Here's just a short post to illustrate two very different types of encounters I've had.
The other day I was coming to school. I was walking on the sidewalk, and a very nicely dressed Japanese girl who was probably also a college student was walking in front of me. I was walking slightly faster than her, and I quickly caught up to her. But since the sidewalk was too narrow to easily pass her, I stayed about six steps behind her. Perhaps seeing my shadow, she risked a quick backward glance to see who was following her. Gasp! It was a fearsome foreigner! Oh noes! This girl IMMEDIATELY crossed the road without even looking for cars, and continued walking in the same direction on the other side of the sidewalk. I must say that I was slightly shocked. Am I really that scary?
That same day, I was walking back from school to catch the bus home. I turned a corner, and saw approaching me what some people would call a "bag lady". This lady clearly was kindy kooky, judging by her unkempt manner and style of dress. Immediately when she saw me, she came towards me. She put her hands up to her face and said something like, "Oh! Do you like Japan!" and I said yes. Then she said, "Oh! Your skin is so white and pure!" (it isn't). I stammered a thank you, and she continued raving about how beautiful I was. Then she kept saying I looked like someone called "Diana-sama" (suffix for royalty). I kept thinking, Who is Diana? Who is Diana? I made a confused face, and she got even more emphatic. Then she pulled in some old guy who was walking down the street, and asked him if i "don't look just like Diana-sama?" The guy clearly didn't know what the heck was going on, and just mumbled a "Ah, I wonder..." By this time I just wanted out, and so I bowed, quite literally, out of the situation. Heh-he...and because of this, I nearly missed my bus. Of course, it was only five minutes later that I realized Diana-sama was probably the late Princess Diana....and I don't look ANYTHING like her. But I told my Okaasan about it, and she thought I kinda did. Oh well.
Last night Okaasan began the tortuous process of making miso soup. It's a many step process that I don't quite understand. The night before, you must put beans in water and let them soak overnight. Then the next morning, she boiled something and put towels around it to keep it warm. At some point you add miso. I will take some pictures later of the whole process. It's interesting. Also, she made some bread using a bread machine. It reminded me of when Mom used to do that all the time. It was pretty good.
I make more and more leaps in understanding and being understood by my host family. I now begin to understand some of Otousan's speech, and Mayu pretty much understands what I say. To think that only four days ago I started living with them.
Today we went to get my Alien Registration card. But, I forgot my pictures!! So, okaasan took me to the nearest picture booth, and for about 6 bucks I got ID photos, which is much less than what I paid for them in America. BTW Dad, you were also wrong about the ethernet cable. I should have waited till I got here to buy one; they're only about 7 bucks. With the photos, my passport, and the form, the office was able to begin processing. But the card won't be reading until at least next week. The card is useful because you don't have to carry around your passport. Also, you need one in order to get a cellphone.
Lots of my friends are talking about getting a cellphone. At first I thought I wouldn't get one, but....I don't know. Certainly it would be useful, but is it worth the $120 it will cost? We'll see. But having a cellphone is most assuredly a part of this culture. Everyone has one, everyone's phone is amply decorated, and texting has become an art. Even more than America...
I think we are going to either go to Hirakata-shi today, or just walk around. Either way, today I only have one class so there's time to do something. As for the weekend, I asked my family to take me to DenDen Town (electronic HQ of Osaka). It will be fun, I'm sure.
Well, that's all for now. More information as events warrant.
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Much thanks to John for helping me continually improve the design of this blog. John, I owe you big time.
