March 27

I’ve been a bit stressed over the last few days. I’ll give some highlights, seeing as this is written after the fact.

I received a postcard in the mail a few days ago reminding me again that I had to pay my health insurance. Finding my time short, I resolved to go to the bank today after my first class, regardless of whether it would make me late to my next. However, yesterday, I received another piece of official mail I did not understand. I got very upset because I knew if I asked my host mother what it was, she would tell me to ask CJS (as always, so I might as well just wait until the following day to deal with it) as well as because I was sick of dealing with Japanese bureaucracies and paying them money. I also had a test to take the next morning, so I wasn’t in the mood.

I made sure I was up early enough to catch the first of the two trains I alternatively ride to school, which resulted in okaasan being a bit surprised (I showed up five whole minutes early to breakfast). Before I left, okaasan asked if I would be home as usual (since it was Friday and I might go out with my friends) and she was surprised at the “yes” I gave her.

At school, I inquired about my mail, and apparently, it is for government-issued money due to the bad economy (given to both Japanese citizens and foreign ones). The lady who has been helping me with my other money matters was equally helpful (and surprised with the speed at which I received the mail). She said she would inquire about it, and with that worry resolved, I took my test.

After the test (and three hours of class that pursued), I headed off for the bank. The thing about Japanese banks is; they close at three every day. Yes, every day, not just Friday, or even Saturday, EVERYDAY. So, I started off (using the map I obtained from the CJS office) in what I thought was the right direction. At one point, I began to worry that I might have gotten lost, so I found a keisatsu (police man) and asked directions. He was very helpful (and gave me the directions I needed), but when I asked him where we were on the map I had, he couldn’t exactly answer me. Conclusion; the innovation of street names (not usually employed by Japan) is one of the best for city planning. I did manage to get to the bank on foot in a bit less than half of an hour. When I got there though, I had to wait another half-hour (until the number on the card I took near the teller window was called) behind about ten other waiting people. Observation; Japanese banks appear understaffed. The transaction itself was rather smooth (taking about five minutes including the time it took the teller to assist another customer in the middle of my transaction), but I was a bit unhappy when the teller seemed to default to the customer assistance phone number in response to my question about having to pay more (for health insurance) in the following months. I didn’t really care though, because the lady at CJS told me I would receive another postcard if I had to pay more, so I’ll be leaving it up to the bank to deal with it.

After walking back to school, I had my long (boring) culture class, and headed home. Okaasan had made nabe, which I like a lot. She and otousan discussed his trip to and time at the hospital that were fast approaching. They mentioned bringing CD’s and something about an iPod, so I offered to lend mine to otousan while he was away, but he declined. Okaasan also gave me a gift at dinner. She had sewed a large, fabric item (for lack of better word) for me which has hina ningyou on it. I think she did it by hand too, because I haven’t seen (or heard) a sewing machine. It’s really pretty and I like it a lot, which I told her many times, though she said she didn’t know if I would or not. When she commented on me being home on Friday night, Okaasan also said that the previous host student seemed to be out every weekend and didn’t come back until the morning because she was always out at the clubs with her friends. I tried to defend myself by telling her the truth; that I don’t drink, so I feel kind of out of place with the people who go, but she told me I could dance and not drink, as a way of encouraging me. I’m still not really sold on the idea, since I’m not really outgoing (and feel stupid dancing, for the most part) and it seems to cost a lot to get into (and the train to) clubs.

After dinner, we watched a documentary on middle school students and singing the song, Tegami, by a singer I can’t remember. It seems the anxiety of the future hits Japanese students in middle school instead of high school, which seems to be the case in the US. We watched figure skating too, and then the news, which included a report on North Korea. Okaasan said it was scary, but I had a hard time being worried about North Korea, due to the fact that there always seems to be something to hear about the country and their military from the media.