I had the most incredible experience today…
While looking for a Japanese-English dictionary (after that disappointment with the Japanese Language School - too slow and costly), I was approached by a Japanese woman. She asked me if I was studying Japanese, I said yes. I started thinking she was going to try and sell me something (or swindle me or something). But I saw her hands shaking in nervousness and introduced myself.
She wanted to continue practicing English after school was out (next week), and I wanted to practice my elementary Japanese. We exchanged email addresses and hopefully we’ll meet this week.
That experience taught me a few things: my fear of being tricked/robbed holds me back from meeting new people. I feel vulnerable and defensive in a land where my accent and looking around gives me away as a foreigner. I must overcome this. Also, Japanese people are incredible, amazing, and unlike any American I know. They are courageous and outgoing and always optimistic. I am humbled by her (Fumie) actions. I have more to learn from her than grammar.
Another oddity: many restaurants and cafes are “fully liscenced and BYO”. So, if you want, bring your own booze to your dinner! They don’t mind.
Life news:
* rewrote resume for restaurant position, will scope out places tomorrow, set up bank account.
* filed for a tax number (like a SSN) so I’ll be taxed at 29% instead of 47%. Healthcare for all. I’m honored to pay 29%.
* scrapped Japanese language school after meeting Fumie. But I’ll still drop in on their A$5 culture class (like calligraphy!).
Oh, what I said about snail mail above was wrong. SEND ME MAIL! I call IEP and ask if I have any mail waiting for me, if I do, I tell them my zip code, then they forward it to the post office, where I can pick it up.
WRITE WRITE WRITE right now. ‘k go.