Chapter 9 Sunday 22nd June 2008
Our first ‘official’ working ‘Workshop’ day (though we have actually been working pretty hard all week doing admin and Brian editing and admin.)
But today was our first introduction to the Japanese singers of our ‘World Music style’ with a 3 hour Joy of Singing Workshop in Osaka. We found our own way to the venue.(We were very proud of ourselves!) A couple of different train lines and subways and a bit of a walk but we navigated (well Brian did- “I’m with him!” there on our own. Yah!!!
We got there just before the rain too (did I mention It’s the rainy season here? Yep!) We met up with Masa (who had stayed overnight at our place and had left earlier the next day to meet up with Skeeter (our interpreter who was coming from Tokyo.) It was good to meet him as it is helpful to get a feel for a person before you work with them particularly in this situation where we are teaching people. The “Mugan Life Team’ arrived and we had a pre-workshop meeting. We had a full turn up of all the people who booked even though it was really raining hard and the workshop started at 6pm.
It was such a joy to be surrounded by so many enthusiastic people all willing to step up and have a sing. We taught them ‘Bayavuya’ first and they sounded
great straight away, a really cohesive group. Several songs later and lots of clapping and laughter we ended with a whoosh (as usual) and lots of smiling happy people. The ‘team’ ended up at a really cool restaurant. It had 3 floors and a big fish tank in the middle with 2 big eels, lots of medium sized fish and one big one swimming upside down. I don’t think he was very happy! I don’t think I will order him!
We were sent downstairs and had to take our shoes off and put them in a shoe rack (another opportunity to upgrade here like the umbrellas!) then we all sat in a booth with our feet dangling in a hole so it felt like we were kneeling but we weren’t. Tricky! The waitress arrived and slid our screen aside and gave each of us a little hot towel (I like this custom a lot – depending on the ‘standard’ of the restaurant you either get a cloth hot towel wrapped in a plastic bag, they must microwave them to get them hot, or you get a wet ‘towelette’ in a little bag. It’s really nice to clean your hands and refresh before eating.) The waitress also gave us chopsticks and a nearly raw egg floating in some sort of liquid. Mmm? Wasn’t sure what to do with it so just slurped it down. Tasted great once I got past the slight sliminess. I will try anything once and have learnt not to ask what something is as you can be put off by knowing I have found and its better to taste it first and decided it you like it, then ask what it is. I had pigs intestines for breakfast in Manila once (it was tasty but a bit chewy as I recall.) I have also tried sheep’s eyes!! (didn’t like them!)
Sucker for punishment!!! Aki ordered for us all so it was lucky dip!!! Most of the dishes she ordered were great except for this bowl of green slimy stuff…………I have decided I don’t really like slimy. I gave it a go though and I didn’t like the taste either. At the end of the meal Brian and I ordered the pudding and to our great delight found it to be ‘Crème Brule’ our very best favourite desert and they did a bonzer job of it too. We had our regroup meeting during dinner and got out just in time to walk to the train station and get the very last train to Central Osaka station at 11.45pm. Whew!!! Then it was a 30 min train ride (standing) from main station to Kobe. Masa, Skeeter, Brian and I got home around 1 am. They work really really late here in Japan and the trains are still packed really late at night. We were all a bit stuffed and fell into bed. Skeeter on the couch! We have a very big apartment by Japanese standards but Masa had already claimed the spare (music) room. Lucky I had just bought new bedding and a $3 (I am a shopping genius) curtain. We are a bit short on everything though as we only have 2 cups, 2 towels, 2 sheets, etc so I have had to do the ‘Jesus fishes and loaves thing’! Have I told you that I am a genius when it comes to manifesting!!!
The boys both had to leave early next morning. Skeeter was catching the famous ‘Bullet Train’ to Tokyo. It leaves from Shin Kobe Station right next to our place!!! It costs as much as flying about $250 but only takes 3 hours instead of overnight on the bus (though the bus is a quarter of the price.)
We will probably give the bullet train a go when we travel to Tokyo for the experience alone!
Well another episode bites the dust. Stay tuned for the next instalment as we have had a very exciting day today (Monday) but it is midnight………did I mention that we ‘Japanese’ stay up working late into the wee small hours?!!!
I am off to bed. I did a big wash today and got to talk and sing to the washing/drying machine! It really does both. I can’t figure that one out!
Goodnight!
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