Training

I crawl out from beneath the black and smack my alarm clock. Its 9am, an ugly hour of the morning.
I drag myself to the shower, turn on the gas and spin the level which ignites the pilot. The hot water streams out; I wash and shave barely aware of what Im doing. Presentation is everything in Japan, I must look good.
Another turn of the gas, a click and the flames erupt below my pot of water as I prep my coffee, the aroma begins to wake something in the back of my brain. Back in my room, I begin to metamorph, applying layers, today is a max of 7C and I need atleast 4 layers to hold back the crisp air. I take a final glance over myself, a deep breath and lock the door behind me.

The clouds hang low, gently embracing the skyline like a washed out faded blanket. The streets are alive with movement. Old people shuffle dragging carts filled with fruit and morning groceries, stopping for a chat here and there down the mall.　Business men briskly wlak with determination; suitcase in one hand and an umbrella in the other. Cyclists dart in and out like sharks through the shallows, the bells and worn brakes cause the minnows to part briefly enough for them be disappear into the crowd.
At this hour, you can hear the distant rumble of trains growing louder as they approach, the constant hum of a crowd milling back and forth. A short tune plays athe the lights cause the traffic to a halt and the people swarm across the roads.

I jump and the train, and plug myself into an MP3 player to calm myself.
"... Cant find your heart but your body keeps moving ..." We glide along, rockly gently with the trains sway. The cityscape is dry, grey and bland. "... You cant tell your life, apart from a dream ..." We pull into the station, I am part of the flock as we exit and move in unison to the exit. In one motion, I slide my ticket into the machine, and with the beat, grab my ticket a few steps forward as the gate slides open. " ... Gently respond to the pull of a string ..." I walk through Umeda, the second largest station in Osaka. People are everywhere, the stores have all open and the shopping crowd is in full swing. I head for the Midosuji subway, the final leg of the morning trip. " ... Someone will fly ..." Im gliding across the flat escalator which extends for 20 meters, the caffine has not kicked in, the soft strum of the music makes for a surreal moment, as the world around me moves past.

The first few days of training past by and I find myself 4 days in, sitting at a cafe, holding back the nerves. Today, I will give a demo lesson. Has the training sunk in or did I just dream it? Will the caffine kick in before class? Will my face crack, and my head implode with the constant praise and encouragement I am require to give my mock students. Yet another adventure is about to begin ....