Farewell, Summer Vacation

Summer weather is still here, typhoons and mosquitoes included, but summer vacation is coming to an end. Tomorrow is the opening ceremony at most public schools in Hyogo, and classes will soon recommence.

I will try not to complain too much about the end of summer, it has been a great one! Different in many respects, but one of my most memorable summers. A summer full of firsts: first time spending the entire summer away from home, first time having a full-time job, and first time traveling to another Asian country!

Obviously, I owe you some stories. But not tonight.

Instead, I will leave you with a random collection of mishaps and adventures, perhaps from this summer, but most likely not. Chronology, who needs it all the time? As the Japanese often say (this one is for you Lorrie), please enjoy!

Bits and pieces of Japan, bullet point edition:

• I accidentally made rice using the oatmeal setting on my rice cooker. The outcome: soggy rice. Bleh.
  
• Mixing natto with cheese. Bad, bad idea. Busted my theory that everything goes well with cheese.
  
• Getting a 10% discount on a desk at a second-hand shop. The employee claimed it was a discount for not needing a delivery service. My friends, who have shopped there before, have never heard of such a thing. Either way, I then proceeded to carry the desk to my apartment on the second floor, without help, without an elevator, and after having jaywalked across a large main street. I'm living life on the edge, mates. =p
  
• Also, I got a 40% discount at the movie theater once. The cashier asked to see my gaijin (foreigner) card, and then gave me discounts for my friends as well. It was another mystery discount, as I have never come across it again.
• I accidentally walked into the men's restroom... on several occasions. I'm sorry, Japan, but blue signs don't necessarily scream "male" in my head. And I must have (finally) developed some aversion to the color pink.
  
• My students often ask me if I have a boyfriend. I tell them it's a secret. This pipes up their interest. They insist on getting a concrete answer. So, I name my imaginary boyfriends as I count them with my fingers. The final count: seven. I tell them that I have one for every day of the week. Never a dull day of the week, I say. I don't know whether to be flattered or insulted when they believe me. And now, I am a legend among the third year boys.
• Kelly, "How are you?" Students, "I'mfinethankyouandyou."
  
• Yes, these could all be detailed blog posts. I realize. I need to blog more. Will work on that. Sorryloveyoubuhbye.

Goodbye, summer vacay! The typhoons can stay, they make for cooler weather. But the mosquitoes, please take them with you. Please, I beg...

Falling in Love, Again.

When I first walked into my current gym, it was love at first sight.

And now, I'm still in, as deep as day one. Lately, I have been very good about going regularly, and my body is thanking me. I feel so energized, despite the heat.

Last week, I managed to go to the gym six times. SIX TIMES! I didn't go on Monday, and that's because my gym is closed every Monday. I know, I gave myself a pat on the back already. And I normally don't reward myself with sweets, because it's counterproductive, but I bought myself cake. I mean, six times! I deserved it...

However, my muscles weren't too happy about the extra work, and as I was stretching on Sunday afternoon, I felt that I could really use a massage. And then, I remembered the massage chairs. Oh, how could I have forgotten about you, wonderful chairs?

I entered the room with the massage chairs, fumbled with the manual a bit, and after pressing a few buttons on the remote control, and inserting my arms into the fancy arm rests and positioning my legs on the foot rest, it was instant bliss. For fifteen minutes, the massage chair worked its magic on my forearms, entire back, legs, and feet. Seriously, how could I have forgotten about you, massage chairs??!?!?! Sorry, my loves, for abandoning you, I'll be back soon to visit. I promise. I'm absolutely smitten. haha

Not only am I extremely pleased with the facility, but I'm also very happy with the friends I have made. My gym support group has positively impacted my personal life, I've realized. While my parents and sister were visiting, I didn't go to the gym. They were here for two weeks, and then it took me one week to get back into the swing of things. So, I returned to the gym after a three-week absence. I didn't think people would notice, but they did. And I could tell that they really cared about me, and that they didn't simply want to gossip about my absence (well, not everyone at least haha). Two of the women looked especially worried. They asked if I had been sick, or if I had been overstressed by work. I told them about my parents' visit, and their eyes lit up. They looked so happy to hear that part of my family had visited. Then, when I told them that I was feeling a bit lonely, one lightly squeezed my shoulder and reassured me that I'd be ok. She gestured at the group around me and assured me that they were my family away from home. Everyone nodded in agreement. I was so touched. A week later, that woman approached me and asked me if I was feeling better. I was just as touched by the fact that she had followed up. My gym friends are really wonderful, and I am glad that they look out for me, and push me to try new classes, and comfort me when I fail, such as when I almost fell during a step aerobics class... But I'll save that story for another time.

Aside from the people who make the gym special, the service is incredible. The staff is quick to fix any problem, and they always have a solution for everything. Today, I forgot my workout pants, and to my delight, I discovered that I could rent a pair by using the points on my account. And to earn said points, I simply have to show up. No problem! I have used those points to rent towels in the past.

Now, I know that no love is perfect. But I am willing to overlook certain things. Even willing to overlook the comments that some of the elderly people say. Most fresh on my mind is the comment that an elderly woman said last week. She complimented my new workout shirt and said that it made me look slim, and as a result it made my front assets look bigger. I'm sure you can guess what she was referring to. I didn't need to guess, as she was practically touching me. Being able to understand more and more Japanese has its cons sometimes. Rarely, but it does.

Love is blind, and this time I don't mind. I'm currently spending a lot of my free time at the gym, and it feels good. Today's aerobic and zumba class were especially fun, and I even gathered the courage to chat up the zumba instructor before class. A Gipsy Kings song was playing, and I mentioned to him that I sometimes sing it at karaoke. And then, during class, we moved to Daddy Yankee's “Lo Que Paso, Paso.” I have some great memories of dancing to that song with my sisters and cousins in Rosarito, Mexico. Good fun then, and good fun tonight. And to the usual person who gives “un grito” (basically, “makes some noise”) when the songs and the moves get good, I really, really appreciate you! You're so Latino and you don't even know it. =)

As you can probably guess, I'm currently writing on an endorphin high. I find it's the perfect fix for getting anything done on an unbearably humid summer night.

And now, to download some of the songs I heard tonight. Good night =)

P.S. Happy Birthday, Gittel Paola Aguilar!