Milan or Toyama

Last night I went to a dinner party for the Hokuriku-Canada Association. A group of Japanese people that are interested in Canada and plan a get together once a year. Being the proud Canadian that I am, of course I went, the incentive being the free food and the Labatts beer. My fellow Canadian JET's also were in attendance. Well, part way through the informal dinner 3 people walk in, one dressed very hip in a dark shirt and dark tie while another in a funky shirt and shades. I turn to my friend Elita and we both say simultaneously, Who is that? Being that we think every foreigner in this area is an English teacher and we should know each other. Jokingly, Elita said perhaps they were rock stars, seeing how they were not dressed for an occasion like that. Meaning: stuffy serious Japanese get togethers. It turns out they were the preformers for a concert that we had missed earlier that evening. They toured with Chantal Kreviazick and have an album in Europe. Not sure if they are famous but they are doing several shows in Tokyo and Toronto in a few weeks. Elita and I spent most of the time talking to them, with their cute French accents and all. At the end of the night their was an invitation to go out for a drink and see the sights of Toyama when they were finished with their dinner. Phone numbers were exchanged.

Well, while walking back from the "Canada" night, we are stopped by some men obviously lost. So, at first I thought they were Russians, but then they spoke with an Italian accent. They were here preforming La Boheme and needed directions to their hotel. So, being the kindly Canadians that we were decided to walk with them. They did not speak English or Japanese so of course, I pull out the international language of love, French. We proceeded to have a conversation in Italian, English, and French. I also acted as translator when they were looking for a good Sushi restaurant. I had no clue so of course I asked the person working in the cafe. My friends thought that we should of gotten tickets for all our hard work.

Well, the four of us ALT's who had been at the Canadian night soiree stepped into a small cafe to have coffee and chat about our respective schools, bitching and complaing more accurately describes it. Pretty soon, we were overwhelmed by Italians in the cafe. It was like we were in Italy, with the Italian free flowing and the expressos everyone had ordered. Last night it seemed like I was not in Japan but was in Italy. It was a lovely evening hanging out with my fellow Canucks and basking in the sensation of being in Italy. As I walked to the train station the last thing I heard was a "Ciao, Bella", directed at me......