Monday, October 24th, 1988

Note:  This is a series of journal entries from my two years living in Himeji, Japan (1988-1990).  I'm archiving them electronically through my blog.  Last names have been deleted and replaced with first initial only.  For details on this series of blog entries, see this post.

Well, since my last entry, I went to Mikage.  I met Kimberly at her place about 5:15, and then Nora P. came over and we practiced for our show at Poporo in Okamoto.  We got there about 7:10 and started around 7:30.  Chinatsu and Michiyo came to see the show, as well as M's wife & some friends.

I sang several solos, and the whole thing went pretty well!  It was fun to "go out"!

Today I went back to kaisei and had my ear canal "blown out" again-ugh!  I have to start going back since my ear isn't better.

I went to the post office to take money out by filling out the form, but I had to have my secret number even to do that, so I still have no money.  Felt stupid again.

Whatever lives in my ceiling is particularly active today- perhaps chasing a "friend" around the expanse above my apartment.  Yuk!  I hope it's nothing disgusting!

I got 4 packages ready to mail off to various parts of the world for Christmas.  Guess I need to get those sent now if they're to arrive by Christmas.  Of course, I can't do it today, because I can't get any money because of my forgetting the number.  Grrrr!

Monday, October 17th, 1988

Note:  This is a series of journal entries from my two years living in Himeji, Japan (1988-1990).  I'm archiving them electronically through my blog.  Last names have been deleted and replaced with first initial only.  For details on this series of blog entries, see this post.

Saturday was really busy.  Yukari came for my Japanese lesson at 10:00.  I had a kanji test, and it went pretty well.  Kimberly came at 11:00 for her lesson and I went to the bank to get cash.

Yukari left, Kimberly & I ate & talked, then at 2:00 Manna & Meg came for their lessons.  First, I gave Meg an English lesson.  It's hard, because I'm not used to advanced students.  Next was Manna, no problem, beginning stuff.  Then hour #3 was my Japanese conversation lesson...ugh!

Mike, Resa, & the kids picked us up at 5:30 & we went to Sato for dinner, then to Higashi Kakogawa to Hiraki shopping.  I only bought a few things, believe it or not!

We got home around 9:00, talked, then went to bed.  It was a busy day, but fun.

Sunday, Kim and I left for Sannomiya around 10:00.  First we went to Mikage to drop her stuff off.  We ate okonomiyaki at that quaint restaurant at the bottom of the mountain in Mikage.

We talked to two ladies from Okayama on the Shinkaisoku.  One was an author of poems and worked at NHK, the other made kimonos.  It was fun. They were on their way to a high school reunion.

After lunch we shopped.  We went to an office supply store.  I bought a calendar.  It was neat to think that when this calendar is used up, there'll only be 5 months of my stay left!

We went to Maruzen, then to a futon shop.  Kimberly & I decided what our big purchase would be...a wedding futon set (complete with 4 mattresses and covers, sheets, 5 summer & winter pillows).  They'll even ship it all to America.  It'll be really expensive, but I've decided I was a strictly Japanese room in my home in America (bedroom).

Like this:

Sunday night we went to KIBC.  Rev. B. has a bad cold, so the message didn't have the usual impact...poor guy.

I went to my first singles fellowship.  It was really fun!  We talked about negative comments, gossip, slander, etc.  Very informative.  To begin with the lesson leader had us throw bread crumbs over the terrace railing behind B's house.  Afterwards she explained that these crumbs were like gossip & negative comments.

She asked us to go out and try to pick those bread crumbs up, and, just as we couldn't pick those crumbs up again, we can't "take back" negative comments once said.

I stayed over at I's.  Got there late, left early.

Wednesday, October 12th, 1988

Note:  This is a series of journal entries from my two years living in Himeji, Japan (1988-1990).  I'm archiving them electronically through my blog.  Last names have been deleted and replaced with first initial only.  For details on this series of blog entries, see this post.

Okay, I'm finally getting to this again, but no apologies, or regrets.  I'll write when I can I guess, besides not that much happens every day that' exciting enough to bother with.

So, since my last entry the main event has been the JALT conference on Portopia Island in Kobe.  Kyl came down on Wednesday, so we'd have some time to see each other.  He got in on Wednesday night.  Matsuo-san took me to the station to pick him up, and we went to Matsuo's for dinner.

Hiroko cooked yakiniku, and waited on us hand and foot.  We looked through hundreds of pictures, and exchanged cultural names.  Kyl is now Masao, Akira is Steven Carter, and Hiroko is Rebecca Williams.  I'm still Akira Hahayama- lecturer of the funny mountain.

Thursday Kyl came to school for the day.  He came to my class and part of Kim's, sat in on my Japanese lesson, and participated in E.S.S.

Friday he went sight seeing/shopping.  I came to school and talked and sang at high school chapel.  It went well.  I left at noon  met Kyl.  We went through Himeji Castle and shopped some more.

We took a later train and went to Nobu and Carol's for the night. 

Saturday the conference started.  I attended many good lectures, and received lots of practical ideas.  Most notably from the 3 days was a lecture on using a point system in motivating students.  I implemented it in both of my E.C. II classes with fabulous results.  Very encouraging!

We stayed with Carol & Nobu again Saturday night.

Monday Kyl left & I went to the last day of conferences alone.  Exhausted & burnt out I somehow made it through the day.

Monday night Kim stayed over.  We talked a little, but we went to sleep soon after she arrived.

Tuesday was a full class day.  My attitude was positive the whole day and my classes went very well.  I'm enjoying my newly smaller E.C. I class, and for the 1st time, was excited about E.C. II.  Mike used the point system too, with equally positive results.  Kim is going to use it in her E.C. I class.  I guess they are pretty surly.

The jazz group practiced at lunch outside today.  We perform at Poppolo in 2 weeks...ack!

Friday, September 30th, 1988

Note:  This is a series of journal entries from my two years living in Himeji, Japan (1988-1990).  I'm archiving them electronically through my blog.  Last names have been deleted and replaced with first initial only.  For details on this series of blog entries, see this post.

Well, I'm not doing very well, am I?  Since my last entry, I don't even remember everything that's happened.

Yoko, Kim & I had lunch a couple of times, I've gone shopping (of course) a couple of times, and went to Osaka to see Nobu & Carol's friend Jinnouchi Taizo, an up and coming rock singer, perform at a club there.  He used to be Ryan's tutor, and has a very good voice.

I have received a letter from the post office saying that a package sent by Dianne was damaged.  I went and sat in the post office for 45 minutes, trying to figure out what the postal workers were saying, and waiting for them to figure out what to do.

It turned out that the package was a framed needlework.  The needlework was fine, but the frame busted.  It's of 2 blue fans.  I have it hanging on my wall, and it looks great!

I also received a package from mom, with my peanut butter, magazines, flannel robe, cocoa, t-shirts, etc. in it, and a package with medicine.

I've survived my first writing, and administering, and contemplation of checking midterms.  As of this moment, I haven't actually checked them yet... :-(.  It's very strange to be on the other side of the exam, and to see the nervous faces, instead of being a nervous face!

I sang at International Church for the first time.  I sang "Stephen's Song" and was really nervous, because it was the first time in 6 months that people would really understand what I was saying.  It went well, though, and I made my first professional contact.  The members of a group called The Covenant Players, touring Japan, based in California, were in the congregation, taking a breather from their tour, and heard me sing.

One of the members came up afterwards and said that I made her cry.  She said the Covenant Players were always interested in quality performers, and gave me a business card.  C.P. has about 40 troupes that tour worldwide, so I'm definitely going to check it out!  Wow!

I've been watching a lot of the Olympics.  Lots of doping (notably Ben Johnson of Canada).  Matt Biondi and Janet Evans have been winning the gold for the U.S. and Florence Joyner & her sister-in-law, as well as Carl Lewis in track events.

I'm not sure why I'm so interested in the Olympics (for the 1st time).  Maybe it's the thrill in the winners faces, or on seeing non-Japanese people on t.v., or maybe the bits & pieces of English are enticing me!

My doctor said I don't have to go back, about my ear, if I have no further problems.

I called Kyl last night, and he may go to the JALT conference next weekend...so I may get to see him!!

Akira M. came over for tacos the other night.  It was his fist time to eat tacos.  I think he liked them...he ate 5!  He looked through my pictures, and we watched part of a movie.  He also sat in on my lesson with Kayo.  Kayo gave me 2 beautiful blue bowls with ginko and maple leaves on them.

M-san and I are going to get together once a week.  Next week it's at his house, and his girlfriend Hiroko is cooking.  He says she's not a good cook...we'll see.

I walked all the way to Megumi class last Friday, only to find that no one bothered to tell me class was cancelled...oh well, it was only 3 miles there & 3 back.  Nobody also bothered to tell me that I was in charge of fellowship at English church in Himeji on the Sunday I didn't go (same Sunday I sang at Kobe International Church)  grrrrr...

Well, as this is the last page to write on, I'll close EDITION 1 and try to continue on an every day basis in VOLUME TWO...

to be continued...

Wednesday, September 14th, 1988

Note:  This is a series of journal entries from my two years living in Himeji, Japan (1988-1990).  I'm archiving them electronically through my blog.  Last names have been deleted and replaced with first initial only.  For details on this series of blog entries, see this post.

Well, it's been almost a month since I wrote last, and I can't think of much that was done during this time.  Kim & I went to Osaka several times.  We hit a store that had complete kitchens set up, plus baskets and such.

I've been in Osaka a lot lately, because of the opera I'm doing now.  Last Friday was the first rehearsal of "La Boheme" (with the La Scala Opera).  We rehearsed Friday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and will perform Friday.  It's a lot of fun, and I've met some fun people.  I play a coffee vendor, with another red head, John R., who is from Ireland.

I also "rescued" a girl from Australia, who was being picked up by an Italian chorus member.  We have backstage passes, and it's very strict, but interesting.  I push a coffee cart and sell in the 1st scene of the 2nd act & walk around on a raised platform later.

The principles were at yesterdays rehearsal for the first time.  The lead soprano is fabulous!  I'll miss it when its all over.  The strange thing is, though, that I don't utter a sound through the whole thing!

Sunday night I stayed with Kim in Mikage (side paragraph- Mike & Resa, Kim & I moved Kim to Mikage the day before.  She had a lot of stuff & we got lost all day long.  We moved her in, ate at Danny Boy in Sannomiya, then went to B's to get the stuff left for us by someone returning home, then took her back  on the way home got hopelessly lost!  The main highway was closed and it took us 3 1/2 hours for a 1 hour trip.  I got home at 1:30.  They got home at 2:30 (am).).

We have to watch it because men aren't allowed at the apartment building.  But of course I ran into the landlord & his wife on the way out the next morning!

Monday night I stayed with I's.  It was fun. Carol took me to meet her 3 English students at a coffee shop, & it was a lot of fun!

Tuesday was dress rehearsal.  The conductor was there, & we were warned that if we took pictures, talked, or did anything out of line, he would huff off & we could be there for hours & hours, but all went well & we were out by 7:00.

 There's a lot of sitting when you're an extra!!

I ran to Osaka station, got a train home & got here about 2 hours before "The Messengers" arrived.  2 of the group are staying with me at present.  They sang today in chapel, but that'll be mentioned in my next entry.

They came at 12:30 & I was exhausted, but luckily they wanted to go right to bed.

Saturday, August 27th, 1988

Note:  This is a series of journal entries from my two years living in Himeji, Japan (1988-1990).  I'm archiving them electronically through my blog.  Last names have been deleted and replaced with first initial only.  For details on this series of blog entries, see this post.

Well, it's been a long time since I've written, but only a few things have happened since then.

Now it's August 29th and I'm going to finish this....

The farthest thing back that was exciting that I can remember is staying with Nobu and Carol for a couple of days.  I went on a Monday and returned on Wednesday.  During my stay we went to Port Island and shopped and had dinner.

Nobu took me to the port on another day and we caught a crab for Becky.  We went to a sports/shopping area, and I found squares of obi fabric.  I bought 2.  I also found really good apricot, and strawberry tea.

The thing that sticks out the most, however, was going to a Japanese restaurant Nobu and Carol know.  It was good, but I couldn't eat all of the dishes, of which the most repulsive were raw horse meat, and barbecued sparrow yakitori.  Ugh!  

Kim stayed over the last night, too.  It was really fun.  Becky & I got to know each other better.  We caught frogs, did hanabe, and played the piano.  She also taught me some kanji.

On Thursday of that week, I went with Kim to Osaka and got a job at OTC.  We ate at a place called Studebakers, which was a 50's American type place.  At OTC I met Mr. M., who I'd heard a lot about, and he hired me on the spot.  I'll make 4,000 yen an hour there.  Of course the added stress may kill me.  My class meets on Wednesdays at 5:30, and I'm not sure I can get there on time, especially on the nights I have marathon faculty meetings during the day.  Ugh!  I'll give it a month though.

Kim and I have found an English church that we like very much.  It's in Rokko, and has bible study, church, and fellowship all on Sunday evening.  The people are very nice, and I think we'll go there a lot, especially since Kim will only live a few minutes away.  It's so nice to understand everything again.  The place is technically Southern Baptist, so it's okay, even though I don't know the hymns!

Kim and I bop to Sannomiya a lot, and this past Friday took Jenny along too.  It was a fun day.  We hit Maruzen, and I bought yet more books.  We also went to a spaghetti place called Hole in the Wall Spaghetti, which was really good.  I had potato bacon spaghetti.

We hit a coffee shop, and went to Kobe Grocers for the first of many to come visits.  They are an international market, with such things as Campbells Soup, Grape Nuts, Hormel Chili, Wheatsworth, Jelly Belly, etc.  What a place.  You can even takubin your stuff home so you don't have to carry it!  We passed an American pub on the way there- Danny Boys, which we're going to take Mike & Resa to next week.  They have lasagna!

Last Saturday Kim and I went to Hamasaka on the coast of the Sea of Japan.  My ear (gland) was giving me trouble so I was in pain most of the trip up & back, but it was a beautiful place, once we finally headed in the right direction.  After laying on the beach for a few hours...

 Squid drying in the sun

...we went on a 1 hour boat ride along the coast & saw lots of neat views of caves, etc. along the coast.

That night, however, I couldn't take it anymore & had Kim call Mike B. to take me to the hospital.  He brought his neighbor and they took me to an ear, nose, throat hospital.  The doctor stuck numerous things in my mouth & down my throat.  I almost threw up twice.  He said I have a throat infection.  All 7 nurses stood around me because I was the only one there.  How embarrassing!  He gave me pills, for which I've gone back once to get a refill of.  So far my throat is better, but the glands in the right sided of my neck are still swollen, and my right ear has been ringing for 4 days now.

Kim & I made a trip to the gomi pile this past Thursday.  She really raked in the loot.  She came away with a t.v., a bicycle, a toaster oven, a hot pot, a tin, a basket, and some dishes.  I got some dishes too- only in Japan!

Saturday Kim & I went to B's for dinner and Trivial Pursuit.  We also played Wheel of Fortune & Jeopardy on his laptop computer.  I won at Trivial Pursuit, which was a really long game, because we'd break off into conversations throughout the game, and not get anywhere!

Resa made a fabulous dinner again with okra, steak, homemade biscuits, and a wonderful peanut butter pie for dessert.  We looked through gospel recordings catalogs and I got some new accompaniment tapes ordered.

Sunday Kim & I met Yukieh at McDonalds and went to watch Satoko perform in a traditional dance concert.  It was very interesting, and we got to see some kabuki beforehand.

We then went to Yukieh's for dinner.  What a trip!  We watched 6 short stories in "The Storyteller" series, and met most of the clan living in Himeji.  My favorite was Yukieh's aunt.  She was really sweet.  I even tried eel at dinner, but ate chicken mostly!  Yukieh's family reminds me of Masano's family.

Monday, August 8th, 1988

Note:  This is a series of journal entries from my two years living in Himeji, Japan (1988-1990).  I'm archiving them electronically through my blog.  Last names have been deleted and replaced with first initial only.  For details on this series of blog entries, see this post.

Saturday I met Kim and Jenny at 31.  We shopped for awhile, then ate at McDonalds.  Then we went to the castle.  Jenny left to watch fireworks at Tegarayama & Kim & I met Barrett & watched classical Noh theater by firelight in front of the castle.  It is the Castle Festival now, or was Saturday & Sunday.  After watching Noh for awhile I came home.

Yesterday I met Kim and her friend Gary at 1 at Himeji Station.  We toured the castle & shopped.  Chinatsu was playing taiko in the parade, so we watched her for awhile and were leered at & "accosted" by a bunch of men wearing diapers (men in a float wearing traditional clothes, or lack thereof).

We went to a shrine and joined the gaijin portion of the parade.  Kim didn't register, so they only had Canada t-shirts left & we didn't want to be separated, so I held a fan over my American flag t-shirt & rode in the Canada jeep with her and a lady from Himeji & Chinastu, who jumped on later.  It was fun.  We were on the news as Canadians & followed a group of wild Brazilian dancers.  They were great, gorgeous, and really nice.

As we rode down Miyuki Dori, all of the shop keepers of stores I frequent waved.  They guys at the coffee shop even ran out with ice cream for us.  Daiei tourist shop, Maruzen, Pizzeria Miyuki, the coffee shop & a clothing store all waved.  Afterwards we ran into Aya & a friend.  They tagged along for awhile & then Kim & I left.  We went to K's & watched "Somewhere in Time" complete with dumb ending.

Today Michiyo took Kim & I to a yukata/kimono exhibit.  Kim bought material & "making" and I bought an obi & under tie.  The cloth for kimono & obi was beautiful, and I wanted to buy one to drape over a stand in my apartment in America, but the one I wanted cost 450,000 yen- expensive!  It was really fun though.

Today is a momentous occasion...8/8/88.  That won't happen again for 100 years.

Kim, Michiyo & I also shopped.  Kim was the big buyer with a 28,000 yen yukata, a 10,000 yen chair & table set, and a 3,000 yen clothes rack.  I got off cheap with an 8,500 yen obi & a 3,000 yen t-shirt.

I don't think I'm going to Hong Kong because M. still hasn't called & I don't know if I have enough money now!

Thursday, August 4th, 1988

Note:  This is a series of journal entries from my two years living in Himeji, Japan (1988-1990).  I'm archiving them electronically through my blog.  Last names have been deleted and replaced with first initial only.  For details on this series of blog entries, see this post.

Tuesday, August 2nd Brenda called and I met caravan at the dorm after Misuzu's English lesson.  We all went to Miyuki Dori for the last of our shopping sprees together (for them to buy any last minute things).  We split up, and Kim and I went to a coffee shop.  We all met at 3:00 and went to Pizzeria Miyuki for dinner.  Caravan presented me with the tea kettle I showed them on a previous trip and said that I was going to buy after Hong Kong.  How sweet!

After shopping we went back to the dorm, after a strange ride with an even stranger old man bothering us.  The farewell party was fun.  Misuzu sprayed my hair black to see what I'd look like Japanese...strange!  I had to ride the train home like that, too.

Wednesday was very sad.  F., Y., M., Barrett, and I took caravan to Osaka airport.  We parted at 1:15 and I'll never see some of them again.  I feel so utterly deserted!

Kim & I rode back with M. and Y., stopped at Kobe-Nishi Church, where Kim is living for a month, then came back to Himeji.

Kim picked up her 16 rolls of film that were developed, at a whopping 27,000 yen.  We ate at Conservo, then went to my apartment to watch movies & be together.  She stayed at K's & today I saw her off to Osaka.  I don't know why I let myself get so close!  I needed their friendship.  God sent them to me, and now I miss them terribly!  Terribly!  Terribly!!!

Sunday, July 31st, 1988

Note:  This is a series of journal entries from my two years living in Himeji, Japan (1988-1990).  I'm archiving them electronically through my blog.  Last names have been deleted and replaced with first initial only.  For details on this series of blog entries, see this post.

It's been a really long time since I've written, but every day is so much like the next during summer break, that it's really not worth the paper to write about them.  So, I'll write now, I guess, when something happens.

On Saturday the 23rd caravan went shopping with Mr. M. and I (plus Ree, Misuzu, and some high school girls), then caravan came over here for a chili dinner.  We watched a couple of movies, ate, & talked, looked through my photos, and Yukari came over too.  It was fun.

Monday and Tuesday, the 25th & 26th, caravan, Mr. F., Barrett and I went to Hiroshima by bullet train.  Hiroshima is so sad- I'd forgotten how sad, and gross the museum was.  What a testament to anti-nuclear war!

We also went shopping.  I bought some hot stretch pants for aerobics.  Maruzen there was great, and I found some more Ukiyo-e postcards.  We ate at Shakey's Pizza, and stayed at the Garden Palace, a great hotel.  The keys to the doors were computer cards.  "Top Gun" was on, so I finally got to see it.

Tuesday we left Hiroshima and went to Okayama.  We were met by Gary B. and went to his house/church.

 Corn in front of Gary's house/church!!!!

After a briefing on the church situation there, we went to see Seto Ohashi Bridge and walked along the shore at the inland sea...beautiful.  One of Denise's college friends met us at Hiroshima Station and was with us until we left Okayama.  She's here alone on a similar caravan program- Sarah.

Mr. F!!!!

I had my first experience with a Japanese doctor.  The gland behind my right ear is giving me problems again.  Brenda and Sarah had to go to the doctor with Mrs. K. for their ears, so I went too.  It was nice to have a translator.  The doctor said it was nothing though. (I think I waited too long to go).

They gave me pills for 3 days, put me under a heat lamp for 5 minutes (and put these strange wire mesh glasses on me) and that was that.  This way I found out that I have health insurance though.  I went back to the office at tendai to ask & they said they put the card in my box in May, but nobody bothered to tell me, so I came home, dug through my papers, found it, and took it back to school to give to Mrs. K. to give to the doctor.

Yesterday (and the day before) I spent with Brenda and Michiyo.  On Friday Brenda came over while Michiyo went to driving school.  We met Michiyo at McDonalds after watching "A Chorus Line" here, then went to Pizzaria Miyuki for a late lunch, shopping, then came back here & watched English news.

Jokingly Brenda asked me to go with them on Saturday to Amanohashidate, a resort area near Kyoto, and later Michiyo called to ask if I really wanted to go- so I did.  We left here at about 8, and picked up Chinatsu (we surprised her then that I was going) and proceeded to the place.

Along the way we stopped at the truck stop with the waterfall that we stopped at 4 years ago on a high school retreat.  It was strange to pull in and recognize the place!  We stopped at a grocery store and "lunched in the car" then went to this place.

We rode up the side of a mountain in one seater chair lifts- it was great- to a lookout place where we could see the bay swimming area with a line of trees dividing it. (You were supposed to get on this bench and look upside down through your legs to make it appear that the sea was the sky & the line of trees a bridge in the sky- pretty weird!).  We could also see the open Pacific through a gap in a few islands- cool.

After climbing & looking around there we went to a beach & swam for a few hours.  Everybody who stopped to talk to the "gaijin" was fooled by Chinatsu into thinking Michiyo was from America & couldn't speak any Japanese.

After the beach we went to a temple where you were to clap at the altar to get a girlfriend or boyfriend.  I said "no thanks, I already have one".  Brenda declined the invitation anyway.

We shopped a little at various places throughout the day, then came back to Himeji where I was invited to F's for yakiniku, karaoke, and, when I said I wanted to see patterns to have a yukata made- a present of  a yukata from Michiyo's father (he owns a kimono shop).  F's paid for everything & even bought me a present at a tourist stand.