Yesterday was a really crazy day.
It all started out at noon when I walked to the office. It was pretty warm outside (around 90 degrees) and extremely humid. It was the first day here that I have seen clear skies, so the sun was beating down on me. By the time I made it to the office, I was pretty much drenched.
Yuri, our office staff, was using yesterday to help me get all my legal documents. First she took me to the city hall, where she filled out all my paperwork to get my Gaijin Card (alien registration). I can understand how other Americans would have problems if they didn’t have someone there to hold their hand through the process. The clerk couldn’t speak any English, and the forms all have to be filled out in Hiragana (one of three Japanese writing styles). After we did my alien registration, we waited to collect my insurance forms. So, I have insurance now!!!
I then went to check out cell phones, because everyone has a cell phone here. I think I have been spoiled with my iPhone, because none of the phones looked very interesting until I found a Sony Erickson phone running Android (Linky). It will probably be the one that I get. I’m going to ask around about price plans and see if it is something I really want to invest in.
Then, I got my bank account setup. So their banks are in the post office, and you can do all your banking from the ATM’s. It was pretty funny though, because while we were waiting in the Post Office for all the banking paperwork to be completed, she was teaching me how to say different colors by pointing to things on the counter. So, I try very hard to make sure that I pronounce the words exactly as I hear them, but I apparently can’t pronounce Pink. It’s really easy too, which frustrates me to no end. It’s just pinku, but the trick is to not use a hard U (oo) sound. So for thirty minutes she was pointing at different colors, then coming back to pink, and then her and the clerk at the counter would laugh because the way I was saying it was very kawaii (cute). Well, I guess if that’s the worst I’m doing, then I’m doing alright…
So now, all the official stuff is done. They showed me how to use the ATM and then it was off for lunch.
Once I got back to the office, I wanted to prepare for my first class. There is a CD that I use for listening exercises. I pulled out the CD so that I could listen to it, and studied my lesson plans a bit. Yuri came to get me because she needed something from me, so I listened and took care of that business. Then came back, packed up, and got ready for the train ride. About half way through the train ride, with my regional manager sitting next to me, I realized that I had left the CD in the stereo in the office. Great… I think I did a pretty good job though in the class. I know I spoke too quickly and overcomplicated some of my explanations, but I think it was an overall success.
We got back to the Koriyama station at around 8:15, and upon walking out, there was an awesome traditional drum show. We watched for one of the groups and then left, because we had to get back to the office and it was getting late. I dropped all the books off and met my Sempai (a title meaning senior, so he’s the head teacher) downstairs. He showed me where the super market is and took me out for some really amazing curry. *Sidenote, if you like spicy foods, and there is a 1-10 scale for spice, pick 1 first so that you know what spicy means here. I got a 2, and it was not at all what I expected a 2 on a scale from 1-10 to be… I’d hate to try 10.
It was a full day, packed with new experiences. I was beat when I got home. I hit the futon and passed out immediately.
My word for the day
Pinku – ピンク – Pink
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