December 2, 2009

So it's December. Still feels like fall over here, leaves are all colored and only just beginning to fall. Cold though.

Went to Kitagata branch yesterday. Kitagata always makes me awfully anxious, as it's nearly impossible to get there - there's one bus that leaves in the afternoon, and that's it. When I first went with Joanna, the bus schedules had just changed, and we discovered as we arrived that we'd missed the last bus for the day. Had to call the branch boss and have him pick us up.

One month later - I teach there every four weeks - I arrived in time to catch the bus, only to realize it was a holiday, which means the bus times are different. A quick glance at the holiday schedule confirmed my fears - I'd missed the last bus. Again. Had to call the branch boss and have him pick me up.

It's now two months and change later (Jesus!) and Kitagata day rolls around again. I managed to catch the bus this time - I go through the side door, take my ticket and sit down, to look for the kanji for "Kitagata Hashiramoto." This is always stressful, and involves me awkwardly getting out of my seat, walking to the front of the bus, and comparing my piece of paper with the screen above the windshield which displays the next location. In the meantime, everyone stares at me like I'm going to fall on them or something.

Anyway, I made it to Kitagata ok and, my fears relieved, my day immediately brightened - no small task, considering I bought a record player I can't seem to get functioning less than 24 hours before (also, a beautiful redyellowgreen tree next to the rainbow bridge near our apartment recently lost its leaves...I'd wanted to photograph it so very much, it makes me rather sad). But Kitagata cheers me right up because the branch bosses here are, in a word, hilarious.

For example, when I first arrive, one of them is sitting next to a young girl, one of their high school students. I'm just minding my business, preparing my lessons plans, when he assumes my attention.

"Sho-n!"

I look up. He motions to the girl - maybe he wants me to talk with her or something. They usually do. But no.

"She is very lonely," he explains to me. "She wants to have a boyfriend. She is always alone."

The girl protests loudly, but he just laughs. Do I laugh? What do I say? I say he's "hidoi" - terrible (only later do I realize that it might be inappropriate to call a Japanese teacher "terrible," but they seem to find it funny). That's pretty much how it goes around this place - everyone makes fun of everyone. Or at least the teachers do - maybe it's the Japanese way? Do teachers in America make fun of their students? When they were telling me all the students' names, they referred to various students as "fat," "Mr. Fart," and "Doraemon" (a pudgy cat-like cartoon character). It's all good-natured, but it's the kind of thing that (I assume) could only fly in Japan. Also, like I said, it's hilarious.

So yeah, yesterday was pretty good, though I've been getting sick lately. Woke up this morning feeling like someone activated a garbage disposal in my throat. And I've been staying up til 3am or so watching movies. But I've written a few songs in the past few days - take that writer's block! - and our practice Sunday went really well, I've got a song that's pretty much wrapped up, and we just added our friend Hiro on harmonica, who really brings the piece together. Maybe we'll record it this weekend - who knows? If the wave don't crest beforehand, and I can fend this illness off...

Just uploaded all my pics to facebook, btw. Will put some choice ones up here. Also have some from my cell phone that I need to get online. But shit, this stuff takes time! So uh, faithful readers, enjoy the glut of new content now, and hopefully updates will proceed more regularly now that...

I have internet in my apartment!

!!!!!!!!!!

Until the next time-