October 28 - November 3rd (Mon-Sun) - One-man Band, and I Love Autumn

Monday: I spent the day half being stressed and half having a great time being musical. After my koto lesson (first time in a while) I went to karaoke. Alone. Hitori Karaoke is quite common here. I never understood why, until now. I mean, why not? 

It’s cheap during week days. There’s heating. I can sing as loud as I want. And it’s really, really good reading practice. I recommend it. 

Tuesday: I kind of hate Tuesdays. 5 of the same class in a row inevitably means 5 different ways of doing it, ending with the worst. I’m really bad at this sometimes.

On the bright side I got to hear my students sing.

Wednesday: My last Murata class! I was really sad. But I had Miki’s class that night so it was good, though both of us were kind of tired.

Thursday: I had... the day off. Weird.

This was an experiment — Daikon chips. It didn’t really work. Not because daikon doesn’t get crispy in 20 min. but because I put too much salt on it. Thus the ketchup.

That night Kaori and I went to a Halloween party. It was a little awkward, but there was a woman there with her trumpet, and that was the best part.

Friday: Was a beautiful day. Before class we played ball with the kids. After class I took a walk around this familiar scene.

I love autumn.

And I found this bug! I think it may be a praying mantis. Isn’t she pretty?

Saturday: Classes all went really well, which was unusual. Then I tried to break my phone and throw rice all over my apartment. Then I studied... without my phone....

Sunday: Kaori and I walked and did yoga, went shopping, then spent a relaxing evening doing fondue and movies with Hugh and Mako.

Recent Japanese:
ou (追う) = to chase, pursue; usually ‘oikakeru’ (word learned while doing Karaoke)
dekashita = well done, good job
makikomu (巻き込む) = roll up, enfold, engulfed
kitai (期待) = expectation
danzokuteki (断続的) = intermittent, on and off
settei (設定) = settings (I switched my iPhone to Japanese)