Friday September 26, 1997: 10:40pm
Hey today I got a second bank account! Well, I guess that in order to deposit my salary directly into an account, I can't have a post-office account. Anyways, I went with Nakamura-san to the bank, and for the very first time she spoke English to me! I was so surprised! See, everyone kept on telling me how she's studying English, and how good she is - but she has never, not once, ever spoken a word of English in front of any of us English-speaking people, no matter HOW confused we were. But today I just *couldn't* understand what she was trying to tell me in Japanese - and wow, her English is so good - I was really impressed.
And tonight I've been bumming around trying to cure myself of this cold and chin-thing. Tonight was Behera-san's farewell party, but I couldn't go because I wasn't feeling so hot and I've had this cold long enough. Ok, time to sleep.
Saturday September 27, 1997: midnight
Well now I'm afraid to write too much in this journal in case I may have to spend 8 hours typing it all in, like today. Some of Jason's mom's wisdom to keep in mind [hi Jason's mom!]... I seem to recall she had something really smart to tell him when HE got behind. Ah well.
Other than that, I watched "Back to the Future 2" today - I almost missed it! *whew*. Tomorrow I plan to take it eeeasy again - I have 3 weeks of Japanese to do (take it easy?!?) so I assume that'll take up most of my time!
Sunday September 28, 1997: 4:30pm
Well cool, I just met a neighbour. I mean, really MET a neighbour. I was just getting back from a small grocery shop, and was heading up the stairs when I saw a guy locking up his apartment. We just said "hi!", but a few hours later my doorbell rang, and it was him. He thought I was new - see, I really DON'T see the neighbours a lot! Anyways, he had come around to see if I'd like to borrow "Breakfast at Tiffany's" - since it's a good movie, in English, and he happened to have borrowed it from his office. Cool! Too bad I don't ... have a VCR. Ah well. So we chatted for awhile, in English, cuz his English is really quite good. Name's Jun and he works for General ELectric, I think. He seems really nice. He asked if I'd like to hang out tonight, but I _really_ have to study some Japanese (having procrastinated the rest of the day away already), so maybe another time.
Monday September 29, 1997: 9:30am
I got dizzy looking at the clouds this morning. I love it when that happens!
Ah yes, I could see Fuji-san. First time since the climb. It never ceases to shock me - how big it is compared to the other mountains! I can't believe we climbed the thing in a dang typhoon. Sheesh.
Ok, I don't know the exact date of Thanksgiving, but my taste buds tell me that I haven't had pumpkin pie in a long time, which can only mean one thing. Thanksgiving is soon. I can hear the pumpkins being stalked all the way over here. Man, what *am* I going to do... no cottage and no pumpkin pie this year. It's debateable whether or not those 2 things alone are worth the airfare home for a weekend! Ok ok, I guess it's not, but this is PUMPKIN PIE we're talking about here. Sheesh, what am I gonna do?
But speaking of Thanksgiving - it was positively COOL out this morning - in the sunshine! Next thing ya know the leaves'll change colour too!
Tuesday September 30, 1997: 10pm
Frost on the car windows this morning. Or dew. Dunno, but whatever it was told me it's COLD out! Ok, not cold (cold is Ottawa in January) but a bit chilly. When I left for my run, I contemplated going going back into the apartment to get into pants. But, I couldn't do that cuz it'd be breaking one of my running rules (no pants over 12C).
Oh so now I've told both my Japanese teachers about the Mt. Fuji experience and they think I'm crazy! *I* think I'm crazy! Coincidence? I think not...
Wednesday October 1, 1997: 11pm
October?!? Did I really just write down October? Wah, time really flies around here.
Fluorescent pink sky this morning - very cool. Didn't get dizzy from staring at the clouds but I saw spots for a good 5 minutes from gazing at the sun too long. Ah, for a good cause -
I didn't have calligraphy tonight becaues sensei called me on Sunday (at 8am! That's like - a grandmother timme to call!) and said that she had something (I didn't catch WHAT because I was just a *tad* groggy from being woken up.. & my Japanese understanding isn't too hot when my brain's not turned on yet) and lessons were cancelled this week. Okedokee, well that's fine because I started a book on Monday night and now all I want to do is read it until I'm finished. So that's what I've been doing - reading. It's a great book - "The Robber Bride" by Margaret Atwood. Woah, but the main character is just - well, so WICKED. I can't believe how evil she is, it's incredible.
I watched that funny show again - the one with the outhouse skits last week. This week was pretty funny too - although it didn't have any pranks like that - I guess it's a comedy show and they change the format each week.
They had a squid race in this one. No, seriously! Squid! They had a long pool - lanes for each squid - set them loose - and everyone was cheering them on. I couldn't believe my eyes, it was so silly - so funny! Time for sleep.
Thursday October 2, 1997: 11pm
Ah, finished "The Robber Bride". Good, it had quite the satisfying ending - I just can't take it when things don't work out RIGHT in the end, ya know? That's probably why I don't like sad movies.
I think I am really going to have to get my bike tire fixed. It's had a hole in it since - oh - mid June - I've just been repumping the tire when it gets flat - about every 2 days. No, really. But lately they just won't pump up, not even for the day... so I think that can only mean one thing - get a new tire Alexa!
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