Sunday, November 27, 2005
Only a week until the test. Did a past paper, and discovered that my listening is much weaker than I'd hoped it would be. There's not a lot to be done about that, other than become familiar with the format of the exam. I need to concentrate on conjugations and grammar rules. These are quite simple and can usefully be crammed before the test. I can't do much more about my kanji or vocabulary in a week.
I had to miss the book club meeting, partly because of studying, but mainly because I hadn't read the book. My order from Amazon still hasn't arrived.
I had to miss the book club meeting, partly because of studying, but mainly because I hadn't read the book. My order from Amazon still hasn't arrived.
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Slightly hairy moment today - I left my wallet in Hiratsuka school and had to break in. I had been the last person out of the school, locked up and gone to the station, where I discovered my carelessness. But in the short time between my departure and return, the landlord had pulled down the metal grill at the foot of the stairs, and there was no way in. I had no money with which to get home, and had also left my phone at home, in another careless moment. The school is on the 2nd floor, and I had to climb up to it, which went like this.
First, a knee, then a foot onto the mail box, and from there, a foot onto the sign advertising the various organisations in the building. Next, a toehold on a pole carrying the electrical and telephone wires, steadying myself on the next door building, which is at about arm's length. We're now about 2.5m above street level, but I could see that the drop to the gap between the buildings was longer. I wobbled, but focussed on the white wall in front of my eyes. Next, a foot's width ledge, and a hand hold on the handrail of the landing by the school's front door. A quick haul over the rail, and we're in. I can't remember whether I locked up again on the way out.
There should be some pithy insight into Japanese society to be gained from this episode, but there doesn't seem to be. A couple of people walked past, and saw what I was up to, but either realised that I was legit or didn't want to get involved, which seems to be much the same response as one would expect anywhere.
First, a knee, then a foot onto the mail box, and from there, a foot onto the sign advertising the various organisations in the building. Next, a toehold on a pole carrying the electrical and telephone wires, steadying myself on the next door building, which is at about arm's length. We're now about 2.5m above street level, but I could see that the drop to the gap between the buildings was longer. I wobbled, but focussed on the white wall in front of my eyes. Next, a foot's width ledge, and a hand hold on the handrail of the landing by the school's front door. A quick haul over the rail, and we're in. I can't remember whether I locked up again on the way out.
There should be some pithy insight into Japanese society to be gained from this episode, but there doesn't seem to be. A couple of people walked past, and saw what I was up to, but either realised that I was legit or didn't want to get involved, which seems to be much the same response as one would expect anywhere.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Sorry for the delay. There are some new pictures up. They're mostly of our recent trip to Sado Island, but there's also various bits and pieces from the last few months.
