spring break 2006!

i say/write that in somewhat of a sarcastic tone, imitating the typical MTV spring breakers. although my spring break has been beach-free and drunken twenty-somethings grind-free, it has been quite enjoyable. after all i am much older (23) and much more civilized. i have spent my break thus far cooking, cleaning, and laundring--being a domestic goddess in general. i have enjoyed running everyday and occasional leisurely bike rides along the river. and i have taken care of some much-needed-to-be-taken-care-of business. for example, obtaining a japanese driver's license. i undertook this feat yesterday. i went into the gunma traffic bureau with knowledge of those before me. i knew what to expect because i took notes (1)go to level 2, desk 7; 2)write name on clipboard and take a number; 3)wait for number to be called, etc., etc.) and all these seemed easy on paper, i thought i would be in and out in a matter of hours. to start off i couldn't even find "desk 7." but once i did i was in the clear, or so i thought. most of the time i spent waiting and wondering if i was indeed supposed to be waiting here or waiting somewhere else, or not waiting. luckily though there were plenty of other foreigners who were in the same boat. i met up with another american, angela, who was also there for her first time and a nepalese couple. there were also a few brazilians and philippinos. we were a cultural motley crew, and all equally anxious and nervous for the dreaded japanese driving test. but before you take the driving test with a professional driving course instructor, you must pass the written test. fortunately you can take this in your own language. it consists of ten true or false questions and you have to get seven correct to pass. it was very easy and myself, angela, and the nepalese lady passed with ease. (her husband had already taken this--he was just there for moral support).
to make a long story short, after passing the written test there was more waiting, and then we finally got put into groups for the driving test. on the way down, i spoke to a lady from the Philippines who had taken the driving test twice already, making this her third attempt at passing it. she kept repeating "strict, very strict" when the instructors walked by us with their self-important strides. i soon found out how strict they really are. i rode in the car while angela drove. i thought she did a fine job, not hitting the poles in the most difficult area--the 90 degree turns and s-curve. and i thought i did equally well. i slowed down when i ought to have, i looked behind, in front, in the mirrors before each and every turn like i had read i should. at the end of the test though the instructor just handed me back my sheets and said "domo." i said a polite thank you and all us foreigners headed back upstairs to hear the results. as we waited i noticed all the strained faces, the worry of our fate in the hands of the japanese traffic officials. would we have to return again a month later and re-pay to take the test? or would we be spared and set free to drive the streets of this wondrous country in glory? well, in a group of about twenty people taking the test, only three people passed. neither angela, the nepalese lady, or i passed. those that did yelled out in joy of their new found love for the fair and just gunma traffic bureau. we congratulated them in our angst and promptly signed up for an appointment to take the test again. ah, the anguish of defeat. i wasn't that upset though considering it takes most people 4-5 times to pass it. please pray/think of me on April 21st at around 2:00pm for i will be attempting my second trial.

on a lighter note, while i was biking over break i met a new friend. i was enjoying the nature and a lovely sunset when a man biked next to me and in his excitement of spotting a foreigner exclaimed "nice to meet you!" "oh, nice to meet you too," i said. we continued biking and talking for awhile. i found out his name is toyoto (not to be confused with toyota) and he likes to paint and he lives with his family in maebashi. so we stopped to exchange cell numbers and then we rode our separate ways. just when i was thinking "wow, that was kind of crazy. i guess i have a new japanese friend," he caught up with me again and asked me to stop. then he motioned to his ear, but i couldn't figure out what he was asking until he said "pierced?", i replied "yes, my ears are pierced." he proceeded to take out his earring and give it to me. "no, no, no, it's ok." i said, but he insisted that i wash it and wear it in memory of him. ah, ok. the earring is currently sitting here by my computer. and whether i wear it or not, he was right about it being a memory--i can't forget the person who performed such a generous and random act such as giving me their earring after knowng me only ten minutes.