そして週末に、彼女のジェルネイル検定（初級）に、モデルとして参加してきました。
・・・なんて書くと大袈裟ですが、実際に試験を受けるのは友人なので、彼女の緊張をよそに、私はお気楽なものでした。
朝５時起きで大阪南港にある会場へ向かいました。美しく塗られた赤のネイルを、黒い手袋の下にひそめて。
この日の為にせっせとケアをしてきたし、前日の仕込みもバッチリだったので、彼女と一緒に会場への入場の列に並びながら私はわくわくしていました。カップルはいずれも、一方は大きなバッグを肩から二つくらい下げ、もう一方は真っ赤な爪をして、それが映えるように黒っぽい服を着ています。中には真っ赤な爪の男性も多く見られました。きっと彼氏や夫なのでしょう。
会場は広く、初級だけで受験番号が900番台までありましたから、モデルさんも合わせると、1,800人以上もの人がこの日の為に集まったのですからすごいことです。それだけの人たちが同時に同じことをやるって、おもしろい。
練習をしてきた数週間、タソちゃんの頑張りには目を見張りました。
仕事の合間を縫って、とにかく練習を重ねる彼女のひたむきな姿に、私もできる限りの協力をしたくなりましたし、緊張で震えながらも落ち着いて試験を受けきった彼女に拍手！頑張る人って輝いてます。
☆
試験が終わってから、かなり遅めのランチを食べに行きました。
タソちゃんの筆記試験と移動であれこれと時間がかかり、結局乾杯できたのは午後2時半ごろ。
タソちゃんとごはんを食べると、何故かいつもイタリア料理で、今回も行きついた店はやっぱりイタリアン。空っぽになりすぎてわけが分からなくなった胃に、モッツァレラ・チーズとトマトを始め、ガーリックとオリーブオイルのきいたイタリア料理たちはすいすいと吸い込まれて行きました。お酒を飲みながら、彼女と色々な話をしました。
緊張から解放されて、ボーイフレンドとネイルの先生に報告メールを送る彼女は本当に嬉しそうでした。
その後、ネイル用品の専門店にも足を運び、帰りにベトナム料理のお店でチェーを食べました。
チェーとはベトナムのおぜんざいです。一般的にはお豆や果物のトッピングにココナツミルクを合わせて頂きます。とてもカラフルでかわいらしいデザートです。今回頂いたのはクラッシュ・アイス入りのかき氷風の冷たいチェー。
カラフルなチェーを見ていたら、つい『ネイルの柄に良いんじゃない？』なんて言葉も飛び出しました。彼女も『そう、何を見てもネイルのことを考えてしまう』と笑っていましたが、実際デザインを始めるとそういう視点でしかものを見れなくなる気持ちはよくわかります。
ほんの少し雨がパラつき、曇り空の大阪でしたが、静かな夕暮れで、ベトナム料理店の内装が少しノスタルジックな感じも手伝い、もうすっかりリラックスしたタソちゃんと、のんびり何気ないことを話していました。
タソちゃんの頑張りを見て、私も自分の分野で頑張ろうと、元気をもらいました。
ありがとう。また、チェーを食べに行こうね。
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| 検定課題の赤いネイル Red colour for exam |
I wrote about this before but, I'd been doing practise of nail art with my friend Taso.
Last weekend, as a model, I went to an examination of "gel nails" manicurist certificate for beginners with her.
...well, that sounds like wow, but it wasn't me taking an exam, so I was totally relaxed while Taso was feeling nervous.
We woke up at 5 a.m. and headed to the exam site in Osaka Bay area. I was concealing beautifully painted red nails under the black gloves.
I had been taking good care of my fingers and nails for the exam and Taso's preparation on the day before was perfect, so I was excited while I was queueing up the line with Taso to get inside of the site. All the couples were the same - one was carrying about two big bags on one's shoulders and the other was having red nails and wearing sort of black outfits to make the nails appear more beautiful. Among those models, there were lots of red nailed men. I guessed they were boyfriends and husbands.
The site was huge and there were exam ID numbers of the beginngers in the 900s on the sign. So the examinees and the models made more than 1,800 people and they were all gathered for the day. I think that's astonishing. All those people was doing the same things at the same time...fun!
I was amazed by Taso's effort in those few weeks.
She was practising so hard between her works and she made me want to do as much as I could to help her. I applaud for Taso who overcame extreme strain and pulled it off!
A person who can make an untiring effort is shining.
☆
After the exam, we had very late lunch.
It took quite some time as Taso had a paper exam and the Osaka Bay area was away from the central, so it was around half two when we could finally make a toast.
We don't know why but for some reasons, we always eat at Italian place. So this time, again we ended up in an Italian restaurant. Our empty stomachs were too empty to feel empty, but mozzarella cheese and tomato salad went smoothly down in our stomachs and other Italian dishes with full of garlic and olive oils. We talked about many things over drinks.
Taso was released from tension and happily sending texts to her boyfriend and her nail art teacher. She looked very happy.
After lunch, we went to a shop specialising in nail art products. On the way home, we had chè at Vietnamese restaurant.
Chè is Vietnamese sweet soup normally served with different kinds of toppings such as sweet beans and fruits with coconut milk. It's very colourful and kawaii dessert. This time we had one chilled and with shaved ice on top.
While I was looking at chè, I couldn't help saying "Isn't this perfect for nail art design?". Taso was laughing, saying "Yes, everything makes me think about nail designs." I agree with her a lot. Once you start designing something, you can't help seeing everything from the creator's point if view.
It was sprinkling a little bit and Osaka was having a cloudy sky, but dusk was very quiet. The Vietnamese restaurant's nostalgic interior decoration helped me feeling tranquil. I enjoyed casual conversation with Taso who was completely relaxed by the time.
Her effort made me think that I will do my best with what I do. She gave me lots of energy.
Thank you Taso. Let's go to have chè again.
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| チェー大好き！ I like chè a lot! |