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