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Published: June 28th 2006
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Wednesday 6/28/06
Well Monday night I lost the key to the bike and felt just horrible b/c obviously the bike isn’t mine, it’s Adachi-san’s. He was really nice about it though, and helped me look for the key. When we couldn’t find it after a while he suggested we go to the bike shop the next day and see if they could remove the lock. This meant of course that I had to walk home. Yech :P However, I was saved by a very nice girl from the first floor who offered me a ride home, and, even though she didn’t speak a word of English, we managed to get there somehow!! Yesterday morning it took me half an hour to walk to work, but it was still early so at least it wasn’t too hot. Then, at our morning meeting, Adachi kun came up to me and told me that he had found a spare key! Horray!! I’m glad b/c it would have sucked to pay to remove the lock and buy a new one. I can’t believe that boy is married, he looks so young!! I
n the afternoon I went to lunch with Keiko, which was very nice, since I got to know a little more about her. We went to lunch at this cute little place and the food was very good. However, there was this one thing that I really didn’t like at all. It was essentially fish custard and was really runny and gross, blech! After lunch I had afternoon classes and managed (with my exceedingly limited vocabulary) to invite the other interns out with us on Saturday to go around Gifu. Asai said maybe, and Cho-chan will definitely come, but unfortunately Mizuno chan and Yamauchi kun are too busy with other stuff. Hopefully Asai kun can come though, and then he can show us around Gifu a little better. Anyway, last night I did nothing again, bad Jenn!! I meant to get a bunch of editing and cleaning done but instead I ate dinner (from the convini) watched TV and went to bed at like 7pm! I woke up at 5 did a bit of editing and then went back to sleep from 6-7:30. Today for lunch Taguchi chan and Mike and I are going to eat spicy ramen together. Yummy!!!
Later...
went to a really good ramen place for lunch, but we had to wait an hour before we were seated!! This made us an hour late from lunch but b/c of a seminar going on today, I don’t think anyone really cared because they were too busy to notice!! 😊
Random Experiences/Things I Forgot to Mention:
Bike headlight: Yes folks, my bike, which is my transportation around Gifu, has a headlight on it! Hahaha! This is very useful when riding home at night because sometimes the streets aren’t very well lit. Is also useful to avoid hitting small children, who like to sit in the middle of the sidewalk where people ride.
Dogs: In Japan, apparently there are only 3 varieties—chow, weiner dog, chow-weiner cross breed. I’m not joking here. You see these chows with long bodies and tiny TINY little legs walking down the street. Will take pic next time I come across one. Hilarious.
Squat Pots: These are toilets made by men for men. NOT for women, but we are expected to use them. Most places now have really cool toilets with heated seats and bidets and lots of little buttons you can push to do various things, however, some places still have the squatters. The squat toilets are mostly found in public parks, convenience stores, gas stations, etc. They are basically a toilet bowl in the floor that women have to squat to pee in. Not very easy or comfortable to use. I had my first experience with one at a 7-11 after that horrible bar in Osu. Charlene laughed at me the entire way to the restaurant…😊 All I have to say is, I’m glad I was wearing a skirt!
Girls and Fashion: Ok, to me, this is the most disturbing part of Japan. The girls are ridiculously thin and always dressed to the 9s. Most women here are a size 1 or less. A great majority of them fit into Western children’s sizes. The sick thing is, they all think they are fat. Their boyfriends all threaten to dump them if they put on weight. Charlene had one friend whose boyfriend told her he wouldn’t introduce her to his parents until she lost 10 pounds. Also, Fashion is everything. Women will walk around all day in 4 inch stilettos, even though they are obviously in pain. Moreover, they are expertly groomed and manicured without a smudge to be seen or a hair out of place. I think what shocked me the most was that this is not only an adult trend. I have seen more children (think, 6 or 7 years old!) in at least 2 inch heels, short skirts, and tight tops, with perfect hair and nails. And name brands, woah baby! We’re talking Armane, Versace, Prada, Louis Vitton, etc. If you thinking dumping a girl because she’s 10 lbs heavier than you want her to be is ridiculous, try this on for size: girls routinely dump their boyfriends for failing to get them designer clothes, handbags, wallets, etc. One girl I talked to was complaining because her boyfriend only bought her a Coach purse when she wanted a new Louis V. Ahh well I suppose each culture has its ups and downs…
Size: Everything here is Polite Size…(read: small) and though for some things its great to see a reduction in size (food portions, cars-ho huge SUV’s!!!) other things kind of suck. For example, my bathtub is sooo tiny!!! You have to sit with your knees against your chest if you’re a normal western height. Luckily I’m short so I can stretch my legs a little!! Haha the people are little too, especially the women! I’m the same height or taller than most every girl I know and I’m only 5’2”! The men range in size. Some are just slightly taller than me, while others are really tall, like 6 ft or so!! I believe that this is a recent trend, because everyone talks about how tall boys are growing recently.
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Mom
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I read your journal
Hi honey. I read your journal and was thoroughly delighted at all the newsy stuff you wrote. But, being your mother, I have to tell you, if I found your sight on the internet, others can too. Please no negative comments about anyone in particular. This is not a private journal so just use caution. Please. I know you love it there and I am so happy for you. Maybe I'll get a chance to talk to you this week. Love you.