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Well, it's Nov and the Japanese are now getting ready for Christmas. Nov 1, the big Christmas display in Tokyo was lit up. There are tons of commercials now advertising what you can do for the holiday. You have to make reservations at the churches and I believe even pay a fee. People at the office have bought 100s of dollars worth of postcards for New Years. (I am glad I don't have to fill all of them out.) Looks like a big thing is to celebrate in Disneyland. I am sure there is a great show for that. Oh, if only I were staying here and had some rich friends. But instead I have to to Thailand. Thurs I was surprised by 2 gigantic heating untils resembling wood burning stoves sitting in the teachers' office. I guess that means cold weather is right around the corner. I am told I am lucky because the heat is kept on throughout the day. The other AETs in Ota have to suffer with only 2 hours a day. I can't imagine. The kids only get to enjoy the heat for the first 2 hours, or so I am told. I feel like I have been repelled into the dark ages. The Japanese have clothes that protect them from electromagenetic rays, cell phones half the size of anything I've seen in the US, ISDN hookups at many public phones, the most incredible stereo equipment I've ever seen, and yet they have to warm themselves kerosene heaters. Did I tell you that one of my 2nd graders is transferring? She is getting liposuction and is going to transfer to another school because of this. What is a 14 yr old doing getting liposuction? Bad news. Trouble getting a scooter. Apparently, it is infinitely easier to get a car than a scooter unless you have a motorcylce license. I have to get my American license translated into Japanese by JAF. Then I have to take an entire day off of work and travel to Maebashi and spend the day getting a special license, but not a general Japanese license. To get it, I must bring my translation, passport, international driver's license, gaijin card (alien card), take "an easy test", and pay $30. No problem. I have already bought general insurance for $75. Once I get the special license I have to ask the superintendent for permission to drive the scooter and then get optional insurance (a mere $30) so I drive to school. I suspect that I will have to do it again once my license expires in Aug. I should just get a car. But the schooter is so much easier to park. That's it for me. I have to go to school at 7:00 am tomorrow so I can garden with the kids. Why? I don't know.
Valerie
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