February 23

Today, I made my own breakfast. Okaasan had asked me how I wanted my eggs and I said anything was fine, but she wanted an answer, so I said scrambled, but she said she didn’t know how (or what?) and thinks it is best done with lots of eggs, so I offered to do it myself, but she assured me she would do it. Then, I’m not sure if she said she would show me how she cooks or if she was asking me to show her how I make scrambled eggs, but I did and she told me I had made tamagoyaki, because (having used a large pan) the eggs spread out like a crepe and weren’t puffy. According to okaasan, Japanese people think the puffier scrambled eggs are, the better. I hope I haven’t insulted her by doing this myself, because she asked if I didn’t like the way she made eggs, (but I assured her that I did) and she asked if the eggs were good (because I had made them myself). Of course, I embarrassed myself by forgetting to turn the gas off the second I left it. D:

Having made breakfast slowly, I caught a later train than usual. It was alright though, and I made it to class on time. In class, we were split into two sections (instead of three). It was confusing and the new (arbitrary) distribution was about two-to-one in terms of student ratios. We went over recent homework and did particle-practice. Hanashiro sensei was worried because no one came to office hours the week before (to prepare for the test).

After the practice, we had one more class, so all three (two) sections came together in the same room. Despite our having four mid-terms in Japanese class alone this week, we were given a “project” in which we will go to a designated shopping district and interview the shop owner or employees. Today, we chose the shops (from 11 candidates), and in groups of three, did initial preparation (which included finding the shops on a hand-drawn map). My group (and two out of three instructors) could not find the Old book store and cafe. Finally, Tsuda sensei told us it was new and would not be on the map, though she gave us a general area to search when we got there. Great...

After class, I went to CJS to see if the officer had figured out what was up with my health insurance and pension plan. Apparently, they sent me the bill for 2008 for health insurance, so I will simply wait until they mail me the current paperwork. In regard to the pension plan, I do have to enroll, defer, and cancel. Great. The officer did contact okaasan though, so she will be helping me when I need to go to the ward office to take care of it.

Before I was done, the officer gave me the same talk okaasan had given me about using the internet, being about half of the way through my stay (somehow 6 weeks in the past equals 12 weeks in the future), needing to practice my Japanese/communication, and getting immersed. Did anyone ever think that maybe it’s hard to make friends with Japanese people when they are on academic break until April, let alone make friends with people in the first place? Maybe it occurred to them that e-mail and facebook are good ways to practice writing and reading Japanese as well as break the ice a bit with newly made Japanese friends. How about the embarrassment of trying to speak with Japanese people, not being able to recognize their words, finally realizing you know what they were saying but for some reason it didn’t register, and the exasperation of the Japanese person through the slow, painful process? Also, did they think that maybe, there are school-related things that students need to do that require the internet?

Oh well. Afterward, I reverted to my panya lunch from Valor’s and went to calligraphy class. I’m liking the more cursive-esque, non-disconnected style of calligraphy that we are doing as of late. I finished (ran out of the ink I made) a bit early, but not early enough to make the process of making more ink valuable, so I left a bit early. I spent a bit of time in the locker room talking with other exchange students until history class.

History class was no different than usual; the instructor lectured (in a rather confusing manner) for quite a while. When it came to the time to have the mid-term explained though, it was wonderful. The entire class was bracing for something to study for, but we got off more than easy; we must make ten to twenty points (listed) on an interesting part of Japanese history and present them to the class in about five minutes. Of course, we have to back ourselves (and our opinion of interest) up with facts, pictures, and (optionally) comparison to another country’s history. I haven’t chosen my subject yet, but I’m thinking about exploring the rise of the samurai class.

After class, I caught the chikatetsu with my classmates. I tried running to the tsurumai line to catch the Toyotashi chikatetsu (it sometimes arrives at exactly the same time as the yagoto chikatetsu, so if you run from one to the other, you can sometimes make the transfer) but as things turned out, I didn’t need to. It’s funny though to watch all of the people (including older men and women too) rush to the train (especially when it’s not really there). The rest of the ride was rather uneventful.

On the way through my neighborhood, I ran into the friendly cat (the one I’ve pet before and who lets the elementary school boys pet it) again. I got home at around six and helped okaasan with dinner. She asked about class, and I tried to explain (though I forgot the word for “review”). She told me the same thing the lady at CJS told me (as if I didn’t feel like a lazy student already).

So, I ate dinner with ryoushin (daikon with miso, misoshiru, gohan, beef bacon, and cabbage), had dessert with them (I had hinamatsuri no momo, hakki-wrapped, ginger-sprinkled, pink mochi with purple bean paste inside). We didn’t talk very much, but since the academy awards are on (and two Japanese films won) we watched that.

After dinner, I tried to discover Japanese radio (since it was suggested to me a few times and there’s a box in my room). The problem is, there are few stations on FM (besides the American music station and the classical station, which come in just fine) and the feedback from AM is too high-pitched to stand (even when properly tuned). I ended up listening to Ben Folds, which is better than most US radio, but definitely not Japanese...

I guess I’ll just study Japanese until I can’t stand it any more, take a shower, go to bed, and repeat everything again.