The Secretary's Fake Arm

As I'm writing this, it's 5:20pm and the sun is going down.  There are three school girls in uniform chatting it up and laughing on the street under my window. I no longer have to worry as much about getting home before dark because I just bought a used bike today for 5000yen ($61USD).  You can outride the crazies so it's well worth the money.

Saturday
I prepared myself the night before to study hard on saturday in order to change to a harder class, but I slept in until noon and even missed the mochi pounding event/farmer's market. Oh well!  The farmer's market is held every 2 weeks so I'll check it out next time.  I studied 3-4 chapters successfully but then gave in to the great entertainment that is Japanese television.  I watched a zoo show, where they show cute animal videos sent in by viewers ala America's Funniest Home Videos, but there's also a segment about a chimpanzee named Pan-kun.  He wears overalls that match the host's, and he's visited by celebrities in his treehouse.  Also, a special on Kyoto winter pickles which was fantastic.  My friend KM drove in from Nagoya which isn't too far away.  We went out to an izakaya which is a bar type place where you usually sit on the floor at low tables and eat the Japanese equivalent of tapas.
Snow was falling outside so it was a very good environment.
As we were leaving one of the waitresses came up and started talking to me.  I didn't understand much of what she was saying, but apparently she wanted to shake my hand and talk to me.  She didn't usually see foreign girls and Japanese guys together.  At least that's what I think she said... I looked at KM and he didn't really know how to translate.
Got a movie rental card at Tsutaya. "I Love You, Phillip Morris" was already on the rental shelves even though it's still in theaters in America... Don't know why.
Watched Cellular again and a DVD of my favorite Japanese show: The World of Golden Eggs.

Sunday
Okonomiyaki restaurant.  I could hardly eat half, my stomach is still getting used to Japan again.
The snow was falling heavily.  Met some of my neighbors.
Attempted studying.  Decided (with some prompting from the creators) that I should just chill in this class and review for a while. Whole-heartedly agree.

Monday
Had second day of classes.  Snow was falling on and off all day. Bought a chicken with tartar sauce bentou. MMMMM so good.
Made pasta with a friend. Was delicious.
Also feel cool knowing that Jazz is from my country.

Tuesday
Almost passed out in class due to being sick/exhausted. Spent most of the day sleeping in the infirmary.  Missed lunch so I bought a half-priced! bentou.  After that, studied in a vacant classroom with some new friends.  I love all the books in the little library they have, but we're not allowed to take them out? WHAT. I want to read for once and you want to deny me that. You cruel bastards! So I read a little bit in there everyday.
I also was able to semi-successfully remake the pasta my friend made last night with the left over half ingredients.

Wednesday (Today)
Felt a lot better today and had a pretty good time in class.
Did some reading, and like I said at the beginning of the post, bought a bike. I told the lady I'd pay her 4000, and she nodded and agreed "Sure, sure, absolutely. Oh, this one should be fine. It runs really smoothly. It's easy to ride right?"
I tried it out and it was fine.  A blue bike with a front basket and a back rack.  I handed her my 5000 and she gave me the registration certificate.  I asked about the change.  Apparently I get my 1000 back once I sell the bike back.  All right.  She scraped off the previous owner's name, oiled the attached bike lock, and I was good to go.

Looked for the Art Museum but no luck today.  Came upon a craft shop and a book off (Book Off is a chain used book/cd/games store).  They were having a 105yen comic book sale.  Thankfully my lack of money helped me out.  And also the fact that if I spent it I might not be able to eat tomorrow.