Tuesday, was Japan’s birthday. Happy birthday Japan! I work at a public school, so I had the day off. My host mother, sister, and brother all went to a friend’s house around noon, and my host father slept in until about 1 or 2 pm. I slept in until 9, had breakfast, and played with my brother and sister until around noon. At noon they headed out, and my host mother left lunch for me. There was a bit too much and I was not sure what to do, so I found some plastic wrap and put the leftover food worth saving in the fridge. My host father was still not showing signs of waking up, so I decided to take a bike ride around the area and see what I could see and if I could find important places. I love having a bike I can use at home, it makes wandering and exploring go so much faster. I started just randomly going around streets in the vicinity of my house, then I went to find the school I would be going to next week about a 20 minute ride away. I found it! As I was heading back, I chose a random street to cross, and decided to look for the train station. I somehow found that too and know I will be able to find my way back if I need to do shopping. I then returned to the area around my house. I went around the streets around the house. The little river by it is pretty filthy. I am almost tempted to go into Environmental Scientist mode and study the river. I already stand out enough here though, so I will resist. As I was riding around, almost every elementary school aged child that saw me, waved and said hello to me in Japanese or English, or just yelled Cameron-Sensei. I feel like quite the celebrity. The kids recognize me and always say hello. It also helps that I am one of very very few white people in the city. Apparently friends and family of my host family are also very curious about me. Having almost celebrity status feels awesome sometimes, strange sometimes, and just uncomfortable other times. I decided to draw out my ride a bit longer, so headed for the mountains near my house separating Daito-shi from Nara. I made it half way up the mountain on a bike with no gears before I decided I could not handle anymore and headed home. Back home, I decided to use my computer for the first time, so I asked my host dad for the password for the Wifi, which is a portable wifi he apparently also takes to work with him, which is why this post will be later than I was planning. I went on my computer, did some stuff for taxes, for rooming next year, and worked on my seemingly endless blog posts/diary. I went back downstairs once I was done. At that point, my host father had left but my mother and siblings were back. My host sister made me a valentines’ day gift; essentially a mini chocolate cake made with real chocolate and egg. Japanese Valentines’ count: 1 (cake from a five year old). Yay! I was honestly not expecting to get any Valentines’ gifts (the culture in Japan is that girls give chocolate to boys: something they made or melted down themselves for someone they like and store bought “obligatory” chocolate for coworkers). We had dinner, then sat around talking and watching TV. My host dad came home later as he always does, and joined us. Throughout the rest of the night, my host sister pretended to give me valentines’ gifts numerous more times, going to work, coming back, and asking how it was. It was very cute.
That is about it for this day I think. I will upload this once I have internet (typing all my posts on my phone is enough to drive someone insane).
That is about it for this day I think. I will upload this once I have internet (typing all my posts on my phone is enough to drive someone insane).