This week, I was invited to join the third graders at their special graduation lunch. We each got rice, soup, fish, a pork chop, fried chicken, spinach, potato salad, a cherry tomato, two little cakes, a strawberry, a slice of melon, a kiwi segment and a croissant. We also each got a syringe containing a very thick, syrupy coffee solution to inject into the usual carton of milk. It was kind of them to include me. I have done a complete half turn with school lunches. When I started here, they were a source of great anxiety, but I have to say that now I have become used to Japanese food and flavours, I really enjoy them. We have either rice, noodles or bread each day, a soup packed with vegetables, meat or fish, more vegetables and sometimes a dessert or piece of fruit. They are great value for money (₤1.80 a day) and it’s three or four weeks before the same meal is repeated. A very positive feature of Japanese schools.
Recently, I’ve been trying to learn a Japanese song for the next time I’m at karaoke. I’m learning a song called キセキbecause it’s often played at lunch times, so it’s something I hear regularly. So far, I’ve done the first and second verses, but it ain’t half difficult!
Have struggled this month to study Japanese. Have just got a bit tired I think. As was the case at the end of the autumn term, I’m becoming a little jaded and looking forward to the holiday, so that I can have a proper rest and start afresh in April.
I have one week of work left and then I’m on holiday for two weeks. I’m going to visit a friend who lives in Tokyo. We became friends back at university. Some of you may have met him since he did alpha whilst we were both at Warwick. We both like tennis and will probably spend most of the time doing that. I am considering sleeping at one of Tokyo’s world-famous capsule hotels. Has anyone done it before? I also want to visit Jesus Lifehouse church, which is a big church in Tokyo. After Tokyo, I want to come home via Hakone, where I hope to take a very long soak in the hot spring there and enjoy the views of Mt. Fuji, which is nearby. I want to climb Fuji this year, but not this time. I think it will be more fun to go in the summer as a group and do it together.
Hope you’re all doing well. I miss you all.
