Horrible Day

I finally had my first lesson in learning the Koto (Japanese Harp) yesterday with class 1A. I was little nervous as it was my first time learning an instrument in Japan, even more so as the music is in Japanese and in Japanese style. Thank goodness most of the strings are just numbered and don’t have a name. Therefore, it’s a little easier for mean the teacher made a key of all the names, just in case.

It is a very lovely instrument and I can’t wait to have another lesson.  I would like to really learn it and then show off to people back home that I have a sixth instrument I can play. I was also asked if I wanted to learn another Japanese instrument and I wasn't going to turn down such an offer. I might as well learn as much as I can while I am here.

However, today was another matter. It was both horrible and good.

I was unsure on how I would do with my last lesson with my 3K students. This class of boys were the first class I ever taught back in April and I didn't know what to expect from them. This past year I have seen all my students open up and accept me as their teacher. Even more so to the third year classes. They were a really interesting group and it will be sad to see them leave. But they still haven't technically finished school. But I wish I could be there for their graduation ceremony. I don't think I am welcomed though. I know I should asked if I can play but I feel like that would be imposing on them.

Anyway, I was 15 minutes into teacher their lesson. Only to have my JTE, come to the class and ask me to go to 1B instead. This is when I go into panic mode, because I totally didn't plan their lesson and no extra materials like it said in my SLP. Because I had a new schedule placed on my desk on Monday. And when I asked the JTE  if I have 3K and not 1AB, he said yes. So I was really confused. I had planned a little speech at the end of 3K class as a thank you and good luck. But now I won't ever get to say it to them (TT__TT)

Okay, so its update time!

Now I haven’t been talking much to the guy I like recently because it’s hard to start a conversation. However, he still does his cute, nervous and shy head nod while smiling. I think he only does it to me... I have not seen him do it to anyone else. So that’s something right?

I am still unsure about it all really. It’s a little strange that he works at the same school I do,  but that also makes me wonder if its worth pursuing such a thing. It definitely is a hard to stop going around in circles.

It doesn't help that I haven't heard anything from him yet. Maybe writing my email and number in pencil wasn't a good idea.. or he never opened it because he doesn't like me the way I think he does. Which is also possible.

The Japanese Winter

The Japanese winter has finally taken its toll on me, I think. I have the start of a cold at a moment. I’ve been sniffing a lot so far today. But don’t worry, I have been taking medicine to help it pass. It is just annoying that I get the cold now and still have a week to teach. At least it was not so bad yesterday when I had a performance with the brass band club at my High School.

So yesterday, All the High Schools in Kuji played in a concert at the Amber Hall. It more of a show case of the Arts from the schools. I was asked to play at this concert last Tuesday and I was somewhat reluctant to agree. But I guess I shouldn’t hold back because my sight reading isn’t bad and I can pick things up quickly. So I gave it a shot and I didn’t do too bad on it. It was only Jupiter by Holst that proved, not only difficult for me, but for the students too. But we somehow got through it.

However, I almost got hit in the face by a flute on Saturday. They don’t position the band like an orchestra and put a pair at a bit of an angle. So when we played a piece, which has the band dancing, they really need to learn spatial awareness. Although, I can’t say anything, because I hit the girl next to me. I did feel a little worse because I am a foreigner and I guess I shouldn’t be there anyway.

I did enjoy myself and I was grateful for the opportunity to take part.

Okay so now for the up-date.

Some of you may (or may not) know that there is a guy who has taken a liking to me. It’s taken me a while to figure it all out, because my mind has been all over the place.

Anyway….

I gave the guy I like the small box of omiyage (souvenirs) from my trip. I say gave… I put it on his desk when he wasn’t there. But he did the cutest thing and I almost died. He came up to me with a huge smile on his face with the box at hand. He stood really close to me and then said thank you and “今年もよろしくお願いします”, which means “Please, look after me this year too”. I am sure I went red at the time because not only were there people behind us, but I was trying to work out how to use the photocopier with someone.  I did not say anything about my email was written inside, because that would be embarrassing as I try to figure out how to say it Japanese.

Now it’s the wonderful waiting game. He has my details, will there be an exchange?? As I didn’t see him last Thursday because he wasn’t here (I was feeling guilty and thought I did something really bad). But this morning, when I saw him, he was cute little “it’s cold but I want to say something” face.

If I hear anything, I am sure it will be up on my fb, so look out for it. LOL!

One of those days

It really has been one of those days.

First I wake up a little late (9:30am), and then I decided to lay in bed and read a book as I didn't have work today. I've totally gone into lazy mode that I hope I can get up okay next week when I go back to work.

Anyway, I had a little panic as the cold tap in the bathroom and the toilet were not letting water through. I thought some of the pipes had frozen and I would have to pay a lot of money to get it fixed. However, after contacting Interac and them ringing me with a way to fix it. It turns out that it was only a little bit frozen and I had completed turned off the tap below the sink, so thats why it wasn't letting any water through the tap. I feel like such an idiot, but relieved that I don't have to pay a lot of money for someone to fix it.

Otherwise, if you haven't noticed, I have finally been able to import all of my posts from my WordPress blog onto my blogger as its currently down for me. So now you can look at all the depressing crap I posted back in 2008 to the exciting wonders of living in Japan. With the added hint of dating people who turned out to be total dicks to me and thus making me stronger and more cautious on who I should date in the future.

There is one down side to being off work... I feel at a loss of what to do. I know there is something I should be doing, but I am still waiting for the information I need to start working on it and when I think that I need to go out and buy more paper for my little origami boxes I'm making, I realise that its still working hours and I can't leave my house. So I a little distracted by reading manga or watching rather hawt guys in Korean Drama's to help pass the time and then I get to lazy to want to actually leave my warm spot sitting under my kotatsu with my space heater next to me. And its only Wednesday... so I have to figure out how to pass the time to stop me from wanting to go out and go shopping. I have already been out and bought curling tongs and a coat, which although are both helpful, I should be saving my money for my trip back to England and my rented car goes in for its 6month check on Friday.

As long as I don't leave the house much, then I should be okay with saving my money.... I hope!

Getting this off my chest

If  you have spoken to my recently, you would no doubt have noticed that I have been asking advice on how I should take that step closer to the guy I like.

Okay, so you are not into the whole silly female romance, then please stop reading now!! 

Anyway...

Since I came to Japan, I have been so confused as to what guys do here if they like someone. I knew guys were confusing, but its so much more the case here in Japan. Guys here are so mysterious and they can still spend time with you when its just two people and still won't consider it to be a date. 

when it comes to guys "chatting me up", I will totally blind and just see it as them making conversation. Yet, when there is a guy I like, I don't really know what to do.

All this time since I came here, there has been a guy who has been very nice and kind to me. Now if I really am reading too much into this, please tell me before I make a fool of myself. But there is a guy who I've only just noticed has been taken a slight interest in me. He seems a little shy though and takes a little while to build up the courage to ask me a question, which is so subtle yet cute.

He even stands rather close to me if we were alone in some situations. At first, I thought he does that to most people but I think people actually think we are dating already because he stands so close. And he even speaks in English when stands close. Which is the most adorable thing EVER! 

I guess I didn't really get the hint that he was interested in me until he asked me what I did to celebrate Halloween. I told him that I stayed at home, watched a movie and went to sleep alone. He said he went to sleep alone too. I think that was the first time if kind of clicked. He does always call me "Sarah" rather than "Sarah-san", although that could be that he just knows how people in the west talk to each other. But no one else calls me without honorific's. 

I wasn't really sure what to do. I think after that I found myself being aware of when he was in the room and before I leave, I noticed he is the first person I make eye-contact with. Maybe I am really picking out the little things but I have spoken to my close friends and they seem to say the say thing, that I am not imagining it.

Now the biggest obstacle is to come. How do I give him my contact details? When as I have some omiyage from my trip to Osaka, I am going to use that as an disguise. I going to try and make a little bag of presents for the people who talk to me the most. Its just that his will be bigger.  The only thing is how to give it to him. I can't really call him out because that would be majorly awkward for me. Instead, I need to pass it to him like everyone else and try to make it be as normal as possible. Its just this is going to be embarrassing no matter what I do. And I need to get the timing right.

Arrgghhhhh

why is this oh so complicated?!?!

Now that I am aware of his kind of interest. I am starting to like him back. I might not know much about him, but there is still time. He tends to pop up in my head and I can't stop it. It sounds stupid and I am sure I am annoying people. But I can't help it. I know I'm not a young school girl who likes the popular guy in the school. I am getting older, but I still experiencing many things in my life and I would like to spend it with someone who likes me for who I am. I just want this to work out like I want it to and be truly happy for the first time in my life.

Trip to Osaka

Trip to Osaka Photo's

Well I have finally thought about writing an entry about my short trip to Osaka. First, I want to thank Hoiming for getting tickets and organizing the trip and what to see.

I arrived in Japan 9 months ago and this was my first trip to a different prefecture in Japan. Now the main reason for this trip was because Hoiming was lucky enough to get two tickets to see KAT-TUN Countdown Live 2013. And I was going to turn down the chance to see the sexy Kamenashi Kazuya in the flesh! 

I won't give a detailed recollection of what we did. Because for one, that would be dead boring, long and I would have to remember everything.... So I won't! You will just get the highlights instead.

We did do a lot of walking for the three days we were in Osaka. We went to see Osaka Castle. The outside is so beautiful. I would taken some really lovely zoomed in shots if it wasn't for the fact that my zoom in lens is a little broken and the zoom ring doesn't move at all. But I got some lovely wide shots.

Then going to the Sky Building, which the top floor is 173m above ground. Definitely the tallest building I have ever been in and got to the top level. The elevator ride from the 3rd to the 39th floor was heart stopping. I felt more secure going up the escalator up to the 40th floor even though it bridges between the two buildings with nothing underneath but the ground some 170m below.

Of course, you can't go on holiday and not go to the shops. Especially when you actually find the HMV store in Osaka!! I did almost buy my favourite KAT-TUN album NO MORE PAIN. But instead I ended up buying EXO's Miracles in December and Growl (Korean Versions). I also found INFINITE's L Viewtiful photobook. As taking Photo's is a hobby of mine, not that I am any good... I couldn't help myself and I wanted to see what kind of photo's L likes to take.

A trip to Osaka wouldn't be complete until you have been to the Johnny's store. Where you can buy photo's of your favourite Johnny's group. I was there for a while. Though I felt a little sorry for KAT-TUN, overall there was only 70 photo's of them in the store. But I was able to get a lot of Kame. I did also buy some Arashi Photo's. Buying 29 photo's in all. 

I would also like to say that I successfully bought too much KAT-TUN merchandise before going into Osaka Dome for the concert. Buying the pen light, two keychains, Kame clear file, concert T-Shirt, two towels, Kame Photo's, group photo's, pamphlet, poster and bag.

The concert was the biggest highlight of the holiday. KAT-TUN sang the melody's of their songs before their debut (which I hadn't heard before as I started listening to them a few years after their debut), to their recently released songs. They have changed so much through out the years and I cannot wait till they do a tour this year. Though I did see on their website, that they will be doing fan meetings this year.

I may have spent a lot over the four days, but I really did enjoy myself and it was great to have a change of scenery in this beautiful country!