School started again, whoop dee joy.

Aahhhhhh school. I wish it were more fun. But several other things also happened recently, so here I am to inform!

Over between Jan 2nd and school starting up again (the 7th), I twice hung out with people from my school. The first time, I was actually supposed to go shopping in Kyoto with my favorite math class people, but one of them canceled because he is unfortunately poor. I was very sad, because I had been looking forward to it for a while, but then the one who canceled was like, "Oh, we can still go somewhere, it just can't be expensive." XD Anywho, I ended up biking with him to the Lake Biwa Museum, and despite the fact that I could not read jack and 90% of the fish were the same color, I had a really good time! Although it's horribly frustrating, not being able to speak fluently. I always want to say things, but I can't, so the only people I can hang out with really are patient people. That, or people who just talk endlessly, because then I can just listen and never have to say anything :D I also hung out with 2 girls from 1-6 in Kyoto. We went shopping. It was fun- they love to shop and talk and are very nice to me, but it's not like we have real conversations. There are times when I really want to say things but can't, and there are times when I simply have nothing to say- I'm afraid when I hang out with those girls it's more of the latter. So I like them, but I don't see us becoming close-close friends. But who knows, this year has been full of surprises, what's one more?

On that topic, it never fails to amuse (and often bother) me how people act so different outside of school- for the most part, people are really shy and don't talk to me much at school, yet when we hang out or I run into them outside of school, they will talk to me and we get along marvelously. It's like when people are in a large group, they feel nervous around me, but alone, it's fine. This is frustrating. Immensely. You have no idea how many times I have mentally pounded my head against an invisible wall because of it. It's like,

chittering group of girls: "Good morning Teresa! How are you?"
me: "Fine, thanks, how are you?"
(everyone chitters in their little group excitedly)
(I stand patiently and wait for someone to respond)
...
(I smile and realize nobody is going to answer my question because they're too shy)
me: "Well, then..."
(they all wave hurriedly and run off)
(invisible forehead smack)

BWAH >-<

Also, a new girl came to Kousen. She's from New Zealand, is half Japanese, and has just moved to Japan. She speaks English as her primary language, but knows quite a lot of Japanese because of her mother, lucky! I'm a little little jealous of her- I highly doubt she'll have trouble picking up friends. But I'm really glad she's at Kousen! She's really nice, and hopefully we can become good friends ^-^

That's about it. I'm trying so hard right now to make friends at school- I'm actually studying Japanese, I'm asking them to hang out, I'm trying to have conversations even if they're boring and uninteresting. Everyday after school I'm absolutely worn out and I feel like a dog's chew toy, but I am trying.

Oh, and it sounds like I may be able to enter an orchestra soon! It's audition only, but that gives me something to work for with violin. It's very difficult to practice when you're not in the music environment and don't have auditions or concerts or all that to work for.

And today we ran in gym. I'm surprised- I certainly haven't lost any weight over this exchange, but I ran those 1000 meters without getting tired, a first in my book. Is it the cold weather? Is it biking and walking everyday? Whatever it is, it's very, very nice ^-^

I will talk to you all later! Mata ne!