Saturday, April 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.

Today was a nice day, Linda Lee and I went to the post office, she got money (and thusly did I) and she taught me to use the postal savings machine- difficult!  After that we went to Miyuki Dori to shop and had lunch at Conserve.  After shopping we went to Himeji Castle and saw the cherry blossoms.  I think I took about 30 pictures.  Japanese drummers were playing on the field and it was very crowded!

After that Nao picked me up and I went to N's for a barbeque.  It was a lot of fun.  Masano's cousin and her husband were visiting, one of Moto's friends was there, and Masano's English student was there.  We had all kinds of interesting things on the grill...fish, potatoes, beef, clams, squid, peppers, etc.

I ate beef and potatoes!!  We did karaoke inside after dark, and sang group songs- (yes we did bugaloo and the duck song).  Nao made a strawberry short cake, and it was a great time!

The real downer, however, was when I came home and got my first overseas phone bill...19,000 yen (approximately $190.00) for 3 short calls.  Oy vey!

Friday, April 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.

I'm going to have to start calling this my every other day journal, as I'm not getting to it as often as planned.

Yesterday I rode in to school with Karl and set up my office.  It's still a bit sparce, but is on the right track.  Anyway, I brought a plant from home and some wall hangings, now I just need a rug and a few more chairs.

We asked at the office for 4 "comfy" chairs and a conference table, but they said that I had all I was entitled to, and would have to bring whatever else I needed from home...well, excuuuuuuse me!

The train took me back to Kyoguchi at about 3:05, along with many other Hinomoto people, and that was the extent of my day.

At the apartment I read a book, cleaned up the place, and called Masano.

Monday, April 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.

I'm again writing today for yesterday, as I didn't have time last night.  Yesterday I went to Hinomoto Church.   Karl, Linda Lee, Barrett, and I all happened to be there on the same Sunday.

Linda Lee and I left early to catch the train to Kobe for a JALT meeting (Japan Association of Language Teachers).  It was an okay meeting.  The ratio was about even (Caucasian/Japanese) and there were about 20 people there.  The meeting was on the use of video in the classroom, and was quite informative.

Linda Lee and I ate at a coffee shop upon returning to Himeji, and that about caps Sunday.  I called Masano to order tickets to "Les Miserables", Mieko called, and mom and dad called.

Saturday, April 9th, 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'm writing now, because last night I was too tired to say up and do this.  Yesterday was the opening ceremony at tendai.  It was at 2 p.m. and lasted until about 3:30.  It was long!  Speeches were made by Mr. S., and the president of the Jr. College.  Pictures of faculty and students were taken, and faculty was introduced to the students.  Of course it started with me, and as usual, I didn't know what to do.  I sat by Karl, and he helped.

I also worked on my office for awhile.  Not much to work with, but eventually I'll have it looking okay.  Karl showed Sonia and I around tendai (Bethel Hall, and the library).

Sachiko was there, and I couldn't shake her once she had found me.  She wants me to go to her house for dinner, but I'll stall until I'm able to get through to her that we can only be friends.  (I'd also feel uncomfortable with the family's limited English).

After the ceremony Linda Lee and I rode the train back to Himeji.  I dropped my stuff off at my apartment and went straight to K's.  We went to Royal Host, then to Megumi Church for a Friday night English class.  I met Erland J., the Swedish pastor of the church.  He seemed very nice.

The English class consisted of Karl teaching 5 beginning level girls English, and Linda Lee teaching 2 advanced level boys.  I observed with the idea that someday I'll take Karl's class.  We had coffee and snacks after, then they drove me home, and I opened the first of the boxes I'd shipped- almost like Christmas!

Thursday, April 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. 

Well, today was the last official day of spring vacation.  Karl, Linda Lee, and I went to a town called Takarazuka to see the play "Kiss Me Kate".  The play revolves around Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew".  What made this play so unusual, is that the cast was all female (much like Shakespeare's day only with all women casts and not all men casts).  Some of them were very believable as men.

 admission ticket

The play was wonderful, the sets terrific, and all in Japanese.  For the first act, I couldn't understand a thing (except that Linda Lee kept telling me what was happening).  For the second act I rented a translator (which was annoying, because it was either behind or ahead of the play, and couldn't be heard at all during the songs).

The dancing was very good, the singing good, and the acting well done.  Takarazuka is a specialty girls school training girls in theater.  They study intensely for two years.  I assume they have classes in "the art of being a man", etc.

 stamp at Grand Theater

Today's show opened with about 50 graduates telling us this was their first show (they danced in the revue at the end), and to please wish them well.  My favorite scene was a very glitzy wedding scene near the end of Act II where Bianca and Lucentio get married.  Everyone is dressed in white glitter and satin, the curtains are silky, arches and pillars, all the lighting in pastel colors with stars in the background...it was gorgeous!

After the show was a 20 minutes glitzy "can can" type review.  Sparkles and lights, disco globes, and fan kicks, waltzing, and flowing gowns- simply eye popping!

We also saw some sights on the grounds after we waited in line for "day of" tickets (we stood in line for an hour to get a number to go inside and buy remaining tickets- we were #14, 15, 16- so no problem).

We saw the dinosaur exhibit, with fairly realistic, semi-moving reptiles.  We also rode through the fairy tale house.  We rode past scenes from 2 or 3 Japanese fairy tales, as well as scenes from "The Little Match Girl", and "Pinocchio"- it was neat!

We had lunch at a fancy coffee lounge (the chandelier was glitzy, to).  (In case you haven't noticed, I'm partial to sparkle...it must be my theater background!!).  We have various snacks throughout the day, and ate at Sato back in Himeji (why do I always write about food?!).

Watched Airwolf back at K's, and now am going to bed...

Wednesday, April 6th, 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. 

A basically uneventful day.  I went shopping after exchanging $$ for yen.  I bought a date book, organizer trays and groceries, plus a men's fashion magazine called "Men's Non-No".

When I got home I did some laundry and while checking to see if it was dry I heard someone walk by on the street behind my apartment.  I hid behind my rice paper door, as I didn't wish to be stared at, and couldn't converse anyway.  Well, this Japanese man saw me duck, and came over to investigate.  I went into the kitchen, and could hear him outside (beside the building) trying to look in.  Evidently he thought I was breaking in (either that, or he had an intense interest in caucasians!).  I was waiting for the police to come crashing through my door at some point after that, but nothing more happened.

I wrote some letters and got this far in my hiragana review:

So for now:  au revoir (I'm tired of Japanese!).

P.S.  My French is improving while here, because we (K's and I) eat at Toki which is a French/Japanese restaurant...I can only read the French part of the menu, and even so, only get part of it.

Tuesday, April 5th, 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 called Masano, and was disappointed when she said "Maybe we could get together this weekend".  I hung up discouraged, but was relieved 5 minutes later when she called back and invited me over for the day. (I had woken her up and she was delirious).  Nao picked me up at noon, and I went over for lunch.  Masano's friend Masami M. came over.  She lives near Osaka now, and was someone I met when I was in Japan before.

 We sat around and talked, I sang for everyone, we watched "Mannequin", and looked through my theatrical album for the rest of the afternoon.

For dinner they took me to a restaurant near their home to eat Japanese pizza and to grill at our table.

After a wonderful meal, we went to a coffee shop next door to N's for after dinner coffee (except none of us had coffee- tea, cocoa, tomato juice, and strawberry juice, but no coffee).

We went back to the house and played video games until I returned home. (I did terrible).

At a flower shop during the afternoon I picked up some flowers to buy and Nao started laughing hysterically...I asked what was wrong and after a few minutes she calmed down enough to say that the flowers I picked were arranged for vases on Buddha's alter (in homes).  I put them back and got another bunch. (Nao proceeded to tell everyone back at the house and people at the N's restaurant- who all fond it equally funny).