Saying Good-bye to Colare

The good-byes are starting to overwhelm me. People handing me presents, asking for photos or my email address, and then the saying 'good-bye'. I usually can hold it together, but everyone now and then, with one of those special someones, I get teary-eyed. Last night we had a farewell dinner with the Colare international cooking workshop group. I cried alone in my car all the way home. The next few weeks are only going to get harder. More pictures of farewells to follow soon.

The Colare Flea Market

Pre-packing: I've started the packing process early. It is by far one of my least favorite activities in life. I'm notorious for being unable to pack. I usually need a team of friends and family to pack me up whether it's a weekend adventure or a safari to Africa...I can't manage alone. This time, I'm alone! Agh! So, I've started 3 months early. And this is what my apartment looks like. I have boxes for the UK, US, India, Flea Market, Recycle Shop and garbage! It's a logistical nightmare. Sara, where are you???

We loaded three cars full of STUFF! My little was loaded down to full capacity. I couldn't see out the back window and was almost sitting on my steering wheel. Luckily, the drive was short! It's amazing how much one can accumulate in a few years. We arrived at 8:30, the flea market was set to start at ten. But the early birds were already scoping out the scene and asking about prices! Thanks to Linea we had a great big tent and tarp to set out. And we filled our little space with clothes, snowboards, skis, pottery, clothes, gadgets, shoes, boots, an broken air-gun, a broken guitar, a broken coffee pot, a broken playstation, clothes, weights, a TV sattelite system, and more clothes.

We had a bin of 50Yen items. That was popular with people! And we dropped the price to 25Yen in the afternoon and started a free bin. We had a group of boys hovering over the free bin for about an hour. They were thrilled and loaded up a few bags!

And of course we were set up in style: the VW, music going, and two coolers of food, drinks, snacks, etc. It was a party! And of course, as the only foreigners at the flea market, we attracted a lot of attention--good for sales!

Johnny was on display a lot! He had lots of big items, but they were all broken! So he kept trying to show people that it wasn't really that broken! He was mildly successful! But Japanese people aren't really interested in broken old stuff.

Kylie: Here is your pottery
<-----Before and After----->

Sorry we couldn't sell more!

Overall it was a fabulous day. In part because it was spent with friends outside in the sun! And in part because we sold a lot of stuff and came home with lighter loads. But also because it made me realize that in three years, not only have we acquired a lot, but we've accomplished a lot too! Between the three of us, we knew many people that came by-students, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. And we were able to negotiate, sell stuff, and give stuff away in Japanese. It was one of those things that if someone told me I'd have a stall at a Japanese flea market three years ago, I would have cried from laughing at the ridiculous image. Just like if someone told me 5 years ago I'd be living in Japan, I would have balked at the idea. And 10 years ago if someone told me I'd be teaching overseas, I would have cringed at the thought. The journey is full of surprises and keeps me on my toes. Where will it take me next? And where will I be in 5 years? I can only imagine.

Disco 2007

Last night marked another Colare Disco party. Pre-party preparations included comments like:

"I'm brining a book"

"I'll stand by the door and take tickets all night"

"I'm glad you two are coming, I won't know anyone else."

Needless to say, the excitement was running high. Luckily, the Nyuzen crew was able to put together some classy costumes...maybe some of the best of the night: go-go girl, shoulder-pad happy cowgirl, and stuck in the 70s old fogy man. After hearing RSZ's fab tunes we got our groove on and hit the dance floor. It felt kinda like a high school dance. The real adults were standing behind tables serving pizza and drinks and staring in awe at the young generation shakin' their booty. But there were only about 10 people shakin' at any given time. Several groups of people came in and then left again...seeing the lack of disco enthusiasm. But those of us who stayed all knew each other and the disco fever lasted a good 30 minutes after 'closing' time. A fun alcohol-free family disco evening. And...we were home by 11pm!

Pics from Beethoven's 9th Symphony

It was so much fun, even without a voice! Seriously, it was one of the best experiences I've had in Japan. I can't say I walked away with many new friends, although I already knew a lot of people singing in it. But the process of rehearsing for 5 months, and then being conducted by the most amazing conductor ever was worth every complaint I ever made about adding another thing to my schedule! I wanted to get a picture with him, but he was much too busy for the likes of us. Although we did stop him briefly to thank him. I've seen conductors with energy before, but I've never seen a conductor actually in love with the music, the orchestra and the choir. It really felt like that, like he loved every single one of us. When he looked at us, he looked at each one of us. He didn't criticize, he encouraged and inspired and all with this body language, face and eyes. And He controlled the music, and every single one of us. It's so hard to explain unless you see him for yourself. But even all our friends in the audience said the same thing.

This is JP and I with our rehearsal director. He met with the choir every week for 4 months. He wasn't the most energetic or 'genki' of people, but he sure made us work! And let us know if he wasn't happy with us!

Their were 4 amazing soloists, one was even local! They did an outstanding job and received 4 encores!

The orchestra and choir all together! There were about 80 in the choir and probably another 70 in the orchestra!

We didn't get video, but if you want a recording I can get it for you, thanks to rsz! I'm listening to it now, and we do sound pretty damn good, if I am allowed to say so! Thanks to Linea and Cheeks for the pics!