oh, crap yesterday was wednesday...heh

J108 Wednesday August 8th

Last day of work for a week!

Dash! Out the door like a flash of lightning!

Zoom! Down the hills of Hitachi!

Zip! Through the doors of my company!

My day went rather quick. I had 5 classes, two in the morning and three in the evening. The group lessons were Speech types, so they're both fun and easy to do.

During my no-class time (not actually a break; just office hours) one of my students took me out to lunch. She and I met a friend of hers while we walked to her car, so the three of us went to a wonderful Italian place for lunch. Japanese-style Italian food is interesting. There is pasta, which is to say at some point flour, milk, water, and eggs are used to make thin strands of dough which are then boiled in hot water. But to claim that Japanese pasta is the same as American pasta would be to submit to madness. Regardless, it was delicious.

I got back to the school in time to teach my last three classes. To make this wonderful day even spiffier, some two students had brought in snacks for the staff. One student brought a bag full of taiyaki, sweet cake-like fish-shaped bread filled with a thick, sweet pudding, while another student brought a bag full of giant creme puffs. These things were, like, the size of a hamburger.

At the end of the day we enjoyed these treats, but were set upon with many leftovers. Still watching my girlish figure, I limited myself to one of each treat. So did everyone else. Did I mention our students can be generous with gifts? We had some leftovers, and no one wanted to take them. I leaped upon a solution.

After work, I headed to G-Bros, with the desserts safely tucked into my bike's basket. G-Bros is nothing but a force of good in the lives of many, many people in Hitachi, and I felt it would be a nice surprise to gift them with the sweets. I presented Hiro and the bar staff (bar bunnies? they're all cute women) with the treats, and was treated in kind with delicious, free beer.

As I enjoyed my adult beverage, I noticed an odd bottle on the wall behind the bar. Perched at the forefront of the various, recognizable liquors, was one that caught my eye. The bottle was a tall, wide thing. The liquor within was a pleasant amber-brown. But what was inside the liquor was what had caught my eye. I requested a closer look, and my initial hypothesis was proven.

Suspended within the liquid was a snake.

Not a small snake. Not some novelty toy meant to frighten children. No, a freaking snake. Once-living. A rather deadly, venomous species that inhabits the islands of Okinawa. Hiro bade me try a shot, which I did with a bit of hesitation. It's not every day you drink something that's been soaking in neurotoxins. Then again, there are a surprising number of Japanese foods that, if not prepared or consumed the correct way, will kill you. So, what are you going to do?

It was delicious. Plenty of herbs and spices made the liquor sweet, and it had a pleasant burning sensation not unlike a smooth whiskey. In all, it was one of the better alcohols I've tasted. I very much wish to purchase a bottle or two and see if I can get them through customs. (EDITOR: Wow, I just, literally just as I was typing this, thought of the snakes on a plane jokes I could do with that situation.)

I consumed my drinks and spoke of my impending vacation plans with the gathered, practicing more of my Japanese than I usually do. It felt good to practice. I've studied a little since I've been here, but nothing as intense as I'd like. Work leaves little time or energy to pursue such goals. But, then again, my students do a heck of a lot more in a day than anyone I know.

I came home and felt sleep calling quicker than I usually do. I decided to roll out the futon again, the first time in months. It brought back some interesting memories, mostly of being really cold and missing home. It wasn't so bad this time :)