January 29

It was a kind of interesting day today. Okaasan gave me a hardboiled egg in an egg holder with the rest of my breakfast and I was kind of confused as to how to eat it since the last time I had a hard-boiled egg was in my childhood on Easter. Eating it by hand (as I had as a kid) seemed to contradict the use of the dish, so I was a bit confused and okaasan had a motherly concern fit over me not knowing how to eat it and worrying that I wouldn’t like hard-boiled eggs. It was all fine though. Okaasan told me the dish was from South Africa. She has some interesting dishes.... I got off to a late start, so I had to run-ish to the chikatetsu. I got an “ohayou gozaimasu” from an ojiisan on the way though, so I was feeling pretty personable.

Today’s Japanese lesson was in the long four-part format. The first section was in the listening lab and we had to record ourselves on 1965 cassette recorders. It was entertaining, but humiliating. I’m constantly surprised by Japan.... Luckily, class went surprisingly fast and Tsuda Sensei is fast becoming a favorite. She tends to speak very slowly and say “ja-a-a,” which bothers me, but lately she’s been revealing herself to be an entertaining sensei. I guess you could compare her with State’s Ueda Sensei, but with a bit less hyperactivity.

I went to Valor with Keily for lunch and got bento and croquets (of course). On the way back, we climbed a hill with a 25% grade. It was worth it though, lunch was delicious and cheap; even better than Lawson’s.

After lunch, I decided to go home, but on the way to the eki, I decided to take a detour. My friend had told me the Justco (giant mall) and toysrus (which probably has cute Japanese things in it) were just down the street from the eki, so I set out in search. I found the toysrus, but not the Justco. I also found a cemetery (with shrines) and saw a Japanese hearse. Japanese hearses are like El Camino's with shrines in the bed (instead of the plain covered ones in the US). They are much more ornate than American ones. Tomorrow, I will see if any of my classmates will go with me to investigate the cemetery and shopping stores further.

I went home around three so I could have time to pick up my gaikokujin card and I happened to be coming back just as the elementary students were getting free of class. I followed (and was followed by) a ton of uniformed, hat-wearing, giant bag-carrying kids. I wanted to take a picture, but I figured it might be frowned upon. All along the way from the eki to the neighborhood, there were ojiisan directing the kids. I felt a bit silly walking with them, as if I needed directing too.

I finally gave okaasan her present today, but she said something about my room, so I think she already saw it. Oh well. She seemed happy to receive it.

Soon after, we went to the ward’s office to pick up my foreign resident card. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I can’t speak Japanese. I understand most of the things people are saying now, but I can’t speak back and many times I can’t fully understand what I’m hearing and only pick up on the words, not the meaning. I feel so stupid when they resort to English or I have to rely on okaasan to help me out. I feel like she’s a bit embarrassed to be in public with me because my abilities are so limited. I’m not quite sure what I should do or can do....

We had delicious dinner again today. Okaasan made mega chicken, but unlike the cafeteria, (where it was fried chicken with thick miso sauce) it was really delicious! The chicken was breaded and had what may have been miso sauce, but it wasn’t sweet (which would have been a down side) like the mega chicken at school. It also had scallions on it too, which is great. We also had a pot of tofu, small mushrooms, and some kind of green (maybe that tall cabbage/lettuce I always see in America). Otousan made me try squid, and it wasn’t bad, but it was tough, so I didn’t want any more. When we were finished, otousan asked me which I liked best of fish, chicken, beef, and pork. I surprised ryoushin with my answer (which matches the way I wrote it above). Okaasan at least thought fish would be my last. She asked me also which of the dishes she had made that I liked, and I told her the truth; all of them. She didn’t believe me, but I said hounto ni about five times because I wanted her to know it was true. She had been worrying all the time that I would not like her cooking.

I hope I can find the ingredients in the grocery store (and use a gas oven) to make brownies for ryoushin, because while okaasan feigns a lack of sweet tooth, I’m pretty sure she likes sweets as much as me.

After dinner, I heard the music from the trucks I always hear at home and around the city near Nanzan. I finally got to ask otousan what it was before it went away, and he laughed when he told me. It’s a Japanese song (not French, as I had thought) about snow falling and it’s coming from a truck that sells kerosene (for all the freaking space heaters). I don’t know though, it sounds a lot like the (French Children's) song in the animation show. Yes, Dad, this is the equivalent of your rags man (or the freezer ice cube man), but with a gas-carrying truck instead of a horse-drawn wagon.

P.S. I think I’ve figured out another reverse-culture shock I will have when I return to the States; heavy people. There aren’t many here (percentage wise) and/or those who are heavy are good at hiding it.

Also; general cleanliness. I have rarely seen trash on the ground (cigarette butts if anything) and there’s a general feeling of slightly more cleanliness in public places as compared to the US. Cars are small and cubic, the train is really quiet, and there aren’t people yelling on the streets (except the store owners). People are well-dressed, etc.

P.P.S. I think I’m beginning to consciously miss my friends. This is dangerous since it’s only been three weeks. Maybe if I think of this like summer vacation (eight weeks), I can hold out (on thinking crazy thoughts) until March at least.

And; Japanese people often ask what clubs I was in at my University in the States and what my hobbies are, and I find it really hard to answer. I wasn’t really in any clubs because I was always working on my Chem. E homework. I was part of AICHE, and tried to attend the Chinese Club meetings, but really, I haven’t much to say of them. When it comes to my hobbies, I really don’t know what to say, since I have so many but I don’t do them very often. I don’t do art much anymore (though I haven’t given it up), I haven’t played much violin recently, I’ve only snowboarded twice, I don’t skateboard enough to even mention, I only drive (interestingly) at auto-x (and not even my own car, thank you to the car owner for letting me), watching movies and listening to music are things everyone does (so I don’t think they count as hobbies), I don’t sew often, and learning about Japan would be a bad thing to mention because my language skills are horrible and my knowledge of the country is no better than the average person. Therefore; I never know how to answer Japanese people.

P.P.P.S. A few days ago I had a craving for bacon and a milkshake.