Oh lately its so quiet!

It has started to rain a majority of the days the past few weeks. I have been told that the typhoon season starts around now and so, I suppose this is what we are to expect more often than not. I have always enjoyed the rain favorite weather is actually those overcast, windy days. Not having a car though kind of makes it a bummer where at times the rain acts as a prison warden trapping me in the house. Its not like I have anywhere to go anyways. I have been in the house the past two days and that attitude is probably coming out in this first paragraph.

With the summer approaching, the weather has started to change (for the worse). Although not the sweltering heat we had when I first got here last August, I have started feeling the heat and humidity in the mornings when I walk to school. The mornings are still cool but, I have a sweat on my brow upon arriving at school. I attribute this to the humidity- which will only get worse.

Since my last post, quite a few things have happened blog worthy however, I think photos of those events will probably appear on our sister site. Pictures of us at Spain Mura (the local amusement park) and shots of us in Gifu and all the adventures that always go hand-and-hand when that happens. No announcements yet but, either here or there, look for an update.

So right now I am finishing up the last book of the Lord of the Rings, the Return of the King. There is a character in the story named Legolas; a character who after hearing the cries of the seagulls becomes obsessed with traveling to the sea (which he has never seen) and kind of adopts the idea as his destiny. Not that that has anything to do with anything but, for the past few weeks, as the weather has become more and more appropriate, I have felt this strong urge to head to the beach. I am in a bad spot because the beach is close enough where I could and should be going to it however, it is far enough away that without a car, it is too hard to get to. It just sits there, day after day, calling me. Remember the pictures of the beaches that I posted at the beginning of my blog (which turns 1 next month)? It beckons to me.

I feel like I need to go on some kind of adventure. Maybe go hiking or something. Something big, I feel like I have been stagnant for a long time and need to do something exciting. Not to say I haven't done fun things or enjoyed myself but, I feel like I need a challenge or something to take my breath away. Sorry, I think I am just typing out my thoughts.

For about the past two months, I have been playing guitar pretty seriously. Although I am probably not much better than I was before I left, I can actually play a few fun songs. I meet once (sometimes twice) a week with some great friends I met through the community English class I help teach once a month who I meet with on Wednesday nights just to play guitar. I am by far the worse of the group however in spite of that, we manage to all have a good time. We are practicing a few Japanese folk songs from the 70's, and although I don't sing I thoroughly enjoy playing and singing the occasional harmony. I was lent a guitar last November and just recently Ayumi was lent a bass which she has been coming and playing bass for the songs which we are practicing.

My vice principal at my school is quite the musician as well. Through a conversation with him a few months ago, I learned that he was quite the Beatles fan and told me he could play all their songs. A few days later at school, he pulled me aside and asked if I had a few minutes. I told him yes and was led to a teachers lounge where he showed me he had two electric guitars and a bass (which apparently have always been there). There he sat and played guitar for me for about thirty minutes and not only did he know the Beatles, but could play them perfectly. He then went on the play some classic rock and blew my mind! Honestly the best guitar play that I have ever met.

About a week ago, he pulled me aside again and asked if I had some time. I told him yes; he got the two guitars, the bass and proceed to walk to the counseling center where he passed the bass to another teacher and led us to a small building on campus. In this old dusty room was two drum sets, four amps, two keyboards and a set of microphones. He had printed out some chord sheets and while me and this teacher followed them along, he sat and played the blues, jazz and some classic rock. The last song he wanted us to play the chords to was Hotel California which upon playing revealed that he knew the guitar solo at the end. We all sat there and jammed for about an hour and promised to meet again and practice something to play at the school festival in September. He and I have met two times since then, after school to practice Hotel California, and I am excited to see what we can muster up between now and September.

My one year mark is quickly approaching and with it, although still aways away, I need to start thinking about life after this job. I don't know what I am going to do but, one thing for sure, I need to get my Japanese up. I have had fun, and have been able to shoot the breeze no problem here but, I really need to get serious and get some real power in my speaking ability. Maybe I will spend the afternoon setting some goals- also need to find a way to get to the beach!