hobbies.

upon meeting someone in japan, you are guaranteed the following questions to be asked:

1. where are you from?

2. what do you do for work?

3. what are your hobbies?

i always get caught up on the third question.

i consider my current hobbies to be:  researching and beginning the application process to grad schools, learning japanese, thriving in tokyo, reading about enlightenment, meditating, new music...?

those aren't hobbies, though. those are just things i do everyday. 

here are some examples of what my students' hobbies are:

collecting cars (i.e. bentley, mercedes benz, etc.)

scuba diving

surfing

shopping

tennis

golf

traveling (one student of mine has been to 80 countries!)

hobbies never really meant anything to me but an excuse to show people how interesting you can appear to be...i used to have the "hobby" of ballet. but when you attach the word "hobby" to something that you dedicated much of your life to, it seems to lose meaning (at least in my opinion). when i first came to japan, i told people my hobby USED to be ballet, but NOW it is running (ha! that "hobby" lasted maybe a month!).

anyway, the point to all this is...yesterday, my head teacher asked me "pamela, what is your hobby?" and i laughed. 

me: "um...i like to read." (all my books are on psychology, philosophy, or spirituality.)

her: "oh, ok...because you have to teach a class on your hobby in two weeks."

me: "oh really? ok. sounds fun. maybe i could teach ballet!"

her: "oh yea! one time we taught yoga!"

me: "i'm going to think about this."

i could give some lessons on ballet...i brought my ballet shoes with me to japan! 

and it could be REALLY funny...

but, do you think there is a better hobby for me to teach? other teachers have taught cooking...but i am NOT going to do that. nope.

so, suggestions are highly encouraged. thank you.