Public Baths = Awesome. Expensive Karaoke = Not So Awesome.

It's been awhile since I last updated. Sorry everyone! So two weeks ago on Wednesday we had a review day for the 101 class (the conversation class that I teach) and I wasn't entirely sure what to do mostly because this is my first teaching experience. But after giving it a little thought I decided to divide everyone into groups and have them write their own skits. That way I can kind of tell what grammar they understand and what they are still struggling with. Then I just told them to look over the last two chapters and come to class prepared with questions on grammar they didn't understand. They all did such a great job! Since nobody really had any questions about grammar we played "Do you love your neighbor?" for the rest of the class.

Then after class I had to rush to the station so that I could start heading towards Kyoto. Scott wanted me to show him around. I was able to get there without getting lost. Well, I did get on a train that was going the opposite direction I wanted to go, but I just got off at the next stop and backtracked. So I took him to Heian Jingu then Kiyomizudera. After seeing Kiyomizudera it was already around six. I didn't want to get back to Osaka too late and I wanted to visit my host mom from when I stayed in Kyoto. It takes about two hours to get from Osaka to Kyoto. So hopefully he didn't feel rushed or like I didn't want to hang out with him.

I remembered how to get to my homestay house even after a year! I was pretty excited about that. My host mom, Sister Shibata had dinner prepared. So we ate while we updated each other on what we have been doing. My host dad was working late and my host brother Shingo was at cram school, so I didn't get to see them. Hopefully when I go to Kyoto this Saturday I will be able to.

On Friday, the 11th, I went with Shiho, Sachi, Meg, and Hoku to a public bath/spa. There was a sauna there heated by rocks that was about 70 degrees...Celsius! I don't think I have ever sweated that much in my life. But it felt so good! After sitting in the sauna you go and sit in what's called the snow room that is about 11 degrees Celsius to cool down. Then there are also a variety of baths each with a different temperature. You wash before you get in so that the water is clean for everyone. There is also a salt sauna where you can rub salt on your body while you sit in the sauna. It makes you skin so smooth! We all spent a couple hours just relaxing. Then Meg and Hoku had to leave so that they could get ready to teach the night class. Sachi, Shiho, and I left shortly after that. The public bath/spa only cost around 900 yen! That's not a bad price for pampering yourself, I think.

Sachi went home but Shiho and I went to Namba where we met Scott, Yuko, and Shiho's friend. We went and ate okonomiyaki (so good!) and then sang karaoke. It was fun, but the karaoke cost 2000 yen (around $20) for 2 hours!! I was so surprised because I didn't think it was that expensive. Though, later I found out that the area around Namba is just expensive and you can find karaoke for a lot cheaper.

This post is getting a little long so I will finish updating in the next post!