IrishOboe

Well, the day everyone has been waiting for has arrived.  I am sitting in my living room (in a tank top and shorts due to the unbearable weather) with my laptop and I am CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET!!!  The next step is to set up my wireless router and callvantage phone, but first I thought I'd check in (with an american keyboard, too!).

I know I said it wasn't so hot here, but the past three days have really been quite bad.  I hear it's been 35 C (~100F) and it is so humid that my glasses fog up, and that's not because I've been in air conditioning!  Luckily, I haven't been in very formal clothes or at school for very long, so I can chill in light clothing with my fan in my face.

Let's see, I know this is unorganized, but in reverse order, this is what I've been up to.  This morning I nearly finished Harry Potter before Naito Sensei (sensei means teacher) came to pick me up for school.  I had about 3-4 chapters left, so this was a bit hard . . .  At school we set up my internet (which took about 2 hours).  I don't know why everything is so complicated here, but everything takes a while.  I was very surprised to come home, set up the computer and find myself actually connected!  I thought we'd go over school stuff and my introduction speech, but we didn't, and we won't until the 22nd, and school starts on the 24th . . .  Good thing I don't mind winging things.  I will go to school, however, and look at the materials at my desk and other things Kayla left me.  The more I can be familiar with school schedules, class seating charts, etc., the better I'll feel the first day I teach.

After leaving school Naito sensei came to my apartment and called NTT to activate the internet (24mps modem at 3,700 yen/mo I think.  It's all very complicated) and read the Japanese instructions, which went just fine.  Then we went to the bike shop (it was closed yesterday) and left my bike there so they could get a new saddle and rod.  When I finally got back to my apt I finished Harry Potter before writing this update.  I figured the timing wouldn't make a difference seein that it's 5am EST.

So, yesterday (3rd) I spent the day reading Harry Potter and practicing whistle.  I tried to take my bike to the shop, but it was closed.  Mark and I biked to the hardware store and got some random stuff, but then I went right back to Harry Potter.  In the evening Niko took Mark and I to her house and surved us dinner before going to the Japanese drum rehearsal (I've got to look up the name of it).  It was lovely chat with her at her place and I had such a great time at the rehearsal.  They let us try the drums, which was quite fun for me since I remember watching the Japanese performers at Epcot.  Being a Disney child isn't all bad!  What I don't understand is how they practice for two hours squating like that.  They must have legs of steel!  They performed for us after their break and Niko convinced me to play whistle for them.  I offered my whistle for any takers since they had let me play their drums, and one enthusiastic teen accepted the challenge (Japanese kids are very, very shy, so I was surprised and delighted that she took up my offer).  She played recorder so she was able to pick out some tunes to the delight of the group.  They were so welcoming and I only wish I could speak more Japanese.  In all these situations my Italian keeps cropping up and it's not very useful . . .  Though I suppose that it means I haven't forgotten quite as much Italian as I had thought.

Let's see, on Tuesday Shimizu sensei (my surpervisor) took me around town so I could set up a bank account (she picked up my hanko - the seal stamp that acts as a signature in Japan so you need it for all kinds of official business), and apply for tax exemption as a US 1st year JET.  That took a long time and was quite draining.  Even so Mark managed to convince me to go out with the gang from Haitsu Saito (my apartment building of 6 apts) to the Rink.  This allowed me to pay my tab from the other day which I had neglected to do . . .  Happily, he took my money cheerfully.  It was nice to see people (we met some other JETs there) but already my reputation has proceeded me and everytime the conversation turned to not-so-nice things they turned to appologize to me.  Well, not exactly appologize, but voice what they thought was going through my head (She's thinking, "oh my g** these people are evil." and "man, I know she hates me).  I'm not sure yet how to stand firm in my purity and beliefs without coming accross like a git (oops, is that a Harry Potter influence, or is it just because I live next door to an Englishman?).  I can't even blame it on what I said (which usually backfires) because I hardly said anything at all, but did plenty of smiling.  Maybe the silence was just as confusing.  I've been thinking a lot about how to show love for people, real love, and keeping that love as I learn things about them that are not so lovable.  It's so easy to say hate the sin and love the sinner, and it's actually not so impossible to do, but I don't know how to express it.  People often feel that my high standards automatically mean I judge, and maybe I do, but mostly I do not mean to.  Wow, okay, maybe I should but philosophical musings in a separate post so I don't bore those who are not interested.  However, I'd love to share them with those who are, because you have might have some wise advice!

So, on with the day - or rather, the day before.  That was Monday, and in the morning my new kitchen table and chairs arrived.  They are sugoi!  I have no idea how to spell that, but it means great, wonderful, etc.  They are very elegent and the table is exandable for when I have more guests!  I asked to keep the old ones so I'd have more places for guests and an extra table in my room to use as a desk.  I did a good deal of cleanin

In the evening I went out with Chuck and Mark for sushi on a conveyerbelt.  Yep, just grab what you want as it comes around and it's all 105 yen a plate (that's about 1USD).  It was actually pretty good, too.

I think Sunday I made a brief post, but did I mention that in the evening we went out for izakaiya (again, my Japanese spelling is even worse than my English), where I had great fun talking with the friends and gilfriends of Haitsu Saito and sucking on raw shrimp heads.  I did not care for the mountain potato, however.

That's it for now, I'll write soon!