January 12

Today is 政治の日 (せいじのひ). Those who will turn twenty this year are celebrating their coming ability to smoke, drink, and gamble. Since it is a national holiday, the ward’s office is closed (so I will have to wait until Wednesday to register as an alien, get health insurance, a re-entry permit, and an “application for certification of information recorded on foreign resident registration.” Yes, that is the actual name of the document. Remember, Japan is the nation that introduced me to the “application for eligibility” for my visa application (application for eligibility for another application).

This morning, I woke up around seven (big surprise) and we had breakfast of; tea (I still have to work up the courage to ask for the milk), 卵 (poached), りんご, and 固いパン. I liked the 固いパン though, especially with orange jam. My host family is always trying to feed me more, which I find a little strange since they are Japanese, but I am happy for it.

After breakfast, お母さん tried to show me how to use the washing machine (behind the kitchen), but in the end, she decided to explain to me when I decide to use it. Later today, we will be going to get my commuter pass. My family will help me navigate the 地下鉄 (thank you thank you thank you) so I can get to class on time. By the way, if the trains or subways go on strike, class is canceled. woo

My host family is being very accommodating, even with speaking Japanese; they will only switch to English on occasion or when I don’t understand.

I’m really having fun now that I am with my host family. We went to the 電車駅 where I got my (very expensive) commuter pass. Between the time that my host parents got the form for the pass and the time we actually went to the 駅, there was a new form to be filled out instead. I was short 10000円, so お母さん lent it to me, but I felt horrible. お母さん didn’t even say anything about it. Since today is a national holiday, I can not go to the post office to cash my check and return the favor until tomorrow. I have to take two trains to school and three trains back. Luckily, I can find my way to the station, so it’s less of a worry because I don’t have so many doubts about the trip to school, only the one back. After おくつおかあさん showed me the way to 南山 (so close to 名古屋大学!) we visited her friend, whose name I can’t remember. She fed us tea (I put milk in it this time!, but too much...), おかし, もち (fried and wrapped in のり, so I could stomach it), and green tea. We watched CNN in English (Oh my gosh!) and learned about the inauguration. 中村さん lived in South Africa when お母さん did. She has two cats, one of which is ナナちゃん and both of which are not very interested in people. おかあさんの friend lent me a cardigan because I was wearing short sleeves under my jacket. She wouldn’t let me give it back though after. I’m not sure what to do now.

Afterward, we went grocery shopping and walked home. I did one more walk to the 駅 by myself to make sure I could do it tomorrow. On the way, I took lots of pictures of the neighborhood. Japanese homes are so pretty, though old! When I got back, we watched Obama (spoken in Japanese by a female anchorperson) and I mapped out the 地下鉄。 Dinner was delicious (and super-filling). We had vegetable miso, grilled (basil?) fish, rice (I love it!), spinach, and a root I can not remember the name of. For dessert, we had ice cream. :D Now, we are watching drama!