R n R at last!

This weekend was the first in many when I had no plans (because the girls team for the football tourny was cancelled) so I enjoyed doing not very much!

Saturday I went back to the hair dresser to have my hair colour adjusted.....but I went on my own and they did the exact opposite of what I wanted.....I locked myself in their toilet and cried after.....not in a spoilt brat way but because living in such a different culture had been really getting to me last week and that was the cracking point.....so I cried because I can't communicate with people, people don't really understand me and because I wanted fabulous hair for going to Shanghai and instead I got normal, plain, dull brown hair - joy!

So I pulled myself together, said aregato in my genkiest voice and went to Starbucks for a Chai Latte for a little taste of home (well, home as in, that's my favorite drink in London, not home as in India!). The rest of the day consisted of browsing the shops and getting ready for ANOTHER welcome party!

Saturday night was the welcome party for Club Konichiwa. It was held at a local Izakiya(pub/restaurant) in Nagano. The turn out was pretty poor but having had a near break down that day I made the most of the 'all inclusive' drinks and hit the red wine and cocktails! Most of the evening everyone was speaking Japanese so I was happily left drinking my wine and letting all the stress of the world fuzz away! Half way through they realised that we hadn't all met so we did our introductions in Japanese. I had drank a fair amount of wine by this point so was feeling quite confident and trying to add little jokes in.....but I think they just think I am a typical Brit girl, going too far with the alcopops on a Saturday night!


Shin and Atushi - 2 teachers from Club Konichiwa
Me and Taeko - Leader of Club Konichiwa


Ikuko and Julia (AJET President)

The Gang!

After the party me and Ikuko went to Puri Kura for some photos - that place is addictive, I tell thee! I'm sure Madz will tell exactly HOW addictive in her blog v.soon!!!!!!

On the way back we had about 20 minutes to wait for the train, but had entertainment in the form of local kids break dancing in the station.



Sunday was a full day of R and R. Sleeping until 12pm, I managed to get up and do some MTV Power Yoga - anyone interested, its a good DVD! and then spent the rest of the day reading my trashy chick flick falling in and out of sleep, drinking cocoa, and eating grapes from Ikukos parents vineyard......bliss!