Tea and Origami

I went in for my Japanese lessons this morning, as so very boringly usual. They were okay, though, as we started a new chapter, which came hand-in-hand with some interesting grammar points. They are useful and are used all the time by Japanese people. I can now say that something is done for a purpose, so “in order that” or “for.” It is handy, and I have been using it slightly already, even before the lesson. I had the day’s special for lunch, which was eel on rice. It was rather tasty, but eel is rather expensive in Japan so it is not offered very often.

The afternoon’s lesson was in much the same vain. It was not too boring though; the time seemed to pass quite quickly and it was soon the end of the lesson. I came home on the bus with Ciarán and Lauma, though we did not sit next to each other, as the bus was its usual over-crowded self. We did not have to sit on it for too long, though, as it is quite a quick journey: about 15 minutes on average.

Back at the house, I did my homework, a little programming, and watched an anime episode. They are all ending on cliffhangers currently, so I always want to watch the next episode. There was no time, though, as I had to go to tea ceremony. I quickly transferred my washing into the tumble driers before heading off downstairs. Oh-san joined me again, though she was wearing cut-offs, bearing her revolting hairy legs. Not a pleasant sight.

I did not go first today as the two new girls had something to do and so wanted to go earlier. They went first and I watched. Various people turned up during the course of this: Maki-san, Yuu, and Ayaka, who popped in to say that she could not come today. They are both going back to their homes tomorrow for some sort of teaching placement. I am not exactly sure what it is about, though. They will be back next month, and I might get to see them one last time before I head on home.

Tea was good: I only did my thick tea ceremony, though I made too little and it was too runny, I think. Nevermind, hey? It is fun, though, I like it a lot, and I think I am good now. I can mostly remember what to do; though I like to be prompted and I am always looking to the teacher to make sure what I am doing is correct. I should get more confident in it, especially as I know that she will tell me off if I go wrong.

Yuu announced that she had learnt origami today, and had bought some paper with her, so the teacher stopped the lesson, and we all made a spinning top together. That was quite fun and unexpected, and was better than the tedium of waiting around and bowing at the right places. It was quite difficult to make, despite what she said, and consists of three different squares of paper. I think I am going to forget how to make it very soon, unless I practice making about 12 a day, which I am not going to do, obviously. It is quite cool making origami though. In the end, I spent 5 hours at tea, this time. Aaaghhh! I like the talking, though, despite not being able to understand what they say. I am hoping that I will pick something up, even if it is just being able to listen better.

I came upstairs afterwards and made my last Bachelor’s Super Noodles before going to bed.