Thursday, 1st August 2002
It's the beginning of a new month. I can't even remember what I did the last month. Time is going by very quickly while I am here, which worries me as I don't seem to have enough time to do all the things that I want to do. On Saturday, it will be the Macro Summer Party. Sounds exciting, doesn't it? The thing is, I have to get a Hawaiian style shirt from somewhere!! I'm gonna look ridiculous. Ah well, at least I won't be the only one. I'm sure that whatever James chooses to wear will make me look good!! I have to go after work to get a shirt from somewhere, I hope it's not too expensive!
Friday, 2nd August 2002
I bought a hawaiian shirt last night... suffice to say it's looking very garish. I was going to get this bright green and bright blue number, but I decided against it in the end. I think eveyone would have needed sunglasses on to look at me if I got that! Last night, I slept with the airconditioning on and I'm quite surprised that I didn't freeze to death. Quite honestly, it was like sleeping in the refridgerator! Even the glass of water on the side was freezing cold in the morning! The big day is coming closer and closer, and I'm again, wondering just what to expect. I'm sure that it will be fun... especially the K-Band playing with James and Phoebe in it! We are going to have Phoebe and her friend, Malisa around tonight, seeing as it's Friday night. I just wish that there were some good (cheap) places that we could go to.
Monday, 5th August 2002
What a weekend. On Friday evening, James, Phoebe, Malisa and I had a few drinks. Unfortunately, something went a bit wrong and I ended up going to hospital in the early hours of Saturday morning. It's nothing serious, but right now I have some stitches in my arm. I can't remember much of what happened, because I was a little (read: very) drunk at the time. I have to return to the hospital today to see someone again. I don't know what they are going to do. Of course this meant that I couldn't go to the Summer Party that I was looking forward to so much. James and Phoebe went and they said that it was very good. I'm an idiot...
On the saturday, despite me missing the company party, I still went see the fireworks display in Takasaki that night. Some of the company workers accompanied us to see the fireworks. We got near enough the best seats in the house! Also, the fireworks display was even better than the Tokyo display! It was so pretty. We were sat very close, in fact, our necks were craned upwards to see the fireworks.
I've found that Malisa (Phoebe's friend) is actually quite good at playing pool! Therefore I have something to do after work and stuff. She was quite quiet when she first came to visit Phoebe, but now she's got to know us all a little bit better, she's quite good fun to be around. Oh yeah, Mal, what's the score? 2-2? 3-2? Ha ha.. (private joke)
Tuesday, 6th August 2002
I went back to the hospital last night. Unfortunately, I have to pay for the treatment and it's really expensive!! Thankfully I have medical insurance, but I can't claim that back at the moment. Note to myself: don't injure myself again. My arm is feeling better and I'll have the stitches out on Friday. When I went to the hospital, I didn't know how to say a lot of things, like, when can I take the dressing off, when will the stitches be taken out, etc. Luckily, Miho very kindly came to help me at the hospital so everything was ok.
Yesterday was Phoebe's birthday and so James, the company workers and I organised a surprise party for her! It was good fun and then we treated her to all the deserts she wanted. She'll be complaining that she's getting fat again... (Phoebe... rice is not fattening..)
Wednesday, 7th August 2002
Last night, we all went out to eat again! The food (as is nearly all Japanese food) was really tasty. It could best be described as barbequed food, but just less messy! It was a little expensive, but what the hell, we're in Japan and if I stayed at home all the time, it wouldn't be much fun would it? I'm here to experience new things and so I'd best enjoy myself out here. Nothing of any real interest happened today at work, just working away. I don't know what I'll get up to tonight. Maybe Phoebe or James has some plans?
Thursday, 8th August 2002
Didn't do anything last night. However, I did stay in work for a long time. I didn't leave until a bit past 8 o'clock, which is quite surprising for me! I just figured that since I have nothing better to do I may as well do some work. I don't think that I will do anything tonight either, weekday nights are so boring. At least tomorrow is Friday, although tomorrow I've just remembered, I'll have to get my stitches taken out. Damn.
Friday, 9th August 2002
Today, I worked really hard, getting some problem sorted out. Eventually I got it to work and now, I feel mentally exhausted. Tonight, Phoebe has some crazy idea about coming round to our house and having dinner or something...should be interesting. I can't write much today because I must got to the hospital by 6 o'clock and right now it's 5:30pm. I'll be having my stitches out today I think... I'm not really looking forward to that. Tomorrow I'll be off to Tokyo again to meet my Japanese teacher, which should be good fun!
Monday, 12th August 2002
The meeting with my Japanese teachers was good fun. It was good to meet them again. We went to this restaurant which was really quite scary looking as it was themed on Hell, but the food was very good! Also, Mal left on Sunday, Phoebe and I had a drink at Starbucks with her at Shibuya on the Saturday. Shibuya was so busy at night, so many people crossing the intersection outside the station, so late at night. Earlier in the day, James and I spent much of the day walking round Tokyo, looking at stuff. If I had the money, I would have probably spent it all!
On Sunday, I received the foreigner's newsletter called Takasaki & You!, which informs you about what's going on during the coming month. There's actually quite a lot to do this month which interests me. Firstly, there will be a sports expo for kids, and they are looking for volunteers to help organise it all, which I have registered for. I'm actually really looking forward to it. I want to help teach the kids how to play football! It should be good fun! Also, there will be a bowling tournament next week, which James and I are both going in for... 328 over 2 games is the score to beat... I reckon I could manage that! Also, I have registered (as have James and Phoebe) for some Japanese classes that will begin in September.
Our cockroach infestation is just as bad as ever. They seem to disappear for a while (probably to grow) and come out bigger than ever! On Friday night, we had a last dinner party type of thing with Mal and Phoebe. James was just clearing away the plates and bring them into the kitchen where the three of us in the living room suddenly hear this "$%($"&*!!!" and some crockery breaking!! It turns out that he saw a cockroach and dropped all the bowls!! Then.. about 5 minutes later, I was walking to a room and I saw another big cockroach on the wall! I called for James to get the spray and he came out and began to spray the cockroach as it was running up the wall.. and then it began to fly!! This bit was really funny... James then panicked as the cockroach was flying, and Phoebe was in the hall too and James dived over Phoebe to get away from the cockroach!! As if that wasn't embarressing enough, Phoebe was ducking and shouting!! I wish I had a video camera...
Tuesday, 13th August 2002
Yesterday after work we had a language club session. It was basically Phoebe and I teaching English! It was difficult because we had no preparation material on it, so I think that it would be a good idea to prepare a little bit more for next weeks session. It was quite enjoyable really and I hope that what I taught will be put to good use! Also, I got given a Gunma Soccer League magasine by Fujimaki-san. It's really good because I have been looking to join a football team and the magasine lists all the teams in Gunma. I've had a quick look through it and some of the teams are so funny! There's a particular team that stands out, which is a team called 'L.S.D' and they look like a bunch of punks from the photo! They look pretty scary. I have no idea what the standard is like, so I think that I will choose a few teams and just go on trial or something and then decide if I want to join. First of all though, I need to build up my fitness level... going for a run tonight I think... I think that I'll die because I'm so unfit...
Wednesday, 14th August 2002
Last night, I went for a run for the first time for a long, long time. True to my word, I did nearly die! maybe I should take things a little bit easier. Today, I was going to go for a run straight after work, but right now, outside, there are thunderstorms going on. I think that it might rain, so I shouldn't really go running. It's the middle of the week, so like always, there isn't much exciting to report apart from the work that I'm doing. I have now registered for Japanese classes provided by Takasaki council I think and also James and I are going in for the bowling tournament on Sunday! 328 in 2 games... I bet you we will fail miserably... Well, it'll be interesting at least!!
Thursday, 15th August 2002
James, Miho and Phoebe went to see a film tonight, but I didn't go because it wasn't my type of film. They went to see 'Total Fears'... James suggested that it would probably be 'Total sh***'!! I was informed that the film was mediocre at best. Everyday so far this week, there has been a thunderstorm! It's really annoying especially if I am trying to sleep as my room (downstairs) has no curtains and so eveytime there are lightning flashes, the whole room lights up! Also, the thunder is pretty loud too! The other night, there was a really loud rumble from the sky and it knocked out our electricity! It was quite nerve racking, lying there at 3 o'clock in the morning, with it all going crazy outside! I'm starting to feel the effects of fitness training now.. my legs are feeling a little stiff, but it's normal as I haven't run for a while. I'll join that football team soon!
Friday, 16th August 2002
There's a lot of things happening this weekend. First of all, tonight, Phoebe, James and I will be going bowling because we must get some kind of a practise game in before we enter the tournament!! Also, this weekend, the new English Premier League season kicks off on Saturday and so I'll be excited that the football season is starting again! Come Sunday, we'll be having the bowling tournament too! I can't wait!
Monday, 19th August 2002
It's another case of the Monday Blues.. I don't like Mondays. On Friday, Phoebe, James and I as per usual had a little dinner together. Nothing too exciting. Saturday, Phoebe and James both ditched me! James went off to visit his friend and Phoebe had her friend to come up to visit her and they went off to do stuff together. I suppose that I have to say that I did feel bored... but what could I do about it? I jsut went out for a while, but there is only so much you can do on your own. I went to the football field to get some practise done, but there was nobody there! Even so, I just practised on my own for a couple of hours. It was hot, but I had nothing better to do and I enjoyed kicking the ball around for a while. Eventually, James came home at 2am and Phoebe... well I don't know what happened to her.
On Sunday, it was the bowling tournament. Picture the scene, on the practise (which was basically bowl a few frames for warm up), James got 0 - 0!! I didn't fare much better and only managed about 8 I think. The competition consisted of 2 games, and the highest total score would win. The high score last year was 328. Anyway, James wasn't bowling too well, and I was below standard for the first game. I only managed 148. I knew that I had to pick up my performance and so I was going for it in the second game! Based on last year's score, I would have to get 181 to beat that score.. higher than I have ever got in any game of bowling, let alone a competition! Things started brightly, a strike, then a spare and then two more strikes.. I was actually bowling near enough perfectly, every frame either a strike or a spare! (Except for one in the middle where I got a 9). I was close and I knew it.. Then in the very last frame, I bowled.. it was going perfectly.. too perfectly... straight down the middle!!! I ended up with a 4-6, 7-10 split!! It was quite impossible to get them all (unless you are a professional) and I ended up missing the lot anyway. My final score..? 176. I couldn't beleive it. I just needed the 4 pins.
The final positions were announced and the highest score was 328 again!! My score was 324 and I came... 2nd. 2nd. The position that nobody remembers. "Oh yeah, Togashi won... that other guy came second." I was quite annoyed (with myself) because I came so close and I knew that it was well within my capacity to be able to win. I got my prize, a nice set of designer towels, but I did want to win. I don't think that I will get another chance again. Damn.
Tuesday, 20th August 2002
This morning, while I was walking to work, I suddenly heard a really loud noise... a car accident happened just about 10 metres away from me. Luckily, I don't think that anybody was hurt, it was only a minor accident I think. I didn't really know what to do, seeing as I cannot speak Japanese too well, maybe only to ask if everyone was ok. So, I just went into the company building and I saw my boss and I told him about it. He duly went outside, but saw that it was quite minor and just came back in!
Wednesday, 21st August 2002
Last night, Phoebe and I went out to meet some of the guys from the university. It was nice, and we met another new person. Thankfully, her name is easier to remember than some of the other people that we have met. I have agreed to help her with a speech contest that she will do in September, I think that will be interesting, although she hasn't decided on her topic yet. I wonder what she will talk about? We've all been invited to go along to watch the contest, so I think that I will go, if only to see if I have helped in any way! I have been invited to play football at the university, she arranged it for me and so I'm really looking forward to that. I'm just curious to see what the standard is like. The only slight problem is that the football starts at 5.30pm and I finish work (at the earliest) at 5.10pm and the university is quite far away!! I think that she's informed them of this and it should be ok if I am a little late.
Thursday, 22nd August 2002
Nothing really happened last night.. I decided after work to go and try find the university and to see how long it would take me to get there. Well, I cycled around for a couple of hours and I discovered that I'd completely forgotten where the university was!! I couldn't find it at all.. Nightfall came and I realised that my chances of finding the univeristy in the dark were none at all, so I just went back home. I'll have to try again today after work, I'll take a map with me this time!
Friday, 23rd August 2002
Just what is wrong with me? From yesterday, my eye was very sore and irritable.. Last night, on closer inspection, there is something in my eye... and it's not my eyeball! I can't seem to move it out either. I thought that if I just left it, it would go away. Obviously not. Today, it is feeling more irritable and I'm trying very hard not to rub it, because it makes it feel worse! I told Miho (Fujimaki-san) and she's really nice and is going with me to go see an eye doctor straight after work! I hope it won't cost me too much money..!
Yesterday, I spent much of my evening looking for the university. I eventually found the university after cycling for a couple of hours! I actually found it by accident. However, my aim was to go find the university and then from the university, trace a route back to the town and so I know how to get there easily. I succeeded! Other than that, I didn't do all that much last night. However, it is the weekend approaching and the expo where I have volunteered to teach kids how to play football is happening on Sunday! I'm really looking forward to that! Also, tomorrow, James' friend is coming up.. I'm not sure I want to hang around with them two (l*v*b*r*ds... ), so I might have to do my own thing on Saturday..!
Monday 26th August 2002
What a weekend! On Saturday, I decided to get my haircut and the girl knew I wasn't Japanese. I was having my hair washed and here in Japan, while they are doing that.. it kind of puts great stress on my neck as I am sitting back. Also, they put a cloth over your face. So, imagine the scenario.. I am having my hair washed, the water is running and sloshing into my ears.. and the girl start to talk to me in Japanese!! I couldn't make out much of what she was saying.. and I'm pretty sure somewhere along the line she asked which country I was from.. but I must have missed that one! So.. when I was passed on to the hairdresser.. I think that she must have thought I was really stupid or something! Anyways... at least my hair turned out to be ok!
On the same day, I telephoned the volunteer Sports for kids person and she was due to meet me at the station and give me a map. We met at the station and she just asked me if I could help out straight away! I had no problem with that, because James and his 'friend' was coming up and I had nothing else to do anyway. So.. I was there for the whole day, helping to set things up! I met a few more foreign people, the most interesting was called Richard. He's Australian and has a very bubbly personality. He's also led a very interesting life too.. he used to play cricket with Shane Warne! Anyway, after helping all the set up, I arrived home and I just took a shower and watched TV. J-League East vs. J-League West Allstars match was showing! I wanted J-League West to win because that has Jubilo in it.. but we were robbed! We should have won, but the score ended up 2-1... I was depressed. At some point along the line, James came back with his 'friend' and we met briefly before they went off to do their own thing. Although James said that he heard me shouting when J-League West nearly scored (several times)...
On Sunday.. I was all geared up to help these kids with sports. At our football part, we had an ex-professional footballer with us! He used to play for Nagoya Grampus 8, when Arsene Wenger managed at the time and also played together with Gary Lineker! He was a really nice guy and I asked him about joining a football team (only ameteur) and he knew some people, he rang aroung and got me signed up for a team! This team is quite funny because he said that there is no practice... I just go straight into a match! Although I think that he said that I'll get one chance to impress the coach. Hmm... sounds interesting..
A lot of things happened. We were basically teaching the kids how to take penalties... it was all part of a fun regime, it was nothing serious. A lot of the little kids were very friendly and not scared of me at all! It was really good fun. I met the most interesting family there.. she had three children and they all really liked me. the youngest was called... Kai! Ha ha.. Kai, meet Kai.. He was such a cute little boy. He followed me around everywhere! Also, his older sister came up to me and surprised me when she said (in perfect English), "Hello.. Nice to meet you!" She was about 7 years old maybe... So.. the parents went off for a little while, but one of the kids stayed behind! he didn't want to leave. Eventually, he said that he wanted a drink so I went with him to find his parents and and then got him a drink! His parents were very nice and they called me.. onii-san Kai.. (big brother Kai..) That was so nice. That really did make my day.. seeing the kids to be so happy and cheerful. There were lots of other sports besides football.. there was golf, cricket, rugby, netball,etc and everything was emphasising on fun and enjoying sports.
I met lots and lots of people at the volunteer meet... Although it did help a bit that the venue was in Maebashi Girl's University!! I met some interesting people, Soari (Sorry..!), Mika, Eri, Yajima-san, Mikoda-san, Abe-san, Patrick-san.. and too many others to remember.. (I'm sorry if I have forgotten your name... I'm terrible with Japanese names!) Anyways, after the volunteer event had finished, we went for a drinking party, where I met all these wonderful people. They were very friendly and although communication wasn't always so good, we could understand each other! Also, the alcohol helped!! Mikoda-san was quite drunk.. he asked me where I lived in England.. twice! Then he asked me where I lived in Japan... twice..! His friend (sitting next to him) actually remembered and replied for me! All Japanese people seem to be very surprised at how much alcohol that I can take.. and so they were fascinated by how much alcohol I consumed! Although, it was a little expensive (4000 yen ~?5) for food and drink, it was very good fun. They asked me, "What alcohol can you drink?" I replied, "Any!!" So they duly ordered some sake and we drank that. I thought that I was drinking a lot.. but there was this other girl, Eri.. she drank loads!! I was quite surprised that she didn't seem to be too drunk! Also during this time, most of the guys there coach rugby and I promised to go along to their team and take part!! Then, as we were leaving.. Eri invited me to take part for her company's football team as my company doesn't have one! So.. that's the university team, the Gunma Soccer league team (matches only), a company football team and also a rugby team that I have joined!! Oh my God.. Actually, I'm very glad to have met all these people, it makes me very happy to know them.. Thank you!! (Oh yeah.. I think that I was a little tipsy when I came back home.. Sorry James..!) Although I am at work now and I was feeling the effects a little this morning.. I wonder how Eri is doing...? Atama ga itai desu ka? Ha ha..
Tuesday 27th August 2002
I'm feeling quite exhausted now, probably because of the last two days. Yesterday, after work, we had a language club and it didn't finish until 8:30pm after work! I'm still doing my running and so I went for a run straight afterwards, then I had to go back home and make something to eat. After that, I had to shower and then after that, I had to iron some of my shirts! I was absolutely exhausted.. In fact, I think that I fell asleep before my head hit the pillow! I think tonight, I'll take it a bit easier and just go for a run and try to relax or something.
Wednesday 28th August 2002
Well, for the relaxing evening.. James and I went to the cinema to watch Austin Powers 3. It was quite funny, although not as good as James was making it out to be! I was wondering how they were going to translate some of it as it has some funny words in it and also we wondered how the humour was going to translate across. I don't think it really did, but the more slapstick side of it got across well. Also, they didn't translate this: "That's just how I like it.. big, hard and full of seamen!" Well, it made me laugh! Before the film, we went to Macdonalds because we couldn't be bothered to cook and right now, they are doing cheap hamburgers, cheesburgers and hotdogs. A hamburger is only 59yen (~30p!). So, I ate 6 burgers! I suppose after that all my efforts in training have been wasted... Damn..
Thursday 29th August 2002
The weekend starts here for me this week because tomorrow, I'm taking one of my days off. I haven't yet decided what to do, but James is going off to Tokyo. I may join him, but I have no purpose to go there. I'll have to think about what I'd like to do. Last night, we had a night in, like most Wednesday nights. We were pretty bored and I was quite anxious because Blackburn Rovers had a big match on.. against Liverpool. It was ok in the end because the final score ended up 2-2, which I would have settled for before the match.
Back
