Monday, 2nd December 2002
It's December already and Christmas is rapidly approaching... Here in Japan, it's just like back at home, with all the shops having their Christmas displays out in time for the Christmas rush. Also, in the town, we have the Christmas lights put up and everything too. During the weekend, I went to the library and read for a bit (in case you are wondering, my Japanese hasn't suddenly dramatically improved - I was reading English). Then, for both days, I went shopping. Takasaki isn't too bad for shopping really, you can get pretty much all that you need and it isn't too big that you have to walk miles to find anything. It's nothing compared to Tokyo though, although nothing is, I suppose.
James got a new game over the weekend, so he's been occupied playing that. I just got my things in order, like my laundry and the ironing (I hate ironing). Actually, James reminded me that on Saturday, we will have a 'Neat Dressed Party' and so we'll have to get some bow ties! I'm going to look ridiculous...
Tuesday, 3rd December 2002
Work again as usual. This week, we've had some inspector type people in for certifications. It's all quite hectic around here at the moment.
Wednesday, 4th December 2002
It's 7pm now, and I am at work. Actually, we do have a lot of work assigned to us, but we aren't pressured to work really really hard or anything. If anything, the atmosphere at work is quite relaxing really. We know that if we need something or have any questions, we can ask someone and they would do their best to help, which makes things easier for us.
Thursday, 5th December 2002
It's going to be our last Japanese class for 2002! Actually, I'll miss going to the classes I think, since it's a place where not only do we learn Japanese, we meet up with friends there too. It's a bit like going to school! Anyway, I've got to go to now to make sure that I get there on time.
Friday, 6th December 2002
Japanese class last night was fun. We only studied for an hour before we played some games. We played this card game, I forget the name (begins with 'T' and relates to Gunma), where every card had a letter of hiragana on it and someone would read out a word and you had to find the card with the first letter of hiragana from the word read out. Got that? ;p It's like a game of snap really. James and I didn't do too well, the competition was pretty fierce at our table!! After the fun and games, we had a mini party type of thing, where we all sat around and ate snacks! The good news is that Japanese classes will resume after the new year, so we can go again.
This weekend, we are all going to go to the Macro Neat Dressed Party. It's only two hours, but at some point, we (Phoebe, James and I) have been informed that we must speak something at the party!! I'm panicking already! Also, James and I have still yet to get bow ties...! I'm sure that it will be interesting. For Sunday, I am invited very kindly by Minako to help volunteer for another event, but with this time period right now, I'm so busy, I can't make it. I need a rest, otherwise I think that I may collapse due to sheer exhaustion.
Monday, 9th December 2002
Well, the Neat Dressed Party was... interesting! The party only lasted for 2 hours, but afterwards, Phoebe, James and I went out to carry on the party ourselves! It was a very formal affair, with a free drinks bar! The food was very nice too. We did have to get on stage at one point to say somethings, but that was fine and wasn't nearly as bad as I thought that it might have been. As I said, after the party, we went out to a few bars and then stopped off at a drinking restaurant where we stayed until about 2am! Actually, we realised that it would probably be the last time in 2002 that we would go out together as a group since over Christmas, we all have separate plans. James will be returning home on Friday. It sounds so weird to hear that it's so close. Time really is flying by and of course, I have my own plans over Christmas too. (Don't worry, James will be returning to Japan - I hope!)
So, that brings me to today... it's so so cold outside!! In fact, it is snowing outside right now and it was snowing throughout most of the night. Being in work is good right now because it's actually quite warm in here thankfully.
Tuesday, 10th December 2002
It snowed again last night, but it's not snowing right now. It's still very cold though. Last night, James and I stayed indoors, but it was still pretty cold in the house. I think that's the problem with having a really big house, it takes a long time to warm up! I have no plans for tonight either, but tomorrow I think that we are going to go out to see Minority Report, it's only just come out here in Japan!
Wednesday, 11th December 2002
Later on tonight, we'll all be going to watch Minority Report, as it has just come out here! I haven't seen it yet, but I just know that apparently it's meant to be quite good. As most of you know, I'm not a huge fan of films, so I'll just leave my comments out I think! As work has finished now and I have stuff to do before going to see the film, I'd best be going now.
Thursday, 12th December 2002
Went to see Minority Report last night, with Phoebe only. I don't know why James didn't come. Maybe he's trying to tell me something? (j/k) Anyway, the film was ok, I'm not a big fan of those kind of films and for some reason, it kind of reminds me of 'Blade Runner'. I won't say anything about the film in case someone hasn't seen it yet. I went to the Game Center beforehand to have a look around. Some of the games look pretty fun to play and there's always some expert playing Beatmania, getting some ridiculous combo.
It feels a little strange to not have Japanese class today, but I have some work to do to make up for it. I know what I'd rather be doing!
Friday, 13th December 2002
Friday the 13th... Unlucky for some. Today is Mika's birthday, so Happy Birthday, Mika! What a day to have your birthday on! I can't believe that it's Friday again already. James is flying back to the UK today (in fact he left at 5am.. and woke me up too, the B*#?$d). So, now I have the house all to myself!! To mark this great event, I'm throwing a party on Sunday, we are going to have a 'Nabe' Party, it's the kind of food that Sumo wrestlers eat for training to bulk up!
It's a busy weekend for me this weekend, first of all, on Saturday, I will be helping out Takako and Mika and Rachel with a children's Christmas party, then I have to go and get my haircut because I look a bit overgrown at the moment! Then, on Sunday, I will see Fumino, her husband, Mika, Phoebe and Saori for a coffee event going on at the Choukuominkan. It will be the first time that I have seen Saori for a long time, as she has been cruising around the world for the past 2 months. Then, after that, we are all going to come back to my house and hold the Nabe party! I can't wait!
Monday, 16th December 2002
I didn't sleep much last night, I think that it was a combination of too much coffee (which I am not used to drinking) and lots of food and snacks! The children's Christmas party was great fun, and it was wonderful to see their happy faces. I don't think that they all quite understood what Chrstmas was really about, but you just couldn't tell them that Santa is dead (like someone else said...) I think it's worth a little white lie to make them happy. I of course dressed up as Santa Claus... And I'm telling you, I'm never growing a beard! I think that I ate most of it! Afterwards, we went out to lunch to hold a belated celebration for Mika's brithday, which was very nice. We all had a doner kebab! (We weren't drunk though). Finally, I went to get a haircut, which is always an interesting experience! They always make sure that I look sufficiently stupid before I leave the place. Although nobody bats an eyelid at me when I walk out, I look pretty normal to them I think! Thankfully, it's just a styling issue, so, at the first opportunity, I just quickly change it to how I want it to look. I think that the the stick up all over look is growing on me!
On Sunday, we went to the coffee event, which was alright, but as I say, I don't like coffee. However, some nice lady made some yoghurt cakes, which were really, really good! I ate quite a lot of those! There was Irish coffee, Thai coffee, American and Russian. I only tried Irish (for the bailey's!) and the Russian (with egg..). That was enough coffee for me!
After that, we went back to my house and held out party. I didn't have to do all that much, but it was really tasty. It was also good to have people around to talk to over snacks and things too. In Japan, after parties and things, everyone cleans up afterwards, which is great too! Hopefully, we can have more parties soon. Today, I am at work, and I am knackered... and there seems to be some more student training going on.
Tuesday, 17th December 2002
Well, it's work as usual, nothing too exciting to say about that. I'll go home tonight and James won't be there. Not much of a change there then! Actually, it's not so bad. I'm gradually getting used to the cold and I've discovered that if I go out for a little while outside in the cold, it doesn't feel so bad when I eventually get into the house.
Wednesday, 18th December 2002
I've been good lately, because I've gone home, made dinner, cleaned up afterwards and also have proceeded to make lunch. Then I watch TV for a while. That reminds me, I saw a really funny television program on last night, it was about boyfriends and girlfriends relationships that go wrong. The whole jury are girls and almost inevitably, everytime, the guy loses no matter how unreasonable the girl has been. It makes good TV though! After that, I just had an early night.
Thursday, 19th December 2002
I'm getting more and more excited as I only have one more day of work left now to go before I can take leave! I have lots of things to do though, so I have to get everything out of the way first before I can fully relax and be on my way. I don't know if you remember me winning the goldfish, but I'm sad to say that there is only one left. We've called him 'Borge'. It was survival of the fittest, and I'm surprised that he's lasted this long! Anyway, I fed him and changed his water, which I'm under strict order from James to look after him!
Friday, 19th December 2002
I've just finished work... and it's Friday!! But... and this is a big but, there's still other stuff left to do. First of all, the massive cleaning up operation is beginning right now, and will continue until Saturday (don't worry I get to go home to sleep... just). It's going to be tough because I have seen the schedule for what we have to clean. I hate you James! Afterwards though, there will be a party which I'm sure will be fun! I won't be back until the new year, so I'd like to say, 'A Merry Christmas to you all and have a Happy New Year!!'.
Back
