Does anyone else feel like something they are anticipating is going to be so exciting and different and have sparkles just hanging in the air announcing that THIS is what you have been waiting for for so long? I do. Especially birthdays and trips. I gave up on birthdays a long time ago. Waking up to a day just like any other is just a mite dissappointing when it's supposed to be the greatest day of the year.
And Japan is pretty cool...But there are no sparkles in the air. I could have gotten on a plane and flown around in circles for 10 hours while they moved in a bunch of Japanese people. I am not endlessly happy and healthy. The walls of this house are made of the same thing as everywhere else. I wake up in the morning and stare at the curtains, willing them to be made of sugar or be slightly glowing. But they're not, they're just mustard colored. And I still have trouble getting to sleep some nights, just like home. You'd think that on a magic trip, sleep would be easy, once you finally got to bed. My host people annoy me sometimes, which also shouldn't happen in a perfect world.
However, the food is very very good, pretty much all the time. Sometimes it's not even so different, but it is made by different people, which makes it infinitely different. It's fun to see things whose uses remain anonymous behind the language barrier.
I was watching tv today, because I am confined to the house for the afternoon, and the people on were insane. And I think I saw snipets of at least three different shows. It might have been for kids, which would explain parts of the weirdness. And the whole not understanding what they were saying I suppose.
This evening, we're going to a memorial service. I'm a little scared about the memorial service, we are just going for 30 minutes or so. I'm not quite sure why we're going. I hope it's not just so that we can observe a Japanese memorial. The lady who died was the grandmother of the man who is trying to help us get cell phones. He was here on the night she dies, but I think she finally did die after he left. I hope so, it would suck to know that you're grandmother died while you were trying to help a couple of picky foreigners get impossible cell phone plans. (Hey, one word they actually use Japanese for, keitai denwa, amazing!) Then after the service, we're going to a sushi bar...talk about killing the mood? And then we'll go see some other girls and plan a trip to Shibuya for tomorrow.
I have decided that my cold will be over by tomorrow. And it had better. I'm really tired of them trying to force feed me medicine and telling me that if I take a shower, I will get worse. And then hitting me, while I'm sick!! I won't complain too much it they pat backsreally hard while I'm healthy, but I really don't like it when I'm sick. And bowing really aggrivates a headache... We were talking about body temperature, I really don't remember why, and they think that 98.6 (37.5) is abnormally high. They say it should be around 35. Now, am I insane? Conny agrees with me, and it's more than one person here who has commented (Okaasan seems to tell everyone EVERYTHING about us). How is this possible? It's shouldn't be possible. I am really confused. But how could some people have a way lower regular temperature. And it doesn't seem likely that that many people are just mistaken.. yes, oh confusion.
21.2.04
I have a cold!! :'(((( I have slept most of the day because of it. Now I just can not bear the thought of sleeping any more. So I will write something for you!
More different things...
Cars must stop one to two car-lengths back from the traffic lights because the roads are so narrow that even regular cars need the extra room when turning.
No garbage can in the kitchen, is this normal?
So yesterday I spent my first time "shopping." We wanted to explore, but as we have discovered, if we do not have a specific place and a specific task in mind, we get one quick. We said we were going to go exploring, and then Otousan was telling us about this shopping mall that is only two stops away on the subway. And then he had decided that that's where we were going...yeah, his English is okay, but not good enough to refute things like that. So we went, promising to get some French bread while we were there.
They told us how to find the bread store, but they didn't tell us that it would be nestled in a basement full of all sorts of goodies. There must have been 25 stands of goodies just asking us to eat them. Most of them looked pretty French. There was lots of strawberry-topped cake!!! So I had to haul Conny through it all so we could get what we came for. As it was, later we bought four different pieces of cake to bring back with us for dinner. And a couple of donut goodies to eat right away!!
So after that, we escaped to do some real shopping. Except everything was way expensive!! So we just wandered around, looked at the crazy shoes, and lamented over the slain bunnies. The shoes are INSANE! All I can say is that they like color, a lot, and all together. All of them had pointy pointy toes, small heals, and were covered with stripes of rainbow, metallic, and patterned color. And some of them had strings of bells to go along with. It was okay that they were way expensive, because I didn't want to buy any. And we couldn't figure out if we could touch them or not. The salespeople kept saying "irashaimase" and there was a different one every 10 feet or so. When they muttered something at us, we didn't understand. Anyway...
The other stuff was mostly okay, with a little splash of WAY GARISH intersperced at regular intervals. They had a whole section of bright green purses. I guess it's a brand or something?? When they take to something, they take to it hard!!
And then there was the rack of fur stoles. At least half of them had to be real, and I don't know about the other half. And they were marked 50% off. That's the worth of life these days. So we petted them and murmured to them for about five minutes.
Yo, gotta taberu (eat).
More different things...
Cars must stop one to two car-lengths back from the traffic lights because the roads are so narrow that even regular cars need the extra room when turning.
No garbage can in the kitchen, is this normal?
So yesterday I spent my first time "shopping." We wanted to explore, but as we have discovered, if we do not have a specific place and a specific task in mind, we get one quick. We said we were going to go exploring, and then Otousan was telling us about this shopping mall that is only two stops away on the subway. And then he had decided that that's where we were going...yeah, his English is okay, but not good enough to refute things like that. So we went, promising to get some French bread while we were there.
They told us how to find the bread store, but they didn't tell us that it would be nestled in a basement full of all sorts of goodies. There must have been 25 stands of goodies just asking us to eat them. Most of them looked pretty French. There was lots of strawberry-topped cake!!! So I had to haul Conny through it all so we could get what we came for. As it was, later we bought four different pieces of cake to bring back with us for dinner. And a couple of donut goodies to eat right away!!
So after that, we escaped to do some real shopping. Except everything was way expensive!! So we just wandered around, looked at the crazy shoes, and lamented over the slain bunnies. The shoes are INSANE! All I can say is that they like color, a lot, and all together. All of them had pointy pointy toes, small heals, and were covered with stripes of rainbow, metallic, and patterned color. And some of them had strings of bells to go along with. It was okay that they were way expensive, because I didn't want to buy any. And we couldn't figure out if we could touch them or not. The salespeople kept saying "irashaimase" and there was a different one every 10 feet or so. When they muttered something at us, we didn't understand. Anyway...
The other stuff was mostly okay, with a little splash of WAY GARISH intersperced at regular intervals. They had a whole section of bright green purses. I guess it's a brand or something?? When they take to something, they take to it hard!!
And then there was the rack of fur stoles. At least half of them had to be real, and I don't know about the other half. And they were marked 50% off. That's the worth of life these days. So we petted them and murmured to them for about five minutes.
Yo, gotta taberu (eat).
19.2.04
Things that are slightly, or even very, different about Japan:
There are fire hydrant signs, but that doesn't make it any easier to find the fire hydrants.
Even cars beep when they back up.
You don't have to wear your seatbelt in the back seat.
No street addresses!
Bigger rear view mirrors.
No central heating in the houses.
TV programs start at odd times.
Buttons on the keyboard are not always what they appear.
That's all I can think of right now, but I'll keep you updated.
Okay, what have I done lately? On Thursday Okaasan took us to Minka En. There are about 20-25 old style houses on display. The big ones of the nobility, not common peoples' houses. But there were houses from all sorts periods and locations around Japan. It was kind of peaceful there, like Hobbiton or something. There was even one house with a circular doorway! Bery bery cool. We had some dango san kyoudai there too. Pretty yummy, if hard to eat. Had to sing the song of course. Sometimes I wonder if they think that we came here knowing nothing about Japan, they are always so surprised when we do know anything.
Later we took our first trip to a hyaku en store. A 100 yen store. It was interesting, but there wasn't a whole lot that I wanted to buy. There was a bunch of stuff that I will definitely get before I start classes though. Fun Japanese paper, pens, and utensils. Fun fun. Then I tried my Visa card for the first time, and it didn't work. But at least I was just trying it for fun. I've got to figure out what went wrong, we were in a hurry, so I wasn't paying attention.
Then we went to the Kawasaki Community Center and watched someone receive Gohonzon. Then we were in the picture. I don't quite know why they wanted us in the picture, it was more on a intimate ceremony than in the U.S. Well, I don't want to know, I wish I didn't know. Right.
Yesterday we had a quite day at home, mostly. I slept until almost 11. Then we took Rano the dog for a walk. It was a long walk, and we got lost a little, but only a little. He's an old dog, so he had some trouble going up and down stairs. It was kind scary. Mostly he would trot along like a puppy, but when we came to stairs, his back feet would miss and he would stumble. He actually fell once, but I was behind him to catch him. Scariness.
Then we separated again to go to a block meeting. Block equates to Group, but with twice or three times the number as I'm used to. There was a guy there who lived in the U.S. for 26 years, longer than me. So he translated for me. They were very interested in SUA. For the people who almost single-handedly financially support SUA, they certainly don't know much about it. The Mizunos didn't even know that there was a graduate school.
Oh yeah, and Okaasan had me wear a sunflower, the symbol of the current Komeito candidate. We're a little nervous about a religious organization mandating voting for one party. Okay, a lot nervous. So we asked what the Komeito poplicy is. They said peace. So we were like...how? And they didn't have too much of an answer. They were focused on peace in Iraq. But I don't know what that means for Domestic policy. From what I've heard, it sounds very conservative to me, which I don't agree with. Otousan said that most parties lie, and this one doesn't, so they are the best. But to me, if they tell the truth about doing something I don't agree with, that's still bad. Anyway, it seems very like SUA to me. High ideals with very little in the way of concrete policies that are going to make it happen.
There are fire hydrant signs, but that doesn't make it any easier to find the fire hydrants.
Even cars beep when they back up.
You don't have to wear your seatbelt in the back seat.
No street addresses!
Bigger rear view mirrors.
No central heating in the houses.
TV programs start at odd times.
Buttons on the keyboard are not always what they appear.
That's all I can think of right now, but I'll keep you updated.
Okay, what have I done lately? On Thursday Okaasan took us to Minka En. There are about 20-25 old style houses on display. The big ones of the nobility, not common peoples' houses. But there were houses from all sorts periods and locations around Japan. It was kind of peaceful there, like Hobbiton or something. There was even one house with a circular doorway! Bery bery cool. We had some dango san kyoudai there too. Pretty yummy, if hard to eat. Had to sing the song of course. Sometimes I wonder if they think that we came here knowing nothing about Japan, they are always so surprised when we do know anything.
Later we took our first trip to a hyaku en store. A 100 yen store. It was interesting, but there wasn't a whole lot that I wanted to buy. There was a bunch of stuff that I will definitely get before I start classes though. Fun Japanese paper, pens, and utensils. Fun fun. Then I tried my Visa card for the first time, and it didn't work. But at least I was just trying it for fun. I've got to figure out what went wrong, we were in a hurry, so I wasn't paying attention.
Then we went to the Kawasaki Community Center and watched someone receive Gohonzon. Then we were in the picture. I don't quite know why they wanted us in the picture, it was more on a intimate ceremony than in the U.S. Well, I don't want to know, I wish I didn't know. Right.
Yesterday we had a quite day at home, mostly. I slept until almost 11. Then we took Rano the dog for a walk. It was a long walk, and we got lost a little, but only a little. He's an old dog, so he had some trouble going up and down stairs. It was kind scary. Mostly he would trot along like a puppy, but when we came to stairs, his back feet would miss and he would stumble. He actually fell once, but I was behind him to catch him. Scariness.
Then we separated again to go to a block meeting. Block equates to Group, but with twice or three times the number as I'm used to. There was a guy there who lived in the U.S. for 26 years, longer than me. So he translated for me. They were very interested in SUA. For the people who almost single-handedly financially support SUA, they certainly don't know much about it. The Mizunos didn't even know that there was a graduate school.
Oh yeah, and Okaasan had me wear a sunflower, the symbol of the current Komeito candidate. We're a little nervous about a religious organization mandating voting for one party. Okay, a lot nervous. So we asked what the Komeito poplicy is. They said peace. So we were like...how? And they didn't have too much of an answer. They were focused on peace in Iraq. But I don't know what that means for Domestic policy. From what I've heard, it sounds very conservative to me, which I don't agree with. Otousan said that most parties lie, and this one doesn't, so they are the best. But to me, if they tell the truth about doing something I don't agree with, that's still bad. Anyway, it seems very like SUA to me. High ideals with very little in the way of concrete policies that are going to make it happen.
17.2.04
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.
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.
15.2.04
Eek, I dropped the ball the last couple days. It's hard to find time to write when I just want to go to sleep!! But now, hopefully, I all better.
Okay, so the day before yesterday, we went to see Grace, who is living with her aunt in Shinanomachi. First we went to an international SGI meeting held in English and there were about 5 people there from Seattle. It was really funny. One I hadn't met, but I met him now. He asked a really good question, so I think he's a good guy. I was really weird to be at a meeting in Japan and have to have an interpreter for the visiting Japanese guy. Weird. But it was a good meeting I think. Naoki was there, which was kind of weird, but I didn't know if I made it weird because of what she did and is doing, or if she was really trying to do it to me.
Anyway, then we went to Grace's house. That is the smallest house I have ever seen! And it holds two people and a cat. I'm not quite sure how. But it was good to see her again and talk to her. She had a really hard time when she first got here because no one around her speaks English. And now her husband has found some tumors that could turn cancerous eventually. She is not having an easy time of it!
Yesterday we went to district meetings and they held a welcome party for us. At least at the district meeting I went to, I know Maju's parents, but Conny didn't know anyone. Then I had lunch with Maju's parents, and they showed me a picture album from their trip to England 10 years ago. Maju was soooo cute and young looking! That was fun, they are very nice people and are missing her very much.
And then the party was a bunch of people we didn't know, very few of them who spoke any kind of English. Not that they would let us speak Japanese mind you. But it was interesting. I gave a rubber-duck Ichiro thing that I got at the airport to a junior high student who loves baseball. I think he liked it a lot, which I don't quite understand, but who cares.
Today we might go to a art exhibition and then a Chinese restaurant managed by the mizuno's daughter-in-law's friend. Got that. Should be fun...
Okay, so the day before yesterday, we went to see Grace, who is living with her aunt in Shinanomachi. First we went to an international SGI meeting held in English and there were about 5 people there from Seattle. It was really funny. One I hadn't met, but I met him now. He asked a really good question, so I think he's a good guy. I was really weird to be at a meeting in Japan and have to have an interpreter for the visiting Japanese guy. Weird. But it was a good meeting I think. Naoki was there, which was kind of weird, but I didn't know if I made it weird because of what she did and is doing, or if she was really trying to do it to me.
Anyway, then we went to Grace's house. That is the smallest house I have ever seen! And it holds two people and a cat. I'm not quite sure how. But it was good to see her again and talk to her. She had a really hard time when she first got here because no one around her speaks English. And now her husband has found some tumors that could turn cancerous eventually. She is not having an easy time of it!
Yesterday we went to district meetings and they held a welcome party for us. At least at the district meeting I went to, I know Maju's parents, but Conny didn't know anyone. Then I had lunch with Maju's parents, and they showed me a picture album from their trip to England 10 years ago. Maju was soooo cute and young looking! That was fun, they are very nice people and are missing her very much.
And then the party was a bunch of people we didn't know, very few of them who spoke any kind of English. Not that they would let us speak Japanese mind you. But it was interesting. I gave a rubber-duck Ichiro thing that I got at the airport to a junior high student who loves baseball. I think he liked it a lot, which I don't quite understand, but who cares.
Today we might go to a art exhibition and then a Chinese restaurant managed by the mizuno's daughter-in-law's friend. Got that. Should be fun...
