Missives from away

This week has been the longest week of my life so far. I'm sure next week will be even longer, but I knew that when I signed up, so I have no business whingeing about it now. I am to mask my inner emotions and be super genki on the outside, even if I'm stressed and really have no idea what the hell I'm doing on the inside.

I can't read anything. This is such a problem, you have no idea. I've identified the kanji for wheat, and I have written down the kanji for rye and barley, as well, but seriously it's like a treasure hunt every single time I try to read a label of something that might contain wheat. I think I accidentally ate something containing wheat today because my liver has been pinging me something fierce - just random little stabs of pain, saying "Hey, you're eating shit you can't digest!"

Frustrations aside, I've mostly settled into my apartment. My neighbourhood is super-beautiful, even if I do live in the boonies - ie, not in the centre of Nagoya. Whatever; I like it. There's old-style Japanese houses and gardens that smell lovely at night, and a stream and a jogging path. The dog who lives in the backyard across from my front door is adorable. I had a dream last night that I was hugging it - I have been having some very, very vivid dreams lately, the scariest of which was after my welcome party, at which I drank umesshu, or Japanese plum wine, and I blame it entirely.

Tomorrow is my second Japanese lesson. I feel kind of like I'm the dumb kid in the class, because I can't really string a sentence together with confidence, and I have to really think to understand what they're saying. Also there's a dude from the Philippines who is pretty much fluent (I have no idea why he's in the class) and who finds every little thing hilarious, and jokes around with the teacher, and not in a nice way, I think. He also dresses like your typical douchebag, so I think I was biased against him from the start.

I was unable to sign up for a bank account, due to the fact that I don't have my Alien Registration Card yet. This is balls, as I can't get a cellphone until I have a bank account, really. I think I'm going to try to open an account at the bank at Nagoya Station tomorrow, and see if I can cheat the system.