Friday at school was pretty nice. I had just three classes, and two of them with Kuroda sensei, who is the only English teacher of the second year students. Her classes are always fun because we play games and do activities – and the students look forward to doing something other than boring lectures.
Kuroda sensei recently broke up with her boyfriend of two years, and I could tell she was really off her game today. I took control of the class on several occasions where normally she would do it. We talked a little bit afterwards, and I tried to give her some advice and to cheer her up a little, but it just takes time. She’s a really nice person though, and pretty good looking, too – she’ll have another boyfriend in no time.
It was my lucky day today because the teachers at school were having a meeting a 3:30 in the afternoon. Strictly speaking I’m supposed to stay until 4 p.m., but the vice principal and I reached an understanding where I can go ahead and skip out if they have a meeting. I waltzed out the door right before the meeting started, and I got an early jump on heading back.
Today after work I took the train all the way back to Nishi Futami, and got off there to do some errands. It was a really weird feeling to get off the train at my old station and walk towards Ito Yokado and the teacher’s apartments. The Japanese word for it is 懐かしい (natsukashii) – kind of a pleasant feeling of remembering fond memories of a time, place, or situation. There’s not really an English word for that – but similar to nostalgia.
The first errand was to the eye doctor, and I waited around the office for almost an hour for an eye exam, and then I got some new contact lenses. The prescription was the same, I just needed some more. They have really good prices at this doctor, and I like the guy. During the eye exam the nurse asked me to read the Japanese characters, and I did a great job if I can be allowed to brag a little bit.
Next stop was Denya, to catch up with the master. I was the only customer at that time, so I bought him a beer and we drank together and I ate some of my favorites from the yakitori. He caught me up on his family and what’s been going on in the neighborhood. He’s such a nice guy – I wish I lived closer so that I could visit more often.
After drinking and hanging out for a while some other customers came in, and it looked like he was going to start getting busy. I took the opportunity to hit the road and did some shopping at Ito Yokado before heading home.
Kuniko came home late tonight, too. She was out drinking with some of her coworkers, and it sounded like she had a good time with them. We’re going to try to invite them over sometime soon – but we’ve already got quite a list of people we want to have over. There’s just not enough time to do all the entertaining we’d like to.
