A very LOOONG post

Last Wednesday was an interesting day for me. It started out a bit depressing for me. We had a test on what we have learned so far and I got the lowest among the beginner students. 7/10 and 10/10. I have to bulk up on my vocabulary. Then we had a long test. I had difficulty on identifying which particle to put in the Fill-in-the-blanks portion. Oh well. Benkyou, benkyou.

We were dismissed early because Ishiguro-sensei had a stomach ache. The funny thing and a bit nakakaawa was that he told the class in Japanese that we could leave after we finished the test and that he could not finish the class because of his stomach ache. Diaby and Acho (Angel) did not understand and took their sweet time figuring out the test. Poor Ishiguro-sensei waited until both finished. We told Acho afterwards.

To “celebrate” our early dismissal, we went to try out the Thai restaurant Tanaka-sensei recommended to us. It was supposed to have an excellent Viking Lunch but was a bit expensive (Y1000). I thought that we were going to a place I had never been before. But the funny thing was that this was the same restaurant I ordered food from when I spent that late night session with Siao-sempai and Hanna-sempai (although I only realized this later on. Their spread was much more impressive than Shish Mahal. The place was small, but the food was delicious. The choices included a bihon type noodle dish, stir-fried vegetables with HUGE jelly-like things (I think they are mushrooms), fried rice, plain rice, laksa, pad thai, tom yum soup, green curry (I ate this before), chicken curry and fried chicken wings. For dessert, there was coconut milk with tapioca balls and pineapples. They also had a drink bar with OJ, tea, milk, and others (I couldn't read the kanji).

I ate too much. For one it was Y1000!!! My most expensive meal in Japan yet! But sooo much worth the price. I looove laksa, but their laksa leaned towards the sour side (typical of Thai food). I made sure not to eat any rice, since it would be too filling. I actually stuffed myself with the pineapples and dessert. The others found it weird that I actually pour the coconut milk on the pineapples and ate it with the tapioca. But I found it excellent. I think I ate almost an entire pineapple, or probably half a pineapple, My logic was, pineapples are expensive here, and I had paid for it! (pineapples here are about Y600)

At the end of the meal, we discovered that they have a “stampy” card (my sibs know about this). All we needed was 10 stamps. For that meal, we got 5!!! I asked the group who would want it (it was only fair to ask), and they gave it to me! Hehe!

In the evening, the Kokusai Koryu Kaikan (International House) had its welcome party. So free food again!!! Yay! The night's entertainment was a taiko drum player. Interesting, but scary at the same time. The CC Hall (where the party was held) had a low ceiling, so every beat of the drum, the ceiling reverberated (is this right?). Afterwards was the eating!!! Food was great as well. I stuffed myself silly, since it was free, and my classmates noticed! Hehe! The food selection included sandwiches, sushi (I only ate tamago and cuttlefish, but didn't like it that much because it had wasabi), yakitori (chicken and beef), asparagus wrapped in bacon (which reminded me of Iron Wok Jan!), chicken cutlet and fried potatoes, and drinks all around.

The party ended at around 9-nish. Nomi-san suggested that we go out for some coffee. Everyone from our class went (Bac, Nomi, Derya (pronounced Darya), Ker Wee, Acho, Diaby and myself). Hailey (?) and Merjam (pronounced Miriam, German) also went with us. We went to Starbucks and had coffee. I wanted to sleep, so I ordered their Banana Frappuccino with decaf (notice banana) and no whipped cream (Y440 for the smallest size). We ended up getting back to the Kaikan around 11-ish

Yesterday afternoon, our Culture class introduced us to our host families. Their purpose is not homestay but to help us with our Japanese. My host mom is Miyamoto Keiko. A sweet old lady. We talked a bit and I told her if it would be possible for us to practice my Japanese, although I talk mostly in English since I didn't know how to say it in Japanese. We schedule our meetings every Wednesdays, 2 pm at the CC Hall.

After this, I went to the Shakushou (City Hall) to get my Alien Registration Card. I got lost, but ended up still in the right place thanks to maps and to my host mom, who wrote the kanji for me. Midway, I asked for directions, but the lady I asked said that I was still a bit far away. At the Shakushou, I was able to get my card. Derya said that I had to pay a fee for my Health Insurance (mandatory). I asked information. They had to call someone from another department who could speak in English. He helped apply for a scheme wherein they will automatically take money from my bank instead of me going to the Shakushou every month for a small fee (usually Y120). As I was leaving, the rest of the “gang” came to get their card. I helped them, especially with the Health Insurance thing.

I had to rush back to the Kaikan since I had tutorial at 6 pm at the Ryuugakusei Center. I prepared the stuff I was going to give to Natsuka-san. I did mention that Natsuka-san is a sweet girl. When I told her that I liked Japanese sweets (okashi), after this evening's session, she brought another one. She even taught me how to properly eat it and drink green tea. Green tea is usually bitter, so the proper way of drinking it (in order to appreciate the flavor is to eat something sweet first, to coat one's mouth. The sweet was like a mocchi but was shaped like a flower of the season. She said the name but I had forgotten. It came in a box with bamboo knife-thingies for me to cut and pierce every slice. Sooo delicious. Afterwards, I drank the tea. And it did taste good. The sugars in my mouth mixed with the green tea and it didn't taste bitter at all!!! I learned something new!

I gave her the basket with a jar of ready-to-eat halo-halo mix, nata de coco (which the Japanese love) and kaong. I also gave her a pack of dried mangoes (which the Japanese love as well). She found the nata de coco interesting since it was colored red. She also found kaong (palm fruit) interesting. I told her how she could eat it and explained that this is “summer food” in the Philippines. I also warned her that the three bottles might be a bit too sweet for their taste. (Hopefully, I was able to communicate it clearly to her).

On another note, I am in a dilemma. Dolf invited me to his birthday! I know that he didn't invite the entire class and I was quite honored ("naks") to be considered a friend, since he limited his invitations. Lai will kill me, but I plan not to go for a couple of reasons.

1. He probably invited mostly his German friends, and I might feel a bit out of plan. They'll all talk in German and might be forced to talk in English with me! the whole tatemae-thing

2. Dinner is Y3000!!! I'm cheap! I know there will be free flowing drinks and all, but 3000-frickin yen! After that, they plan to go to Shibuya! I've never been there in this trip, but I find it too crowded.

3. Friday is like a rest day for me.

4. (Sorry CH), I'll try to meet up with CH, if I can. I'll try calling her cellphone!

When Lai reads this post, she'll probably say that I'm such a weirdo! haha! oh well. But I decided that I'll probably just buy him a small piece of cake and greet him! :P

Hay naku! I know I'm hopeless! hehe!