October 13 2024

At okayama there is a place where people can assemble their bikes and go for a bike ride.  I guess there are a lot of French people doing this.  

A funny tram at Okayama.  It really appeals to the children in all of us.  I realize just how loud Japan is with all the music playing, the political advertizing, the trains.  It is quite loud in the cities.

My breakfast plate at the hotel.  I enjoy the buffet and get a mixture of food items. 

The osaka lindy exchange final dance.  It was very nice. 

My friend from Mastuyama.  She said she did do this dance before.  The first night she said it was her first time dancing.  We danced to a very fast song.  I led balboa steps and she followed.  I thought it was odd that she followed so well.  Later as we were talking, she said that she had done salsa in Matusyama.  She said that she started not liking that scene so much because they started to do sensual Bachata.  It is not that it was too close, it was that the leads didn't know how to hold a woman like a woman wants to be held.  I thought that was an interesting idea  for a class. How does a follow want to be held.  I like to follow as I can feel how other people lead.  I think I try to lead as I want to be led. Someone said to me that I push her  around.  I think I am a fairly gentle lead compared to what I have been led.   There must be some leads that just let the follow do what they want.  I think it is in the dances where both people are dancing to the beat of the music, and really don't need that connection between the lead and the follow.  I try to stay away from those dancers. 

The sign in the front of the hall.  The hall looked similar to the one last year, but it was smaller, and farther from a station.  I walked most of the way, but the last day, I took a taxi.  It was much easier. 

Her is Hana sister Sammy.  It was fun dancing with her.  She dances differently than Hanna 

 The band.