One of my favourite bands lately has been Queens of the Stone Age. I remember listening to them back in High School, the first song I heard on Rage was the song "Go With the Flow". It was usually late at night, and it gave me butterflies in my stomach. I love songs like that.
At the time I had heard of the band "Eagles of Death Metal", (one of the members is also in QOTSA)but no one I knew had the album, and then I guess I just forgot about them. Only recently I got three of their albums and they are great! This song has been stuck in my head for the past three days:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx005f_cAVI
Unfortunately this video is bad quality.
This song is called "Solid Gold", and I think if this had been the first song of theirs that I had heard, I wouldn't like them. I'm sure you can tell why. But now that I know what the band is about after listening to other songs, I actually think this one is quite catchy. I just wish it would get out of my head already!
Maybe you should listen to "I Only Want You" first:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHY1xCl4Qak
xx
Friday, May 18, 2012
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Photos!
We love cooking! As you can tell, we have lots of rice and noodle stuff, it's so great! I will never get sick of rice, unless it is risotto - gross. Some of the shots here are from restaurants, like the bottom left Indian Curry from Nagoya, and the two naan bread shots, from an Indian takeaway not too far from my home! The far left, second from the bottom was the best tonkatsu I have had in my life, from a restaurant with a nice atmosphere. I'll take anyone who wants to go, only a ten minute drive from here :)
*I would have made my own collage, but with no time, I deciding to go for a crappy internet one!
A very, very creepy looking love hotel. This one has free food and drink!! They must be desperate for customers...
View from the front balcony.
More photos soon, this isn't all of them! xx
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Life Update
Sorry, it has been so long since my last post. I can't believe the last time I wrote on here was before I left Kiso!
Well in any case, I am now living in Kani City, located in Gifu Prefecture. It's still quite small for a 'city', but now I am actually in some kind of civilisation and I am really enjoying it! I actually have a choice of supermarkets, and places to shop for clothing. Plus, there's a McDonald's just down the road, only a five minute walk away :) I've only been there twice, so I think that is a good effort for me.
The two schools that I am at now are very different from Kiso. For one, there are many more kids (which I was expecting). They are also more eager to speak to me, which I am enjoying. But it also means that there are other kids more willing to speak their mind; rude boys to be exact. Half of the time they are lovely and practice their English with me, other times they are asking me inappropriate things. I don't care, they're curious and growing up. It really doesn't happen all too often, but I either ignore it or tell them that that's not something they should be asking me.
I also have a much, much, bigger work load. The teachers here expect a lot of me. I guess I had it easy in Kiso. While I am enjoying the challenge, I am exhausted every single night. I have also had teachers expecting me to conduct entire lessons without them telling me I even have a class on. It has been frustrating but I'm learning to cope with it. Teaching Elementary basically on my own in Kiso was a big learning curve, and this time my two Junior High's are testing me as well. I'm so tired!!
My new schools are named Nishi Kani and Higashi Kani (West and East). I also will be teaching at Seto Kindergarten, but I haven't been there yet. It is only once a month.
Some very recent news: a few days ago Dede got himself a full time job! I am so happy for him. His new job is located about an hour by train from where I live, so it's still really close. His interview lasted for three hours, and he had to demonstrate his teaching style for forty minutes as well. To tell the truth, I was very worried about that, from hearing his previous interviews. But this time I gave him a few pointers and ideas and it got him through. Luckily he is very quick on his feet. They offered him the job while he was still there! It was such a relief for the both of us.
This week is Golden Week, my second one in Japan. We went to Nagoya to visit Suzuka and Manami, but Manami fell asleep after her part time job so we didn't get to see her! So the three of us went to Nagoya Castle. This was my third time going, two times more than I had planned on going. The outside is great, but the inside is boring. It does have some interesting models of how the original castle looked. I still can't help thinking why didn't they construct the inside traditionally. After the castle we went to Nagoya Dome...the baseball was on but we didn't watch it. I don't like baseball at all but I think it would be nice to see a game in Japan once. The atmosphere looks fun :)
We went shopping, Suzuka showed us a foreign food store (our kind of food!!) and we bought up large. Dede and I are going to go on a cooking rampage after this!! The majority of our money definitely goes into food :p
For the next day of Golden Week we went to the rose garden in Kani; apparently Kani is famous for it's roses and there are over 7000 varieties. Unfortunately the roses aren't quite in season so the entire park was just green...very few flowers at all. We will have to return in a month's time to see them in bloom.
On Monday we did nothing; just rested and watched movies. I hate being stuck in the apartment, maybe because it is so small, but it was nice to relax after two days of walking and walking. Today I had to work, and also tomorrow, but Thursday onwards it is the last part of Golden Week! Hooray!
After that there are no more holidays until the end of July. But the good thing about that is I have about five weeks off work, and if I understand my contract correctly I get paid in full :) I am really, really looking forward to such a long holiday!
Well I have left out many things I am sure. I hope to be able to write again soon, and include some photos :) xx
Well in any case, I am now living in Kani City, located in Gifu Prefecture. It's still quite small for a 'city', but now I am actually in some kind of civilisation and I am really enjoying it! I actually have a choice of supermarkets, and places to shop for clothing. Plus, there's a McDonald's just down the road, only a five minute walk away :) I've only been there twice, so I think that is a good effort for me.
The two schools that I am at now are very different from Kiso. For one, there are many more kids (which I was expecting). They are also more eager to speak to me, which I am enjoying. But it also means that there are other kids more willing to speak their mind; rude boys to be exact. Half of the time they are lovely and practice their English with me, other times they are asking me inappropriate things. I don't care, they're curious and growing up. It really doesn't happen all too often, but I either ignore it or tell them that that's not something they should be asking me.
I also have a much, much, bigger work load. The teachers here expect a lot of me. I guess I had it easy in Kiso. While I am enjoying the challenge, I am exhausted every single night. I have also had teachers expecting me to conduct entire lessons without them telling me I even have a class on. It has been frustrating but I'm learning to cope with it. Teaching Elementary basically on my own in Kiso was a big learning curve, and this time my two Junior High's are testing me as well. I'm so tired!!
My new schools are named Nishi Kani and Higashi Kani (West and East). I also will be teaching at Seto Kindergarten, but I haven't been there yet. It is only once a month.
Some very recent news: a few days ago Dede got himself a full time job! I am so happy for him. His new job is located about an hour by train from where I live, so it's still really close. His interview lasted for three hours, and he had to demonstrate his teaching style for forty minutes as well. To tell the truth, I was very worried about that, from hearing his previous interviews. But this time I gave him a few pointers and ideas and it got him through. Luckily he is very quick on his feet. They offered him the job while he was still there! It was such a relief for the both of us.
This week is Golden Week, my second one in Japan. We went to Nagoya to visit Suzuka and Manami, but Manami fell asleep after her part time job so we didn't get to see her! So the three of us went to Nagoya Castle. This was my third time going, two times more than I had planned on going. The outside is great, but the inside is boring. It does have some interesting models of how the original castle looked. I still can't help thinking why didn't they construct the inside traditionally. After the castle we went to Nagoya Dome...the baseball was on but we didn't watch it. I don't like baseball at all but I think it would be nice to see a game in Japan once. The atmosphere looks fun :)
We went shopping, Suzuka showed us a foreign food store (our kind of food!!) and we bought up large. Dede and I are going to go on a cooking rampage after this!! The majority of our money definitely goes into food :p
For the next day of Golden Week we went to the rose garden in Kani; apparently Kani is famous for it's roses and there are over 7000 varieties. Unfortunately the roses aren't quite in season so the entire park was just green...very few flowers at all. We will have to return in a month's time to see them in bloom.
On Monday we did nothing; just rested and watched movies. I hate being stuck in the apartment, maybe because it is so small, but it was nice to relax after two days of walking and walking. Today I had to work, and also tomorrow, but Thursday onwards it is the last part of Golden Week! Hooray!
After that there are no more holidays until the end of July. But the good thing about that is I have about five weeks off work, and if I understand my contract correctly I get paid in full :) I am really, really looking forward to such a long holiday!
Well I have left out many things I am sure. I hope to be able to write again soon, and include some photos :) xx
Monday, March 19, 2012
Life Update
I had a great night last night. Originally I had organised to go out to dinner and drinking with a teacher from Fukushima Elementary. He is also leaving Kiso for Yokohama, I suppose to be closer to his girlfriend. Yesterday I got a phone call from him to say that he had been speaking to the Fukushima Junior High Principal (who is retiring) who invited the two of us for dinner at his house.
It ended up being a lovely dinner, prepared by his wife and daughter. I was lucky enough to be given a beautiful hair brooch thingy made out of old kimono; the Principal's mother's kimono actually, so it was very special. Izumi was able to choose one for his girlfriend too.
We both left at about 9.30pm for Chikara. Luckily Brooke and the people she was with were still there; I had heard from Yuki that they were going to be there so I was hoping to say goodbye before I leave Kiso. It would've been nice to get there a bit earlier to talk more...and when I was a little bit more sober, oops.
Anyway, Izumi and I had a drink and some garlic chips (my favourite!) and by then we were both really tired, so we had to walk all the way back home again.
I had some really great conversations that night, and it also really tested my Japanese. I felt so happy that I could have a home-cooked Japanese meal at my Principal's house. I wonder if many other ALTs get to have that kind of experience.
It ended up being a lovely dinner, prepared by his wife and daughter. I was lucky enough to be given a beautiful hair brooch thingy made out of old kimono; the Principal's mother's kimono actually, so it was very special. Izumi was able to choose one for his girlfriend too.
We both left at about 9.30pm for Chikara. Luckily Brooke and the people she was with were still there; I had heard from Yuki that they were going to be there so I was hoping to say goodbye before I leave Kiso. It would've been nice to get there a bit earlier to talk more...and when I was a little bit more sober, oops.
Anyway, Izumi and I had a drink and some garlic chips (my favourite!) and by then we were both really tired, so we had to walk all the way back home again.
I had some really great conversations that night, and it also really tested my Japanese. I felt so happy that I could have a home-cooked Japanese meal at my Principal's house. I wonder if many other ALTs get to have that kind of experience.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Kani City
A lot has happened lately. For a start, after my meltdown about having to leave Kiso, I was offered another job in Kani City, Gifu Prefecture. I will be teaching at three Junior High Schools, with occasional visits to Kindergarten and Elementary. A bit of a pity that it won't be a half and half mix like the past six months.
However, after accepting the job I was offered an interview by another company in Nagano. They said that it was possible to find Dede a job, which of course is a very important thing for me. I ended up interviewing with them, and was extremely impressed by the system that they use to keep track of children's progress. I was all set to accept, but the downside was that the job they had considered interviewing Dede for had been filled, and that there was nothing at that time available for him. On the drive home this played on my mind a lot, and that night when they offered me the job I was so, so upset to turn them down. Unfortunately the reason did come down to money. Altia offers a slightly better salary, and the location that I will be moving to will make it easier for Dede to get a job too (at least I am hoping). After I turned them down I had a little cry again; I felt like I had wasted their time and had gotten their hopes up about hiring me. I just hope that they understood my reasons, but in the end it is my interests that I have to look after.
And also, this way I already know what Altia expects of me (at least I hope I do!). I'm a little worried about going to a bigger location; this means more kids and more names...I am hopeless when it comes to names, not to mention names that are foreign to me!
Still don't know when I am moving out, and it is an extremely busy and stressful time. I want to go to Hakuba one last time, I want to go snowboarding this Sunday with some teachers at Fukushima Junior High for one last goodbye, and I have to figure out how to move!! I knew I had bought a lot of items since moving here, but today I bought another large suitcase and I still can't fit everything that I have into it! I'm planning to takkyuubin it, but I still need something to put my items in! Stressful...
Next time I will have many many photos! I have been to two great end of year enkai's, and have received many great gifts. There have been many tears, but I am happy that I am leaving Kiso with such great memories. Only recently I have made some great friends with the staff that I work will, so it will be sad to not be able to see them again. I'm going to do my best to visit again xx
However, after accepting the job I was offered an interview by another company in Nagano. They said that it was possible to find Dede a job, which of course is a very important thing for me. I ended up interviewing with them, and was extremely impressed by the system that they use to keep track of children's progress. I was all set to accept, but the downside was that the job they had considered interviewing Dede for had been filled, and that there was nothing at that time available for him. On the drive home this played on my mind a lot, and that night when they offered me the job I was so, so upset to turn them down. Unfortunately the reason did come down to money. Altia offers a slightly better salary, and the location that I will be moving to will make it easier for Dede to get a job too (at least I am hoping). After I turned them down I had a little cry again; I felt like I had wasted their time and had gotten their hopes up about hiring me. I just hope that they understood my reasons, but in the end it is my interests that I have to look after.
And also, this way I already know what Altia expects of me (at least I hope I do!). I'm a little worried about going to a bigger location; this means more kids and more names...I am hopeless when it comes to names, not to mention names that are foreign to me!
Still don't know when I am moving out, and it is an extremely busy and stressful time. I want to go to Hakuba one last time, I want to go snowboarding this Sunday with some teachers at Fukushima Junior High for one last goodbye, and I have to figure out how to move!! I knew I had bought a lot of items since moving here, but today I bought another large suitcase and I still can't fit everything that I have into it! I'm planning to takkyuubin it, but I still need something to put my items in! Stressful...
Next time I will have many many photos! I have been to two great end of year enkai's, and have received many great gifts. There have been many tears, but I am happy that I am leaving Kiso with such great memories. Only recently I have made some great friends with the staff that I work will, so it will be sad to not be able to see them again. I'm going to do my best to visit again xx
Friday, March 9, 2012
Sad Lorellie
A couple of days ago I received the bad news that my contract in Kiso-machi will not be renewed again. Apparently I had too many sick days off so the BOE were worried about me. I wish I had known that my getting sick would have had a negative impact on my chances of another job in the same area. I just can't believe that that was the only reason I can't work here again.
When you go overseas you are bound to pick up bugs and illnesses you have never had before. Like I said, if I had known this earlier I would have gone to school feeling terrible. I thought that I was doing the right thing and now spreading the cold around.
As I was driving to Kaida today (for the last time), I started crying. Thinking about all the lovely kids and the things they have said to me in the past week. The kindy kids asking me to come back and play soon, the kids at Ueda who have to move to Fukushima Elementary this coming school year. Those kids said they were scared about moving to a whole new school with new students, but happy that I would be there too. A familiar face can make all the difference. The teachers at Ueda when turn by turn, telling me how my lessons had impressed them, that I was really organised and that I made it really fun for the kids. When I think of all their faces when the teachers told them that I would be there I just start crying again.
I was never given the chance to say goodbye properly to three of my five schools. I'm really not happy about that. I really would have appreciated it. Maybe I am more upset about that, rather than having to find a new job.
That being said, Altia are going to do their best to find me another contract. Like always, nothing is set in stone. I just worked so hard at all five of my schools!!!!! I already had next year's lessons planned out, now that I feel like I know what I am doing. Now that I finally had figured out the kid's levels and all that...seeing as the teachers didn't. (Elementary...Junior High were all sorted)
The life of an ALT. It is an uncertain one.
And the rent!! I have been able to save a substantial amount of money considering I only have to pay 13,000 yen per month. If I go into a proper apartment-style place, it is likely I will be paying the normal 50,000 per month. There goes my savings :(
I don't want to leave. I had thought about going to a bigger place because I do get bored here a lot. But I love this place, I really do. I just know I'm going to cry for a long time, when the day I have to leave comes.
Which brings me to the point...my last day of school is next Friday, after that...will I have a place to live? I don't know.
When you go overseas you are bound to pick up bugs and illnesses you have never had before. Like I said, if I had known this earlier I would have gone to school feeling terrible. I thought that I was doing the right thing and now spreading the cold around.
As I was driving to Kaida today (for the last time), I started crying. Thinking about all the lovely kids and the things they have said to me in the past week. The kindy kids asking me to come back and play soon, the kids at Ueda who have to move to Fukushima Elementary this coming school year. Those kids said they were scared about moving to a whole new school with new students, but happy that I would be there too. A familiar face can make all the difference. The teachers at Ueda when turn by turn, telling me how my lessons had impressed them, that I was really organised and that I made it really fun for the kids. When I think of all their faces when the teachers told them that I would be there I just start crying again.
I was never given the chance to say goodbye properly to three of my five schools. I'm really not happy about that. I really would have appreciated it. Maybe I am more upset about that, rather than having to find a new job.
That being said, Altia are going to do their best to find me another contract. Like always, nothing is set in stone. I just worked so hard at all five of my schools!!!!! I already had next year's lessons planned out, now that I feel like I know what I am doing. Now that I finally had figured out the kid's levels and all that...seeing as the teachers didn't. (Elementary...Junior High were all sorted)
The life of an ALT. It is an uncertain one.
And the rent!! I have been able to save a substantial amount of money considering I only have to pay 13,000 yen per month. If I go into a proper apartment-style place, it is likely I will be paying the normal 50,000 per month. There goes my savings :(
I don't want to leave. I had thought about going to a bigger place because I do get bored here a lot. But I love this place, I really do. I just know I'm going to cry for a long time, when the day I have to leave comes.
Which brings me to the point...my last day of school is next Friday, after that...will I have a place to live? I don't know.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Jitters
Lately I've been feeling very on edge. It is already the 23rd of February. My current contract ends on the 28th of March. I still have not heard from Altia whether or not I will be offered another contract. Also, Dede has heard nothing. The company recruiting website was updated on the 21st saying that they still need to find 10-12 new recruits for this year. One good thing is that there are not any free positions in Nagano, which makes it seem like I will be getting this contract again.
The problem is that I would rather a position closer to Dede; living on my own just sucks. But the main problem is that in the event that I don't get this contract again, I will be out of a job and a home here. What to do, what to do? All the jobs in other companies are getting snapped up quickly! It takes a long time, and is expensive to go to other places from here in Kiso.
Ah well, things will work out. In other news, I went to Hakuba again last weekend.
About to use my new snowboard for the first time; it was amazing! I just got it waxed, which took a little getting used to, but required if I want it to last a long time. It really helped having my own snowboard, and I improved a lot over the weekend.
Dede and his snowboard, which he acquired free from a friend!
It was a busy day that Saturday, over 3000 visitors apparently! We definitely noticed the difference. It was the first time we had to line up quite far from the gondola lift, and at lunch time the restaurant was packed! We had to wait for quite a while and were very lucky to get a table. That day, Dede took me down the snow park, with jumps and stuff. It's possible to avoid the jumps, which I did, because at that time I still couldn't turn from heel to toe edge. But it was a little difficult, everything was so white I nearly accidently went over a jump! Nothing would've happened though, I wasn't going fast enough. Either way, I didn't like it because I am always too worried about being in other people's way.
On Saturday night, we went out to dinner with Dede's friends from work; Gaku, Yoshi and Kashiwagi. They are all really nice. Gaku knows English quite well and Dede is helping him everyday, but he knows that I want to get better at Japanese so he speaks Japanese to me. I really appreciate it. We all went out to a restaurant in Happo called 'GU', a steak house...but still not steak like home. I was still full from lunch so I had a salad! Afterwards we went to the Happo One Fireworks Festival, at Happo One, obviously (site of the 1998 Nagano Olympics). There were skiing and snowboarding displays. At the end, there were snowboarders and skiers going over a massive jump. It was amazing! I don't think I will ever do big jumps like that, but it was great to see. There was even a skier going backwards in the run-up, and doing an amazing flip. Great night!
When the fireworks were over (and they were some of the best I have ever seen!), we found Julia and Koji, and went to the Beach Bar. Dede loves this place but I don't really. A lot of people he knows gathered there, and we ended up being there until about 12.30am. He enjoyed himself which was really good.
The next day, Sunday, I woke up the the most pain I have ever felt. My entire body just hurt. It was a mixture of muscle, bone and bruising. I felt sure that I wouldn't board again, even though I wanted to so badly. After breakfast, Dede gave my legs and arms a massage. He said he would 'do it until it doesn't hurt anymore'. I told him that was impossible, but try if you like! I can't usually get a massage from him that easily! It helped a little, but it still hurt to do a lot of normal things. However, the day was beautiful and clear, that I couldn't waste it. I decided we would go, and I am so glad I did. It wasn't as busy as the previous day, but since there hadn't been a lot of snow fall, the snow was hard, which meant that when I fell, it hurt more than ever. And did I fall! I wiped out a lot. The reason is that when you are learning to turn from heel to toe, your speed automatically rises quickly, otherwise you fall. But if you still haven't got the correct balance, you fall, and at that faster rate. I don't know how many times my legs went over my head! The same thing happened on Saturday, but everytime Dede was looking the wrong way. Today, he finally saw how I was falling. Despite it hurting a lot, I enjoyed it. However there was one point when I fell on my bum extremely hard that it gave me a headache, and I had to lay down in the middle of the mountain for a few minutes. But everytime I stood up again, I felt good that I kept going.
We met up with a few Australians (I think) that had been at Dede's birthday. It was only the second day snowboarding for one of the guys, and already he had far surpassed me. I thought I was doing extremely well, but that just was not fair! He beat me down the run to Dede's lift! After that it was getting late, so Dede decided to go down his lift once more to talk to Gaku about giving us a lift to the station, and then he would go down the mountain. So I had a head start down to the bottom! I really didn't believe I could beat Dede, but I tried my best. On my own, I learn a lot faster. I'm not constantly looking at Dede to ask if I'm doing things right, or to see if he saw me fall. It's just all me. About a quarter of the way down, I finally got the hang of heel to toe. Previously I could do a maximum of four turns, and then would fall. But on my own, I was going so fast and turning so smoothly it was amazing!
Then, on the final turn, the final 100 meters or so, Dede and the two guys from earlier caught up to me. I had nearly done it! It was good though, because Dede got to see just how good I had gotten. Unfortunately he got no videos or photos of this. I did beat the guy on his second day though :) Saw him wipe out hahahaa~~
Where I still wasn't quite good yet :)
View of the run down to Dede's lift. It's a great run for beginner's. The first part is so flat that you nearly don't move, then it gradually gets steeper. It's good to practice heel-toe-heel-toe, and then the last part is fun enough for people more advanced.
On Tuesday night I went to Masa's party at Chikara, and I met a nice Japanese girl there. We spoke only in Japanese, because she doesn't know English. We had a great conversation, so I got her email address so maybe we'll catch up soon! I need more people that don't know English so I'm forced to speak Japanese. It was great!
The problem is that I would rather a position closer to Dede; living on my own just sucks. But the main problem is that in the event that I don't get this contract again, I will be out of a job and a home here. What to do, what to do? All the jobs in other companies are getting snapped up quickly! It takes a long time, and is expensive to go to other places from here in Kiso.
Ah well, things will work out. In other news, I went to Hakuba again last weekend.
About to use my new snowboard for the first time; it was amazing! I just got it waxed, which took a little getting used to, but required if I want it to last a long time. It really helped having my own snowboard, and I improved a lot over the weekend.
Dede and his snowboard, which he acquired free from a friend!
It was a busy day that Saturday, over 3000 visitors apparently! We definitely noticed the difference. It was the first time we had to line up quite far from the gondola lift, and at lunch time the restaurant was packed! We had to wait for quite a while and were very lucky to get a table. That day, Dede took me down the snow park, with jumps and stuff. It's possible to avoid the jumps, which I did, because at that time I still couldn't turn from heel to toe edge. But it was a little difficult, everything was so white I nearly accidently went over a jump! Nothing would've happened though, I wasn't going fast enough. Either way, I didn't like it because I am always too worried about being in other people's way.
On Saturday night, we went out to dinner with Dede's friends from work; Gaku, Yoshi and Kashiwagi. They are all really nice. Gaku knows English quite well and Dede is helping him everyday, but he knows that I want to get better at Japanese so he speaks Japanese to me. I really appreciate it. We all went out to a restaurant in Happo called 'GU', a steak house...but still not steak like home. I was still full from lunch so I had a salad! Afterwards we went to the Happo One Fireworks Festival, at Happo One, obviously (site of the 1998 Nagano Olympics). There were skiing and snowboarding displays. At the end, there were snowboarders and skiers going over a massive jump. It was amazing! I don't think I will ever do big jumps like that, but it was great to see. There was even a skier going backwards in the run-up, and doing an amazing flip. Great night!
When the fireworks were over (and they were some of the best I have ever seen!), we found Julia and Koji, and went to the Beach Bar. Dede loves this place but I don't really. A lot of people he knows gathered there, and we ended up being there until about 12.30am. He enjoyed himself which was really good.
The next day, Sunday, I woke up the the most pain I have ever felt. My entire body just hurt. It was a mixture of muscle, bone and bruising. I felt sure that I wouldn't board again, even though I wanted to so badly. After breakfast, Dede gave my legs and arms a massage. He said he would 'do it until it doesn't hurt anymore'. I told him that was impossible, but try if you like! I can't usually get a massage from him that easily! It helped a little, but it still hurt to do a lot of normal things. However, the day was beautiful and clear, that I couldn't waste it. I decided we would go, and I am so glad I did. It wasn't as busy as the previous day, but since there hadn't been a lot of snow fall, the snow was hard, which meant that when I fell, it hurt more than ever. And did I fall! I wiped out a lot. The reason is that when you are learning to turn from heel to toe, your speed automatically rises quickly, otherwise you fall. But if you still haven't got the correct balance, you fall, and at that faster rate. I don't know how many times my legs went over my head! The same thing happened on Saturday, but everytime Dede was looking the wrong way. Today, he finally saw how I was falling. Despite it hurting a lot, I enjoyed it. However there was one point when I fell on my bum extremely hard that it gave me a headache, and I had to lay down in the middle of the mountain for a few minutes. But everytime I stood up again, I felt good that I kept going.
We met up with a few Australians (I think) that had been at Dede's birthday. It was only the second day snowboarding for one of the guys, and already he had far surpassed me. I thought I was doing extremely well, but that just was not fair! He beat me down the run to Dede's lift! After that it was getting late, so Dede decided to go down his lift once more to talk to Gaku about giving us a lift to the station, and then he would go down the mountain. So I had a head start down to the bottom! I really didn't believe I could beat Dede, but I tried my best. On my own, I learn a lot faster. I'm not constantly looking at Dede to ask if I'm doing things right, or to see if he saw me fall. It's just all me. About a quarter of the way down, I finally got the hang of heel to toe. Previously I could do a maximum of four turns, and then would fall. But on my own, I was going so fast and turning so smoothly it was amazing!
Then, on the final turn, the final 100 meters or so, Dede and the two guys from earlier caught up to me. I had nearly done it! It was good though, because Dede got to see just how good I had gotten. Unfortunately he got no videos or photos of this. I did beat the guy on his second day though :) Saw him wipe out hahahaa~~
Where I still wasn't quite good yet :)
View of the run down to Dede's lift. It's a great run for beginner's. The first part is so flat that you nearly don't move, then it gradually gets steeper. It's good to practice heel-toe-heel-toe, and then the last part is fun enough for people more advanced.
On Tuesday night I went to Masa's party at Chikara, and I met a nice Japanese girl there. We spoke only in Japanese, because she doesn't know English. We had a great conversation, so I got her email address so maybe we'll catch up soon! I need more people that don't know English so I'm forced to speak Japanese. It was great!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
