Friday, November 11th, 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.

Actually today is Tuesday, November 15th, at 3:10 p.m.  When I wrote the above, nothing had happened since the last entry.

But, lots has sine then.  Friday night I taught my Megumi class.  It wasn't a real thrill, but it was okay.

Saturday I got up, cleaned, got cash and then taught an English lesson to Meg.  Manna didn't come, so I had a long Japanese lesson.  It was a really good one.  After my lesson I watched a couple of videos, and went to bed early.

Sunday I got up and left at 8:50 for Rokko. The sermon was on "Rocks in the Bible".  It told of rocks as food, drink, shelter, safety, etc.  It was good.  I sat by Dave.  What a Mr. GQ!  He's great.

After church Kimberly, Paula, Nora, Barry, Kenji and I went to Central Station at the New Oriental for steak...yum!  They have a real salad bar!  We met Isaku there, so we crowded 8 people into a 4 person booth (Jim B. came too).

Kenji came to church for the 1st time & we talked him into doing stuff with us all day.  He spent 12 hours speaking English with gaijin & said he felt like his head had been put through a pencil sharpener!

After lunch we shopped, and had a picture taken together and put on an NTT phone card.  It was great!

After shopping we went to bible study, church, and singles fellowship.  Bible study was about the power of prayer and existence of miracles today.  It was very interesting.  I left early to help Paula with the song she is singing next Sunday.

I sang at church.  I sang "Friends".  People cried.  Afterwards, Charles said "Boy, if I could sing like that with a cold, I'd pray to always be sick".  (I told them, beforehand to bear with me because I had a cold).

Singles was about Ruth, being a foreigner in Israel.  Relevant!  We had homemade ice cream and took pictures afterwards.

I called Nobu before singles & told him that I was staying with Kim.  He told me no, and to get my ass over there, so as not to make Kim's landlord angry (as Kim lives in an all women's apartment building...no men are allowed overnight...how stupid!).

Anyway, I stayed with I's.  Carol was supposed to go with Kim & I on Monday to the embassy to get our re-entry permits, but Becky got sick again & Kim & I were sent off to do it solo (or duet in this case).

We caught a taxi at Sannomiya Station and I said "Kansai denryoku" (consulate or embassy), but he thought we said Kansai denki (Kansai electric).  So, we ended up in the wrong building, and had to be led to the right one.   Luckily a nice lady escorted us there & it was nearby.

We filled out our forms, bought our 3,000 yen stamp, and got it taken care of.  We went to the old Oriental Hotel for coffee and croissants.  Kim then left for the christian women's luncheon and I went to Maruzen to browse.  I bought a wonderful calendar of restored carousel animals.

I took the shinkaisoku back to Himeji, then went to the post office to pay my phone bill, mail Melissa's wedding present, and buy stamps for my Christmas postcards.  My total was about 12,000 yen.  Ack!

There have been ropes strung up around my neighborhood with paper streamer things hanging from them from Saturday to now.  I guess they were there for 3-5-7 day, which was Sunday.  3-5-7 day is where girls age 3 & 7, and boys age 5 celebrate being that age.  They wear their cute little kimonos around all day.  Because of this, and the nice weather on Sunday I was squished into a corner, standing, on the train, incidentally.

I had my lesson with Kayo.  She has a cold, too.  She asked me what I had for dinner (planned).  I said I didn't know, but would find something.  As I thought, she came about 2 hours later with some Japanese dish that she had made for me.  She's such a doll!  I'm so glad I decided to teach her for the price she could afford (which was less than half my asking price).  I would have missed out on so much culture & kindness had I not!

I put stamps on postcards, wrote an encouragement letter to Robin, watched more of Shogun, & went to bed.

Thursday, November 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.

Tuesday was the busiest I've been yet!  I taught my 3 classes, had my Japanese lesson, then left school to teach my 1st class in Mizoguchi...6 elementary school children- 4 boys and 2 girls.

They were typically hyperactive, and obnoxious, but if I realize that going in, maybe I'll be okay.  After all, they have school all day, so it should be fun, or their interest won't be kept.  We learned the days of the week, and sang the theme from "Happy Days" using the days of the week.  For some reason Saturday was hysterical to them.

After the kodomos was my adult class...of 2 people.  One is a Kenmei student, the other is a working man.  Their English is pretty good.  We discussed "Shopping Street" from a book called "Explain Yourself.  It should be fun.

I've caught a cold so I had a sore throat Tues., and all the other nasty symptoms yesterday and today.

Wednesday I came in & lazed around until chapel, then did the same then.

At lunch I ran to the post office to pay my furikae and bought stuff for tacos at Ginbiru.

I met Satoko on the train.  She is an office worker for Hinomoto, and always says "hello" and smiles.  She's very nice, so it was nice to finally meet her.

I picked up my prints from the weekend festivities in Rokko, then went home to start dinner.

Akira and Hiroko came, and I fixed tacos.  It was a fun evening.  We talked about Bush's being elected that day (GAG!).  We also talked about the emperor and how they felt about him.

Today, I rode in with Kim.  My E.C. I class went well.  Now I'm vegging in my office.

Oh, yesterday I was embarrassed.  I got a call telling me that I was supposed to be at a meeting.  I ran down, walked in, and everyone started laughing.  Haruko sensei thought she called Karl (not that we even sound anything alike).

A lady came to see me about teaching once a month at a kodomo school near here.  Offers keep coming in, but I need to start refusing them.  The money is good, but so is free time!

Mike has a lecture series starting in January, once a month.  He may give it to me.  It pays 9,000 yen per hour, for 3 hours, 1 day a month...not bad!

At this point, I want to quit my Friday night class at Megumi.  I doesn't pay, but I enjoy the people, so I'm not sure what I want to do.

Monday, November 7th, 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 ran errands.  I bought Stephanie a hapi coat and Aunt Doris a friendship ball.  Not that Steph. and I may be together, by Christmas, but just in case, I bought her a present.  I'm tired of missing out on great presents by breaking up before Christmas instead of after- ha!

I guess I write the above because I got a letter from darling Steph. Saturday.  In only 8 words she informed me she wasn't going to Pennsylvania at New Years as we had planned to, since February.  No apology, nothing...just "I have to work, so I'm not going to Pennsylvania."  Grr..  I wrote back the standard "what are your feelings towards me?" etc. letter, so we'll see...

I had a lesson with Meg & Manna.  Meg thinks the Japanese conversation isn't working, and that we we need to work in a book...yuk!!

I jumped on a train after lessons, and went to a singles "going away/Trivial Pursuit" party at B's.  We had yakitori on the grill, and it was a great time!

Moira and Isaku

 Me and Nora!

Charles and Mary B.
 

I stayed overnight at I's.  Carol & I had a nice chat Sunday morning, then I left for Rokko to go to morning worship.

Lots of the singles were there, and after service they talked me into going to B's for a Southern U.S. lunch.  It was GREAT!  Peanut soup, turnip greens, cornbread and beans, key lime pie.  Chicken & dumplings, etc.

 Janet B. (the hostess)!

 Digging that 80's sweater!

After lunch Barry, Nora, and I went to the New Kobe Oriental Hotel, shopping.  What a place!

Everything was really expensive.  I managed to walk away with only 47 post cards (my this year's Christmas cards), and a vase (for 1,000 yen).

After shopping, and eating Belgian waffles, we went back to Rokko and to bible study (except that I went to the students center instead and practiced for our trio).

In service the trio (Nora, Erin, and I) sang "undivided".  It went well.  I went up and declared my desire to be a member through watchcare.  It was a great evening/day.

Today I went with Mike at 1:45 to meet the man running the school I start teaching at tomorrow night in Fukusaki (or Mizoguchi)(I forget which).

We went to look at the place, and Mike & I had a great chat about Genesis & the rapture.

I had a lesson with Kayo at 4.  I have the horrible feeling she's giving me a kimono for Christmas...but, maybe not.

I started writing out Christmas cards today, too!

Saturday, October 29th, 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.

Yesterday was a pretty good day.  I rode the 8:22 in, and got caught up on lots of stuff at the office.  I started researching and organizing thoughts, materials, etc. for my English Drama class next year.

I had my koto lesson.  I was okay, but made lots of mistakes, as usual.

I got letters written, papers copied, my newsletter article for F.B. in Fairfield written, and various lesson plans & stuff done.

Friday night was Megumi class.  This was our Halloween party.  We did the suitcase race, made masks, trick or treated in the church, and I set up a "Feel the body part" place.  The students were blindfolded and I had them stick their hands in various things like hamburger, jello, tomato juice, spaghetti, etc.  We told them it was brains, blood, heart, etc.

The reactions of some of them (guys as well as girls) was hilarious!  We had cake & cider, and bobbed for apples, too.  It was really fun!

Today mom & dad called and said that Grandma Shepherd died yesterday (Friday).  It was a relief, I guess.  She's finally out of her coma.  But you never really prepare yourself fully for that "one phone call".  I'm not sure what my reaction is.  I'm too far removed from the situation to feel it properly.  I'll miss what she used to be, but guess I have been already, since she went into the nursing home.  God Bless you in your new life, gram.

Today I ran errands, and had my lesson with Meg and Manna.  they went pretty well.  I called Kim this morning.  We discussed final plans for "Phantom of the Opera" next January.

After lessons Michiyo called about a news release for our Shirotopia show.

I went grocery shopping, and am now relaxing, contemplating life, age, and death, and preparing to watch "Young Sherlock Holmes".