So I have hit 24 recipients of my emails...I  didn't know I had so many friends...now if I can earn enough yen to keep you  all.Ý For those of you have received all four of my updates today I  apologize for all the reading...if you had to choose one to read the one before  this one is probably the funniest.Ý Okay, so moving on to this week's  adventure.Ý Well there wasn't really too much excitement.Ý No rice  getting stuff on my toes...no missed trains as I wound up in some far unknown  land.Ý Pretty much a rather boring week in comparison...so with little  expectation here goes.Ý On Monday my boss, the Superintendent (recall he is  the grandfather type that sings old American folk songs with me), asked if I was  eating okay since I was a guy and guys do not cook because it is "a woman's  job".Ý I reassured him that I was eating just fine and I cooked  spaghetti and french toast quite well all the time...not to mention my expertise  in tunafish making to give my diet a change.Ý He then mentioned how weight  is equal to health (Americans should be the healthiest people in the world...we  weigh the most!!) and how I should watch my weight to make sure it doesn't go  down too much.Ý Well I checked it the other day and I was 85.6 kilograms  which didn't mean too much to me until I got home and did the  calculation...188lbs...so I don't think weighing too little is affecting me at  this point.Ý Also on Monday I began the 5 day Japanese language lessons  at the office down the road.Ý When I got there they, the 2 teachers,  started talking in Japanese...was I in the wrong class?Ý I didn't know a  thing and I just sat there comtemplating the importance of language and  communication.Ý Finally they asked in english if we had any questions about  anything, to which I responded that "I didn't know what I didn't know and  therefore didn't have enough information to even ask a  question"...amazingly they understood this though the other ALTs in the  class had no idea what I said.Ý So at least by the end of the 5 days I did  know what I didn't know but I am frustrated just the same...still we had a few  laughs especially when we had to come up with questions that they would  translate into Japanese.Ý Mine consisted of the following:Ý May I have  my train ticket?Ý When is the last train to Nakanojo leaving?Ý Is  there another stop and change of train I should know about?Ý How far is  Nakanojo from here?Ý and last but not least "How much is taxi to get  me back to Nakanjo?"Ý Needless to say last week's excursion to  never-never land is still very much in my mind...not to mention in the minds of  my office mates who remind me of it..just in case I forgot.Ý At least it is  a good icebreaker with people I just met, i.e. the school teachers and  principals I met last week...and eventually I am convinced it will be worth the  15,000 yen it cost me to experience.ÝÝ Also if you have no idea what I  am talking about you need to read the last email or ask me to send it to  you.Also on Monday I went to another spa place...let's just say you are  naked with a bunch of people of your same gender...enough said...let's move  on.All week I had "dance lessons".Ý I am goingÝ to  participate in a festival with my office and we are going to do this dance which  reminds me more of the back up dancers to Gladys Knight than actual  dancing.Ý I haven't heard yet on what we are supposed to wear to the  festival but I sincerely hope, for the sake of others and myself, I don't have  to wear a towel only...that would be really bad.Ý I also found out a reason  why they want me to participate.Ý It is said that a man who can do a dance  will get food made for him by many women.Ý So the basic reason I am dancing  is for food...hmmmm...well I guess if it works out when I get back to the States  I won't be a teacher but will do a dance for money...for some reason I think  Americans won't be so kind.Yesterday, Saturday I played in a softball  tournament that the town office sponsored.Ý Each section played each other  and my section didn't win it but we got a box of tissues for our  participation.Ý I did okay and every clapped when I made a catch in foul  territory from shortstop...aftewards everyone went to an enkai which is adinner  party...that was fun and free.Ý I ate chicken, pork, fish that was still in  tact and shark jaw and gills..isn't that quaint? This week is pretty short  but next week should be better.Ý I am preparing to go with other JETS to  climb Mt Fugi on the 29th...I will let you know how that turns out...I have to  go make a tuna fish sandwich.Ý