January flew by faster than any other month I can remember. Actually, I don't really remember January as it was such a fuzzy flurry...
... back from the jungle at midnight on the first Sunday in January...
... up the next Monday morning at 6am...
... dozing on the salaryman packed train on my way to teach class at Kansai University...
... final reviews, final exams, final grades, final photos, final papers, final presentations, final excuses... Luckily, the school year ended (Jan 21) smoothly, unlike one of my Japanese friends who declared after her final presentation, "finally, to my regret, I made a fluff!"
... a lovely visit with plenty of wine and good food from my fav Auzzies (Kirsty and Anthony)...
... adjusting to the cold and SNOW in Osaka...
... and rocking with Bon Jovi at Osaka Dome (yes, this hip hop/dance hall/reggae junkie went to see Bon Jovi - almost front row centre - and LOVED it)! I swear to god that BJ made love to me with his eyes. I was shocked when I realized that I knew almost all of his songs. This was the best concert I'd ever been to... or maybe I've been in Japan too long!
The New Year always brings in new things, and this year is no exception. The first week of January I made the chalkboard transition... from teacher to student again. I started a Master in Education at the Osaka campus of Temple University (an American University). It's a 2-year program that (with a little fast-tracking) I hope to finish by next spring. I love the classes and the challenges they present. They've helped me to realize that I truly am a nerd at heart (^o^)!
Since I'm officially on spring vacation until the new school year begins in April I've got ample time to sit back in one of the many Osaka Starbucks, read my books, tap away on my Mac and work on my projects. I've just got to be careful that the "frosh fifteen" doesn't hit me again! I've also discovered the Starbuck "regulars"; lots of loners that sit at tables, read their books or magazines and sip their cafe lattes. I know who to expect in the morning, the afternoon, the evening and I now don't dare wear the same sweater twice in a row. Heaven forbid the staff or the regulars think I didn't make it home the night before!
I started to study Nihongo (Japanese) "again". Rocky and I went to the first few classes... 3 1/2 hours of listening to the teacher talk in Japanese and giving the odd answer to her questions. I spoke to the school director about the classes and tried another teacher. But it was the same.... all teacher talk and very little learner participation. It was pure torture and before the week ended we had already quit the school, along with the 4 other North Americans that were there the first day. I thought that I had wasted my time in that tiny Namba classroom, but now in reflection I realize that I had actually learned an awful lot. I now know why so many Japanese can not speak English after years of "studying" it. They're simply never given the chance to speak in school. So, I've decided to study on my own and use my resources, the millions of Japanese people around me, to practice speaking. Makes sense, doesn't it!
My new pride and joy is my new "jiji-chari" (jiji= old man, in a tender loving way, chari= chariot, or bike). I ride my bike ALL over Osaka, ALL the time. Sunshine or rain I'm out on my bike. Last week my "mama-chari" died; the wheel blew, the basket broke, the rust got the best of the gears. I brought her into the shop to see what the staff could do. But, it was hopeless. She was a goner.
So, I looked around the shop and found a sexy, brand new bike. It was my size (gaijin size), with big tires and a soft cushy seat. The only problem was that the basket was too small. I asked the young guy working in the shop for a bigger basket, which he apparently didn't think was very cool. He reluctantly took out a slightly larger basket. I shook my head. This just wouldn't do... books, laptop, purse... it's all gotta fit in. I asked for the BIGGEST basket in the shop. The staff took out an extra large rectangular silver basket. Perfect! He shook his head in disbelief as he attached it to my new bike. Now it's like I'm riding a snow plow with this big silver basket. I can knock all of those annoying little old ladies that take up all of the space on the side walk out of the way. (^o^) The rims shine, the brakes don't squeak, the bell works and it's a smooth ride. It's my new BMW!
Now, I'm just going to have to keep the boys away from my bike. Really, no kidding. For some reason, whenever I go out (and I always go by bike) and there's a boy around, the boy (more than often shorter than me) insists on pushing my (big tall) bike for me. They just have no idea how to handle my size chari. They grab the handle bars, wobble around, bump into things, run over signs, hit lights and stumble along in the most akward way. It's a disgrace and I've been letting them get away it. Well, no more boys. You're going to have to keep your hands off of my "jiji-chari" from now on!
For now though, I've taken a yasumi from it all and here I am, after an 18-hour flight, back in Brampton for a quick week-long visit. It isn't very cold and there's a lot of snow; more snow than I have seen in the past 4 years because I've naturally always ventured to the warm and tropical instead of the chilly and snowy. But my mom's chilli was calling so I braved the cold and now find myself knee-deep in snow, hot chocolate, kids story books and family time! And I'm loving it!
I still have one foot in Japan while here but am not so sorry to be missing one of the biggest events in Japan: Valentine's Day. This week in Japan, the Japanese girls are going wild buying and baking chocolate cakes for their men. It's believed that the men will come home on the 14th 'cause they know their girlfriends, wives, and lovers will have a special treat for them. These girls don't expect anything in return (yet, that is. Payback is March 14 aka White Day). So, in honour of this upcoming Hallmark Holiday, I'll share a verse of my second favourite poem with you.
Pablo Neruda
Sonnet XVII (100 Love Sonnets, 1960)
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,
I love you simply, without problems or pride:
I love you in this way because I don't know any other way of loving
but this, in which there is no I or you,
but this, in which there is no I or you,
so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand,
so intimate that when I fall asleep it is your eyes that close.
Bet you didn't know that I was so romantic. Well, If that poem was to lovey dovey for you, then I hope that you'll appreciate my favourite poem, a famous Basho haiku:
samidare ni
tsuru no ashi
mijikaku nareri
it translates to the very deep:
in the seasonal rain
a crane's legs
have become short
Happy Valentine's to you all!
And love from B-town,
And love from B-town,
Laura xo
