Whenever foreigners tell me the way by phone, I lost my way, even in Himeji.

 

Last Sunday Reza's house warming up party was held, and I joined it. I stayed at Jo's apartment on Saturday, and we went to Himeji station togather. But I wanted to go back home once, so I went back home, and then I tried to go to Reza's house alone. That was my mistake.

 

After I parked my car near Himeji castle, I called Reza. He tried to explain, but I couln't understand. I could understand only few words, bridge, river, big elementary school, turn left and right... There were so many narrow streets, I didn't know which street I should turn. And I was on the road, and it was so noisy. I couldn't hear his voice well. I walked so far to tried to find the bridge and elementary school for about 20 minites, but I couldn't. I was so tierd. Suddenly it started raining (frozen rain, I didn't remember that word.). I wanted to cry!:-(

 

Finally Jo came and took me to his house. She knew his house, so she could reach by herself. I should have come with her!

 

Yesterday an American guy said to me 'ねこバスって呼んでいい？ (Can I call you Neko-bus?)'. I didn't know why. So he said 'だって、ねこバスの上には「めい」って書いてあるでしょ。 (Becouse the notice of the destination on the top of the bus was 'Mei'. ' I remembered that the day before yesterday we talked about my nickname (at Tiger pub), and I said I am called 'Mei-chan' from my Japanese friends. I was so surprised he know about Neko-bus.

 

Neko-bus is a character of Japanese famous cartoon movie 'Tonari no Totoro（となりのトトロ）', and Mei is a girl. One day she was lost, and her sister tried to serch with Neko-bus. (Neko means cats.)

 

I love this movie. The story and characters (Totoro, Neko-bus, Makkuro-kurosuke, etc.)  is so nice. I saw it many times.I have met some foreigners who know that movie. Is it popular in other country? I guss tha character speak in English or other language in other country. It's interesting. I want to see that.

I went to Akou, close to Okayama in Hyogo, to hold a New Year's party with my friends of mandoline orchestra last weekend. We stayed at Japanese hotel, and ate special Japanese dinner, 'kaiseki'. It was so great. Akou is well-known as the place that we can get fresh fish and oyster. 

There were a lot of foods on the low table. These were sashimi, boild crab, squillas, shrimps, oyster for a one-pot dish cooked at the table, etc. Our faces were all smiling.:) Then more foods were brought for us. These were boild fish, boild vegetables, chawan-mushi steamed in a cup, a turban shell. We ate lots of foods. We were already full, but more foods were brought!! Deep-frid tempra, rice, miso soup contained in a large oyster, and a piece of melon as a dessert!!  Actually we thought we couldn't eat any more, but the dishes looked so delicious, and yes, it was so good. We ate all of them. After we finished eating, we couldn't move for 30 minits.

 

Next day we went to an amusement park. It was small. We didn't have to pay an admission fee. We paid for each rides. There weren't so many people. The ride worked for one or two children. We enjoyed many ride, like a child. It was so fun!  When we rode on a merry-go-round, suddnenly it turned slowry to opposit side We were surprised. The man controling the ride said that it was not happen so many times to ride many people at the same time, so the ride was surprised. Was it right?!!

Yesterday I saw Tondo in the middle of the rice filed close to my house. It was for Tondo-Festival. It is held by each small town. The tower is made of straw and bamboo. We put something, for example decorations of New Year, calligraghy writing for the first time in the year, under the tower, then set fire to the tower. These are all burn.

 

I haven't joined it since I was a high school student. As far as I can remember, I hadn't seen it in Shizuoka. Is it held in Shizuoka or another region?

 

It is said that if you take smoke (like taking a shower), you'll be smart, and if your calligraghy soars high when the tower is burning, you will become good to write. Oh, I want to take smoke.

I made a presentation for customer today. The man who belongs to the sales department reqested me to do it in the morning. So I had to prepare it quickly. I didn't think I had to make a presentation today, and I had a lot of things to do within today. It was so busy.

 

Today's costomer was a young woman looked as same as my age. She came to my company to have a meeting alone. I thought she is so smart. But she didn't smile. When I said 'Hello', she said politely without smile. I didn't feel good at that time. But she laughed a little one time during my presentation. It was the time when I told that my company had 'collaboration mall'. 'collaboration' is a vogue word recently in Japan. I guess she laughed at the point I used that vogue word. ( My company named it, we just call so.)  I felt so funny that the woman with no smile laughed at that point. I wanted to laugh, but I controlled during the presentation. I laughed with my colleagues after I came to my office. It was so funny.

I went to Niigata for snowbording from 6th midnight to 8th. It was heavy snow. There were many snow on the roof of house (about 1.5m !) and both side of the road (about 3m !!). The scenery I could see was white. I haven't seen such scenery ever before. We moved everywhere by my friend's car. When we came back to the parking lot from snowbording, the car was covered with snow. And when we woke up at the hotel, we couldn't see the parking lot. Cars, roads and everything was covered with snow!! We had to remove snow on the car and make the way to drive. The first day I saw a man wearing rubber boots enterd to a restrant. I thought why, but soon I understand. We couldn't do anything with usual shoes. It might be wet soon and so cold.

 

Snowbording was so fun!!:) That was the first time to do snowbording in this season. So I was afraid I couldn't well. In sveral hours of the begining I fell down many times. Then I remenbered how to do well. Last year I went to snowbording with good teachers.(my friends ;) )  I remebered what they told last year, and I did so. It was nice.

Tomorrow I have to work. I was looking forward to do a lot of things during this holiday, but I couldn't do so many things. I feel this holiday is short.

 

I worry about I will be able to get up early tomorrow.

I got iPod nano yesterday. I really wanted to get, and I did! I went to 3 stores. The last store's price was cheaper than 2 of other, so I decided to buy. I was lucky.

 

Now I have a problem. It is so dificult to understand how to use it. The manual is not mentioned so much. I don't know how to use by only that manual. My brother has iPod, so I thought I could ask him. (He lives in Osaka, and during this holiday he come back to Himeji (at home)) But everyday he was so busy to meet his friends, and so tonight is. He will go to Osaka tomorrow. Oh no, what should I do?! I have to understand the manual on Apple website and read books about iPod. I want to use iPod nano in this weekend. (I will get on the bus so long time.) I will not have much time!!