The Little Things

Being in a new country has meant many big changes. A new job, picking up more of a new language, living alone for the first time, being away from family, friends and church for more than two weeks; these are just a few of the major changes I've been adjusting to. So far, I think I'm doing well with that, but there are times when the big just seems so big, so different.

I'm a week into Natsu Yasumi (summer vacation) and some of the big things were getting me down with no work to distract me and having to save money along with that. But then the little things started popping up.

A friend sent me some new music (including the new Hillsong United cd which gave me a bit of a spiritual recharge), I received a package that included my favorite cereal from my family, I was able to text a new friend for translation help and she came through, I cooked some food with a Japanese twist I'd picked up eating school lunches, and, today, I went to an elementary school volleyball tournament.

About a month before the end of term volleyball practice began at Yasuzuka Shogakko (Elementary School), the school I taught at every Tuesday. I asked to watch one day and the coach invited me on the court to help and play. After that they said I could go to practice every Tuesday and so I did. The team is small (only 7 memebers, 6 of whom are 6th graders and one 3rd grader) but they work hard and I've been really impressed with them. I've also been impressed with their families. The parents show up and help out at practices and really support their girls.

Although the 1st term has ended the coaches told me about the tournament and so I exchanged a few texts (in Japanese, hence the need for translation help) with "Momo's Mama" and went to the tournament. The parents and the girls were so sweet! They seemed happy that I was there and tried to chat with me during breaks. When there was a break for lunch, the girls talked to me and we worked on my Japanese and their English (well, a little), then Nozomi gave me a One Piece cell phone charm.

It was a small thing and she had a couple extras from a trip to Round One in Utsunomiya, but because I like One Piece she gave it to me. That small gesture made my day. It reminded me why I'm enjoying my time here and made getting up early and finding my way to Kanuma completely worth it.

Hawkeye Mihawk fits nicely with my Ace screen cover. 

It is completely corny but it really is the little things that make the days good.

'Nuff Said,
Crysania

"I'm an Odd Soul"

I am so much more excited than I though I would be for MUTEMATH's newest release "Odd Soul"! These guys ... I love them. They are always so refreshing and I seriously adore Paul Meany's voice! I really do.

I was surprised when I first heard this track as it is quite a change from their normal sound (which I also love) but it's still very much MUTEMATH, especially when it comes to the lyrics. I am definitely looking forward to hearing a more bluesy sound coming from them and am hoping they may also add a little more jazz (as they gave us a bit on their last album "Armistice").

It's definitely different, but I dig it the more I listen to it.

Something else that is very cool is that if you click http://mutemath.com/oddsoul/ you can remix the song! The band has broken the video and the tracks into 6 pieces (drums, bass, guitar, vocal, synth and background vocals) so you can play with it both musically and visually! I think that' pretty awesome.

Here's the vocal visual stem to give you an idea of what I mean ... and because it shows off Paul Meany's fantastic voice which, like I said, I adore.



Enjoy!

'Nuff Said,
Crysania

Time is Flying

I guess the old "time flies when you're having fun" adage is quite true. I am having a blast in Japan and now I only have 2 teaching days left until 1st term is over.

These first 4 months have given me a lot to think about over natsuyasumi (summer vacation). I feel like I was just fitting into the elementary schools and now I'll be moving to a junior high 4 days a week with a new elementary school on Tuesdays for 2nd term (I'll go back to the elementary schools in January for 3rd term). I like what I'm doing, a lot, and I'm starting to think one year isn't long enough. If I continue to make friends and enjoy my work I may try to stay another year.

How could I not love a place this beautiful?

There are still so, so many gaps to be filled. I need to improve my Japanese, I want to try more things, I want to explore the country more and I don't want to have any regrets about things I could have done while here.

Still, I really do miss my family and friends. Sometimes, Facebook gives me a much needed lift and makes me happy but it also reminds me that the people I miss are doing completely different and fun things without me. I'm doing different and fun things without them too but it does make me miss them.

There's still plenty of time but I'm going to do my best to make the most of this year and if, in the end, I decide to stay longer than it will happen when it happens. If I decide to go home ... or try out Korea ... then that will happen when it happens too.

The first term has flown by but there's still more to come!

Kanuma City outside my new friend's family's restaurant.

'Nuff Said,
Crysania

Drama, drama, drama

I love these Tommy Lee Jones commercials for Boss coffee. They crack me up. Apparently the campaign started in, like, 2007 but I didn't know about it until I arrived. It's just one of the things I'm enjoying in here on TV.

I'm a little in love with Asuko March at the moment. I watch it on Sunday nights then wait for the net subtitles to come out. I've been surprised at how much I catch but the details and "why" is what I often miss ... that and Nao's speeches. I can never catch all of what she says. Still, I enjoy it.

I don't always dig the heroines in a lot of the "male harem"-style manga/anime (Asuko March is based off a manga that I, sadly, cannot find in English) - they are often annoying and wimpy, but I like Nao Yoshino. She's no Amu from "Shugo Chara" or Haruhi from "Oraun High School Host Club" but she's not too bad. I think that's in large part to Emi Takei, the lead actress. She has a very likable presence and can really be adorable. She pulls off some of Nao's more annoying behaviors without coming across that way, at least in my opinion.

I've really gotten into it now that the story's moving along. I'm really rooting for Tamaki-kun! I think the drama really favors Aruto but Tamaki-kun's just such a sweetie! Aruto, played by Tori Matsuzaka, is definitely cute and normally I pull for the cute guy but Tamaki-kun, played by Kento Kaku, is so adorable! He's too sweet, a good guy and I'm a sucker for someone that dedicated to their family. I don't normally root for someone so much but Tamaki-kun has captured my heart and I want him to capture Nao's.

The other drama I watch, Rebound, just ended. I watched it because I like Hayami Mokomichi (he's an "ikeman"!), and I ended up liking the series too. It had a good ending. Aibu Saki is adorable too.

That's all I really watch though. Now that Rebound is over I don't know what I'll do. I'm not really a "drama"  kind of person but I was pleasantly surprised with these two.

I think I've nerded out enough for now, though, anyways. I think I'll post more music next time ... or maybe a little bit of a "thinking" post before it.

'Nuff Said,
Crysania