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Asami was listening to the outdoor sounds.
It was late morning and the grounds were peacefully ablaze with life. Varied tones of cicadas voices filled the air.
Recently she has been feeling an urge to draw.
What shall become her first picture?
Past two weeks went well.
The week at home was nice.
Very busy but filled with all the warmness that friendship gives. Speaking with Tania, Nadia and Yulia Asami thought how unreasonable the clockworks of her home country were. If only people put more effort in their work there wouldn't be so much businesses suffering through hard times with their survival at stake. If only people were more polite and friendly and understanding towards their co-workers a lot of problems would have been solved or wouldn't have occurred in the first place. And to her, having spent almost a year in Japan and having watched her school running, this detached attitude to work that permeated her friends' stories seemed weird.
She also went to Minsk and met with her former students. It was a very warm reunion with tea and Japanese mint chocolate in the classroom where they used to have Japanese lessons. She listened to their stories and plans, and told hers and answered their questions about Japan, and they chatted on and on while it was raining hard outside.
Varvara by the end of their gethering was looking up a little - she was in the blue when Asami met her at the station entrance. Varvara gave her a wonderful present of her drawing. And other student gave her suveniers too. It was so nice...
Then she met with Nastia - for her watch had lost time she made her wait for 40 minutes in the underground pass. Nevertheless they had an enjoyable lunch talking about work and movies and manga and books. Asami lost time together with her watch and when Nastia said that they, maybe, should be going, she got surprised - it was to early for her train. Well, she may have other business to attend to, Asami thought and decided to change her ticket for an earlier one. At the ticket office she was doumbfounded even more by the cashier saying "But your train is the next." Then a suspition dawned on Asami: "What time is it?" It was high time for her train. And her watch was still showing day.
As she parted with Nastya carrying a weighty bag of presents from her, she got on the train and started reading manga which she had just got. It was a piece of Italian history. The artist's style was nice and beautiful and it was also nice reading in Japanese. In the middle of the way three young man boarded the car and shared the compartment. They turned out to be actors and Asami enjoyed the rest of the road talking to them.
Spending every day of the week with her friends was very fun and happy but also tiring. Asami's introverted nature started longing for rest and solitude.
A weekend in Moscow gave her the opportunity to have a break with two appointments getting canseled. The Sunday she spent just reading "Kantarera", and her father was as kind as to take care of meals. He also went to buy her sponge waffles and she felt pempered like a child. It felt nice. She also helped father with computer so she was happy she could do at least something to return the kindness.
***
And back she was in Japan. And the very air, humis and hot, felt so homey.
The working week went fine.
It was dominated by three events.
First, Chihiro's summer course was over. But the last two lessons got the "tired" mark from him. Asami felt a little sad. It was the end of summer vocation for him which he had spent studying and it was no wonder that he was feeling generally tired. During her lessons when they played the ball he seemed to be having fun. Work with the book was down to minimum and he expressed exitement when they moved over to the song part. But in the end just "tired". Asami couldn't stop thinking: "Was the class too intense? Was there a better way to conduct it, to make it more fun, more enjoyable?"
Second, the usual neighbor's garbage got scattered again. During the day nobody picked it up so when she got back from work - the time was nearing 10 in the night - she did it. Next morning she made up a note as Yuya suggested and hung it at the garbage collection lot. She wanted to show it to Yuya and ask what he thought of it but she forgot to do it.
Third, Yuya. They had their class on Friday and it turned out very well. Although Asami couldn't help smiling in by no means funny places of their conversation. She guessed it was because of her being embarrassed. But it was a good lesson.
When they finished Yuya asked her in Japanese if it was her last lesson and what time she usually finished work. Asami, in Japanese as well, replyed.
"It must be hard to work that late."
"It's OK. I like my job. Though my students when asked often tell me that they wouldn't like to be teachers because it's boring. But it isn't!" Asami spoke in conversational style keeping her tone lively and light. "Do you like your job?"
"Yes, it's not bad. I like it. I think I'm cut out for it."
"Why do you think so?"
"Well, it gives me a lot of stimulus."
"But judging from what you tell me the stimulus is quite bad, isn't it? When I was listening to the story of the 13-year-old shoplifting to get parents' attention I tought: it must have been rather painful. How can you bear it doing such work every day?"
"Somehow taking sress out from time to time."
She couldn't ask more. She couldn't ask in what way for the answer may be too personal and she didn't want to be said just some about the point reply showing that it wasn't her business. By the time she had collected her things and was ready to go.
"I'm switching off the light!" She warned. Yuya moved to the door. Don't leave yet! she cried inside. Asaami turned off the light and hurriedly followed him.
They left school together taking about nothing in particular. Asami kept juggling styles making herself sound less formal and more friendly and light. When they parted bay the station Yuya said: "Take care on your way home." "Please, take care." replied Asami. She used very polite phrase.
She was happy.
Happy that Yuya stayed with her longer then just a lesson. Happy that they could talk in Japanese which ment it wasn't part of the class. Happy to have made insignificant but funny mistakes in her vocabulary. Happy to walk with him outside. Happy that he initiated everything.
She had problems falling asleep that night. She desperately wanted to be with him.
And she was scared of her feelings. She was terrified of making a mistake.
On Saturday she talked with Katia. And Katia said that she had loved Nico for 4 years having little hope of reciprocity before he showed interest in her.
That must have been hard, Asami thought. And here I am, going on about my situation when I can see Yuya every week while Katia couldn't even write to Nico. I should be wise as she was, and patient. And stop, for heaven's sake, being selfish and think of him and go with him, and be understanding. And most of all, be myself and be kind.
Let's just do what I can do for him now. And all the rest let's leave up to him. Till the end of the course when I'll have more freedom.
It was late morning and the grounds were peacefully ablaze with life. Varied tones of cicadas voices filled the air.
Recently she has been feeling an urge to draw.
What shall become her first picture?
Past two weeks went well.
The week at home was nice.
Very busy but filled with all the warmness that friendship gives. Speaking with Tania, Nadia and Yulia Asami thought how unreasonable the clockworks of her home country were. If only people put more effort in their work there wouldn't be so much businesses suffering through hard times with their survival at stake. If only people were more polite and friendly and understanding towards their co-workers a lot of problems would have been solved or wouldn't have occurred in the first place. And to her, having spent almost a year in Japan and having watched her school running, this detached attitude to work that permeated her friends' stories seemed weird.
She also went to Minsk and met with her former students. It was a very warm reunion with tea and Japanese mint chocolate in the classroom where they used to have Japanese lessons. She listened to their stories and plans, and told hers and answered their questions about Japan, and they chatted on and on while it was raining hard outside.
Varvara by the end of their gethering was looking up a little - she was in the blue when Asami met her at the station entrance. Varvara gave her a wonderful present of her drawing. And other student gave her suveniers too. It was so nice...
Then she met with Nastia - for her watch had lost time she made her wait for 40 minutes in the underground pass. Nevertheless they had an enjoyable lunch talking about work and movies and manga and books. Asami lost time together with her watch and when Nastia said that they, maybe, should be going, she got surprised - it was to early for her train. Well, she may have other business to attend to, Asami thought and decided to change her ticket for an earlier one. At the ticket office she was doumbfounded even more by the cashier saying "But your train is the next." Then a suspition dawned on Asami: "What time is it?" It was high time for her train. And her watch was still showing day.
As she parted with Nastya carrying a weighty bag of presents from her, she got on the train and started reading manga which she had just got. It was a piece of Italian history. The artist's style was nice and beautiful and it was also nice reading in Japanese. In the middle of the way three young man boarded the car and shared the compartment. They turned out to be actors and Asami enjoyed the rest of the road talking to them.
Spending every day of the week with her friends was very fun and happy but also tiring. Asami's introverted nature started longing for rest and solitude.
A weekend in Moscow gave her the opportunity to have a break with two appointments getting canseled. The Sunday she spent just reading "Kantarera", and her father was as kind as to take care of meals. He also went to buy her sponge waffles and she felt pempered like a child. It felt nice. She also helped father with computer so she was happy she could do at least something to return the kindness.
***
And back she was in Japan. And the very air, humis and hot, felt so homey.
The working week went fine.
It was dominated by three events.
First, Chihiro's summer course was over. But the last two lessons got the "tired" mark from him. Asami felt a little sad. It was the end of summer vocation for him which he had spent studying and it was no wonder that he was feeling generally tired. During her lessons when they played the ball he seemed to be having fun. Work with the book was down to minimum and he expressed exitement when they moved over to the song part. But in the end just "tired". Asami couldn't stop thinking: "Was the class too intense? Was there a better way to conduct it, to make it more fun, more enjoyable?"
Second, the usual neighbor's garbage got scattered again. During the day nobody picked it up so when she got back from work - the time was nearing 10 in the night - she did it. Next morning she made up a note as Yuya suggested and hung it at the garbage collection lot. She wanted to show it to Yuya and ask what he thought of it but she forgot to do it.
Third, Yuya. They had their class on Friday and it turned out very well. Although Asami couldn't help smiling in by no means funny places of their conversation. She guessed it was because of her being embarrassed. But it was a good lesson.
When they finished Yuya asked her in Japanese if it was her last lesson and what time she usually finished work. Asami, in Japanese as well, replyed.
"It must be hard to work that late."
"It's OK. I like my job. Though my students when asked often tell me that they wouldn't like to be teachers because it's boring. But it isn't!" Asami spoke in conversational style keeping her tone lively and light. "Do you like your job?"
"Yes, it's not bad. I like it. I think I'm cut out for it."
"Why do you think so?"
"Well, it gives me a lot of stimulus."
"But judging from what you tell me the stimulus is quite bad, isn't it? When I was listening to the story of the 13-year-old shoplifting to get parents' attention I tought: it must have been rather painful. How can you bear it doing such work every day?"
"Somehow taking sress out from time to time."
She couldn't ask more. She couldn't ask in what way for the answer may be too personal and she didn't want to be said just some about the point reply showing that it wasn't her business. By the time she had collected her things and was ready to go.
"I'm switching off the light!" She warned. Yuya moved to the door. Don't leave yet! she cried inside. Asaami turned off the light and hurriedly followed him.
They left school together taking about nothing in particular. Asami kept juggling styles making herself sound less formal and more friendly and light. When they parted bay the station Yuya said: "Take care on your way home." "Please, take care." replied Asami. She used very polite phrase.
She was happy.
Happy that Yuya stayed with her longer then just a lesson. Happy that they could talk in Japanese which ment it wasn't part of the class. Happy to have made insignificant but funny mistakes in her vocabulary. Happy to walk with him outside. Happy that he initiated everything.
She had problems falling asleep that night. She desperately wanted to be with him.
And she was scared of her feelings. She was terrified of making a mistake.
On Saturday she talked with Katia. And Katia said that she had loved Nico for 4 years having little hope of reciprocity before he showed interest in her.
That must have been hard, Asami thought. And here I am, going on about my situation when I can see Yuya every week while Katia couldn't even write to Nico. I should be wise as she was, and patient. And stop, for heaven's sake, being selfish and think of him and go with him, and be understanding. And most of all, be myself and be kind.
Let's just do what I can do for him now. And all the rest let's leave up to him. Till the end of the course when I'll have more freedom.