(For April 16)
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| My bus stop |
Today was the first ‘proper’ day of lessons. Our group of nine was divided into two – four
in the easier level and five in the advanced level. I’m in the advanced class, which is going to
stretch my ability somewhat!! But I
guess that’s what I paid for, so I can’t complain.
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View from the bus on the
way to school |
Our teachers are Sakurai Sensei and Murakami Sensei. Today we received our text books (which we
get to keep!) and started with Sakurai Sensei.
I enjoyed her class very much as she is very approachable and has a
teaching style that suits me down to the ground. The 3 hour class went so quickly, but I think
3 hours was quite enough for one day. We
learnt a few new concepts that will be very useful in conversation – if I can
remember them. We will be taking it in
turns to do a one minute talk during the course. Mine will be on this Friday so I have a few
days to prepare something coherent.
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| Another view from the bus |
After class, we separated into a few pairs to go in
different directions for lunch. Ulla and
I are happy to have a simple, inexpensive kombini lunch as we are eating a
wonderful range of Japanese food at our ‘homes’. After lunch, five of us took a bus out to
some unknown place where Jasmine, one of my fellow students, had seen a Book
Off shop. Book Off sells second hand
books at an amazingly low price. I
bought 5 books and 2 CDs, all in as-new condition for a total of 735 yen
(currently about $7.35). I choose to
ignore the fact that I will have to lug them around in my bag once I leave
here! Jasmine and Ulla were in Heaven at
Book Off. They both teach Japanese to
young children, so were delighted to add some very nice children’s books to
their collections.
After Book Off, we hit the 100 yen store, where I bought
tabi socks (split toes) and various other goodies for 105 yen each (that’s 100
yen plus tax). I do love the 100 yen
stores in Japan!
Our group split up after this shopping spree, and Ulla and I
went back to the Language School to rest and use the Internet for a while. My ankles look as if they are about to
explode – they are really swollen so I’m glad I brought an extra pair of
shoes. I wouldn’t be able to do up my
boots which I had intended to wear each day.
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| How to add greenery when there's not much space |
We were then overcome by the need for coffee so, I’m a
little ashamed to say, we went to Starbucks near the station. My excuse is that I could see my bus stop
from Starbucks and I was determined not to embarrass myself again by missing
the bus. I was quite proud of my bus
experience today after yesterday’s debacle.
I looked on the timetable to see the name of the last stop on the route
(written in kanji), and then when the bus arrived, there they were – the same characters
written on the front of the bus. I
casually hopped aboard as if I felt confident and then followed on the timetable
as we went by each stop. Once I got off
(at the correct stop!), I even walked in the right direction. There’s a first time for everything. When I got nearer to home, Mrs Hyakuman had
come out to meet me and we had a laugh about how easy it was.
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| My $4.81 lunch |
We had a lovely dinner (without the booze), during which we
looked at my word list from today and did a bit of practice with them. I finished my evening with washing and a bath
and then spent the rest of the evening revising today’s lesson.
Tomorrow Ulla and I plan to go to visit the Kanazawa Castle
– if I can keep Ms Shopaholic away from the shops!
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