April- a month of firsts
April ended up being a pretty busy month so I did not get the chance to do a proper post - just imagine how tardy I'd be if I had a job to hold down too. Anyway, to give you a taster of what we got up to, here's a rundown of things we experienced or did for the first time in April since moving to Japan.
1. First cherry blossom season
The cherry blossom was in full bloom in Tokyo from the end of March into the first week of April. We (I in particular) spent hours walking around the city gawping at all the cherry blossom and taking a ridiculous (but justifiable!) number of photos. It felt like a total luxury to have the cherry blossom right on our doorstep and to be able to take our time to enjoy it whilst it lasted. I'll definitely be doing a post on the cherry blossom to share some of our photos.
2. First visit to games arcade
Armed with a supply of 100¥ coins we went to a local games arcade. It turns out I really like to shoot zombies.
3.First month of Japanese language school
I started Japanese language school in April and I am glad to be doing something productive with my life again! I go to the school for half a day on weekdays and it feels a bit strange to carry around a textbook and to be doing homework again but I am really enjoying the challenge and I am grateful to have the time to invest in language lessons.
4. First special occasion away from home
My birthday was the first special occasion that we'd had away from home and we spent a while thinking about how to spend it e.g. a weekend away. But as over the past few weeks we had been lucky enough to do, what we considered, many out of the ordinary things, I didn't feel that we had to make a big fuss of my birthday. I spent the day at language school but Wil had (obviously) planned a lovely evening for me :D We went for drinks at the New York Bar in the Park Hyatt Hotel. It had been on a my Tokyo bucket list as it is the bar that I'd seen years ago in Lost in Translation so I was very happy! For dinner we went for a kaiseki meal (a traditional Japanese meal with several courses) which made me even happier! The evening ended with me opening my presents from Wil when we got home :D Wil had hidden my presents in a bin bag on the balcony which you might think was a little risky in case I discovered it or decided to put out the rubbish. But he was so confident that I would not take down the rubbish (as the recycling here is too complicated) that he decided to take the risk which paid off.
FaceTime chats with family, cards in the post and a parcel with the perfect presents from the greatest friend I could ask for made it easier to be away from home.
5. First Totoro cream puff
It was cute (see the photo at the top for proof!) and delicious.
We live within walking distance of the cafe that sells these so will have to display great restraint over the coming months. For those of you reading this in Tokyo, you need to head to Shirohige's Cream Puff Factory immediately.
6. First visit from a friend in Tokyo to our flat
Three things to celebrate here: (i) the flat was furnished and presentable, (ii), I have made a friend in Tokyo that I was sure would not throw me off my own balcony if I invited her over and (iii) I introduced my friend to the amazing bagel shop near our flat and we had bagels for breakfast.
7. First bouts of sickness
We were both struck down with ailments for the first time since coming to Japan but soldiered on! Luckily for Wil he fell ill over the weekend as sick leave doesn't exist in Japan and he would have otherwise had to take annual leave to cover a sick day!
8. First friend from the the UK that came to stay
One of our good friends that we've known since university came to stay with us during the Tokyo stint of his Japan holiday. It was a lot of fun showing him around as we pretended to be locals. But I have to admit that it was a bit strange (but wonderful) to have someone from our real life with us for a few days. Our friend also couriered a supply of essential goods that we had asked for and brought a whole load of surprise Easter chocolate that should keep me going for a few months :D Any future visitors should take note.
9. First haircut
After putting off having a haircut for a weeks, I found an English speaking hairdresser and I am pleased to tell you that the bob is back. However, finding a new hairdresser was a particularly traumatic experience for Wil in the UK so things are a million times worse now that we are here. But instead of finding a new hairdresser, for the time being Wil opted for, what you might consider an equally traumatic experience, of letting me tame the wilder tufts so he has more time to put off the inevitable! At points during the haircut when he was doubting his decision or my ability (!) I reassured him that it was in my interest not to make him look stupid!! No ears were harmed and no blood was shed. Wil was happy with the end result and I think I did a pretty good job!
10. First visitors from the UK
Wil's colleague from London and her friend were our first visitors to Tokyo from the UK. It was a chance for Wil to gossip about the firm back in London and we had a great evening with them. They brought us some treats from home too.
11. First holiday out of Tokyo
At the end of April we ventured out of Tokyo and went to Shikoku for our first proper holiday in Japan since we had arrived. Keep an eye out for a future post about our trip.
Setting the scene for as I wrote this blog:
- Location: Takamatsu Port as we waited for our ferry to Naoshima (an island famous for art Japan)
- Weather: A sunny morning and it was about 20°C.
- Soundtrack: The chatter of other passengers.
- Bonus fact: The James Bond novel "The Man with the Red Tattoo" by Raymond Benson (published in 2002) is apparently set in Naoshima. The island had a James Bond museum which has now, sadly, closed.
