Private Hopscotch Lessons

I asked one of my students what she did last night, and I couldn't really understand what she said she taught. Trying to link her heavily-accented words with English words that I knew, I concluded that she taught private hopscotch lessons to 40 to 60 year-old students. As I struggled to confirm this (including drawing a hopscotch board and modeling the game), I learned that she didn't teach "hopscotch" but rather harpsichord lessons. Thank goodness, because I was having trouble keeping a straight face with the hopscotch imagine in my head.

As for the weekly update, not much has changed in Tokyo. The weather is still warm and sunny during the day (in the 60s), but it is starting to cool off at night. Some of the leaves are starting to change colors finally, but my students tell me the mountains won't be at their peak for another two weeks or so. :( I am getting antsy....

This past Monday, I saw the Salvador Dali retrospective at the Ueno Royal Museum. There were about 60 pieces on display, including most of his famous ones (The Persistence of Memory-which is really tiny in real life-, etc.). Some of his sketches were bizarre beyond belief, but most of the paintings were interesting, with lots of hidden details and puzzling disconnects. I guess I have never really looked at that many Dalis before.

After three long months, I have finally added a bicycle element to my Tokyo life. Ivan Basso was in Tokyo a week ago. Although I was not able to see him speak, a kind student brought me an autographed poster. Things are starting to feel a little more homey now! :)

Here's a fun final picture for you all. This is me in a bathroom at a bar in Shibuya. No, I'm not standing on my tip toes or anything, just standing up normal.