Let It Be

Life in Tsu has returned to normal.  After our whirlwind travels around Japan during the Obon vacation, we spent a few days relaxing at home and have now adjusted to working full weeks again.  Last week was the hottest one yet!  It got to the point where I was getting dizzy and lightheaded for a few days, so I drastically increased my water intake and did anything I could to avoid going outside.  I really can't believe how hot it is here.  My students keep telling me that it won't cool down until the end of September.  I'm not sure that I can take another whole month of this kind of weather!  I want to spend time outside enjoying this beautiful scenery, but at this rate, I won't be able to for a month!  It's almost dangerous to spend more than 15-20 minutes outside at a time.

Despite the heat, I am still able to enjoy and appreciate this.

Last weekend turned out to be a really exciting weekend, despite that fact that we stayed right here in Tsu.  On Friday night after work, we went to a different British pub downtown and ended up meeting some Japanese businessmen and singing karaoke.  We realized that the pub was going to have a Beatles cover band the next night, so we made a return visit on Saturday to check it out.  They played 3 sets, but we only caught the last 2 because Peter had to teach until 8.  We were worried because the pub looked pretty dead when we first arrived, but once we decided to go inside, we saw that a small crowd had gathered.  It was a very chill crowd - perfect for a fun, intimate concert.

John, Paul, George, and Ringo...Japanese-style.

I was pleasantly surprised by how impressive the band sounded.  I mean, imagine 4 Japanese men singing British songs...and some of the greatest songs ever, at that!  It was really good, though, and we even chatted with one of them briefly.  I saw my private lesson student's husband and his brother at the concert, so it was fun to talk with them.  This Japanese concert was very...Japanese.  By that I mean that everyone simply sat in their chairs and listened politely.  In America, it would have been a much rowdier and open crowd.  Well, by the end of the last set, one woman stood up because she wanted to dance, and she asked the three of us to stand up, too!  We did, and pretty soon, the whole place was dancing and singing along.  One of the managers (I think) of the bar even grabbed my hand and started dancing with me a little bit!  It was a lot of fun.

We were told that we had to stick around after the concert for a flair show.  Turns out that the bartender there is ranked 4th in the world!  It was an awesome show.  Thanks to the help of our Japanese friends who told us when to raise our hands, Sarah and I got to have the drinks that he made during the show.

Before we entered the bar, a young guy walking by asked us if we were going to the Beatles show.  We said yes, and he ended up telling us that he works and performs there sometimes.  He talked to us throughout the night, and then after the concert, he put on a sequined jacket and got up on stage and did an incredible rendition of "Billie Jean" - including the dance moves.  Later in the night, he also performed a few tunes on his keyboard.  What?  It was one of the most random experiences I've ever had, but is was so great.  It was a night full of every kind of entertainment!

Michael Jackson is EVERYWHERE in Japan!

Things are going very well in Tsu.  We have settled into the day-to-day of working, buying groceries, relaxing, exploring, and getting to know our students more.  I will update you with more details about work and daily life soon.

So...summer in Minnesota is pretty much over, I hear.  How is back-to-school life treating you?