Nikoru Daisuki!

Incase you don't understand Japanese hehe i'll translate the title of this message for you, Nikoru daisuki means 'Nicole's my favourite'. As I walked into a JHS 3rd grade class (grade 9) last week the kakkoii (cool) boy kept repeating this. I have been his ALT since he was in 7th grade and every visit he makes comments like that. This is just one other reason why I LOVE japan!

Nihon daisuki, nihon daisuki!

I don't wanna work, I just wanna bang on my drums all day!

That's right, I said 'bang on MY drums'! This past week Ichida no kai's leader(my taiko club's leader) ordered my taiko drum. My drum is called a katsugi, which means it's a smaller drum that is attatched to a shoulder strap and played stading up. The diameter of the drum is 42cm and the face will be made of cow leather. There was a choice between horse or cow and I chose cow. The two different leathers produce different sounds, the horse is of more of a 'ping' and the cow leather is more of a 'pong'. I like the 'pong' sound best. According to Oyakata (the leaders honorific name- a direct translation would be polite for parent person) the drum should arrive by the end of May. I am very excited to give it a try!

I'm Too Slow

It seems that I am too slow at posting photos to my blog (surprise surprise hehe) and now most people have already seen the photos from the trip so that's enough of that!

Last Tuesday Nina reminded me that we only have 11 weeks left in Japan. 11 weeks?!? I can't believe it! Time has flown by!! I have mixed emotions about leaving. I am very excited to come home but on the other hand I feel this country has soo much to offer that I have not experienced. I mean, I would need another 5 years in Tokyo alone to scratch the service of that amazing city. But as 5 more years is out of the question, leaving in July will just have to do. The countdown is on!