Eight weeks (4 of breaking), countless bruises, and several mishaps later

Everything is winding down.

Mentally and physically I am located near exhaustion. Where am I in terms of breaking?

Yesterday I took a class from a sub at ETC studio. He divided the class into three categories - based on skill level. I was placed in the middle group. The whole time I eyed the higher group thinking to myself "I can do that. Get down. CC. 3 step. Kick out. Hop up. Down rock. 6 step. Stomach. This is unfair, I can totally do all that." In fact, I was so focused on watching their routine that I completely failed to nail my easier routine.

Clearly this mentality is not helping me at all. I don't know how it is for other people - but it's always like this for me when it comes to breaking. It's tough to focus on the "easier" things that need improvement - 6 step, baby freeze, hitting downrock beats - because I always want to tackle those more impressive moves - swipes, windmills, miniflares, crazier freezes.

Where am I going with this? And why is there a traveling theme in my post?

The point is I have gone from complete nubsicle to beginner. It'll take a while but I feel that if I remain true to the music (or try my best to) and do my best to take on what I can I will always get better. This month has been tough to say the least. My left shoulder and knee are a source of constant pain along with my right lower back. The sad part is I feel I don't have any moves down that warrant pain from these locations but hopefully the moves are at a point where I can continue on learning without hitting these points again.

I will be going home 4 days earlier than originally planned because I decided that 8 weeks sounds better than 8 1/2. Also my hostel rental expires at the end of 8 weeks so... I'd be out on the streets or attempting Y(female)'s method of spending consecutive nights in clubs to avoid looking for a place to stay.

But, Japan! Won't I regret not seeing all the touristy stuff?

Hardly. Somehow on this trip, without being able to speak a lick of Japanese (oh, except for "up, down, right, left, front, back, leg, head, and arms) I have been able to communicate with people. Oftentimes it was because of Y's translations and we shared customs and stories. Other times they were proficient enough in English to speak a few words with me and we shared laughter. I will sorely miss the dancers I have shared good times with in Japan (Nari, Katsu, Takashi, Hajime, Kei, Sako, Tepo, Taichi, Curly haired kid, BUG boy, Yuki, airchair girl, Shy-N, windmill boy, Tiger, and Take & so many more). I love watching these people, admiring how good they are, and being surprised at how eager they are to help me out.

As for the rest of Japan, it's a mixed bag. The courtesy that everyone shows is admirable but could also be interpreted to be cold. The weather is terrible - hot and humid then rainy without warning (kind of like Harvard). The food is great but not what I could eat every day for the rest of my life (I guess favorite foods can only stay favorite foods if I do not eat them all the time). The high prices I can do without. The train system is great and convenient (though, again, pricey). The vending machines on every street corner - also a great invention.

Ah, gotta run to practice. As for those windmills - realized I had no where NEAR enough momentum on my collapse. This will probably take longer than the projected month. Well, until next time.