Arubaito and Nomikai

(Picture above the tracks at Oyama station)

Today, I went with Brian to go have an "interview" (more like a test) of teaching a student that wanted to start taking classes at his part-time job (アルバイト）. It was with a woman named Mrs. Naka. She likes traveling the world and has home stayed in Australia. Her English was pretty basic, but she could carry on a conversation. I wasn't sure at first if I could teach a beginner, but as the lesson went on, I became more comfortable. That's usually what happened. After the lesson was over, Brian's boss gave me the okay to basically replace him next week as this was his last week of lessons.

Later on I had Nomikai (drinking party) with my Kyudo members. I went to practice to meet up with them to find out where the location of the Izakaya. I did fine in there, but we did a game to change the seating arrangement and it became harder to order and find to conversate with someone. I normally do better talking to girls in Japanese and guys for some reason (which is the opposite I think in English), so being surrounded and near Akiba sempai, I really didn't know him all that well. Come to think of it, outside of Suzuki-Sempai, Shori-Sempai, Mitsue, Miwa, and Chihiro, I didn't know many people that well. This was the first time I actually questioned my involvement in the club. I wanted to join a club to become better at speaking and listening Japanese, but still I had lots of trouble sometimes following the conversation. Normal conversation is like a variety show on Japanese TV, without subtitles, it makes a poor study tool at lower levels because of the quickness of changing the topic at a drop of a hat. Also, I think the outfits are cool and everything, but for some reason, on days hotter than hell (or very cold for that matter) I didn't like wearing the clothes for practice. It makes it difficult sometimes. But, the thing that was bothering me was that I didn't know a lot of people already, despite 3 months into the club. That was partly blamed on my schedule of not being able to attend practice, but a little bit as well blamed on my lack of Japanese ability. It was warming up faster now, but it isn't at a level I find sufficient at all, which is my motivation to continue to only improve. But, still....I should have gotten to know more people.....