Would you like fish stock with that?

I`m settling into my apartment and it`s a shower curtain away from being a proper home. It`s small, but I`ve just spent two years in a box in Streatham, so it`s an upgrade for me.

Teaching is going really well and, although I may not be doing it perfectly, the job is so much easier than the CELTA! I`ve now had two taiken lessons, so that`s a whole fiver rolling in at the end of the month. The ramen are on me! One of my afternoon classes of housewives brought me some fabulous coffee buns yesterday and another `famous` Hokkaido white chocolate, which I am saving (the cakes didn`t stand a chance...). I then had another group of housewives who were much livier and cheekier (one reminded me a lot of my Auntie Poppy). They were elementary level and they were trying to stutter out an invitation to lunch when I, trying to find a suitable time to go, inadvertantly switched it from the supermarket restuarant to her house. Quite rude of me, perhaps, but I`m really looking forward to home made Japanese food. I think I`ll get another invite as another of the class wants me to go to her house for conversation lessons (not that I am allowed, of course).

I`m missing intelligent and enjoyable conversation considerably at the moment. The Japanese are lovely, but the other teachers can be freakish. One vile dumpy sex offender type made a pass at me on Wednesday and tried to tell me he was a playa (although Karen and I doubt he has ever had sex for free). The experienced teachers are finding my pining quite odd as they are used to just getting on with the natives and it really is the only thing to be done. On Monday, I am going to miss my fashion design student, but the following week will try to trick him into taking me out somewhere. Apparently the thing to do is just invite yourself, which I`ve already been practicing.

I`ve been listening to Japanese radio stations to get used to the language, but I just phase out until Brownstone and R Kelly come on. Fortunately, as it`s Japanese, you miss the Chris Moylesness and just have some background noise. Should be buying the sex offender`s TV soon, which will help. It`s biligual, so I can watch the news: huzzah! I`m also missing Monster Box and watching karaoke contestents get drenched. Chris Tarrant would wet himself.

Today is my day off after quite a long week. I`m generally relaxing and shopping like crazy. The 100 yen stores are to die for! I`m also off to the supermarket to stock up on gaijin (alien) food. As much as I love Noodle Noodle in London, the ever-present fish stock clings to your tongue. I am in need of a new and interesting taste, like pasta...

Biruson-san is visiting on Sunday, so hopefully we`ll get to see some temples or Tokyo proper. Either that or raid the alcohol and cigarette vending machines and find an Asian gutter to fall into.

Sorry for anyone who has posted a message (Matt!). I can`t reply on the comments bit. It`s all in Japanese and as I can`t even say "I`d like a beer" yet; understanding e-instructions is years off.