I was 10 minutes early to work today. It was not so difficult today because I did as Sirdar suggested and laid my clothes out the night before. I also changed around the order of a couple of things in the routine to make smoother.
A lot has been happening in other parts of my life, by the way. Besides going to three parties during the weekend, I had been asked to take a second-degree black belt test at the Shoheijuku Aikikai dojo here in Kumamoto and the tests were on Sunday. I had originally set my mind towards taking the test, but as the time approached I didn't yet have the confidence I would need.
I decided that I could only take a test if I could prepare well enough, so I asked the teachers and some of the other students if they would meet with me on different days to help me prepare. The only person that agreed to do it was of course, Awesome Guy, but with just that little extra training, it wasn't enough for me to become ready. I learn a lot at the dojo, but training is slow and my body is out of shape.
Looking for other ways to train, I found a poster in the local budokan(martial arts hall) for an Aikido class that had just started in my town. Turned out the Aikido on the poster is from another branch of called Aishikan, under a larger school named Manseido. Even though the school(style) was different, I went anyway for the extra training opportunity -- so it would seem. Today I handed in my membership form and I became an official member of Aishinkan.
I have no doubt that this dojo is where I want to be. The teacher is unbelievable skilled. Each class he runs class like clockwork, and the students are all amazingly skilled also. Class moves so quickly I can hardly keep up. The ukemi(falls) are clean, mostly back rolls, but the students seem to be very flexible to many ways of falling.
I just wish I could tell you everything I've seen. My dream of meeting this sort of experience is coming true. I couldn't care less about second-degree at this point. I talked a bit with the Shoheijuku Kumamoto teacher and let him know I wasn't going to take the test. He totally didn't understand, but maybe that's because he doesn't know me very well at all. I don't care about rank. I care about learning.
So my schedule changed to training Mondays and Tuesdays with these folks, Wednesday and Saturday with the old dojo. I can add and subtract days as I like after I figure out what is best to do. I've spent many, many hours with the Shoheijuku people, and have certainly made some close friends there, so I will continue practicing there until I make up my mind what is the best way to move forward.
You know, I also want to tell you about what's been going on with my relationship with my boyfriend. The things we have come to realize together give me joy and great sorrow. If we could imagine that angels were real, I'm sure one would resemble my boyfriend. Maybe you can understand what I mean somehow. I don't mean he's cute and so nice, I mean that he is kind, decent, mature and wise, with patience and a wide-opened mind.
We were watching the cherry blossoms fall from the trees yesterday in Jagatani Park. The moments of life are fleeting like the fall of the blossoms. Maybe you can understand.
Anyway, I'm ready to wake up tomorrow and create some joy. Are you with me?
Well, I didn't get any minutes from anyone since the weekend, so we don't have to think about that just now. As for me, I'm up to 62 minutes early!
I tell of my day-to-day experiences in a funky Japanese town from my American viewpoint. This blog could also be called 'Bizarro World', 'Notes From Kyushu, a Smaller Island', or 'Teaching English in Japan: Smash Your Ego in 10 Easy Lessons."
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2007
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April
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- Day 23 -- Woman's Day
- Day 22 -- Feast Your Eyes(Sirdar inspired)
- Day 21 -- Thrills
- Day 20
- Day 19 -- The Day That Had to Come
- Day 18 -- Sluggishness!
- Day 17 -- Got Up But Still Klutzing Around
- Day 16 -- No Time to Think
- Day 15 -- Aikido rocked again
- Days 13 + 14 -- Heroes and Lovers (and kids)
- Day 12 -- A New Way
- Day 11 -- 6 minutes past the punch
- Days 9 and 10 -- Little Obstacles
- Day 8 -- In time for tea
- Day 7 -- Routine
- Day 6 -- Dreams come true and Angels are real
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April
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5 comments:
You go, Girl! Getting up at a certain time has been a past bane of my existence. I became so paranoid about it that when it was critical to be up at a certain time I'd wake up each hour to check the set alarm clock. (Not much sleep involved, but up on time....it hurt).
Good about the new Dojo, good to stay with the old as well. You'll find the path through it all hiding in the future.
I am glad for your happiness with your earth angel. May that time be long for you both.
Hugs
Susan
Remind me not to pick a fight with you :-) I used to box....but that was a loooooooong time ago.
Congrats on finding a new place to train. Hope it works well for you.
Way to go on the early to work thing. Glad my suggestions helped. Keep it up. Only 25 more days to go!!
Julie, congrats on your commitment and determination to overcome a family habit of unpunctuality. I know how hard it is!! And kudos, too, for your openness a few weeks ago on your difficult decision about staying or leaving Japan. That your writing elicited a heartfelt response from another often silent, but very important person in your life shows how you touched many of our hearts. ...Finding a new Dojo seems to be where you are ready to be now... I think life is full of the old and the new, blended together, or perhaps the new growing upon the old. Love you!
A/Cher
I just happened to think of this; Aunt Cheryl reminded me by one of her comments. Julie, you wouldn't know this by first-hand experience if at all. Your Grandpop - Sam - I don't ever remember him being late for any single thing big or minor, in my life. When we would be getting ready to go out, we would be upstairs getting ready; we would hear him tinkle a certain little melody to himself on the piano while he was waiting...
Uncle L.
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