Wednesday, August 9th, 1989

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.

Last Tuesday Kimberly, Mitsuko, Kimberly's mom, Sheila, Daniel & I went to Mt. Shosha, near Himeji.  We took a bus from Himeji Eki, then when we go to Mt. Shosha (bus 6 or 8 from the bus station by Miyuki Doori)(220 yen), we bought round trip cable car tickets (600 yen), and rode to the top.  Daniel & Sheila walked up & we lost them until we were coming back down to leave.  So, Kimberly, her mom, Mitsuko & I walked around to the various temples, scenic views, museums, etc.  Mt. Shosha is a beautiful place.  It's the oldest temple in the Kansai and very quiet and serene.  I want to go back this fall when the leaves are changing.

 At 5:30 I taught my Mizoguchi classes.  During my last class Mrs. T. brought me 6 of Mike's old students.  Of course none of them are the same level, so I had to add a class after my advanced class starting next week...rah.

T. was a jerk again this past Monday.  When he called Mike & told him to tell me that my adult class was going to be in Koro I had Mike (who T. has made his unofficial translator- even though Mr. T. told Mike to find another co-signer for his van after Mike quit...) call him back and say that classes would be in Mizoguchi, or I would quit.  I did it mainly because T. "arranged" with the students to meet in Koro before checking with me.  He's a shifty little creep, so I'm going to have to watch him.  With Mike quitting, and no one wanting to take over for him, I have the upper hand, and I'm certainly not going to be pushed around!  Kind of fun, really!

After my trip to Germany T. wants me to take Mike's kodomo class...rah...but, more money!

Wednesday I had brunch at the M's with Elaine.  After that I went to the bank and did a money transfer to buy my plane ticket.

After that I went to school in the pouring rain to meet Machiko to work on our paper- only to get there and find that she'd called and canceled, so I typed up some forms for my placement file, then left.

Thursday I cleaned windows, inside & out.

Friday I scrubbed my toaster oven, and my gas range.  My Friday night class went well.  I got paid.  :-)

Saturday I went to Mike & Resa's at 4:30.  On the way we went to America Mura.  I restocked my p. butter supply & we got two movies- "Mazes & Monsters" w/Tom Hanks (not very good), and "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (not very pleasant).  I gouged my back on their t.v. cabinet while picking up some magazines.  Hurt like crazy.  Still red and tender today.

Sunday Kimberly, Pam, Kimberly's mom (henceforth Pat), and I went to see Himeji Castle (me, for the 5th time).  Elaine was supposed to meet us at 1:00, but didn't show up, so at 11:45 we left to see Himeji-jo.  It was a fun time, but hot.  It was castle festival time, so we got to see it free.  After the castle we went to McDonalds, then caught the train for b.study & church.

At bible study Glenn led, and we acted out Joshua 10.  I was Joshua.  It was fun.

At church we had communion (for the 1st time since I've been at KIBC).  Charles left about 30 minutes before the communion for testimony, hymns, etc.  It was nice.

After church Mitsuko, Kimberly, Pat, & I stayed at G's overnight.  (G's are in the U.S. & said Kimberly could stay after her surgery- which she didn't have (because the doctor who gave her the 2nd opinion didn't find any tumors- so now she's going for a 3rd opinion & some tests next week)).

I went to a pay phone to check my machine to see what had happened to Elaine, and, as I suspected she overslept, and went to the parade instead of church- causing us all great fear, as so many strange things have happened to her since I've met her.

The annoying thing is that she called at 9 a.m., and said she'd be coming (before, she had concert tickets for the day & wasn't sure she could sell them), so we waited until 11:45 because of that (also she didn't call & leave a message earlier).

Anyway, Monday we had brunch (french toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, has browns) then got ready and went shopping in Sannomiya.  Mitsuko bought me a book that I wanted, but couldn't afford.  It's my "early b-day present".

Tuesday I met Mike at 10:00 at Studio Peg, and we made a demo tape of gospel music for me to send to a record company in Tokyo.  There's a Japanese singer who records with CBS/Sony and met one of Kimberly's friends at Paisley Park in Minnesota.  She gave Kimberly the address & K. passed it onto me.  Heavy prayer that this works out!!  The Japanese guy said he was always looking for backup singers- what a trip that would be!!

It took 3 1/2 hrs. to do the tape & it was a blast!  It turned out pretty well, too!

After recording we went to Royal Host for lunch.

Taught at Mizoguchi (back to real life) in the p.m.

Today I left at 7:15 to go to Mukonoso to meet Kimberly, Pat, & Mitsuko to go to a pottery village north of Kobe.  It was way out in the country (to give an idea, my transportation, from here to there and back consisted of-in-this-order:  bus, train (JR), train (Hankyu), bicycle (Mitsuko), bus, train (JR), taxi, ARRIVAL AT CRAFT CENTER, taxi, bus, train (Sanyo), train (Sanyo), bus, HOME).  I spend most of the time in transportation!

We went to a center that displayed all of the local wares.  I bought some plates with maple leaf prints on them & some other odds & ends.

 ticket from the craft center (we had to pay to go in...)

After the center, we went to a potters place to look around.  The potter was a friend of Mitsuko's dad.  They were firing stuff while we were there, which was lucky- they only fire three times a year, for 3 days each time.  We got to make our own pottery, but mine fell apart when I tried to get it off the potters wheel.  I took lots of pictures.

After the pottery, we went by part-time taxi to a steak restaurant, but left soon after reading that the set course was 5,200 yen per person.  We walked to a nearby town, but Daiei was closed, and, since the town is very new, that was the only store/restaurant, so we caught a bus to a nearby town and ate at Mos Burger.  We were tired, and incredibly obnoxious while there (at one point I even made a face at some high school girls nearby).  (At that point we were laughing hysterically- and when she made the face to her friends to show them what I'd done- only one girl saw me make the face- we were out of control...it was fun).

I caught Sanyo from Sanda & after being helped by a man who heard me trying to figure out what trains to catch, where, at Sanda, made it home with little trouble & only a little worry.  Not bad, considering I had no idea where I was!

Sunday, July 30th, 1989

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.

Not much to say about last week.  Summer vacation has started, so not much happens...I'll touch on the highlights...

Tuesday I went to Sannomiya with the M's to show them around.  We ate at Gaylords.

Thursday I met Machiko-san at school and we began working on our paper.  It's going to be difficult, because we have about 50 different directions to go...

Yesterday I met Kimberly at Sannomiya Station and we went to the Kobe New Oriental Hotel.  We ate lunch at Central Station, shopped a little, then went to the church nearby, for Akira and Hiroko's wedding.  What an event!

First there was a ceremony at the church.  It was very nice.  Hiroko had lots of flowers in her hair, and a white dress.  Akira wore a tuxedo with tails.

After the ceremony was pictures and tea and sandwiches next door.

After that was a 2 hour break.  Kimberly & I went shopping at OPA.

At 4:00 was the reception at the hotel.  It was awesome!

We ate a 7 course dinner.  The table was very intimidating!  4 knives, 5 glasses, 3 spoons, 4 forks, etc.  We had lobster, steak, cake, salad, etc.

The wedding cake was about 6 feet tall, and the bride and groom cut it, but to the guests were brought little boxes with pieces of cake in them to take home.  (There was other cake with the meal.)

Through the course of the evening Hiroko changed 3 times.  1st, into a wedding kimono, then into a purple & black ball gown with a tiara.  She looked wonderful!  Akira wore a wedding kimono, then a tuxedo.

When Hiroko came in in the white dress, she & Akira went to each table & lit the candle on each table, then the main candle.

Various people gave speeches or sang (I sang "We are an Offering").  Mr. S. was the "Nakodo" (representative of the groom) and his wife was for Hiroko.

The grooms niece & nephew brought the bride & groom flowers, and the bride & groom had speeches read to their parents, then gave them flowers.

After the reception the gifts for the guests were brought out.  We all got a German cake, and 2 tea cups & saucers (Givency Paris).

I wore a wool suit, and sweat like a pig all day!  This wedding cost a fortune (in flowers & food alone!)!