Gimme some feedback!!!

I've been a bit lazy with this blog thing lately because I'm not sure what to write about. I would appreciate some feedback. It's a bit strange writing in this thing for 6 months and not getting any responses. So I'll have to assume I'm basically talking to myself, and this blog is for my own benefit.

I have settled in pretty well, coming up on my first month at the job. So far I couldn't have asked for more. The hours are sweet, I'm not overworked so I still enjoy it. The Japanese staff are all cute and friendly; they definately brighten up my mood as soon as I walk in the door. I really like a lot of my co-workers, have been there long enough to feel comfortable making jokes and exposing them to my dry humour. Performnce-wise the feedback has been quite good, things like "most oustanding participant" at the follow-up training session have been said by the big boss, but I don't want to toot my own horn too much and it's still early days.

Most of the students are cool, which is the most important thing. Noone wants to teach people they don't like, but I genuinely do which makes the job quite enjoyable. We have a good time. Of course I don't like all of them, but enough that most classes are fun. The other day I did a class with a girl whose occupation was "Glamour Model" which definately brightened up the day. Another girl gave me her email address on a piece of paper, but unfortunately socialising with the students is strictly forbidden and not worth the job. There are plenty of other girls in Tokyo.

Been real busy the last 2 weeks; started Japanese classes (or nihongo as I should say), been doing overtime at my 2nd job helping the students with their resume's. They are all going to Australia to study english and work a bit, so I've been teaching about all the wonders of Australia like: trams, Virgin Blue flights, Bryon Bay, cab bolts (the concept is crazy to them - one student really wants to try it), Bronte Beach and Yum Cha in Sydney.

2 weekends ago me & Brad hit up "The Room" again for some more jazz beats. I wanted to go to an indie rock night, but his girlfriend and her friend came from a wedding so they were dressd too nice for some sweaty jumping around. It was another good night there, one of my Tokyo reccomendations. Later on in the week I had some farewell drinks for a nice German girl from the guest-house. It was nice to go out with the people I live with; considering we live together I don't really see them much. Last weekend Rick who I hadn't seen since January came to town. It was good to see a familiar face, crazy to think that it was 3 months ago I left Korea, feels like such a distant memory now.

Me & Rick went to the 1st annual couchsurfing party. Was nice enough, a bbq by the beach at Chigasaki. Friggin cold though, was windy and the sand is more like dirt, but still met some extra nice people and enjoyed their food. That night we went to Roppongi again and went to a professional foreigners bar (bankers & the girls who like bankers money). We told the local girls that we were in a band and talked ourselves up but they didn't really understand.

Brad sweating it out on the dancefloor. He likes the nightlife.... he likes to boogie.

A school band killing it at the mall.

Our dates for 'The Room'

Last night I went to one of my WHA student's bars (with the new Aussie teacher) for a beer and some chicken... a suprisingly good combination. I got lost on the way and finally found all the love motels (FYI cheap hotels that you can get for a few hours or overnight) lots of workers going there after work in pairs to relieve some office-work stress in best possible way.

A quick story: this guy came up to me on my way to work and shoved a business card in his face written in Japanese, he kept talking to me after I repeatedly told him I didn't understand Japanese (watashi-wa nihongo-ga wakarimasen) but he wouldn't go away so I took the card. I asked the girls at work what it was and they told me it was for a talent agency (TV, film, magazine, etc) in Harajuku. So I went there the next day and was told to wait on the couch, until this pretty guy came up and kept talking to me in Japanese until he gave up and just sat there smiling at me like an idiot. Eventually he gave me a magazine to look at while he kept staring, so I got up and found someone who could speak english. From her broken english I gathered that my lack of language ability was a problem, which the original deusch should have gathered, so I left. It was very 'Lost in Translation'. That is the third person to approach me so I think I'll try to find an English-friendly agency and hopefully get some work in a Japanese commercial or something.

Which reminds me of something that happened recently. Turns out there was a reason the Thai movie star was being nice to me, on his last night here he came into my room with a dowry of instant noodles and then had a crack at wooing me. I explained to him that I'm not really into touching other men and he was suitably embarassed and left. I can't blame him though... if I wasn't me I'd have a go too.

Thats it for now; check out the new link to Flickr on the right if you have a minute. Some decent photos from a few weeks ago. Later, my imaginary readers. Also look at the sexy portable speaker I got for my laptop... so sweet!