stronger than night
10 years ago
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
pick me up
The past few work days for me have been exceptionally busy. Aside from the normal work I do at my company, I've been waking up at 4:00 am to catch the 5:40 am train to Honatsugi where I've been teaching a bunch of new grads a six-hour 'Business English' course. Now, I really don't mind standing in front of a classroom of students with the white board, and marker in hand. Being that students, classrooms, whiteboards and whiteboard markers are all a part of my job as an English teacher, it would actually be a big problem if I did mind those things. What I do mind, though, is the 4:00 am part! Early mornings and I don't mix well at all, just like oil and water don't. Put us in the same container, shake us up all you want, but we'll always be enemies! I'm sure you can picture it: me, grasping at a train strap, head hung low, yawns followed by more yawns, eyes barely half-open, dropping my suica everywhere, squinting at the morning sunlight, bumping into things and people (due to my eyes being, well, only half open), and scowling at all the people on the train that bump into me.
Leading a group of 20+ youngsters fresh out of uni in a group course can be great fun. They're all in their early 20's, energetic, and have a healthy sense of humor, and given that the English course we follow is loaded with lively activities and discussions, the six hours are anything but boring. This, however, doesn't change the fact that it's indeed six hours long, which naturally means a tortuous six hours in heels, and it also doesn't change the fact that I had a 4:00 am start to my day. All this, plus my usual classes back in Kinshicho does tend to tire one out By the weekend, I was exhausted!
Which is why the little present (little?) from one of my students-an old man with the creepy laugh- was such a pick-me-up!
"Do you know about 'Ochugen'?" My student asked me as we sat down for our lesson. "It's a custom we have in Japan where we give small gifts to those who have been a help to us in the past year." He explained to me and paused, as he pulled out an envelope from his bag and handed it over to me with a, "So this is for you! Thank you for being my teacher these past few months!" My eyes popped open with glee, and I asked him if I could open it there, which he said yes to. To my pure delight, there were a nice stack of beer coupons in the envelope--just what one wants around this time when the summer is around the corner! Sweeeet! What a considerate man!
Sometimes, I love my job!
Sometimes, I love my students!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
movin'
I've somehow managed to survive the first month of the year, and I'm happily crawling through month #2. So many things seemed to have happened already in such a short spam of time, that the knowledge of there still being 10 and a half months left to go honestly makes me quite nervous.
I'll spare you the details of how exactly I welcomed the year 2012 into my life. I'll tell you one thing though: it was anything but boring or dull!
And now, with Valentines day less than a week away, and my Birthday less than a month away, and with it being only February, it's time to move locations again. I've been living in Toneri for one day too long, (with, unfortunately, a few more to go) and it's high time to move! This place haunts me with past memories and past (and new) relationships and in order to truly do a good job on 2012, I know for certain that I have to move! So, I went to a real-estate agency this morning before work, sat down with a nerdy looking 24 year old geek, browsed a few of the remaining apartments that suited my demands, and found a place that will make my dreams come true. We visited the apartment, and I made an impromptu decision that this was the one. Finished the paperwork, and now, I can only hope that the other two flatmates will like it as much as I do.
I will post pictures as soon as I can. Which to be honest with you won't be all that soon.
Cheers.
I'll spare you the details of how exactly I welcomed the year 2012 into my life. I'll tell you one thing though: it was anything but boring or dull!
And now, with Valentines day less than a week away, and my Birthday less than a month away, and with it being only February, it's time to move locations again. I've been living in Toneri for one day too long, (with, unfortunately, a few more to go) and it's high time to move! This place haunts me with past memories and past (and new) relationships and in order to truly do a good job on 2012, I know for certain that I have to move! So, I went to a real-estate agency this morning before work, sat down with a nerdy looking 24 year old geek, browsed a few of the remaining apartments that suited my demands, and found a place that will make my dreams come true. We visited the apartment, and I made an impromptu decision that this was the one. Finished the paperwork, and now, I can only hope that the other two flatmates will like it as much as I do.
I will post pictures as soon as I can. Which to be honest with you won't be all that soon.
Cheers.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Christmas Eve
It's day two of my winter vacation and I started it off by lugging a very heavy, half-broaken suitcase, stuffed with a variety of presents for my siblings and, well,... bottles of alcoholic delight for me and Boris to share, to the Yoyogi JR bus station. At 10:20am, I found myself on a bus that would take me back up to Nasu and family for Christmas. It was a smooth and relaxing bus ride, thanks to the fact that there was no traffic, the weather was lovely, and no one was occupying the seat next to me. The only thing lacking was a can of beer which I was planning on picking up on a rest-station on the way. Upon arriving to the rest-stop though, I was horrified to find out that they didn't have beer or any alcohol for that matter!! So wrong!
When i saw Boris, Yuya and Nonny waiting to pick me up at my bus stop, I was soooooooo excited and overwhelmed with happy emotions I almost didn't feel the biting cold air that hit me when the doors to the bus flung open! It's good to be back in Nasu! It's good to be at Mom and Dad's place. I missed it all--the pollution-free air, the peaceful atmosphere, and even the smell of cow!
I spent my day catching up and chilling with siblings, and, believe it or not, cooking dinner!! All that for not wanting to be in the kitchen during my stay here! Damn the camels nose!!
I cooked a chicken, eggplant pasta.
Then I spent the rest of the evening with my daaaaahling over cake, strawberries, sparklingi wine and chocolate! Best . Christmas . Eve . EVER!!
When i saw Boris, Yuya and Nonny waiting to pick me up at my bus stop, I was soooooooo excited and overwhelmed with happy emotions I almost didn't feel the biting cold air that hit me when the doors to the bus flung open! It's good to be back in Nasu! It's good to be at Mom and Dad's place. I missed it all--the pollution-free air, the peaceful atmosphere, and even the smell of cow!
I spent my day catching up and chilling with siblings, and, believe it or not, cooking dinner!! All that for not wanting to be in the kitchen during my stay here! Damn the camels nose!!
I cooked a chicken, eggplant pasta.
Then I spent the rest of the evening with my daaaaahling over cake, strawberries, sparklingi wine and chocolate! Best . Christmas . Eve . EVER!!
Friday, December 23, 2011
it is finished
It is finished!!
Yesterday was my last day of work for the year, and I'm feeling soooooooooooo good! Starting from today, I have around 2 weeks off from teaching, and I am at loss for words to describe how relieved and relaxed I am right now as I sit on the floor of my room in front of the heater, just being. Coldplay is playing in the background. I'm alone. It's perfect. I don't have to mind anybody. I don't have to fuss about the students I'll be teaching the next day. I don't have to plan any lessons. I'm loving the stillness of everything. I want to take this moment--this slice of perfection--and make it last forever.
Unfortunately, wishful thinking doesn't help or change anything. All good things have the tendency to come to an end. Annoying, but it's OK, especially when I've got better things to look forward to! Like Boris, for example. If there's going to be noise, if there's going to be any kind of talking and listening going on for me this holiday, it might as well be with people I love--Boris, other siblings, Mom, Dad, and a few other dear friends.
I really miss her. She's one person I feel I can really be myself around, all the good and all the bad, without the fear of being accepted or misjudged. I can be who I really am without the need I sometimes feel to impress, to be strong, to entertain, or being careful about what's coming out of my mouth. Our friendship somehow holds through everything. I can be weak with her. I can let myself be the mess that I am, and I know she'll still love me the same. I'm so glad we're spending this winter vacation together! I'm even more glad that she's going to be living with me in Tokyo next year!
Yesterday was my last day of work for the year, and I'm feeling soooooooooooo good! Starting from today, I have around 2 weeks off from teaching, and I am at loss for words to describe how relieved and relaxed I am right now as I sit on the floor of my room in front of the heater, just being. Coldplay is playing in the background. I'm alone. It's perfect. I don't have to mind anybody. I don't have to fuss about the students I'll be teaching the next day. I don't have to plan any lessons. I'm loving the stillness of everything. I want to take this moment--this slice of perfection--and make it last forever.
Unfortunately, wishful thinking doesn't help or change anything. All good things have the tendency to come to an end. Annoying, but it's OK, especially when I've got better things to look forward to! Like Boris, for example. If there's going to be noise, if there's going to be any kind of talking and listening going on for me this holiday, it might as well be with people I love--Boris, other siblings, Mom, Dad, and a few other dear friends.
I really miss her. She's one person I feel I can really be myself around, all the good and all the bad, without the fear of being accepted or misjudged. I can be who I really am without the need I sometimes feel to impress, to be strong, to entertain, or being careful about what's coming out of my mouth. Our friendship somehow holds through everything. I can be weak with her. I can let myself be the mess that I am, and I know she'll still love me the same. I'm so glad we're spending this winter vacation together! I'm even more glad that she's going to be living with me in Tokyo next year!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
hayaku!!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
weird men. ew!
A few weeks ago while I was walking around a nearby department store during break time, an old man approached me out of the blue and handed me a piece of paper:
ちょっと後で読んでみてください。
It was weird. I gave him a very blank, quizzical stare and raised an eyebrow, stuffed the piece of paper in my pocket, turned around and walked off. I had nothing to say to him, and besides I'm quite leery of men who come up and talk to me, as they often end up to just be your average, horny, slightly pervy dude, hoping for a date or a one-night-stand. To be honest though, I initially thought this old man was different (that with the note and all). I thought he might be one of those fortune tellers who randomly receive premonitions about random people he randomly meets, and gives them prophecies that he receives for them. I was very wrong.
On my way back to my office, I pulled the piece of paper from my pocket and gave it a quick skim. It was instantly obvious to me that it wasn't a prophecy at all. What first caught my eye out of the messy, hand written note was '30-40万'. What caught my eye after that was a phone number. After connecting the dots and being hit over the head with the realization that the note I was holding in my hand was really a proposal to be this man's personal .... well, whore, and making my 'ewww-grose-face', I picked up the pace and did my best to hurry in my new, decently-heeled-boots, (awesome for making my legs look long and not-so-fat, but horrible when you need to rush it). I felt anxious and kept looking over my shoulder to make sure I wasn't being followed. What a creep!!
As soon as I reached my office, I heaved a gigantic sigh of relief and disgust and sank in my chair. I took out the piece of paper and this time gave it a decent read. A rough summary of the note would be that he wanted to 'date' me, and for every 'date' he would offer anywhere between 300-400,000 yen. 2-3 times a week would be nice. He's 61 years old (Ew!) and owns his own company. The last girl he was 'dating' had graduated from uni and was moving to a different country and he was interested in looking for another...well, date. He's in a hurry to catch an appointment, but if I could kindly leave a message at the number he had written, he would get back to me ASAP.
Wow. Seriously? Seriously??? Ran to the bathroom and stared into the mirror, raised my eyebrows, asked myself: Seriously? How many weird old men do I have to meet before I meet someone decent?! I think I'm a magnet for strange, horny, old pervs. If not that, then married, engaged, divorced!! I need a break. SERIOUSLY!
P.S
My finger '(which I had accidentally sliced while attempting to cook after a night out drinking ) is healing up. The image bellow was taken a week after the incident, and now after 2 weeks, it looks very different but not any prettier, unfortunately. Since I had decided against getting stitched up at a hospital, the cut kept opening up, and healed in such a way that it looks like a,...well,...healed open cut. It's VERY unattractive. VERY sad.
ちょっと後で読んでみてください。
It was weird. I gave him a very blank, quizzical stare and raised an eyebrow, stuffed the piece of paper in my pocket, turned around and walked off. I had nothing to say to him, and besides I'm quite leery of men who come up and talk to me, as they often end up to just be your average, horny, slightly pervy dude, hoping for a date or a one-night-stand. To be honest though, I initially thought this old man was different (that with the note and all). I thought he might be one of those fortune tellers who randomly receive premonitions about random people he randomly meets, and gives them prophecies that he receives for them. I was very wrong.
On my way back to my office, I pulled the piece of paper from my pocket and gave it a quick skim. It was instantly obvious to me that it wasn't a prophecy at all. What first caught my eye out of the messy, hand written note was '30-40万'. What caught my eye after that was a phone number. After connecting the dots and being hit over the head with the realization that the note I was holding in my hand was really a proposal to be this man's personal .... well, whore, and making my 'ewww-grose-face', I picked up the pace and did my best to hurry in my new, decently-heeled-boots, (awesome for making my legs look long and not-so-fat, but horrible when you need to rush it). I felt anxious and kept looking over my shoulder to make sure I wasn't being followed. What a creep!!
As soon as I reached my office, I heaved a gigantic sigh of relief and disgust and sank in my chair. I took out the piece of paper and this time gave it a decent read. A rough summary of the note would be that he wanted to 'date' me, and for every 'date' he would offer anywhere between 300-400,000 yen. 2-3 times a week would be nice. He's 61 years old (Ew!) and owns his own company. The last girl he was 'dating' had graduated from uni and was moving to a different country and he was interested in looking for another...well, date. He's in a hurry to catch an appointment, but if I could kindly leave a message at the number he had written, he would get back to me ASAP.
Wow. Seriously? Seriously??? Ran to the bathroom and stared into the mirror, raised my eyebrows, asked myself: Seriously? How many weird old men do I have to meet before I meet someone decent?! I think I'm a magnet for strange, horny, old pervs. If not that, then married, engaged, divorced!! I need a break. SERIOUSLY!
P.S
My finger '(which I had accidentally sliced while attempting to cook after a night out drinking ) is healing up. The image bellow was taken a week after the incident, and now after 2 weeks, it looks very different but not any prettier, unfortunately. Since I had decided against getting stitched up at a hospital, the cut kept opening up, and healed in such a way that it looks like a,...well,...healed open cut. It's VERY unattractive. VERY sad.
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