, you're such a strong drinker!' and I felt pretty good about that - the other women wouldn't even have one...
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