May 7-12 (Tues-Sun) - Cough and I start dance

Tuesday: I coughed, I taught, repeat. My favorite class, of two little boys, has become sad, as one boy quit. Two more kids did trial classes, but either way it will be lonely.

Wednesday: I feel my condition is deteriorating. Thus I finally resolved to find medicine. If only I could speak Japanese.

I had it all planned out how I would ask for help, but I walked into Genky (the big pharmacy store), and on the left, arranged in neat sections by ailment, were all the medicines I might need. Easy. If only they would cure me.

I inadvertently bought butter (searching for cheese), and also ended up with this ‘sweet ball’... which was really just bread, because remember all bread here is sweet. I toasted it and had it with butter. Ah, yum.

Thursday: Every time I feel things are going well, I do something stupid, like misreading my schedule. So I was late for my nursery classes. It’s always 10:15, but I read it as 11:15. I misread several other things so I can only blame my fever. But this (missing the first class) left me discouraged. I was happy for the duration of the next two classes (I mean, they’re cute little kids) then flop. :( 

Elementary class was fine. The software that goes along with the textbook had videos of counting 1-10 in several languages, and for playing rock-paper-scissors.

In Japan, it’s called Janken(pon), and this is rock-scissors-paper. So I have to teach them rock-scissors-paper. Iyada. But they love it. They could seriously janken all day.

Friday: The dreaded day has arrived. People watched my class. It was only the second time I’ve taught at that school, the first time was weeks ago, so I don’t feel it went so great, but it wasn’t bad either. I’ll accept valid criticism.

Then I had new classes at Kitanakayama. The kids all wanted me to sign their stuff (books, pencil cases, those hard plastic things they stick between pages when writing on the page, etc.).

That night I went with Kaori to try out a ballroom dance class in Fukui. It was pretty fun, and we decided to continue. 

Saturday: Morning class went well. Afternoon classes went well enough. I stopped by a 8ban-ramen on my way home and had ramen. Notice the hachi-ban on the fish cake. 

Later I ate this wafer-chocolate ice cream bar. It’s a new favorite.

Then I continued the evening with plenty of tea and coughing. 

Sunday: I slept in until 8! Then I enjoyed a tkd class. I am grateful my instructor is willing to take the time for these classes. The day was sunny and lovely. Kaori and I made coffee and sandwiches for lunch, took a walk, then went out to shop for dance-wear (I am shoe size 24.5. Large.). For dinner we made split-pea soup, for dessert we ate Nutella on baguette. Life is so hard.

Recent words:

torihada = goosebumps

koumori = bat

akubi = yawn

kushami = a sneeze

hakushon = achoo

nesage = price cut

shakou dance = social dance