This new setup is throwing me off...

Okay, Question of the day: How the heck am I supposed to remember all these darn names? Grace said it's important to remember names, but the only ones I remember are Okaasan and Otousan. And half of them I never heard well in the first place. Like tonight. There is this cute kid. His name is K--Kun. That's all I can remember. And it's not good because he is Okaasan's great-nephew. It will work out as long as I only speak when spoken too, as I do now because I can't figure out how to say anything I would like to. But when I can speak a little, which will happen hopefully, I don't know what I'll do...

Stuff you can learn even when you don't speak the same language: Okaasan and Otousan used to dance in competitions, and Otousan has a license to teach social dance; Otousan was a flight engineer, whatever that is, and just retired 2 years ago; they have 3 sons living in Tokyo and Hokkaido; Okaasan is so busy with SGI activities that she doesn't even have time to eat, literally; Japanese people are amazed that I can do gongyo and chant; it's been Okaasan's dream to host an SUA student; Maju's mom is her "boss."

Is simplifying the truth for the sake of communication okay?

So we did go to the art museum. We saw Higashiyama something. I just remember the one name because it's East and Mountain. Helpful to have that picture in your head. He's apparently one of the most well-known artists in Japan, or was. His paintings are supposed to bring across peace. They're kind of nice, but I don't see why he is considered one of the best. There were a couple of horses that looked like a talented 10-year-old girl who is obsessed with horses drew it. Oh well, one point where east and west opinion differ. Unless I'm just off my rocker and he really is the greatest painter ever to live. I think Conny agrees with me.

Today we went to Shinanomachi with Okaasan and Otousan to see a high mucky-muck in the SGI. We wanted to give him letters to give to President Ikeda. When the idea first came up, I was all ready to write a really long and involved letter describing everything I've been feeling for 20 years of existence. But when I sat down to write it, it took me a hour just to get started. Given, I was watching TV at the time, but it was Japanese TV, and I had no idea what was going on. But I wrote a letter, even though it seemed silly to give it to him. So anyway, we met with Mr. Fukase, the head of the Seikyo Shimbun, the SGI newspaper, because is a close friend of President Ikeda's(?) It was sooooo horrible, because we didn't understand what he was saying. I got a little bit of it, but there were times when we just had to change the subject. To make a long, boring conversation short, we mentioned that Grace was going to talk to Mr. Suda tomorrow and he called the guy up and gave is back our letters to give to Mr. Suda. Who knows? Okaasan and Otousan seemed to think he would be the best one to give it to. So we went to the SGI Headquarters to see Mr. Suda. He mumbles. I couldn't get any of what he said. He finally had to call an interpreter. But he was nice. He reminds me of Ed Feasel, very laid back and kind of a big man. He remembered Conny from a year ago too! We had some confusion with me going to Hokkaido and also wanting to go to a Headquarters meeting, but we'll email Hiro and hopefully get it figured out.

So with the extra trip, we were a little late getting back, but we did manage to get back in time for me to get picked up for another district meeting. It was at Okaasan's younger sister's house. Her and her daughter picked me up. The daughter, see? can't remember her name..., is 26 I think and has a 1-year-old son. Except I think she would be at home on the Soka campus. She's still very young and girly. Eh? She also has a sister, and later, I think we're all going to go to Shibuya together. They're really nice, and I think more real than Okaasan and Otousan. Not that they are insincere, but I think I could have more straight FUN with the others. They are less serious and intense. Anyway, gave my spiel in Japanese again, starred off into space while they had their meeting again. Was in another picture. All in all, a full day.

Tired of reading? I'm tired of writing.