09/04 The third week Like I said, weeks are crazy. Sunday we went apartment hunting, which actually just consisted of going to this person and talking to her. Nora and James had already done everything else, and then she ended up having an extra apartment in their building, so we're all living together on the first floor. She took us there (we rode in a car!) and we looked around. It's itsy bitsy, with a little hallway/kitchen, bathroom, closet and then room which = bedroom/living room/study. So a studio. But a really small studio. I'm going to get a futon that I can sleep on so at least that won't be a problem. Because the mattress takes up about half of the room. Anyway, there is airconditioning at least, and a bath because those are sort of a big thing in Japan. And the rent is reasonable. And the land-lady seems really nice. Only problem: we aren't allowed to play instruments in the apartment. This is a problem for me. But I can always just sit on my porch and play. That shouldn't be a violation, right? Anyway, she wanted us to sign on friday, but they don't take credit cards and none of us could get the money, so we postponed the meeting until next Friday. I shouldn't have a problem because Mom contacted Bank of America for me and they upped my withdrawl limit, so all should be good. Monday was alright. You know, typical Monday. Classes, which I didn't want to go to, and then another private meeting with my teacher to discuss my project. That went alright, I guess. We got our tests back. Scores were dismal. I am killing myself working for this class, I spend hours everyday, yet I'm having such a hard time. And I'm really worried, because it counts in my GPA. Goodbye good GPA after this. No way am I getting an A. Hopefully I can manage a B. It's super stressful and I just don't want to worry about it. I want to enjoy Japan. But as it is, I'm constantly struggling to do well in these classes. Tuesday was a little better. It's always better on days when we have nishiwaki for two hours instead of matsumoto. She's just more fun. Then we went to the tea ceremony in the afternoon. We had to sit on our knees, which is painful, and eat sickly sweet candies and very bitter green tea. I decided that I will not be making a study of traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. Then I spent the evening studying for a vocab quiz. Wednesday was Kim's 20th birthday, which is a big deal in Japan. Actually, it's the most important birthday that they have. It's when you become an adult in all manners. Class was fun. For the first hour we watched Spirited Away because we have a field trip next week to see some of the buildings that the drawings were modeled off of. There was also a solar eclipse during class, so we all got to run outside to see it. Pretty amazing, actually. After class, James and I snuck up to the station to get things to make pancakes for dinner and then to pick up a cake that we ordered on Monday and to pick out some champagne. I let James do that, because I had no idea how. Also my foot was bleeding and I had to go clean it. Another bike incident. I think it's funny that I have never been in a bike crash, and then I have two in the same week. It's just getting used to a new bike. Then we got a call from Nora, saying she was at Mitaka but had lost her wallet. So we biked over there to find her, but she wasn't there. We couldn't contact her, so we waited a while. Eventually she answered, said that she didn't need help anymore. So we went home again. Snuck the cake in, and studied for a while (grammar, kanji, and speech the next day) and then made pancakes, had a birthday party etc. Thursday class was so painful, but we got through it. We had two quizzes and a speech. I think the speech went better than last time, but who can really be sure? Then we realized that we had very little homework, and were super happy. We went and got our alien registration cards. Mine has a horrible picture, but at least it looks sort of like me and says that I can live here legally. I had to take the photo in the booth there, and I just look sort of stunned and unhappy and sweaty. We got lunch at a sobaya there, and it was pretty delicious. We came home and did the little work that we did have. We made stuffed tomatoes and watched 30rock and just had a really fun relaxing time. Friday after class we went to zen meditation at this buddhist temple. I am never becoming buddhist. Too much sitting and thinking. And then we had to eat dinner in a very fancy way that was so unfortunate. Like, bowing to everyone, eating by holding everything with only two fingers and a thumb. And I just can't do it! So horrible. Then you know, you have to eat everything. So I had to eat tofu and eggplant and beans (two kinds). I made myself swallow everything, but I was so not enjoying it. Everyone else liked it though, so that was good. In the evening, we all crowded into Victor's room (kim, james, nora, me, victor, hideki, kotaro, miho, and then later jack, john, and evan) and watched accepted and they drank and we talked and it was super pleasant. We went to bed at about 12, and then James and I got up and make pancakes this morning for us, kim, patrick, and victor. Did some homework, and now I'm thinking of going out to find a used guitar. Also I need to get a belt. I can't maintain my weight here, and now all my pants are falling off all the time. So a nice classy brown leather belt that I can wear everywhere.	main January 2010 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 April 2009 March 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 email