Desk Time

Today was my first day back at school, after what seems like forever on my hols! I have really had a great summer, and feel like I have managed to pack a lot into it. In fact Im really quite knackered after all of this enjoying-myself-nonsense! So today it was time to go back to my school, back to my desk, and back to my e-mailing, worksheet making, and orange-juice drinking routines! It's actually been quite a productive day....done lots of ajety bits, caught up on some e-mails, drunk orange juice (!!), have managed to swing a day of nenkyu on saturday so that I can avoid the school sports day, and the following enkai, have picked up my lovely pay packet (and then had to fork out 8000 yen to renew the fire insurance on my apartment...grrrr!), and have been pestered all day my ex-supervisor! It seems that now he is not my supervisor, he has decided to be the nicest person in the world to me! He spent a few weeks in Britain this summer, and so told me all about his trip ; how he likes the nature of England, English people are kind, he couldn't understand the London accent, the train station platforms were confusing, English people like to touch a lot...etc etc etc! He then gave me all his leaflets to look through, and kept researching things for me on the internet. I mentioned that I would like to see Kabuki at some point this year, and so he found me websites, printed things off for me...and then went on to research Noh, Sumo, and Rakugo for me. He even showed me a book he has of traditional Japanese toys...and told me where I could buy them (The Mall, Kudamatsu!!) Virtually every half an hour, he would come and show me something new! Im a little unnerved by this new attitude and thoughfulness! I even plucked up the courage to tell him that this year I don't want to go and talk to his Homeroom on a thursday morning. I hate doing it....the kids hate it too....and it's just too early! He was fine about it, and continued to explain the wonders of Japanese theatre to me! So, my first day back has been relaxed, productive...and also educational!! How long is it going to last?....Watch this space!

Dreaming

Any budding dream analysts out there? I had a really random one last night. I dreamt that I was taking my A'Level English Lit again, but I hadn't revised and so was just making up opinions and essays on books I hadn't read! I woke up in a panic that I had failed all my A'Levels!!! What's all that about???? It's been 5 years....and I didn't fail! Hmmmmm...shall I just blame it on jetlag?

Things I learnt/realised/had forgotten about life in the UK! (catchy title,ey!)

- There seem to be even more chavs and chavettes around nowadays...especially the latter, who still insist on hairspraying their fringes, and wearing HUGE gold rings and hoop earrings!

- Paul Robinson is back in Neighbours, and he is having a thing with Harold's son's wife

- Still on the 'Neighbours' front...the Coffee Shop is now called (shock horror) The General Store! What's that all about?

- There are a lot of fat people in England.

- The boho look and 'shrug' cardigans are the summers' big summer looks....and yey, I already have a shrug cardi!

- Heat magazine has gone up 10p!

- A boring no-one from Newcastle won Big Brother this year.

- York is getting a H&M store at last...it should be done by the time I get back!

- Subway Sandwich is now HUGE! In the last year, 3 have popped up in York!

- Sharon and Denis are getting married on 'Enders this week!

- Taxi drivers always like to give you a life-lesson, or a titbit of wisdom while you're in the cab!

- Wearing a low (ish) top still gets you a free drink...even in a Health spa!

- Hen parties out in York are scary groups!

- Kirstie and Phil are still the best!

- There are cows and sheep in the fields!!!

- In England we don't use the words 'soccer', 'candy', or 'apartment'.....unless we want our friends to mock us and our new American English!! (note to self!)

Food glorious food!

Well, I had a mental list of everything I wanted to eat while I was back home, and apart from an Indian curry, I managed to tick everything off that list! :

- Pizza Express (twice...lasagne on one trip, American pizza on the other. Dough balls on both!)
- Full English breakfast (minus the egg of course!)
- Roast beef
- Roast lamb
- Roast chicken (with sausage!)
- Fish and Chips
- Meat and Potato pie
- Steak pasty
- Hot sausage roll
- Cajun chicken at Oscars
- Chinese takeaway
- Lamb grill, chips and peas
- Lauren and Mum's world famous buffet (buffie!)
- Fajitas
- Great sandwiches (the new deli in York, 'Mr Penny's Deli' is great)
- Cottage pie
- Sausage and mash

I sound like a real pig....but hey ho, I was at home, so I had to eat all my home comfort foods! It just had to be done! Now Im back in Japan, Im gonna start being a healthy bunny, and leave the land of meat and potatoes behind for another year!

My time at home sweet home

Yesterday I returned to Japan after a great 2 and a half week break in England. What can I say about my time at home...well, it was truly wonderful!! All of my family and friends were extremely welcoming, ready with hugs, interested in my life in Japan, and simply fab! My time back at my parents' house was lovely, and I felt immediately at home, as I was allowed all my favorite meals, resumed my habbit of lying on my bed, watching TV and making a mess, and had lots and lots and lots of hugs! It felt a little strange to be back in England at first, and I did spend the whole holiday noticing things such as ''ooh, i can have a jokey conversation with the taxi driver", "wow, everything in this clothes shop fits me", "my, this is a beautiful city", and "yey, I can read every street sign, and every item on the menu!".....Basically, all the things that don't apply to my life in Japan!!! After suffering with a harsh bout of jetlag in my first week, I soon settled back into 'normal' life, and enjoyed all of my time with my folks, my meals out and shopping trips with friends, my weekend in York, my health spa break with my Mum, and my 2 days in London with Paul. Here is a complete rundown of these very highlights: (warning...this is a very lovey-dovey...almost like an oscar-acceptance speech!)

- Mum & Dad...thanks for having me!!!! Dad, you know you love the noise and mess I bring to the house! Mum, your hugs were on top form, and I had a real giggle with you. I love you both lots, and can't wait to see you again (for longer!) next year! Thanks for indulging my meal requests, for letting me sleep late (and early, as I nodded off through Spirited Away!), and for letting me show you all my photos! You were troopers! Mum, keep up the origami, and post me a crane soon!

- Lisa, thanks for 2 great shopping days....our random conversations and laughs will never change Im sure! I had a great day also with Lisa at Ruth's house. Lisa and Ruth are my two oldest friends (old in length of friendship, not age!!), and 2 of my bestest bestest friends! We always have a giggle when the 3 of us get together, and our day together was no exception. Our conversation topics may have changed a little (I do believe the word 'mortgage' was mentioned in one conversation!..eek!) from our slumber parties when we were 14, but our friendship is still fabulous, and I love them both to bits! I had a great dinner and cinema trip with my school friend Craig....some wonderfully bitchy chats, dirty laughs, and one hell of a scary movie (War of the Worlds)!

- I had an amazing three day break at Champneys Health Spa with my Mum, thanks to my Dad winning a competition and managing to arrange that we could go whilst I was home! Mum and I have always wanted to go to a health spa...and it definitely lived up to expectations. Sauna, whirlpool, massage, facial, detox wrap, pilates class, relax class, beautiful food, lounging and snoozing in fluffy robes, and lots of giggles, crane making, and chats with my Mum! We had a wonderful time, and Dad now has instructions to win another comp just in time for my return next summer!

- My weekend in York was great! I enjoyed a fab day with another of my bestest friends, Heather on the friday, and we seemed to spend the whole day wandering from one cafe, or eating establishment to another! Seriously we were pigs that day, and even found room for some of York's famous fudge! Yum! Just as with all my other friends, Heather and I had no problems in picking up where we left off, and quickly fell into our old sarcastic, comedic, and life-dwelling (!!) conversations and routines! I stayed at Louise's on the friday and sat night, and she was an amazing host....she even baked me brownies! She made me feel so welcome, and was generous and sweet as always. We had a great lunch together on saturday, along with my work-friend Jenny, who I was also relieved to see had stayed as fun and random as always. Uni-friend (and Japan visitor) Julie arrived in the afternoon, and we had a girly getting ready session at Louises'. I had a great night out with 8 of wonderful friends, where I drank a lot of white wine, and enjoyed a fabulous Pizza Express feast! Sunday was spent with another bestest bestest school friend, Vicki...and we had a lovely day around York...shopping, pub-lunch, and the afternoon in the sun at the 'maize maze'. Vicki is a really genuine, kind and fun person, and it was great to catch up with her properly after a year of very little contact (She doesnt use internet or e-mail!) Miss you Vic, and I promise I'm coming back to York one day!

- My last 2 days in England were spent with my dear ole bro! We had a great chinese takeaway feast at Paul's on wednesday night, and fabulous sausage and mash in London on thursday. Paul was fab to spend time with, as always, and managed to put up with my impromptu singing, loudness, and general stupidity!! Thanks for helping me finish my hols with fun and great food lil bro. I always have a great time with you in London, and I look forward to spending a little longer there with you next year!

I certainly do feel at home here in Japan, and am still greatly looking forward to the next 11 months of new experiences, new travels, and new friends. However, there is still no place like home.....my real home....England! For all of its faults and failings (and by god I noticed them even more while I was at home this time!), it is still a beautiful, friendly, and cozy country, with some truly great people (my friends and family in particular!), and one day I look forward to settling down there for good. So for now, England, I bid you farewell....until next time.....

Kuala Lumpur baby!!

Well, here I am...on the long road home to England. I left Japan at 11.30 this morning, after breaky in Starbucks with Dan, Rosie and Ellen, and landed in Kuala Lumpur at 4.30 (local time). As my flight to England is not until 10.55, I decided to check myself into the Transit Hotel at the airport, so that I have the luxury of a bed, bath and TV for the next few hours! My alarm is set, so I dont miss my flight, and my excitement (as well as my tiredness!) is growing! My flight here was actually not too bad. I hate flying...it makes me feel really ill, and I just become really grumpy...but my Malaysia Airlines flight was very impressive, and the service was great. It already feels quite strange to be outside of Japan, even though I have left the country twice in the last year....just hearing so many English-speaking voices around me, and seeing a great mix of people around the airport. I will try and blog a bit when I'm at home, but please forgive me if I don't get round to it (!!). I hope everyone has a really great couple of weeks, whatever they're doing, and wherever they are in the world. England...watch out...I'm only hours away!

Straight is great

On saturday I took myself off to Yamaguchi city, for a much needed haircut, and much desired straight perm!! I know I know...my hair is naturally straight-ish, and I already have hair straighteners! But there are just too many kinks, waves, and general annoying bits in my hair, that are made even worse by the Japanese humidity! So after a year of making do with my good ole hair straighteners, and being a bit too scared of the idea of having my hair 'chemically' straightened, I gave in and took the plunge. Alex, the great gal that she is, booked it for me, and talked me through it all. Thanks for your help Alex! The process was really long...3.5hrs to be precise....but I was extremely happy with the end result. It was just sooooo straight!!! I decided not to blog about it until I had washed it myself, and checked that the 'perm' had actually worked. I washed it today, and .....it's still straight!!! Yippeeee! It's also the softest and healthiest it's felt in years. I'm one happy-straight-haired girl!