August 1, 2012
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Summer break begins/The great viola secret
Today is the first official day of the Rising Sun Academy summer break. I suppose that seems strange to say this when many of my friends back in the US are talking about how their children are going back to school. We started our break about a week later than the schools around here got out. With moving and visits, we needed to eat about a week of summer break, so here we are starting our month long break. Good timing too because with our heat indexes about 105F this week, it makes studying and teaching in a non-air-conditioned classroom quite a challenge. We find ways to manage, but really enough IS enough, so we are on break! We are only about a week behind where I want to be and for right now that is perfectly fine.
Skyler is at Bible camp right now. The house is considerably quieter, and the siblings seems to be a smite at a loss with out the big brother calling the shots. It is nice to have time with just the little ones, and I am sure that Skyler is having quite the time at camp. I cannot wait to hear his stories when he gets home. He is the only caucasian boy at camp, so he really stands out. He will definitely be challenged in his Japanese skills as it is an all Japanese camp. BUT the campers and counselors looked like a good crew, so I am sure my closet Japanese speaker will be fine.
Our little foursome, did the recycle shop circuit today looking for a few items to help us finish being settled in the house. We found a metal rack for about $30 that I can use to store homeschool supplies. I will need to go to a 100yen store to get containers to separate the items, and I will also be able to put my label maker to work! We also found a wicker drawer unit, that we intended to stick in a cubby in our room, but it is about a half a centimeter too wide and won't fit. Even so, we found a reasonable place to put it, and this will hold our printer, copy paper, computer items, and the general like. Think more office and less homeschool type of items. We were hoping to have a rack unit to stow in the cubby to neatly store pillows and blankets during the day. Our bedroom turns into an office during the day. It wasn't the most exciting outing for the kids but they did fairly well. We also came home with a fan that actually can cover our living room. The one we were using in our living room was too small to cover the space. Just as well, because the classroom will benefit from the old living room fan now.
Some of you have been noticing that I have pulled out my viola and started practicing again. Here is the deal with that. Before we moved, we began to think about the kinds of things we would want to do to be involved in the community or involved in a club. After some brain storming, thinking, and praying I decided to pursue one of my old loves......playing in an orchestra! After asking around and looking on the internet, I discovered on orchestra group not too far from where I live. The group in my city is only for wind instruments, so I needed to look beyond my city to find a group. The two larger cities on either side of our city both have an orchestra. I decided that the group in Nagaoka made a bit more sense to look into, so about a month ago I sent a message inquiring about the group. I had to wait almost two weeks, but I got a response about coming to visit. Last week I went to visit and was able to play with the orchestra.
The people swarmed me and overwhelmed me with kindness. They all talked to me as though I belonged there and invited me to participate in extra events. In truth, I have a month to make a full commitment to the group, so right now I am in my trial period with them. There is no audition necessary, just a commitment from me and a monthly fee, and additional concert fees 2 maybe 3 times a year. The monthly fee is very reasonable and not a problem at all. I have to admit that I am a little worried about the concert fees. They did tell me that the concert fees fluctuate, so they could be more (but probably not) or they could be less. I was given a ball park figure that works out to be about $300USD. Ouch. Another problem is traveling logistics, which may not be a problem at all, but i can get to the practice/concert place, but the bus that gets me back to the train station stops running about an hour and a half before practice is over. However, there seems to be a fair number of people who play in the orchestra and live in my city, so even if someone can't get me to my door someone should be able to get me to a train station. I suppose the concert fee and the travel issues are just matters of trust.
Practice itself was very fun and also very exhausting. The days following practice I had a few out of shape muscles that were sore. It has bee so long since I have played IN an orchestra, so I was definitely rusty. BUT it is a lot like riding a bike, so I am sure that after a few good practice sessions I will be holding my own again. There is no practice this week due to a festival happening in the city, so I have a bit of time to study the music and feel more comfortable with it. I do admit that this is a stretch of my Japanese skills as well which is a good thing, but the diving in heads first means I need to work even harder.
...and that's the tale I have to tell to you. Now back to Judo because the networks have decided that I want to watch ping pong or judo...so judo it is.
