August 19: car, unagi, breathtaking

Ota is becoming a happening place. The new AETs are very lively, most right out of college. We've been going out, exploring, buying way too much stuff for our apartments, etc. One of them ordered 12 boxes of Raisin Bran and a case of 24 Kraft Mac and Cheese meals. Everyone is frantic for a good gym for weights. One guy decided to quit smoking and is now chewing multiple packs of gum a day. I have become the "sempai" (mentor) for the group, but for one guy in particular.

So what has been happening?
** I bought and finally possess a Subaru Legacy station wagon.
** I am temporarily without car because it had a major problem. I was driving it, and all of a sudden all the dash lights went on and the power steering went out. I pulled over, called Mike to pick me up, and he drove the car to his mechanic and I followed in his car. Right now the car is at the dealer, being repaired. The mechanic I took the car to said that one of the belts was missing, the timing belt should be replaced and that alone would cost at least 40,000 yen ($340). Then he examined the pulley that the belts were on. The pulley was at an angle and had cut into the engine a bit. Why? Because the bolt attaching the pulley to the engine (block?) was loose. He said that this was extremely rare and would have happened due to human error, that it couldn't come unscrewed. So this had damaged the crank shaft. The mechanic said I could maybe drive the car for a year before the crank shaft gave, but he didn't recommend that.

So I called Kyoko, the lady who sold me the car, and she called the dealer. she is CLUELESS about cars, but the dealer mechanic talked to my mechanic and a tow truck was sent to pick up my car and bring it to the dealer in Ota ( a very long distance!). So now I am waiting for the results. I am nervous because the car is being repaired and I don't know any more than that. Kyoko says that it is very likely that the dealer was responsible for the problem because she had the car checked in June before she gave it to me. So she and I placed our trust in the dealer, and the car still had major problems. So she says because of this, the dealer might pay for the repairs. I hope so. I am sure that she didn't mean to sell me a bad car, and I don't have the money for those kind of repairs. I could buy a different car for the same cost or less.

So, to be continued...
** "Unagi" I bet not many of you have eaten this. It is eel. It is the food of the summer. There is a day in Aug when everyone eats eel in order to endure the summer heat. "Unagi" is packed with calories, and is therefore supposed to give you the energy to make it through the summer heat and HUMIDITY (it's like nothing you've ever felt you IL folks).
** I think I am all better now. I spent over 10,000 yen this past month on doctor bills (that is a lot for Japan). IT was one thing after another. Luckily, the lady who sold me the car speaks very good English and took me to the doctor. What she helped me with was seeing a doctor about breathing trouble. It got to the point where I couldn't sleep at night because it was so hard to breathe. All day long I would have to think about breathing.

Turned out that I was not the only one. Many AETs are experiencing the same thing, and even a few Japanese people I know. One of my friends had these symptoms, but they went away after she went back to the US. It is most likely to the dust in the air and the oppressive heat and humidity. It had been cooler, and I haven't had too many problems as of late, but my eyes burn every time I ride my bike for a long time.

Let's hear it for Japanese air quality.

Valerie Straayer