Things are looking up...
I spent the last few days all down in the dumps about the laptop. You'd really think that my pet died or something- I would randomly remember things that were on there that I thought I would never get back again. I was pretty depressed, to tell you the truth.
However, almost an hour ago, Casey called to tell me that someone had fixed the computer and it was up and running again. He is currently backing up the information as I type this. WHAT A RELIEF! It's amazing to me how much trust I put into that machine, and how we *almost* lost everything. Other people are not so lucky, and I feel for them. I already went through most of the grieving process and had pretty much come to terms with never getting the information back again. Lesson learned!
So updating you on the last few days... Monday and Tuesday I spent mourning, doing wife-type stuff, and studying Japanese. Yesterday, I went to my Japanese lesson, and then Tasaka-san taught me how to make Tempura in the International Student office. I am excited to learn this, mainly because it was so easy! I look forward to making it for dinner sometime soon. I didn't realize that Tasaka-san would prepare so much food, though... we ate until we could barely move. It was fun... Yanagi-san helped as well so it was a little hectic in the kitchen with the three of us. I am also terrible about using kitchen chopsticks (a longer version of regular chopsticks) so I had trouble picking up the food and either flipping it over in the pan, or putting it on a plate. I got pretty frustrated with myself and started laughing and cussing under my breath (glad for the language barrier at that point)... I think they realized I was frustrated, though, so they put me on scooping duty and I got to scoop out the vegetables and the excess batter. I will be glad to do that in the privacy of my own kitchen so if I use a spoon or other utensil I won't feel so frustrated... I don't know if it's worth buying kitchen chopsticks- it's not worth the stress! :)
In other news, I went out with Tomoko, Kaneda-sensei's older daughter today. We went to Takarazuka, which is maybe 5 or 6 train stops away from where we live. It is a really pretty area, with many gardens and theaters. We went out for a nice Italian lunch- awesome pasta and the pizza wasn't too shabby, either! I felt a tad underdressed, though- it was a nice restaurant... it reminded me of a few places in San Francisco that we had gone to on our honeymoon. Anyway, we had a nice lunch, and then walked across the street to check out the park. They had a dog-run... there weren't too many dogs there today since it's chilly, but it made me think of Charley and how much fun he would have had there. We also went to a garden area that was very beautiful, despite the fact that many of the plants were not blooming yet. I really hope to take Casey there soon when the weather gets warmer. The Japanese really take pride in preserving nature... I think America has quite a few things to learn from this culture!
After the garden (and a quick trip to Babies R Us for a few things for Tomoko's son) we went to a temple where mothers go to pray for the health of their children. Tomoko has been there on New Years for the past several years, to pray for the health of her baby before and after he was born. It was neat to see the temple and know a bit of the history behind it. I didn't realize that each temple was a place to pray for different things- one temple she told me about was where people go to pray for fire safety in their kitchen! I understand praying about that, I just didn't realize they would have a temple dedicated to it! I have a lot to learn...
I'm not sure about plans for tomorrow yet, but Saturday night we were invited to go out with some of the people we met on New Years because a few of them are leaving to go back to Australia. We are going back to the same club we went to on New Years, actually... but I plan to do it much differently this time! No repeats of New Years Eve... I promise! Then on Sunday, we are going out with Tomoko and her husband for dinner (peppered steak, yay!!!). We didn't get to meet him last week because he was in China for a conference, so it will be nice to chat with him and hear about what it's like being a surgeon. I sort of hope they bring their son Haru as well... he is hilarious! (He's the one in the post from dinner with Kaneda-sensei from last week.)
Anyway, I should shut up now. I had coffee today so I'm actually chatty enough to annoy myself at this point. :) Write again later.
-Ashley
However, almost an hour ago, Casey called to tell me that someone had fixed the computer and it was up and running again. He is currently backing up the information as I type this. WHAT A RELIEF! It's amazing to me how much trust I put into that machine, and how we *almost* lost everything. Other people are not so lucky, and I feel for them. I already went through most of the grieving process and had pretty much come to terms with never getting the information back again. Lesson learned!
So updating you on the last few days... Monday and Tuesday I spent mourning, doing wife-type stuff, and studying Japanese. Yesterday, I went to my Japanese lesson, and then Tasaka-san taught me how to make Tempura in the International Student office. I am excited to learn this, mainly because it was so easy! I look forward to making it for dinner sometime soon. I didn't realize that Tasaka-san would prepare so much food, though... we ate until we could barely move. It was fun... Yanagi-san helped as well so it was a little hectic in the kitchen with the three of us. I am also terrible about using kitchen chopsticks (a longer version of regular chopsticks) so I had trouble picking up the food and either flipping it over in the pan, or putting it on a plate. I got pretty frustrated with myself and started laughing and cussing under my breath (glad for the language barrier at that point)... I think they realized I was frustrated, though, so they put me on scooping duty and I got to scoop out the vegetables and the excess batter. I will be glad to do that in the privacy of my own kitchen so if I use a spoon or other utensil I won't feel so frustrated... I don't know if it's worth buying kitchen chopsticks- it's not worth the stress! :)
In other news, I went out with Tomoko, Kaneda-sensei's older daughter today. We went to Takarazuka, which is maybe 5 or 6 train stops away from where we live. It is a really pretty area, with many gardens and theaters. We went out for a nice Italian lunch- awesome pasta and the pizza wasn't too shabby, either! I felt a tad underdressed, though- it was a nice restaurant... it reminded me of a few places in San Francisco that we had gone to on our honeymoon. Anyway, we had a nice lunch, and then walked across the street to check out the park. They had a dog-run... there weren't too many dogs there today since it's chilly, but it made me think of Charley and how much fun he would have had there. We also went to a garden area that was very beautiful, despite the fact that many of the plants were not blooming yet. I really hope to take Casey there soon when the weather gets warmer. The Japanese really take pride in preserving nature... I think America has quite a few things to learn from this culture!
After the garden (and a quick trip to Babies R Us for a few things for Tomoko's son) we went to a temple where mothers go to pray for the health of their children. Tomoko has been there on New Years for the past several years, to pray for the health of her baby before and after he was born. It was neat to see the temple and know a bit of the history behind it. I didn't realize that each temple was a place to pray for different things- one temple she told me about was where people go to pray for fire safety in their kitchen! I understand praying about that, I just didn't realize they would have a temple dedicated to it! I have a lot to learn...
I'm not sure about plans for tomorrow yet, but Saturday night we were invited to go out with some of the people we met on New Years because a few of them are leaving to go back to Australia. We are going back to the same club we went to on New Years, actually... but I plan to do it much differently this time! No repeats of New Years Eve... I promise! Then on Sunday, we are going out with Tomoko and her husband for dinner (peppered steak, yay!!!). We didn't get to meet him last week because he was in China for a conference, so it will be nice to chat with him and hear about what it's like being a surgeon. I sort of hope they bring their son Haru as well... he is hilarious! (He's the one in the post from dinner with Kaneda-sensei from last week.)
Anyway, I should shut up now. I had coffee today so I'm actually chatty enough to annoy myself at this point. :) Write again later.
-Ashley
posted by Ashley at 1/26/2006
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