Well, I'm at the Kencho again. Bit of a surprise as I didn't know I'd be here till about 11:30 last night. I wasn't feeling too well (no big deal, just a slight stomach thing and down in the energy department) so I hit the sack around 930. Figured I'd sleep it off. Well, around what must have been 1030 or so the phone rings. Now, it has been getting rather chilly at night and some of you might have heard (or know firsthand) about Japanese dwellings and insulation, or the lack thereof. So it was a bit cold in my place and between that, me not feeling too well, and me being pretty much asleep, I decided to just let the phone ring (no answering machine--or not one that I can work anyway). It's all the way in the other room, you know? So it rings and rings for a good, solid minute and then goes quiet. Then about two minutes later it rings and rings again. But I didn't get up. I wasn't sure who it was but I couldn't think of one person I wanted to talk to at that time (my apologies if any of you who might take that personally--but don't be so sensitive).
So I drift back off and am sleeping when it rings again. This time the thoughts of emergency hit me. Amy's in trouble (a bug of some sort)....mom and dad's ship sank (they're on a cruise right now)....my brother had a car wreak (he drives too fast sometimes)....Ares is out of food (mom and dad left him for a cruise, you know)....could be anything! So I jump up into the freezing air in nothing but........and grab the phone. "Hello," I said in that slightly concerned, partly pissed off, still half asleep manner. A Japanese voice, "hello....Mr. Marcus....this is Ono." Then it hit me..."You're in Japan, you idiot. Don't answer the phone like that." So I asked him what was up and he ended up telling me that the aviation academy was not having school today (Thursday) and not to go out there in the morning. I was confused as to why this was happening, both the fact that they weren't having school and the late night phone call to tell me this, but I didn't pursue either due to the language barrier, the hour, and the fact that frostbite was setting in.
So today I found out a little more after Ono-san apologized for the late phone call. I told him it was alright many times and found out that the academy is having some kind of sports day, thus, classes have been cancelled. I think that Ito-sensei must have screwed up her dates because she mentioned that next week there was no school and that this week was supposed to be a normal one. Turns out Ono called them today to verify the info I had about next week and it turns out that normal classes will be held next Thursday. So I don't know. Would greatly help if I could speak their language. But really I just think she got her dates mixed up. No big deal.

Today I feel much better....thanks for asking.

If I may get nostalgic and sappy for a moment here....There is a website called BigDaikon.com that is basically for JETs, current, past, and future, to get information about the program on. A year ago I went there many times to get info on this or that about JET and living in Japan. Unfortunately much of it (the forum) turns into a bitching session about things so I hadn't really been going there much since about the end of May, when I found out I'd be coming. But anyway, there is a forum specifically for those that are trying to get into the program and the other day I went there just to check it out and waste some time.
The threads in this forum at this time of year are mostly about applying and all that goes with it. Soon they will start to be about the interviews, and then about getting accepted. So anyway, I went there and it hit me that one year ago about now is when Amy and I sent off our applications and started this whole ball rolling. Hard to imagine not so much that a year has past since then, but that I am actually on the other end of that forum now. Feels quite nice and I think its important to think back to that frame of mind you once were in in order to really appreciate what's going on now. No matter what you are doing.
Enough about that. Don't want to make myself sick.

As I was writing that two of the females in this office came over to talk to me. One thing led to another and now the three of us are going out next Friday for some drinks. That will be interesting. And no, don't get those thoughts in your head. One is married and the other has a steady boyfriend. Besides, I'm a kept man, you know?

Ok, time to get back to studying. The book I am working in threw some Kanji at me today. Gonna be tough. And anyone who says Kanji is easy because it looks like what it is supposed to represent is either lying to you or smoking weed while looking at the characters. Hell, perhaps that would help.
Kampai!