Sarah and Takuya: Last Live of the Year

I can't believe I'm just getting around the writing about this.  Like every other month, September just flew by.

On September 4, Takuya and I had our last Live performance of the year at Mellow.  It was a bittersweet performance, because not only was it our last performance, but it was the first Live we've had that Mark, our #1 fan, wasn't there.  His contract with the Sapporo BoE was up, and he had returned back to the States just a few days before.

I received the nicest compliment from a guy who'd seen Takuya and I sing at the May Studio Party a few months ago.  He said our voice complimented each other so well and it was like we'd been singing together for years!  I kid that Takuya is my Japanese brother, but I truly think we have that kind of connection, and that's really what I enjoy most about singing with him.

There's no doubt that I'm gonna miss our monthly practices and performances - It was because of Takuya that I started singing again and he challenged me to be more confident.  But I'm also excited about some other singing opportunities that have opened up to me.  Most of all, I'm just happy that people enjoy what we do for fun.  A HUGE thanks to all our friends who have supported us and have come to all our shows.  This may be our last Live this year, but hopefully it's not forever!!

If you'd like to hear our show, and a few other things we've recorded, check out Takuya's SoundCloud here.

Ethan's artistic side

During summer vacation, I enrolled Ethan in calligraphy classes with our Japanese teacher.  I figured he needed something to do during his two-month hiatus from school besides play games on his computer.  So every Sunday, from 1:00-3:00, he'd go to class, carrying the calligraphy case our teacher bought for him.

When I would meet with our teacher for Japanese class, she'd tell me that Ethan had a real talent for calligraphy and that he had a good eye for seeing how to make a beautiful character (kanji character).

I figured once school started up again, Ethan would want to quit, but he told me that he really enjoys the classes and he wants to continue.

When Ethan was in elementary school in New Jersey, he used to take art classes on Sundays at a local studio.  At that time, he loved drawing, and I saw a real talent in him.  Over the years, that interest has waned, and he became uninterested in drawing, but I knew he still had that talent.  It's so nice to see him using that artistic side again.

Two months since he started, he's now writing ancient Chinese poems on long scrolls.  Something I certainly can't do!

Thank you, Sagara Sensei, for being such a great teacher for Ethan!

On having a son in high school

Ethan started school about three weeks ago.
Let me rephrase:  Ethan started HIGH SCHOOL about three weeks ago.  I'm just gonna let that one sink in for a minute.

When we came to Japan three years ago, Ethan was in 6th grade.  At that time, we weren't really sure if we were going to put him in Japanese school, homeschool, or Hokkaido International School.  After taking a tour of the International School, we decided to bite the bullet (and a big chunk of our salaries) and enroll him there.  And we've never regretted it.  Not only does Ethan get a top-notch education there, but he'll be able to easily transition to an American school when we decide to return.

Now, he's in 9th grade, and studying geometry, taking Theater as an elective, and reading "Things Fall Apart" in Literature class.  These are all things I vividly remember doing as a high schooler, which makes it all the more amazing to me.  I guess it wasn't THAT long ago, haha.

He plays guitar, reads voraciously, and can carry Japanese men on his shoulders.  Oh, and he doesn't mind hanging out with his mom every once in a while.  Sure, he's likes more alone time now, and occasionally he can have quite an attitude, but that's to be expected at this age.  Time is going by a little faster than I'd expected, but I'm proud of the young man Ethan is turning out to be.

On starting my 4th year in Japan.

Once again, August flew by as it normally does.  It's the month of summer vacation in Japan, and I took some nenkyu (paid vacation) days to relax and spend time with my boys and my friends, some of who left to return to their home countries.

August also marked the third year we've lived in Japan.  I can't even believe it.  Who would have ever thought we'd stay here this long?  I certainly didn't.  But here we are, starting our fourth year in Sapporo.

My first school, three years ago.

Since moving here:
Nathan ran 110K and became a teacher at HIS.
I took the JLPT (3 times) and started singing for an audience again.
Ethan started Japanese calligraphy classes and became a high schooler..

Among other things.

 I would never trade my experience I've had living and teaching here.  It's stretched me in ways that have made me a better person and a better teacher.  As an American from a small town, I think it's easy to become insular and to not want to explore beyond the world in which you're familiar.  But once you move to another country, it completely changes your view of the world that I think so many of us create for ourselves by what we see on the internet or on TV.

I cannot wait to see what in store for us this fourth year!!

My Balcony Garden, Year 3

Another summer, another balcony garden.  I planted my usuals, and some more flowers this year, which did really nice.  I still had to battle the aphids this year, so I made a concoction of dish soap, tabasco, and vegetable oil which seemed to do the trick.

I love my little garden, and it's so nice to be able to go out there and pick some things to use in dinner that night.  But what I wouldn't give to have a nice, big garden, where I could grow lots of veggies, herbs, and flowers.

Perhaps someday...

Silver and Gold

"Make new friends, but keep the old.  One is silver and the other's gold."

As a child, I didn't really have any close friends.  School and neighborhood friends, sure, but I think my childhood shyness kept me from having a best friend - the kind you tell all your closest secrets, and are joined at the hip.  I had trouble really opening up to anyone, and eventually, they all moved on to other groups in time.

But there's something special about living abroad with another group of people who are sharing the same experience as you.  When all your loved ones are thousands of miles away and you have only each other.  Since moving to Japan, I've been lucky enough to have made some really close friends.

These four girls in particular were my family away from home, and my sisters when my real one wasn't around.  We had dinner parties, late night talks with lots of wine, karaoke sessions and movie nights.  Did I mention wine?  

Scarlett, me, and Kelly

When I found out my mom had cancer last year, it was these girls who took me out for dinner and karaoke to help me take my mind off things.  They'd watch Ethan for us when Nathan and I wanted a night out (he's too old for a baby-sitter now).  We'd talk about work, and love, and boys, and whatnot.

Adrienne, Tim, and Kele.  All these wonderful people are gone now.

Me and Scarlett. 

I've never felt closer with a group of girls ever.  But all good things must come to an end, especially in this kind of job.  You know eventually someone's gonna leave, but it doesn't make it easier.

Kelly's living in New York City now with her husband.  Scarlett's living it up in London.  Adrienne's in Portland.  They all went this time last year, and it was hard to see them go.  But I still had Maggie.  Now, Maggie's on her way to America and I'm the last one left.

Me and Maggie

And here I am.  I didn't think I'd be the last one here, but well, these girls have got lives to live, and there's lots of world to see.  I miss them all terribly, but I'm so excited to see what the future has in store for them.  With skype and facebook, they don't feel too terribly far away, but what I wouldn't give sit in a room with them, drink some wine, and talk the night away.  And if they ever want to come visit Japan again, I've got a couch waiting for them!!

Sarah and Takuya Tour, Summer 2013

I'm taking some days off work for the next few weeks, but that doesn't mean I've been lounging about.  Much to the contrary - music has been filling most of my days.

On Saturday, Takuya and I played at the Bare Bear Beer Festival, hosted by Hokkaido International School.  It was a three-day beer fest, used as a charity event to raise money for scholarships for HIS students (like Ethan).  It was fun, and we had a really good time.  Also, I had a watermelon wheat beer that was so good!

The day after the Beer Festival, we played at a street festival in the Shiroishi neighborhood.  A guy who often comes to our Mellow shows got us this gig, and wanted us to wear yukata (summer kimono), as many people do for festivals.  So my Japanese teacher was kind enough to let me borrow a yukata and put it on me, since it can be a bit difficult.

I mean, look at that bow.  That ain't easy to do!

It was especially fun walking around and getting on the subway in yukata, as I felt like I was even more noticeable than I usually am.  Little girls kept looking at me like I was a princess.

Anyway, we played two times that day, and I was a little nervous about it since we were the only group singing English songs, and these people had no idea who we were.  When we play at bars, the people who come are there to see us.  So this was a little nerve-racking.  But a few friends came out and I felt less nervous!  And singing outside is always an adventure!

then of course on Friday we had our usual Mellow Live.  Honestly, I didn't think anyone was really gonna come - lots of people are on vacation, and others have left Japan and I don't know many of the newbies yet.  But sure enough, lots of people came and it was such a wonderful night.  It's funny - one month the audience is nothing but Japanese, and the next month it'll be nothing but foreigners.  This month, it was lots of ALT's and some English-speaking friends, so that meant I did most of the talking.

I know I say this every time, but it just makes me so happy that people still come out and want to hear us sing.  What started on a whim two years ago is still going strong, thanks to the support of all our wonderful friends.  Life doesn't get much better!