Thursday, May 26th, 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.

Today I got a lot of papers graded.  My one class was okay, but I got a little angry because they wouldn't repeat things I said to repeat.  Joyful Noise practiced at lunch.

E.S.S. after school was fun.  There were about 15 girls today.  We played the name game, did vocal and acting warm-ups, the mirror activity, sang "El Shaddai", worked on mimicking, read from scripts, and had social time.

I rode the train home with Linda Lee & cleaned out my dresser drawers- oh boy!

I got a letter from Ruth G. the other day.  She wants me to sign a form to become a special service worker.  I really don't want to, because part of the pkg. is becoming involved in various missionary groups & clubs, and I don't want to!  Church women will be given my name & I'll get cards, etc. (more responsibility when I go home- program-wise).

I want to just be a teacher here, but Pennsylvania did help me with my airfare, and in getting the job to begin with, but yuk!!  

Got a letter from dad, a post card from Robin in California (she's visiting Mike, and saw Jennifer en route, in St. Louis), and a letter & some pictures from Stephanie.

Wednesday, May 25th, 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.

Today was meeting day.  Linda Lee called and said that Karl wasn't going in (because he helped Christos tear down and got home late), and to take the train.  I rode in with Mr. M.  M. lead prayer meeting, then I wrote letters, etc. till chapel.  Chapel was about leprosy- yuk!

We had a 2 1/2 hour English meeting.  I'm not going to England (angry emoji)!!  I had an x-ray taken today.  Free physicals and such for Hinomoto.

Rode home w/Karl & L. Lee.  Stopped at steak place for dinner- had chicken.  Ran downtown to buy envelopes.  Exciting day?!

Misuzu D. came by to ask about taking English lessons.  So, I'm going to give her private lessons.  Don't know if it'll work out or not!

Monday, May 23rd, 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.

Today I went shopping and found a rug for my office.  It's neat & was on sale, but I fear it's too small...oh well, it'll work all right.  I bought a new watch band and had a dickens of a time getting the old one off & the new one on.  I mailed "A Day in the Life..." to Steph, the mask to Robin, and bought paper balloons for mom to give to her kids.

I bought an Old El Paso taco pack, and made honest to God Mexican tacos for dinner- yum.  I also found stuffed tortellini- yay.

After dinner dome woman came to my door.  I had to call Karl (there's that dependence again) & he & I finally got figured out that she wanted to take English lessons.  She graduated from Hinomoto 9 years ago,  & she saw me walk by & followed me to see where I lived when she picked up her kids at the kindergarten next door.  I'm not sure if I'll take her a student, but probably will---it's more shopping money!  She seems very nice.

I met Michiyo at 7:20 to go to Chinatsu's taiko (drum) concert.  It was really good, and after their concert, they pulled the audience up to play too.  What fun.  Michiyo & I followed each other on all the different drums.  Chinatsu took picture of me playing-ugh!

Chinatsu & her mom brought me home, and now I'm planning tomorrow's lessons.  This evening I've felt a little homesick and lonely in realizing that I haven't seem my family for 2 months now...

Monday, May 16th, 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.

Nothing happened today, and I've had these awful "God why am I not famous and on Broadway yet" feelings, due to the fabulous show yesterday.  I always get this way after a good show, and I just feel so miserable and like such a failure.  I really want to be famous, and I really want to work on Broadway, or in movies, or make records, or model...and here I am in Japan.

Maybe I'm escaping from that drive for fame by coming here.  I keep saying I'll try when I go back, but that gives me two more years to stall.  God please give me my dream!

Went to K's to help clean 2nd floor- big whoop.

I'll get over this feeling in a week or so, but that desire will haunt me till I die!

Even Steph is absorbed in theater this summer on the showboat.  Maybe another reason for the advantage of our being together is mutual interest and support in the striving for this goal?!  I certainly hope so!!

mom and dad in Missouri to see Steph in a show on the riverboat

family friends Bud and Virginia came too!

Sunday, May 15th, 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.

Today was the big trip to Osaka to see "Les Miserables" with Masano and okasan.  It was fabulous!

Knowing the music and synopsis beforehand made the fact that it was all in Japanese insignificant.  I could fill in what I didn't know from the actions and expressions.  The sets were very sparse and rustic, but perfect for the play.

I bawled through most of the 2nd act, first when Eponine just got over the barrier and was shot, and died singing in Marius' arms; then when Gavrosh crossed the barrier to get ammunition from the dead enemy soldiers and was shot, but kept getting ammo, then threw his bag of ammo up to the men on the barrier, who missed it, and finally when the last shot was fired and Gavrosh died.

I also cried when the leader of the rebels, Enjolras, lay dead over the barrier with the rebel flag, and Gavrosh lay dead below, the rotating stage turned to show just them dead.  Everyone else in the revolution died too except Marius and Valjean.  Valjean dies in the end though, so only Cosette and Marius live (besides the inn keeper and his wife- who were hysterical!!).

Particularly worth mentioning was the scene in which Javert kills himself.  In the previous scene a bridge was shown above the actors on stage, for the suicide scene the bridge came down to the floor, Javert jumped over the rail & held on, then let go and the bridge raced up into the riggings, and the actor motioned that he was sinking in the river to his death.  It was so creative.

Eponine, Cosette, Valjean, Fantine, and Javert were particularly good.

I bought lots of souvenirs and am glad, because it was a show well worth remembering.  There are still very minute details I don't know, and probably won't for awhile, but it was so wonderful to see it finally.

The kids were very professional, and although Marius didn't have that great of a voice, the production was simply marvelous!!

Another touching scene was when Marius sang "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" about his dead buddies, and they walked up behind him as a group in a ghostly, yet chummy stance.

Fantine and Eponine came to take Valjean away at the end in a similar manner, and Marius and Cosette faked that he was still in his chair and not up (the actor) walking away- great!

The hopelessness of the revolt really hit me, and that made the whole thing even sadder.

The curtain call was fun. They came out several times and all seemed very nice and full of group camaraderie.  I miss it, and and wish I was up there, doing that kind of thing...in time, in time.

We ate before the show at a fancy department store restaurant.  We met Moto after the show, then went to eat at a great place called Kattin-Oh, where they bring out various plates of food and smaller dishes to eat off of.

It wasn't too fun afterward, though, because of the long car trip home (which was actually nice, compared to the train ride up, which was probably longer...which, by the way, was mostly a Japanese lesson, and very nice).  It was also not good because they stopped at a Beddhist Temple to worship on the way.  They were in there for 45 minutes, while I sat in the car- then the priest came out and blessed the car.  He got in the front passenger seat, the drivers seat, blessed the doors, the hood, etc...strange!

It was a fabulous day though...hope there are more like this one!!

P.S.  The use of echoes was masterfully done in elongating final notes and lengthening, ever so slightly, the dying notes of actors and actresses.  Fabulous!!

Tuesday, May 10th, 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.

I met my E.S.S. girls at Himeji Station.

We toured the castle, and a nearby zoo, and had a great day.  I was really worried someone would get hurt, and I'd be in big trouble, but it all worked out okay.  I kept saying "be careful" and they'd all fake tripping or I'd really trip and they'd laugh.

 At 9:00 I watched "Beverly Hills Cop" with K's.  (Figure that one out.)

Monday I met Linda Lee to see "Dancers", but it had already left Himeji.  She was late meeting me, and I got my Mother's Day package mailed, finally.  It was only 930 yen, I was surprised.

So, I went shopping instead.  I bought little piddly things and found a braided trunk-fig for 1,000 yen.  It's in my office (I took on the train later that day).

I went into school for the "late" afternoon for the first of my conferences, but it was a waste of time.  No one showed.  3 of my 4 groups contacted me ahead of time, but the one group didn't...I was a bit upset!

Today was no major thrill.  It was my busy day, and the girls in my E.C. I class would not stop talking, so I was a big grouchy.

In E.C. IIa only 5 of my 13 students showed up.  E.C. IIb went well.  I kind of like that class.

I had more conferences today, and everyone showed but 2 girls, who I'm upset with- because they were reminded of their conference in class, and one of them was rescheduled from yesterday...grrr...

All day I worked on a photo journal called "A Day in the Life of Jeff S" for Steph...me shaving, teaching, correcting papers, taking the train, shopping, writing letters, etc.

Monday, May 2nd, 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.

Today was nice, but tiring!  We left the cabin at 10:00 to walk around the lake.  It must have been 25 miles!  We didn't get home until 5:15.  We stopped for lunch and dinner along the way, but still must have walked for 6 hours or so.  We saw many neat views of the lake and mountains. 

Got back here and played Yahtzee...not much else to say.

I can't decide if I like it here or not.  It's desperately lonely, and I feel intermittently sad and happy.  It's very lonely. 

 Karl painting the view

 

 Taking photos (using the timer on my camera) to send to Stephanie

It's not my choice as vacation spot of the year, but it does have a certain charm and attractiveness.  A nice man from Canada stopped by this morning and we met a Lutheran minister and his wife (actually I met- Karl and Linda Lee already know him)- very friendly people here.

Well, I notice my writing is worse than usual (and my thoughts are jumbled and incorrect), so I'll stop for tonight.

Sunday, May 1st, 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.

Today was more work than play, but it was okay.  Karl got it into his head to move the wood by the house to the back on a self made "log shelf".  We cut and levered and pushed and rolled all morning accomplishing nothing really- he ended up throwing most of the wood into the snow cellar, and burning it to kill off the bugs inside, and start filling the old hold in.  

 I was mad because we saw a family of ferrets going in there, and I was afraid there was a nest and babies, but I think the nest is above the hole in a network of tunnels, so maybe they were okay.  Karl said he saw a baby poke its head out of a hole above the place, so here's hoping!

Linda Lee and I walked into Nojiri for groceries.  We stopped at a place called Grampia for lunch- I had pizza toast- yum.  We then walked on into town and bought stuff.  I got post cards and a Coke to add the can to my new can collection.  Yesterday I bought Mickey Mouse orange soda, and today the Samurai Coke can.

I listened to Whitney Houston while reading and "Nobody Loves me Like You Do" came on.  I stared out across the lake thinking of Stephanie, and decided to write her a letter.  Then I sat on the rocky jetty by the cabin and stared out over the lake, town, mountains, and thought of Steph.  I started crying- no sobs, just a few silent tears.  "Greatest Love of All" still has that effect.

We had dinner at a place called Capitan.  I had an honest to God pizza!  Canadian bacon, but nonetheless real pizza.  It wasn't up to American (specifically Pizza Hut) standards, but for Torinos or frozen, it was pretty good!

I started my delvings into bonsai today.  I dug up some rooting acorns and hope to grow a few oak bonsai trees.  I'll probably give it up after awhile, but will give it a try.

It was a wonderful day today...a bit too warm with all the work we did today.  Walking back from town was really hot today too.  I'm ready for a bath!

The restaurant tonight was so neat...nothing really to look at, sort of diner-ish, but they sold pottery and t-shirts, jewelry, etc.  The waitress/owner was really nice, and spoke a little English.  I told her the pizza was wonderful, and she said to come back.  I said I will...tomorrow, and I will!

Nice thought for today (on a wall hanging in my room):

"Prayer should be the key of the day, and the lock of the night".

Saturday, April 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.

I haven't written for 3 days and barely remember what happened on Thursday, but here goes.  I went in to school at 7:30 with K's, got there at 8:00 and worked on lesson plans until class.

Class went fine, except that the lesson was very difficult to explain and I kept sighing because of my frustration at not being able to get the girls to understand.  They understood, though, for the most part, and were concerned that I was sad or upset because of my sighing- what dolls!

I had lunch club, which was fun, then puttered around my office until 4:15 when E.S.E. met.  Sachiko stopped by, and I got a call from Yukari N.- she will stop and see me sometime soon.

E.S.S. went well.  I taught them "El Shaddai", and we played Simon Says.  I served snacks, and there were 11 girls there (after finally getting them all together).  Mr. M stopped by to snack, and sang with us- said I had a good turnout!

Disaster struck when the girls voted Masami Y. club president (against her wishes).  She looked like she would cry!  I shouldn't have rushed into asking if they wanted the club student run, and then had elections straight away...luckily Michiyo F. volunteered and Michiko I. volunteered for vice president.  I apologized profusely to everyone and I think all is well?!

Friday was fun.  I got up and cleaned and did some laundry (not the fun part).  It was the emperors birthday, so there were no classes (the beginning of Golden Week).

I met Masano for lunch on Miyuki Doori, then we attempted to find the YMCA to see about Japanese classes.  We went the wrong way and ended up calling Nao.  She picked us up.  We went to the Y, they talked me out of classes, and opted to teach me instead.  We went to the basement coffee house-  Amika, and then took the train to Himeji to shop.

We went to an American goods store off Miyuki Doori, which sold antiques, American soaps and toothpaste, Crayola crayons, and marijuana accessories...bongs, pipes, etc.  I nearly died!

A special radio was picking up a California radio station, which seemed really odd, but was so neat to hear an American DJ!

I bought a linen suit for about $45.00, but could only make a down payment to hold it since I couldn't go to the post office and get money out of postal savings because the post office was closed.  I was so mad!

Today has been long, but very nice.  I got up at 4 a.m. to be at K's by 5 to leave for Nojiri, where I'm writing from now.  It's Golden Week, a combination of 3 national holidays: the old guys birthday, income tax day, and the boys festival, so we Hinomoto teachers are off until next Friday.

We are staying at the missionary cabin on Lake Nojiri in Northern Japan.  It's a very rustic place, and the cabin is "little house on the prairie"- except that we have gas and an indoor toilet, as well as electricity.  Actually it's quite nice.  The windows are all boarded up due to this really being a summer cabin, but even so, it's big, fairly cheery, and reminds me a lot of church camp.

Unfortunately it also reminds me of Sun Valley Lake, and I feel a bit lonely...but alas, no good pouting.

Mountains wall in the lake, and although I've only seen it in near darkness, the lake looks huge.  Linda Lee says it takes 6 hours to walk around it, which we're doing tomorrow - yay!  The moon is full tonight, and the lights of the village on the shore and various cabin lights around the lake, together with the moon are a beautiful sight.

The trip up was fabulous.  It took 10-11 hours to drive here, but it wasn't nearly as bad as the 8 hours or so to Kansas city to get my work visa...all day we saw either mountains (the Japan Alps, and other various "average" mountains) or the Sea of Japan- most of the 2nd half of the trip- both.

The Alps still have much snow on them, and I expected a little oriental Heidi, or Geisha Maria to come singing down the side of one of the lower mountains.

The sea was absolutely beautiful.  It always fills me with such awe to think of the water, and how much of it there is, and what it's like underneath the fathoms of water, and I wanted very much to go down and walk barefoot along one of the many shores I saw, but had to content myself with a rocky area by a rest stop.

I touched the sea and walked around, but really wanted to be running barefoot in the tide on a beach.  Stephanie by my side would have perfected the picture...maybe next summer when she visits.

Karl forgot to put the oil cap back on when he put oil in the car, so we had a 2 hour delay in a small town about half way, and we lost a hubcap, but the rest of the day was great.

We also saw acres of tulips being grown for selling, along the way.  Acres of reds, blues, pinks, yellows- it looked like Holland- not Asia!!!