Coffee Break

nico: Last month, I took the barista course at TAFE. Although I have been studying English for further study, I wanted to get some skills for getting a job at the same time.  My parents in Japan used to work for a confectionery company, so they have skills and knowledge of cakes and other sweets. I don’t know if it is because I grew up under the influence of them, I have been tending to get some skills of using my hands for a living. I worked for a financial company for a really long time in Japan though.

So, the barista course. I took a course which was provided two hours per week four times. I learnt about basic knowledge of coffee beans and how to make espresso, latte, flat white, cappuccino and long black. That was amazing. Actually, I had a brilliant coffee and espresso machine when I lived in Japan. However, I didn’t use it for making espresso and steamed milk much because I didn’t know how to use and clean it. In Japan, I used to have dripped black coffee mainly as lots of Japanese do. Generally, Japanese people have cappuccino and latte only at café I guess. In fact, I didn’t exactly know the consistence of cappuccino and latte, etc. Then I left it. Now I have been regretting that I should have tried to use my machine in Japan and brought it to Australia. If I had my machine here, I could practice making coffee a lot before I forget the procedure and technique. That would definitely help me getting a job, too. Ah well.

Anyway, making coffee is interesting. I want to get the stable skill of tamping to extract amazing espresso at all times. Pouring steamed milk onto the espresso as well. They are both not easy as it looks, especially for pouring milk. Actually, it is kind of irritating. Because the frothy milk is lighter than steamed milk, I struggled to make cappuccino and latte a lot. It’s really hard to pour certain amount of froth and steamed milk. Using a spoon helps it but I learnt it without using spoon, and I’d love to be able to do it without it. For me, making coffee is kind of art. Yeah, I’d love to do the latte art as well.

Even if it’s still not easy to get a job, finding a thing which I am interested in is great. People always can find something interesting even they are getting older.   

2013

nico: A year and two months have passed since I came to live in Australia. Time flies. I intended to write blogs more often, but I was too busy to write them in English. I can see that writing is the hardest thing to improve for students who study English. Actually, it is rather difficult.

Well, what did I do since then? Actually, I did lots. I went to Rottnest Island twice to have Christmas holiday with MJ’s family and experienced to have Australian Christmas. Grandma called me Geisha Girl when I put sun screen on my face there. From February 2013 I started to study English and finished Certificate III Spoken and Written English in December 2013. I’d love to write about what I felt during classes studying with my classmates who come from a variety of countries. In March 2013, I went to Busselton for MJ’s grandparents’ 60 wedding anniversary. In May 2013, I attended MJ’s friends’ wedding ceremony and reception which were beautiful and hilarious. In July 2013, I started to learn Jujutsu and Pencak Silat. MJ and I attended a free self-defence class organized by Pride WA and Work Out Savvy where I met one of my teachers. In November 2013, MJ and I got our house which is a cute unit. I had never painted before. There are lots of other things I did, and I will write about those another day.

Then, did I change through these experience and life in Australia? Hmmm. I became to feel comfortable to wear thongs everywhere which I had never worn them in Japan except at beaches. Now I have suntan by my thongs. I bought them in Japan though. The biggest thing what I think I changed a lot is that I became to be able to tease MJ’s mum. I was surprised myself. Japanese people who were born in Kinki region, where I was born, must be funny, so I think that helped me with getting along with MJ’s family even though my English is not good. I don’t think I am funny in Kinki region by the way.       

In February 2014, I am going to study Certificate IV Spoken and Written English and work as a casual worker. My goal in 2014 is to improve my English, especially speaking skills, so that I don’t need to stare at hairdressers to understand them. It is really awkward if you don’t understand them while you are having your hair cut.

In conclusion, I really want to say thank you to MJ’s family, friends, teachers, and people who surround me for helping me to live in Australia. Happy New Year!!!