Japan から: Latest update

Ohisashiburi! (Which means it's been a while)

My sculpture class finished this week, the photos will basically tell the story of what I made :)

That is basically the half-way point with the model in the background there if you can see :D

This is the end result with following side-view

After class I packed my things for an overnight homestay with a Japanese Christian family - part of my mission program. The older brother was the one who spoke the best english, he worked in australia for two years for a Queensland rugby team, mainly taking care of sport related injuries. He however had work until quite late even though it was a saturday so it was me and my Japanese skills that had to bridge the language barrier. They were really nice, compassionate enough to imagine someone who had no idea about Japanese culture and pleasantly surprised about the few things I did know. Before and after dinner we watched the World Cup, where Japan lost to Netherlands 0-1. I was going for Japan, since I usually go for the underdog but seriously that goal shot was awesome by Netherlands. Anyway, church the next day was cool it was quite an big congregation of 200, traditional style methodist service. They had an english interpreter available via wireless radio which was good but I still had to do an self-introduction in Japanese which was a little tough... I totally forgot to mention that the family I was staying with was Masaru-san's family, he is a second year studying environmental engineering or science I don't know the difference anymore haha. He was with me the whole time and he even gave a proper intro to the church as to why I am there so that was good. After the service we had lunch with the other university students and those of similar age (there was someone who introduced themselves as a Freetaa, which is basically someone who doesn't go to university, has a part-time job and pursues their hobby interests). Just goes to show how many Japanese students go to university that they have a word for a lifestyle that doesn't include university. Anyway lunch was good and then we headed upstairs for a more head-banging worship service. There was about a tenth of the people in this one but it was still good, no interpreter this time so I actually fell asleep. My attention span is very short...

After church I headed home to do laundry and eventually got a call from the other nooblets about how we were spending Fiona's birthday. Jazz bar in Asakusa (tourist spot), prior to celebrations we had dinner at a chain Izakaya restaraunt forgot the name. I ordered some ramen with awesome gyoza and tsukemono, which is basically salty, pickled vegetables on rice. I had it at homestay and I liked it.

The Jazz place had a 1600 yen entry fee which is reasonable and I ordered the drink that's my recent favourite - Moscow Mule. I looked at the patronage of the place, alot of people who would have been born before or around WWII, this kinda music probably reminded them of those days. There were a few youngins but we were by far the biggest group of young adults. The band was great, forget the name not good with names but they played some good jazz with fast tempo. Slow tempo can put me to sleep so I like something with zest, anyway we noticed after the first few songs that there was an elderly Japanese lady who was dancing by herself to the music. The only reason I mention this is well, she actually asked me to dance. Naturally, I accepted despite two outstanding facts: I can't dance and she was half my size. So that was funnish? looking back I suppose. Anyway after that one song I sat down and gave her my thanks for the dance.