I had another welcome party friday night. It was also a going away party for one of the pinos I work with. This one was a lot smaller, just the guys from my group and about 5 of the office ladies that we interact with a lot.
The party started at a all you can eat/drink chinese restaurant. The food that I could eat was pretty good and I kept myself from over drinking. Mainly because I spent most of the night talking to with one of the ladies that is also a rhythmic gymnastics coach and dance instructor, and these women can’t drink very much (think 5′8″ and barely 120.)
The dinner was fun, but due to projects the three other guys from my group didnt come till about an hour after it started, so I basically sat around listening to the women gossip and talking about america and dance to Hirano-san.
After the dinner we moved on to Karaoke in Roppongi. This was fun, I got to here some pino songs, some pop japanese songs and then some good ole Johnny Cash, sung by yours truly.
After about 2 hours, I managed to slip away and get the last train back. It was fun night and of the guys I work with that can go out and drink it was fun.
Saturday I spent the morning relaxing and then I went to aikido. I found a dojo near my apartment that practices on weekends. The shihan is an 8th dan that trained with Osensei and then split away after he passed away. Recently he has rejoined aikikai. It was really nice to be back on the mats. I was able to destress and relax. I think his aikido is very good, but I need to find if any of his students get it. Judo girl, now referred to as Momo since I know her proper name, joined practice with me. She happens to live really close to me and might be interested in practicing.
After practice we went to a house party and I met a guy from New York and some local tokyoto denizens. Apparently there is a big party in shibuya next weekend and I am being forced to go to it. Should be fun.
The people here are a lot nicer then I was expecting. I was figuring that it would be a work work environment and people wouldn’t socialize much outside of their departments, but it seems just the opposite.
Sakura is about to bloom here. The japanese say that when the sakura opens/spring comes, everything start fresh. A new life if you will. So will soon begin a new..