time

I think I've gotten busy.
I've been meeting old friends lately, and what is schedule as a lunch date turns into a lunch plus shopping trip. I really shouldn't have worn heels today!!
I'm so tired, but now that I'm home I have some things I need to do around the 'house.' I vacuumed most of it now, but there are still dirty dishes in the sink from breakfast. And I need to cook something for myself for dinner, and to make something Daiju can eat at some point. Oh, and I need to figure out how to work the iron before Daiju runs out of shirts. It'd probably be good if I sat down and studied some Japanese...Oh, and did I mention I'm still working on the wedding gift thank-you notes? You all are so patient...Thank you!!! I have a lot of them written; I just need to address them and get them to the post office.
I'm constantly amazed at people's kindness. [Not just the Japanese--even a foreigner helped me find my train when I got lost at the station once.] The "old friends" I've been meeting up with have EACH paid for my meal, and one of them even paid my train ticket home! Today they paid for my lunch, tried to help me find a purse to buy, and gave Daiju & I a wedding gift (and I forgot to bring picture to show them from the wedding!!! Pooey!!!).
Daiju's parents load us up with food each time we come back from there house. When we first moved in, they gave us one of their dining tables + chairs, alongwith several dishes and towels and other necessities. When his mom came and saw our apartment the other night, she said "I have so many dishes..." to which Daiju replied, "Mom, we have PLENTY!" His parents are so great.
Of course, Daiju has been infinitely helpful. Even when I get weird or emotional, he stays calm and tries to find a way to help me feel better. He's taught me a lot about maturity and life and things Japanese. This morning I tried to use cooking Sake to fry an egg, because I didn't realize they had vegetable oil in Japan (go figure). He laughed a little and then explained what he knew of the purposes of cooking Sake (frying an egg isn't one of them). Then he encouraged me. I love Daiju. <3 [I hope I haven't embarrassed him by writing all this...]
Training starts Monday. I wonder what exactly I'll be doing and how many other people will be in the training session(s). I should be getting an email from my boss soon explaining the basics of it.
I'm getting a little more courageous each day. Yesterday I went to the second floor of the supermarket. I hadn't ever gone up there, because I was scared to. I mean, the escalator's really narrow, and you can't really see what exactly is up there. And I can't read kanji (Chinese characters), so if there was a sign that says "employees only," I wouldn't be able to read it. But yesterday I went up there. It was really cool! It was like a Japanese Dollar General. I had no idea my little town had such cheap clothing and random unnecessary goods!! It was quite fun, looking around up there. I must've spent 45 minutes up there, walking around, looking at everything. I found some work-out pants for 500 Yen (a little less than $5.00)...I was very proud of myself. ;) It can be hard to find deals like that here in Japan.
I guess I better go do some of the things I listed earlier. Thank you for your prayers!!!