October 21-27 (Mon-Sun) - There’s a garden, a bug, and Halloween

Monday: I had to drive to Fukui for — well, I guess it was an interview kind of, but I wasn’t thinking of it that way so... whatever. I don’t actually want more work, but I guess I can help out if they need me.

So anyway, since I was there anyway, I decided to finally check out Yokokan Garden. After a 10 min. detour after Google Maps didn’t understand and took me to some hotel that in no way resembled the name, I found the garden.

This is really pretty.

And that’s it. It’s quite small. And, well, once you’ve seen a Japanese garden (especially something like Kenrokuen), they aren’t that interesting. Because there are no places to sit. Also, it loses a little of its charm when in the background are ugly apartments, and on every tree is a gigantic spider with a messy web.

That’s... kind of like a representation of Japan or something deep, I’m sure.

The Murata guys treated me to dinner and it was fun.

Oh, then later that night I found this bug.

WHAT IS IT????

Tuesday: Work and class and more Halloween posters. In class I had my kids make bats.

Wednesday: A rare break. Then Kawada. Etc. Class with Miki. We talked about the trains and subways. She remarked how it was very inconvenient how early the last trains ran (before midnight), when for example in New York they run all night. We discussed possible differences in public vs private lines. 

Sometimes when people miss their last train, they stay in ‘mangakissa’ (manga kissaten) or manga cafes, because the hourly rate makes it the cheapest place to stay (that’s open all night). 

Thursday: I brought crafts for the kids and it was fun! Then I had the rest of the day off.

Friday: Mostly a day off, but I slept in too late then spent about 3 hours making things I probably didn’t need for the Scary Room. After work I helped Kaori clean an old sofa. This was fun.

Saturday: A day of rest turned into a day with Inventory. Then studying.

Sunday: Today was the UFO Halloween party. It should have more to do with aliens. I was in charge of the Scary Room (Obake Yashiki), and did manage to scare a few kids. For some the dark was enough and they wouldn’t even enter.

After two hours of grabbing at ankles, making noises, and spraying people, it was over, and we had to clean up.
Once that was finished, Kaori and I spent the rest of the day watching movies.

Recent Japanese:

akiru (飽きる) = to get tired of, lose interest in (akita) 

minkan (民間) = private (civilian)

kochou (誇張) = exaggeration

nidone (二度寝) = going back to sleep after waking up; lit. second-time sleep (you can also have ‘sandone’ which would be for the third time).