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Lately I've settled into quite a busy routine.
Partially it's because it's the end of the academic and fiscal years in Japan, so everyone is preparing to move and change jobs and have spring and all the rest. There's a lot of parties and events. People are constantly giving me things, but since I wasn't prepared for it, I'm doing my best to keep up. Some people have given me things bigger than candies, so I'll have to do some sewing this weekend. For example, the librarian made adorable little French desserts out of felt. I got orange mousse ^.^ It's so cute!
The other part of my busyness stems from a bitter struggle between me and my psyche. I'm tired of winter and I'm tired of loneliness, so I've really dilligent about hanging out with my friends. We need each other now to get through the tough times. We're all going through it. It's funny how ALTs are on the same page almost all the time. We think we're alone, then one of us mentions a feeling and we all know the exact sentiment. ALT fellowship really is important, I'm so glad I have the opportunity to have it. This is why I think our ALT council is so important. It reminds us that we're people, not crazy foreigners.
Of course, with all this busyness it's not helping my stress. I also need the downtime, but unfortunately I'm in such a place where if I take downtime, I end up feeling boring and unfulfilled. I'm sick of working on me, I need to create something or work on someone else. Unfortunately there are no such opportunities and I'm just always really, really tired.
Life isn't without its amusing quirks though. I've been spending a lot of time lately with a group from my adult class. We've hung out almost every weekend. Last weekend we went to a dessert buffet, where they had a bunch of bite-sized cakes and desserts and for 10 dollars you could eat your fill. The weekend before we had a Hot Pot Party, toured the volcanoes nearby, and did some dyework by hand.
The Actress had to move about an hour away, so when things got late a few weekends ago, I invited her to spend the night. It was nice and we talked for a while in English and in Japanese, and she taught me how to make a Japanese breakfast soup. The funny part, though, was when I started flossing my teeth. She was staring at me really hard. "Do you guys not floss?" I asked her. "No...no...Japanese people don't...how do you do that?" she said, fixatedly. It was pretty bizarre, but I kind of understood lol It was one of those "huh. how about that" moments for both of us.
I'm pretty excited about this little cake box though. It inspires me to get out and make something, edible or inedible. I need to activate the artsy part of me to wake up this slow and cold spring imposter. I can't help but feel that things will get better once I can go outside without a coat and can plan on riding my bike without worrying about a last minute snow to foil me. Tonight I already had bread-making on the docket, but maybe I'll throw in some arts and crafts too.
Partially it's because it's the end of the academic and fiscal years in Japan, so everyone is preparing to move and change jobs and have spring and all the rest. There's a lot of parties and events. People are constantly giving me things, but since I wasn't prepared for it, I'm doing my best to keep up. Some people have given me things bigger than candies, so I'll have to do some sewing this weekend. For example, the librarian made adorable little French desserts out of felt. I got orange mousse ^.^ It's so cute!
The other part of my busyness stems from a bitter struggle between me and my psyche. I'm tired of winter and I'm tired of loneliness, so I've really dilligent about hanging out with my friends. We need each other now to get through the tough times. We're all going through it. It's funny how ALTs are on the same page almost all the time. We think we're alone, then one of us mentions a feeling and we all know the exact sentiment. ALT fellowship really is important, I'm so glad I have the opportunity to have it. This is why I think our ALT council is so important. It reminds us that we're people, not crazy foreigners.
Of course, with all this busyness it's not helping my stress. I also need the downtime, but unfortunately I'm in such a place where if I take downtime, I end up feeling boring and unfulfilled. I'm sick of working on me, I need to create something or work on someone else. Unfortunately there are no such opportunities and I'm just always really, really tired.
Life isn't without its amusing quirks though. I've been spending a lot of time lately with a group from my adult class. We've hung out almost every weekend. Last weekend we went to a dessert buffet, where they had a bunch of bite-sized cakes and desserts and for 10 dollars you could eat your fill. The weekend before we had a Hot Pot Party, toured the volcanoes nearby, and did some dyework by hand.
The Actress had to move about an hour away, so when things got late a few weekends ago, I invited her to spend the night. It was nice and we talked for a while in English and in Japanese, and she taught me how to make a Japanese breakfast soup. The funny part, though, was when I started flossing my teeth. She was staring at me really hard. "Do you guys not floss?" I asked her. "No...no...Japanese people don't...how do you do that?" she said, fixatedly. It was pretty bizarre, but I kind of understood lol It was one of those "huh. how about that" moments for both of us.
I'm pretty excited about this little cake box though. It inspires me to get out and make something, edible or inedible. I need to activate the artsy part of me to wake up this slow and cold spring imposter. I can't help but feel that things will get better once I can go outside without a coat and can plan on riding my bike without worrying about a last minute snow to foil me. Tonight I already had bread-making on the docket, but maybe I'll throw in some arts and crafts too.
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