It has been a while since I’ve had the time to write here. At my work we are hitting the last month of the term, and ostensibly that means that I would be less busy. However, there are a lot of employees being sent overseas on a training program, and I’ve been pressed into service to help them get ready for the hustle and bustle of the New York business scene.
In addition, we are starting to plan our classes for the next term (from April to September), and that has been interesting. It sounds like I’ll be teaching in some different styles to shake things up, and I’m happy about that.
Back home we’ve been throwing things away as part of our continuous simplification purge. I agree with Kuniko – it feels great to get rid of stuff. This morning we got rid of my old kotatsu. I bought it back when I first got to Japan, and it was too cold to study in my dining room. It was a really comfortable piece of furniture, and as it turned out it was too comfortable – as soon as we got into it we were falling asleep. Goodbye, productivity killing kotatsu!
Yesterday was Hina Matsuri, the day of the doll festival, and Mr. Yamaji stopped by last night to give us a big bowl of chirashizushi. They have kids so they are used to celebrating the traditional Japanese holidays, but since it is just the two of us we sometimes miss out on stuff like this. It is so nice of them to think of us on days like these. The sushi will make a great lunch today.
The other day we were dropping off our dry cleaning in Okubo, and we noticed that a small wine bar opened up next door. I don’t have high expectations, especially given the location, but tonight we’re going to drop in after work and check it out. I’d be a crappy local resident if I didn’t show up and hold them to impossible standards. Maybe I can get a part time job there…
