Weekend Review (mo ikai ne?)

This weekend- 3 notable things happened.

1) I went to a party in honor of the Liquor-store owner whose random acquaintance I had made previously (the one with the banjo). The three of us were there almost strictly for our novelty value as gaikokujin- so lacking an outline of set duties we just had fun.

memorable moments include

-Being (without prior explanation) being handed a plastic maraca shaped like a lemon (the other two JETs got tambourines) and being asked to play along with the band for a bit (in front of some of the wealthiest people in Murakami, no less).

-Befriending a Japanese pre-school boy who was the son of some of the guests- he sort of became our mascot for the rest of the evening, and helped us out.

-Watching our host (Tatsuro-san) change suits no fewer than 5 times over the course of the thing, and variously be guitarist, MC, and host.

Also the party's invitation roughly translated said something like "wine enjoyment party"- and it was all some of the guests could do to make it out under their own locomotion (some didn't).


2) I got a car! The story has a sad beginning- arriving in Higashi Sanjo and realizing that I didn't have my license to drive my car back (that's like going from Denver to Woodland Park, then realizing you've forgotten something critical, and having to go back for it the same day). Blah. Another damper was the discovery (once I got my car) that trying to park in Japan is like being handed a watermelon, and being asked to put it in a box with about .4cm to spare on each side. The watermelon can't touch the sides, and neither can your hands. Parking here is a such an assortment of 3-point turns and minute readjustments that one wonders why there aren't even more trains than there are.

Fortunately, with my new car comes great new-found freedom from the train schedules, as well as freedom to go where the train may not. I'm thinking about going for a drive just to get out and see the autumn foliage while I can, time permitting.

3) More preparation for the winter musical- (further explanations to follow)- but that was Sunday anyhow.

That's life- I'm completely out of it from teaching 3rd grade and below all day- so I'm going to slink off and relax somewhere away from the prying of little hands.