|
Been another one of those fun, but slightly expensive nights.
Started off with Jeff's English conversation lesson at Kumadai, in which
we talked about homelessness. In Japan, there isn't much of a problem with
homeless people; I've only seen two since I've got here. Talking about the
reasons why there are fewer homeless people in Japan than in the West, we
got on to the different views of suicide between the two countries. I
think that one reason Japan has fewer homeless is that the Japanese are
more likely to commit suicide if they get into serious financial
difficulties, whereas in the West people are more likely to let their
difficulties fall through into eventual homelessness. The Japanese
students I was talking to explained that suicide is indeed often regarded
as a virtue in Japan, while I explained that it is regarded as "giving up"
in the West - moreover, Christianity teaches that suicide is a sin, and in
the past attempting suicide was in fact illegal in England.
Well, after the lesson, we went out for a Bounenkai. A Bounenkai is a
party that companies normally hold for their staff before New Year - like
a Staff Christmas Party in the West. We went out to an izakya (a sort of
bar where you also order food) and ate there, which was delicious but more
expensive than I hoped. And we all had nomihoudai, of course. Why we don't
have all-you-can-drink in England, I do not know.
The Bounenkai was really fun. All of us Durham students who go to Jeff's
English conversation lessons, and most of the students, came along, as
well as Jeff's mates Levi and Jared (the embalmer). It was a really good
atmosphere; an izakaya is a traditional style Japanese eating experience,
where you all order dishes that you share rather than individual portions,
which sets up a great sense of intimacy.
Ellie, Richard, Andy and Tom, at the bounenkai
Akisan and Yuukisan, from Jeff's class.
Jeff, the English teacher/bar manager, and Jared, the
embalmer (who looks and sounds a bit like Edward Norton)
We were all quite merry after this, so we went to Jeff's World Bar, and
some of the guys had ANOTHER nomihoudai (I didn't; I didn't buy any more
drinks actually because I'd already spent too much at the izakaya). The
night was great; we took up pretty much the whole bar and ended up
challenging each other to arm wrestles.
Or and one more thing - I got to open the first door of my advent calendar
that my mum sent me from England today! Yay for Christmasness and
chocolate!
|
