As a Dubliner ~Mid of February~

10/Feb

I wrote an essay for Irish music class but it was rather live music report. As a musician from Cobblestone, I finished it in a second. It was a piece of cake haha.
I personally really enjoy student life in Ireland because I can deal with essays by showing my stock of knowledge off.

After killing my essay, I joined my flatmate's birthday party. I sang brazilian birthday song for her and fortunately she looked so happy and enjoyed my present（she suddenly hugged me and I was so surprised） We ate pizza and cake and so agora nao estou fome kkk. It seems that my portuguese has been improved a little.

11/Feb

Thanks for Tonkatsu sauce from Moemoe, now I can make Okonomiyaki ! Awesome!!

I was stuck in my room to prepare for exam tomorrow. Awful!!

12/Feb
I took the exam of world music.
It was my first exam in Ireland.
Sorry for Ghana music, but I am done.

I found "Irish music session guide"  by Barry Foy. Some people condemn this book but I personally like it but inside joke only for American. I will writn column about this book later.

I attended a seminar of Irish inequality but could not understand the argument because they talked so fast. I thought " Oh. . . It is linguistic inequality. . . " but no one noticed it.

After that, I went to Japanese society and talked with some people in Japanese. And then I notice that I speak Japanese so fast. It is partly because I am very frustrated to follow the conversation in English everyday. However, now I know that it is a bad habit. I should talk as slow as possible no matter to whom I talk. Even though they are Japanese speaker, for instance, they can have difficulties for their ears and cannot hear me if I speak too fast.

13/Feb

I am keen on Okonomiyaki and eat it everyday.

Today , when I played on Grafton street, I was suddenly punched by drunken guy. He also changed the tuning of my banjo. Is it discrimination. . . ? I was so scared.

14/Feb

Happy valentine!
I got reasonable mackerell and so made fish and chips! Lovely!!

I went to the session of UCD Tradsoc but I lost my key on the way to the pub . . .

15/Feb

I tried to find my key but I couldn't. . .
I have to apologise my loommate and borrow key to make spare . . . where is locksmith. . .

16/Feb

My flatmates are so kind that they forgived me and gave their key for the spare. . . ! Alex said " If you are in trouble, I help you. It is a matter of fact" Thanks a million!!!

After eating Boiled mackerell with Miso （サバの味噌煮）, I went to Cobblestone and listened to the session. It is good not only playing together but also just listening to the music and have a pint.

After getting back home, my roommate gave me dinner and drunk wine. Alex told me about　society and politics in Venezuela.
He said as follows.

" It was good country. However, some people deprived all the wealth. Now it is so dangerous. Do you know Simon Bolival? Venezuelan currency is called Bolival Fuerte, but , Ironically, ahora es no fuerte. Please don't come to Venezuela now"

I learned it before and I know that Venezuela has social problem. However, I love Venezuelan music and am interested in its natural heritage sites. I told Alex that I can imagine what you said but I love the culture and nature in your country.

I chatted and drunk a lot and so I was drunken.

17/Feb
I have fought essays for more than five hours and finished two essays.

I think now Irish dancing is so popular in Japan that there are many ceilis and workshops for dancing（in my opinion, it is good tendency that in Japan Irish music is deeply connected to Irish dancing culture）However, because of linguistic reason, They are not familiar with Irish singing. Irish song was older than dancing culture and so I want to make it widespread in Japan.

That's what I thought when I was writing my essay for Irish music.

18/Feb

I made Cottage pie and ate them all. This taste reminds me of Yoyogi An Solas.

We had cheese fondue party at night! Dan made me Caipirinha with Japanese Sake and it was brilliant.

He said that it is called Sakepirinha and famous in Brazil. Luiz was drunken and told me juggling.

19/Feb
I met Moemoe and went to Cladagh CD shop I finally bought Sean nos singing CD !

After that, I went to Dunboyne, Co Meath. Although it was out of Dublin, thanks to Dublin Bus rambler card, I could get there for free.

I came there because I heard there would be session in Brady's pub but I noticed that I came the wrong day.

I was asked to play some and so I dId my best.
Next day, I noticed that my playing was uploaded on the pub's facebook. I am embarrassed.

I left Brady's and went to Cobblestone.
Cobblestone is reliable because it has session everyday!!
I met a man who was arrested and was in prison for a few years in Japan. He said he tried to import weed. For that reason, he spoke Japanese so fluently.
Mary came and I joined her session. I performed Sean-nos singing that I learned for the  first time. I was a little nervous but fortunately they accepted it with big applause.
I know it was like Sakura Sakura by American people （I personally love it）and so I hesitated to sing for audience. I am not native Irish speaker. However, they praised me. I am so grateful and decided to keep studying Irish music.

As a Dubliner ~First of February~

1/Feb

I got one pound again in the busking.
It seems I may get enough pound to travel UK from Feb to May.
In today's class, the teacher played Irish harp for us.
It was fantastic and was impressive to me that I could enjoy Irish music playing during the class at university. I am proud of being in this dearly country .

I got a leaflet of NINJUTSU society but introduction of the society was rather Aikido than NINJUTSU.

2/Feb

Dublin bus is shit.
I can understand that sometimes the buses are delayed because of bad traffic conditions.
Today Dublin bus left the bus stop too early and I missed the bus although I arrived at the bus stop on time
In addition, the bus I got on later suddenly stopped on the way to university and didn't move more than fifteen minutes.
I was late for the class...

Today I had irish music class and learned about collectors of irish music.
Now irish music is widespread and one of the reason is that some collectors collected the music and published them.
Today we learned about Edward Bunting, the first collector in Ireland.

In Japan, though development of technology improved the situation, it is still difficult to get information of the culture and history around irish traditional music. In my opinion, since irish music is deeply connected to its culture and history, it is very important to learn these things.
So, it was very interesting to me!
The famous irish jig called "Black rogue" is , according to the professor, one of Bunting's collection. (Only in Ireland we can learn such astonishing facts. The professor told me even the information of good pus lol)

After that, I did busking with Ihono, Japanese woman who has the same class!
This was the first time to do busking with other players.Fortunately, we earned a lot...!
By the way, when we played, someone talked to me.
"Hey, Goppi!It's me! Paddy!"
Paddy Cummin! As I wrote before, I used to watch his banjo tutorial on Youtube and we played together in the session a few days ago.
We asked him to play and he accepted.
It was fantastic that he played my banjo on the street.
In addition he said that he loves my banjo playing! It is amazing that my banjo teacher in the screen is now my friend!

By the way, I made friend with american guy, ben.
We have the same class and today we go to pub together to drink pints and listen to the session( because professor recommended to go lol it is unbelievable in Japan!)
It is fantastic that I made friend with him. We talked about music, language, culture, and ourselves. He was only 18 (in Ireland we can drink alcohol from 18) but he is so genius that he can speak spanish, English, Irish, (and only slungs in Japanese )

He said his ancestor was irish. It is said that more than 25 million people are irish descendant.
It would be one of the reason he came here.

Surprisingly, Black rogue was played in the session (even though it was not popular in Japan, we often hear this tune played at Cobblestone )
I joined the round (the system that I give others a pint and others give me it and repeat this process) and got drunk.

3/Feb

I had a cold and stayed in my bed all the day
This is the first time to catch a cold in Ireland (although I suffered from stomachache when I came here two years ago because of row oyster )

4/Feb
I read おやすみプンプン, japanese manga and my condition got worse because of the shocking story.

5/Feb
I miss you, 愛子ちゃん

I went to restaurant at UCD for the first time but it was very expensive.
I suffer from runny nose and group discussion class.They talk to fast to follow.
I decided to talk Japanese as slow as possible to so that everyone can understand.

I made Guinness Curry but it tasted nothing because of my fuckin nose.

It was snowing out and my roommate was excited. She is brazilian and had never seen snowman before she came here.

6/Feb

It is interesting that only 10% of the population monopolizes a half of wealth.
I weren't interested in inequality in my country but I think I should see japanese in different point of view. Now I can do it as a Dubliner(but I should study English before that)

The reason why I am diligence now is that I wrote essay all the day. I'm done.

7/Feb

I read the article about dangerous areas in Dublin for my safety.
It says
"These areas are dangerous because there are a lot of foreigners and drunken "

Oh, it is me.

Today I went to English class in the library.

After that I met MoeMoe from Japan!!
Here she came again!!
We did busking and got 40 Euro .
I took her to Mongolian bbq and had gorgeous dinner.

We went to Cobblestone and joined the Balaclava session. I met one Japanese guy, hirao but he joined the front session (according to him, he was asked "do you know Goppi?"a lot in the session. I am remembered! )
MoeMoe looked sleepy because of jetlag.

8/Feb

MoeMoe took irish music class together!Surprisingly she also attended the group discussion!!
After that, we joined sean nos singing workshop, by Tradsoc.
There was a famous sean nos singer and her voice is stucked in my head.It was so beautiful.
I learned two sean nos songs.
(Unfortunately, I couldn't make out what she said because he spoke Gaelic.)

After eating at KFC, we went to pipers corner and finally we could listen to the session!
It was so amazing and now I understand why my professor and senior recommended me.
Literally there were pipers and fiddler. This combination is brilliant.

MoeMoe left Dublin...! Farewell...

9/Feb

Suddenly my credit card became unavailable and so I went to bank.
I was forced to call someone else to ask how to make it available in the bank. I don't like phone calling because I can't follow what they speak.

Today I went to Cobblestone. Malin and Ihono were also there. As I said before, we have the same irish music class.
Surprisingly, although Malin hadn't joined irish music session before , she joined the session by playing guitar!!I met her friend from Waseda university at Cobblestone (she came with malin)and she was also surprised.

After that, I went to Hughes alone.
This is the pub Brian Mcgrath remembered me when we talked in Japan.
I got there two hour early for the session and so I drunk with australian guy and his daughter.
We made Friends because there was a intoxicated man and we helped him together.
He gave me a pint. I wanted to give it back but they always decline it.

The session was awesome!!
There were only two pipers and me.
It was very quiet and the mood was brilliant.
Unfortunately, I drunk four pints, I got stoned and couldn't play well and so I just listened.

The sound of pipe was like a wave in the night.
It calls the full moon for the dark sky.

As a Dubliner ~Late January~

22/Jan

I hate dublin bus! It sway a lot and so it is dangerous to move to the seat,,,
In addition, the machines for leap card are often out of order!
However, different from Japan, we can sit in the morning ...

From today, classes have started at university!
I had two classes today.
In the class "Music of the world", we learned about music in Ghana.Since I could not understand what teacher said and misunderstood her question, I answered wrongly and bothered her.

Teacher "What is this song about? "
Me "(How is this song about...?) The melody was very great but melody was different from what I know "
Everyone "？？？"

I was so ashamed that I wanted to crawl under the floor...

In the class "Inequality in Ireland " we learned what inequality is and why and how it exists.
The group discussion started but it was so hard for me to follow. Why can you speak soooo fastly,,.
it didn't seem that someone notice the inequality between us, called language.

In conclusion, my university life seems so hard lol

After school, I went to Grafton street to play.
When I was playing on the street, the man, holding drum sticks suddenly appeared and he started to beat the floor with my banjo playing!! Noisy and terrible! He was smiling as if he was satisfied with his playing.
Pedestrian just says "awful"
It is not my fault...!

However, I met an elderly woman on the street after that terrible accident.
She is Maire and she plays accordion.
She just said "Your playing was good" and invited me to the session.
Surprisingly , she hosted session at Cobblestone on Monday!
I was very pleasured. Actually, this is the first time to meet musician who plays traditional music on this street.
And, in the fact, she is a really great person...! I would know it later...

23.Jan
I went to central library to join the Spanish-English conversation.
In Dublin, exchange conversation is held in the library and we can talk and practice our language skills.

It is weird! Even though I joined the english spanish conversation, It was all greek to me!!!
I could not even understand English and so it was almost impossible to understand Spanish what native spoke...

I went to Cobblestone with my brain confused.
I noticed that I could not hear what young people say. They speak fastly, using a lot of slungs!
And, interestingly, the same thing can be said in playing...!
I personally prefer to play with elderly people...they are all kind...(of course, there are many young people who are kind and speak slowly for non-native.Interestingly, the same thing can be said in their playing )

24/Jan
It was raining but sunny, windy and I saw a rainbow today. This weather is Irish!

I have eaten only curry for a few days.
I also eat a lot of potato chips.

I revenged to english spanish conversation exchange.Fortunately today some beginners took part in and so I could follow the conversation.
We chatted, searching words in dictionary.
One of them was fan of Donal lunny and we talked about him a lot.
She said he lived in Okinawa. Es verdad?

I joined the session of Tradsoc.
Tradsoc is one of societies in UCD and they have session on Wednesday.
The music was amazing.

But it was so noisy that I could not even hear the tune what I played. There were many drunken young people.
I asked "Is it always so noisy?" to the member.
She answered "Sometimes..."

I don't think they should be more quiet.
They came there to drink and enjoy as they want.
I am a stranger and I have no rights for blaming.
What I want to say is just , it was noisy for playing.
(On the other hand, I think the pub and the session there should be noisy to a certain extent. It is a difficult problem...)
Anyway, I really love Seamus' accordion playing.
He was so kind that took care of me and I decided to go to this session to meet him.

25/Jan
UCD is a Festival rather than an university.

I have two classes on thursday.
"Music in Ireland" was introduction but so interesting. I am proud of attending this class!
In "Childhood in Ireland" I could learn not only children but also Irish educational system, but a little boring.
My major is educational psychology...

I met maire again on the Street. She complained about some banjo players and she added "They are so noisy but You play softly and it is good."
Overestimation...

I joined the buddy event for international students.
The bus was packed by us and , surprisingly, they were so noisy in the bus although it was public transportation...
I felt the cultural difference..

They are all participates.

We went to Pub crawl. It is interesting that university has the event for drinking.
We drunk at old storehouse, in the Temple bar.

Temple bar is famous area for young people and many tourist. There are many pubs but they are all live music. I personally don't prefer the pubs in this area (prices are also high...)
I drunk expensive Guinness and talked with German guy and Swedish couple. They are non native and so fortunately I could follow the conversation.
I also enjoyed live music, played by Banjo and Guitar.
Live music is live music, they were both skilled players.
But, anyway, it was packed, like Japanese train.

26/Jan
I went to japanese restaurant in UCD.
Unfortunately, it was fake japanese restaurant.
Ramen contains 椎茸 and noodle was completely different from Japanese one. In addition, although it said 豚骨, which means bones of pork, it was a soysauce ramen.
Katsuc urry was rather Katsu don.

Today I had two classes,
"Music and the words" and "Collectors of the music"

The professor was Ronan Galvin.
He was exactly the professor I have wanted to be taught.
He researchs Irish music and, the both classes were so interesting. In addition, he speaks slowly and so I could understand what he said.

I met two japanese women in the class. It is interesting that there are some Japanese people in Irish music class. It would be a proof that this music is becoming popular among japanese people.

I went to Cobblestone and I met a banjo player. He played very well.
He was Patrick Cummin and, surprisingly, he was a tutor of banjo lesson on Youtube which I used to watch in Japan.
This is the one of great thing in Irish music. There are many skilled players in every sessions.
He was interested in my glinder capo and so I told him whire he can get it.

27/Jan
I joined japanese english conversation exchange.
I hope I could help people studying Japanese...
There were also a lot of japanese people (あたりまえ)

Dublin now has Trad fest.

It was first time to buy the ticket for irish gigs and it was very lovely experience.
I went to laoise Kelly's concert!
Trad Fest was held at Temple bar on January and a lot of musicians appeared there.
I listened to Kelly's harp playing at the church. It was fantastic.I wish I could play like that..

I played banjo on Grafton street after that, going into a trance by her show.
I am honored to be one of banjo players in this country when I get some kind words(Last week I was taken photos and said "you are cute".I hope I can be praised for banjo playing someday)
But it started to rain heavily and I and my banjo got soaked.

I joined the session at the Peader Brown.
Today, I sang Gaelic song "Mo Ghille Maer"
It was first time to sing gaelic song in audience.
I was delighted that my Irish song was accepted by Irish people...!!Fortunately, it was accepted by a lot of applauses.

I could not speak fluently as English native speakers. What I can do is just playing music and sing. If I could speak english better, I could understand the lyric of the song they sang...

28/Jan
I started to study English again!!

I mistakenly used microwave to heat fried fish and it became really hard, like a stone.
My venezuelan roommate gave me chicken.
He is so fantastic guy that he heard my terrible introduction in Spanish and he said "It is your home. You said I am kind, but you are the best. Good night, friend. " before he went to bed.

29/Jan
I over slept and missed the class...

I went to Japanese society in UCD. There is a guy called Theo. He was awesome and we made friends soon.
He loves punk, metal, and alcohol. We talked about our favorite bands. I noticed that I could understand if we talked about our hobbies in common.

Today I got bills in busking.

I went to the session with these money and I had a good time...! I could see maire again and kept the promise to see her in the session.I also met my classmate. He said he came here to join the gig at back floor.
Monday session had many common tunes and so I could play a lot.
It was sofantastic that I missed the last bus(Luas saved me)

30/Jan
I did nothing but eating and sleeping.

31/Jan
Ireland is just like heaven for me because we can buy Guinness(500ml) for less than 2 EURO at supermarket.

It was Refresher's day at UCD and many societies introduced their selves.

I ate a lot of popcorn for free.

I went to pipers corner but I could not listen to the session again. After busking(Today I got one pond), I joined the Tradsoc session event.

There were sooooo many people and It was like an orchestra rather than a session.
Not only UCD but also DCU aod TCD students joined.
When I went to toilet in the pub, young drunken guys were in the way and asked me to sing.He ordered whiskey in the jar and we sang together ...

Like this, it was so packed and everyone drunk.

As a Dubliner ~Mid January~

10,Jan
I drunk five pints yesterday and I hanged over and took awalk around Dublin.It was so refreshing that my headache disappeared.
Today I did busking for the first time.
I played just 1hour and fortunately I got some tips...!

After that I went to university College Dublin (UCD)

This is the university I study...!
Sunset was beautiful.

There are even clubs and gyms at university!!

I returned to city center and did busking again .
I noticed that keeping Smiling made a lot of money.

I went to Leo burdock, a craze fish and chips shop, and ordered fish and chips but I mistakenly said "Yes" when shef asked "don't you need chips?"
Chips like a mountain ...
Japanese people usually have this mistake and I should be careful...(However, according to myAmerican friends, they use both for a responce)

I went to Cobblestone and today I took part in balaclava session, a slow session. There are many people, including begginers and held in the backfloor.
The session was leaded by Tom's daughter.She taught us some tunes and after that we enjoyed slow session. Some people were using notation and she also showed us abc notation .

Before I came there, I thought it is just the place for begginers to practice.
But it was my misunderstanding...!

In the session, I met an elderly man, called Path. He said he was 74 and started Irish music a few years ago. He played banjo but, frankly speaking, he was not a skilled player.
I made friend with hlm and chatted a lot.

During the session, suddenly cakes appeared and Happy birthday song was played and sung.
Yes, it was Path's 74th anniversary!!
Everyone was smiling and seemed like really into the session.

It is easy to say you should go the session lead by skilled player to be a good musician .
It is true that we can learn a lot of things from them.
However, I want to cherish and respect this mood more that music itself.

In the first place, I am just a begginer, too lol

I met Chris, who studies Japanese, in the front session.He suddenly said 日本語わかるよ！いま六時半！in Japanese.
He also weared weird shirt that was just written ねこ.

I returned to hostel and made buttered potato by chips I didn't eat for lunch.

11.Jan
I did busking and, surprisingly, I earned more than 13euro in an hour. It is also fantastic that pedestrian talked and praised me.

I went to Cobblestone but today I did not join the session.
The session was so beautiful that I didn't want to break the atmosphere.
This feeling is,I think, very important and I respected what I felt.
Thursday session at cobblestone tend to be beautiful and energetic.
It is interesting that ,in the session that I think I should not join, many uncommon tunes are tend to be played.

12. Jan

What I did in this few days was just busking, drinking, and Twitter...(I have earned money for the license.)

I went to dun laoghaire and bray.

Dun laoghaire is the old harbor and ships depart to holyhead, UK.
I went to the pub 'forty foot '
It was very affordable and could drink a pint less than 3 euro. It was refreshing that drinking Strong bow (berry taste was really something )seeing the Irish sea from the terrace.
The port was good but cold.

Bray is a kind of resort and many people come there in Summer.
But it was just freezing and windy in Winter.
I tried to climb to bray head, but went the wrong way and gave up...

I went to cobblestone again!
It means that I went every weekdays this week!
It was Friday and so was packed.
(I love Friday session. Everyone is kind.
But it is a little noisy on Fridays...!)

Today, I felt like I was accepted my playing by members. I cannot say why I thought so, but I felt so(misunderstanding ...?) .
Simon tells jokes and plays flute excellently.
Tich is fantastic and generous banjo player.
It was a good session.
Caroline remembered me and we talked about Japanese culture (They were surprised when I say we something bow to parents and friends. I explained it is useful to tell our politeness, apologies, appreciation, and respects without a word.)

I noticed that they play many slip jigs and songs .
I think they are not popular in Japan.
I don't think we should imitate everything in Ireland, but it is interesting and I love both of them.
I will bring them back to Japan.

13. Jan ~16.Jan

I went to Denmark and Sweden.
I will write about this trip in other article.

When I was back to dublin, it was snowing.

17. Jan

I went to dublin city councill because my license hadn't arrived yet.
The officer said they send it just today.

I went to university to make student card and student leap card.
If you use student leap card, and buy thirty days rambler, you can get on Dublin bus freely for 30days. In addition, thirty days mean actual thirty days. If you don't use bus for a week, it isn't counted!

I bought sandwich and after that I joined international students talk.
A lot of foods were prepared .
I shouldn't have eaten sandwich..
I tried to talk with them but they couldn't understand what I said in English.
It's weird. People in the cobblestone understood me. It seems I should be drunken when I talk in English.

I went to my new flat.
Fortunately, they were all kind.
When they knew I really love Guinness, they gave me Guinness. Heaven.

There are four brazilians and one venezuelan.
I decided to study portuguese.

My life has just begun!!
However, I would make a lot of troubles here...

18, Jan
I participated in Orientation. I could hear what they speak because of my two weeks staying in Ireland(but I didn't hear what teacher spoke at last and missed the guidance about immigration..)

Irish sky looks wide and high.
I think it's because there are many kinds of clouds.

I went to Japanese restaurant.
It played tunes of vocaloid and 福山雅治
It was glad that I could hear Japanese songs in Dublin eating Ramen.

I started my cooking life.
Now, I usually cook 肉じゃが、お好み焼き、curry, shepherd pie, and guinness stew.


But this was the first time to cook alone. My kind roommate told me how to cook. I didn't know even how to boil the rice...

19, Jan
When I was cooking in the morning, suddenly fire alert started ringing and bothered flatmates.
It ls weird.Although I used fan and had windows open...
When I got back home, flatmates made fun of me about that lol

I went to university to take the orientation of English class but it was English literature class.
After that, I tried to buy popcorn in vender machine but it was suddenly out of order and he drunk my 2 euro without giving me popcorn.
I call to the vending machine company and barely tell what happened with my awkward English.
Later, 2 euro was sent to my address. I did it!

I played on the Grafton street and suddenly one elderly woman talked to me.
"Is it reel? Can you play jigs and hornpipe ? "
She asked me to play "buttering ram" and "boys of bluehill". Both is common tune and so I played.
She praised me and asked me a lot of questions.
We talked about our favorite players and bands.
She gave me tips a lot and left.
Communication with people is one of the essential and fantastic parts in busking. I play for these events.

After my first busking in the night, I went to Cobblestone.
As I said before, Friday session is fantastic.
I met thomas and he was the Sammy's friend.
Sammy played as the session host at SENKAWA in Japan. He lived in Dublin and there are many his friends. The world is small.

My roommate gave me a pizza.
I decided to make dinner for them tomorrow .

20,Jan
I bought sweet potatos by mistake. I needed potato.... Irish sweet potatos resemble potatos.

I made 肉じゃが for my dearly flatmates.
Since I made too early, they didn't come for an hour and I thought they wouldn't come and fallen down.
The taste of 肉じゃが reminded me of my grandma and I got homesick...
However, they finally came and they really praised my dinner.

"Wow!! You're genius! Nick jaguar (mick?)is amazing! I wanna eat more!"

I really appropriated the coutry brazil and their parents for giving them birth.

I remember that , when I was in Japan, I was sometimes late for dinner and my grandmother looked a little sad. Now I've finally understood and I feel sorry for her. This is good experience for me to know her feeling.

21. Jan
I went to the pub close to my house. It took less than ten minutes from my flat.

Although it didn't have session, it had a gig.
I thought it was session and so I had a banjo.
Everyone said "Hey, you! Sing!sing!" I declined because it was the other's gig. However they keep calling me.
I gave up and went to the stage and sang famous irish pub songs.

Applauses!!

This was the first time to join the gig.
I got a lot of pints for free and went back to my home intoxicated.

There is my venezuelan roommate in the kitchen.
I talked with him and I bet it was hard time for him to talk with Japanese drunken boy. I tried to speak in Spanish but it must have been awful...
We talked about Venezuelan music(I was in venezuelan music society in Japan)
He said "you know venezuelan traditional music
Better than me.)

He also said my Spanish was good. I was so excited but now I think it was a kind of compliment.

As a Dubliner ~Early January~

Hi. It is a long time. Now I study at University College Dublin and live in suburban area of Dublin. I decided to write about my life in this dirty old , but beautiful town.

• • • • • • • • • • • • -

2.Jan
I departed from Narita airport and had a long journey to Dublin, stepping by Qatar.
My friends saw me off in Narita and I got homesick although I had never arrived to Dublin.

It took more than 10 hours from Narita to qatar.
In addition, I was tired because I could not sleep in the plane. Qatar airport was big but so boring that I had nothing to do.
The fact that I had to get on board to Dublin again made me really annoyed. I could not sleep in the airplane and so I saw boring Japanese movie "打ち上げ花火、下から見るか？横から見るか？(Fireworks, Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom)" three times.
Literally I felt like I saw it from the side, bottom,and upper.

3.Jun
I got to Dublin! This was the third time to come to Ireland but this time I would stay five monthes as a Dubliner! I was a little nervous.

I met with my friend and we went to Galway.
She had visited to Ireland from US on holiday.
I felt encouraged with her because at least I did not have to be in trouble to communicate in English!

Galway is my most favorite city in Ireland

We went to Tig choili and drunk the first pint in Ireland! Just like heaven!

4.Jan
I went to Clareen, a famous banjo shop, and bought my new gear...! It would be my treasure through my life!!
With Tom Cussen, and shopper.Tom gave me his CD s.

Galway had a terrible flood and so some roads were under the water. In addition, we got off the bus in wrong busstop and had to walk more than 4km!
One generous elderly man took us to Clareen by car.

After that, we went to Cliff of Moher and I played banjo !!
This tune is Literally Cliff of Moher!

After eating seafood chowder, we returned to Galway and joined the session at Tig choili.
The level of musicians were so high that I felt sorry for being there. More practicing was needed.

5.Jan
We got back to Dublin!!
We went to piper's corner.
Piper 's corner has a lot of session but most of them are closed. We can enjoy advanced session from 7 almost everyday. Cobblestone is the most famous for session but nowadays this pub has been well-known.
However, we got there in wrong time and so what we did was just drinking two pints of Guinness lol.

6.Jan
I showed Dublin city around to my friend . I came this city twice and so is like my house.

Dublin fair city

We had lunch at Mongolian BBQ.
This restaurant has a interesting system. All we have to do is to put the vegitables and noodle on the plate as much as possible and bring it to shef. Shef makes it burned in front of us.
This is the first time to visit there and now I am crazy at this restaurant!

We went to Peader browns to join the session.
I personally love the atmosphere of this pub.

Some people mistakenly believe that the better technique musicians have, the better the session will be, but I am against this opinion. Not only technique,but also all the conversation, mood, relationship, (and pints lol)made the session and its atmosphere.
(When I talked it to Dennish man in Galway, he said "you should only practice hard, you don't live in Ireland or think about such thing". But I personally don't like this idea. The excessive faith for technique and skill can leads us to lose the pure enthusiasm for music.)
.

Anyway, we can enjoy not only dance tunes but also singing.
I realized that singing is indispensable to Irish music. In Japan, songs seem to be regarded less important than dance tunes. Maybe there are linguistic and cultural problems.I wotld like to tell the goodness of Irish songs in Japan.

We stayed this pub for more than 5 hours!
I sang Whiskey in the jar but it seemed that I should have study English hard.

This photo is from Peader browns' facebook page.
I was on left side.

(There is an elderly man who gave us pints for free every week! If you are a musician and interested in this session, please go with musicians as less as possible for his budget!)

P.S.
Tayto potato chip was delicious!

7,Jan
Because of jetlag, I woke up early in the morning (awesome!)
I got used to simple breakfast in hostel.
I met another friend and went to Bishoff , famous fish and chips shop in Dublin.
My friend, Yuna, had lived in Ireland for a year to study English and so she showed some places where I don't know.
Asian market was fantastic because we could buy a lot of Japanese food! Even Japanese rice!

After that, we went to O'donoghue's because I was invited by pat, who I met in the session yesterday.
Sunday morning session was fantastic!

O'donoghue's is famous for the Dubliners, legendary Irish band, started their playing.

Since I was with another friend yesterday and both of them were girls, Pat just said "oh... "
Oh, don't get me wrong...

He gave me a memo about his session schedule and it was written on the cupboard of the pub. It is like Irish!

I returned to the hostel but I wanna one more pints! And surprisingly, the session was held in the pub, 30seconds walk from my hostel!

Darkey kelly is not famous, compared to cobblestone,or piper's corner. However, the session was very good. I heard that the session was hosted by the students of traditional music. Definitely, they were all young and skilled!
Delaney, a guitarist, said he had japanese girl friend and knew Japanese culture a lot.

By the way, I met Japanese woman there.
She said she study at Dublin college university (DCU )and were from Nagoya.She said she recognized one Japanese boy because he bowed when he came into the pub. Delaney said same thing.
Yes, I am Japanese.

8,Jan
I went to see my new flat, made a bank account, and after that I got a busking license.

You need the license if you play instruments on the street and it costed 30 euro. There are also some rules (ex. One hour mark. You should end playing at o'clock whenever you started. For instance, if you started playing at 2:15,You can play till 3:00)

I was tired and slept as soon as getting to hostel.

9,Jan
It was rainy and I could not play on the street.
I bought some CDs in Cleadagh record , famous record shop.

Including Feagal scahill's CD!!
I stopped by music shop and found venezuelan cuatro!! But I have already ...

After that, I went to the place I had ever wanted to be...
Cobblestone

"Where is the pub you recommend most?"
I have asked this question to many irish musicians.
They all said "Cobblestone"
Tom mulligan is an owner and the sessions are held every week, every day, every time. A lot of great musicians are there.
And, although I hadn't known yet, I would make friends with them there...

I joined the session and stayed 5 hours!
Neillidh, the host and Tom's brother, asked me to play.
I played but they didn't play together. Instead of playing, they were just listening with their eyes closed.
"What does it mean!? was I not accepted..?"
I was nervous but I barely finished playing.
They gave me applauses!! I was relieved to hear that...
They were all kind and told me a lot of things.
I decided to come here as mush as possible.

I made friend with Caroline and she was my japanese senior 's friend! The would is small!

下山晴彦「認知行動療法を学ぶ」を読んで

何度か図書館で借り直してじっくり読みました。

____

下山先生は認知行動療法が専門なので、他の本でも認知行動療法の話をひたすらしており、本自体の内容によっては少しズレていたり冗長に感じることも多いのですが、この本は認知行動療法を学ぶ、ということで、こちらも認知行動療法への見識を深めるつもりで読むことができました。

この本では、まず認知行動療法の定義や成り立ちについて話した後に、その用い方を、療法やクライエントの症状別に章に分けて説明しています。

章ごとには事例をもとにアセスメントや介入の方法を詳しく書いていたりするので、とてもわかりやすいです。

個人的には、Q&A方式で認知行動療法に対する世間的な誤解に対するコメントを設けた章があったのは良かったと思います。

例えば、認知行動療法は深いレベルでの変容を促すことはない、という誤解に対して、クライエントとの協働によって確実に変化を起こせる点で、むしろ実用的で、深いものになりうる、という指摘をしています(個人的には、この理論が成り立つのかどうかは疑問を感じます。後半で、行動は認知-言語、身体-生理、行為-動作、すべてのレベルで行動には主体的判断が含まれ、それゆえ深い心の働きに関与することとなる、というのは理解できました)。

また、対象を機械的に扱うものではなく、SRC(刺激反応結果)の図式のRには主体的認知が含まれ、其れを受け止め扱うことから人間味溢れるものである、クライエント中心療法と同じく共感が大切だが、心からの共感ではなくコンテクストでの共感、積極的に改善しようとしないクライエントには、消極的である理由やメカニズムをケースフォーミュレーションのテーマとする、日常生活や社会への進出の必要性、など、このQ&Aから筆者の認知行動療法への考えを多面的に感じることができます。

ただ、個人的には、このQ&Aは最も大切な疑問や誤解から逃げているようにも感じました。

それは、「認知や行動を変えようなんて自分でもう何回もやったけど、効果なかった。今更人にやられて効果あるもんか」というクライエントの主張です。

僕は彼らを勝手に「インテリクライエント」と呼んでますが、彼らは頭が良いので、自分で勉強して、セルフヘルプを試みたりしているのですね。しかしうまく行っておらず、認知行動療法に対してじれったくて効果のないもの、だと思っている節があります。また、即効果のある薬物療法に対しては好意的なのも特徴です。

個人的には、薬物療法に反対しているわけではないのですが、最終的に薬を使わなくて良いのなら薬を使わなくて良い状態にまで持っていくに越したことはないと思うのです。

下山先生は認知行動療法のデメリットを上げようとしませんが、個人的には認知行動療法のデメリットは以下の通りだと考えています。

・セラピストの技量により治療の質が大きく左右される。

・効果が出るまでに一定の時間がかかる(特定恐怖症など、ものによっては短期間で出るものがありますが…)

・クライエントの認知が頑なである場合、介入が受け入れられない。

特に三つ目は、インテリクライエントたちに見られる傾向である気がします。ただ、彼らの考えには、いくつかの誤解があります。その最たるものが認知行動療法をカウンセリングと同じようなものだと勘違いしている場合です。

認知行動療法、という名前から、人の認知に注目して、そんな考え方はこんな考え方に変えられるんじゃないかなーと指摘する、という短絡的なものに思われがちなのですが、実はこれには誤りがあります。

まず、そもそも認知行動療法は一つではない点です。

前述したのは認知再構成法(それも例示したのはかなり短絡的かつ不用意な介入なので、ラポール形成の有無に関わらず、こんなこと言っても受け入れられないのは当然です)。

強迫性障害に対する曝露反応妨害法だって認知行動療法です(ところで、米国心理学会の有効性が示された介入法リストには認知行動療法とこれらが並列して並べられていますが、この表における認知行動療法、は具体的に何を指しているのでしょうか。それとも、曝露反応妨害法なども認知行動療法の一つであるとする僕の理解が間違っているのでしょうか…)多くの技法があるなかで、人の認知を無理やり変えることだけが認知行動療法であるとはいえません(というかそれは違います)。

それと、彼らは特に自分たちの認知や行動が悪いとみなされる前提でいることに強い抵抗を感じています。これは当然の心理です。しかし、認知行動療法においては、クライエントの改善すべき思考の悪循環を見つけるなどはしても、それはクライエント自体がそこに至った過程を否定するわけではないということを強く述べておきます。

辛い環境の中で生み出した考え方を大切なものとしたいのは当然の思考でしょう。

しかし、それが自分を殺してしまっては本末転倒なので、その過程は尊重しながら、少しずつ悪循環を変えていこうとするのが認知行動療法だと考えています。

もう一つ下山先生が無視しているのは、クライエントが薬物療法を求める理由です。クライエントは「今、ここ」で辛い環境、心理状態におり、そこから早く抜け出したいのです。そこで、悠長に認知行動療法をやっている余裕はない！というクライエントも多いと感じます。

そうした患者にはまず薬物療法を行なった上で、落ち着いた状態での認知行動療法での介入が必要になるでしょう。認知行動療法がいくら進んでも、薬物療法と切り離すことはできません。

逆に言えば、薬物療法だけでは根本的な問題の解決にはならないとも考えています。ある授業で、先生が「私は睡眠障害への認知行動療法へは懐疑的なんだ。患者は今寝たいのに、そんな悠長なこと言ってる場合か」と言ってました。彼は生物学的観点からのアプローチを専門にしていたので、そのように言ったのでしょうが、前述のような理由から、投薬は行なった上で、長期的な目線での介入は行うべきだと考えるのです。

___

他にも、この本で良かったのは、機能アセスメントやケースフォーミュレーションで実際に用いる用紙や記入例も示されていたことです。中々実物を見る機会はないので、具体的にどのように問題を把握しているかを確認できます。

あくまで入門書ではありますが、実践がどのようになされているのかを垣間見ることができました。

ごっぴ

UJA「研究留学のすゝめ! 〜渡航前の準備から留学後のキャリアまで」を読んで

留学を1週間後に控えた身なので、気になって読んでみました。

_____

正直なことを申し上げますと、僕は学部留学であることもあり、あまり自分にはためにならなかったです。

あと、留学先がアメリカを想定されていたので、その他の留学先に行く人はなかなか当てはまらない話も多いのかと感じました。もちろん、アメリカに行く人が多いのを考えると、ニーズに合わせた本ではあるのでしょうが…。

あとは、タイトルからもわかるのですが、福沢諭吉の引用があまりに多くて、少し辟易してしまいました。筆者は慶応生なのでしょうか(偏見)。

そうは言いましても、研究留学を将来志すとしたらこの本はとてもためになると思います。

ただ、それならまさにこれから行こうとしている人には必読書になるのかというと、必ずそうとも限りません。なぜなら、この本は、かなり内容が所謂理系の分野に寄っているからなんですね。

それも、医学系、薬学、生物系の研究者の留学体験記が多かったです。

僕は臨床心理学をやるので、バイオサイコソーシャルモデルでの理解を深めるためには生物系の知識は必要ですし、薬物療法的なアプローチを研究テーマにするならこうした留学体験記が役に立つかもしれません。

ただ、例えば文系の分野の研究を目的として留学したい人も少なからずいると思います。そうした意味で、寄稿者の経歴にもう少し幅をもたせてほしかったかなぁ、と思いました。

一方で、前述の通り、体験記を交えながら要点を整理して書かれているのでわかりやすい本ではあります。特に、外伝の大学院留学のすすめの話や、奨学金獲得について詳しく書かれている点は僕もためになりました(奨学金についてはあくまで研究奨学金用の内容でしたが)。

何より良いと思ったのは、留学について行った家族の体験記も載せられていたことです。本人の留学はもちろん、2-body problemは非常に重要なので、しっかり両者の目線から触れられていて、より中立な視点で考えることができました。

彼女が研究留学する時とかもしあれば、この本のことを思い出そうと思います。

ごっぴ