Arm Tickeling Frenchie!

I don't know how but for some reason my time in Nagai can be ever so busy. I should really try to relax more during the week and rest my mind but that is NO FUN!! Usually events and things catch me by surprise and last week definitely was one of those times. We started off the week with a kindergarten trip to the next town for a picnic and hike. I really enjoyed this but was pretty exhausted after the 5 hours spent outdoors with the oh so cute kids then off to teach all evening. As well, there was a continuation of a festival going on all week with events in the park, and I went out socializing after work twice. Good night sleeps are important for my job and I really should avoid going out but sometimes all the slow talking or no talking at work requires a little gaijin conversing when the day is done. You know just to keep you sane!
For this past week Nagai had a special visitor from France. I have recently since moving to Japan joined couch surfing to find cheaper/free accommodations when travelling about Japan. In order to get free "couches" to sleep on I need to offer mine in return. So on Wednesday night, during Rebecca and my wine and cheese night we discovered a lone traveller from Russia seeking a couch. She agreed to reply on her account to invite him at her place and I'd stay too. We thought this was best considering he was a guy and she was a girl. So Thursday night excitedly we all met for drinks at Paradise (a great Thursday night bar). Turns out the backpacker wasn't Russian but French. To my excitement I had someone to speak francais with! I was super happy because compared to the Japanese language, I know and can understand a lot more French! The night was also special because I met Julie on the street and invited her for drinks. She is a teacher from Yamagata city who comes out to Nagai once a month.

Four foreigners in a tiny bar in Nagai sure is unique and suprising!After many drinks and a combination of French, English and Japanese conversation we ventured home inebriated and tired. After a jaunt through the park and some bush hopping we made it to Rebecca's for a good nights sleep. Or so I thought. Three hours later I awoke out of my stupor to feel the Frenchman tickling my arm! It took me a second to realize where I was and what I was feeling and from whom....in which I rolled over closer to Rebecca. In Japan if you have guests everyone just finds a spot for a futon and sleeps on the floor. Its cozy, but in this case too cozy. At 4am, I had to leave after feeling the tickling a few more times. I just couldn't sleep and by this time the sun was up. On my bike home I took at picture of the sunrise. It was peaceful and settling, but not enough for me to fall asleep. I ended up receiving a message from Anne and bantered back and forth over cell phone email with her about a possible visit to Japan. Let's just say that a 3 hour night sleep makes for a really long 11hour workday! Unfortunately Anne didn't book the ticket but either way it was good to catch up!
In the end this experience made me realize a place doesn't need to be big in order for great things to happen. Rebecca and I, but mostly her spent the rest of the weekend entertaining this guy until finally Monday night kicking him out of Nagai. He was lucky to come on a festival weekend. This week of suprises reminded me how much fun I can have here but also that I need to limit it during the work week because by the end of it I am way too exhausted and everything about Japan really gets me down. One big struggle here is the language. I think a lot about if I were in a place that spoke french life would be easier. Many times when I think of Japanese words or phrases the French comes first. I guess this is just how your brain works. I wish so much I could speak as much Japanese as I can French. However, after this frenchie's visit no matter the language barrier I much more prefer the temperament of Japanese men over a French man's forwardness! Cultural differences never get boring!