Sunday, September 9, 2012

Missing Fingers and the Japanese Driver's Test

das Feuer!

Still on my quest to attain a Japanese driver's license via the conversion route, I attempted the test a 2nd time today. 
The preparation
Today I successfully made it past the starting line, a feat I could not boast from my 1st attempt. In fact, today I got to see the entire course from the driver's seat. Stand back! I think a button just busted off this vest. 

As I rounded the final corner into the home stretch, I saw the evaluator had already filled out my "FAIL" slip and was waiting until I stopped the car before handing it to me. Probably a good idea, in theory. But next time buddy, why not keep it hidden until I stop the car. I mean, there is still a lot of horse power behind the wheel, not to mention the little bit the car had to offer and you wouldn't want that power unleashed on your sorry rear-ender now would you?

In any case, dear readers, I will strike out again in three weeks for my 3rd attempt at the driving test.
One good thing happened today, I took the new used scooter I bought (@25,000 yen and worth every penny) 1 hour through the heart of Tokyo in peak rush hour traffic to get to the Driver's License Center in Fuchu (pronounced Foo-choo). Fantastic ride, scary as hell, but thoroughly thrilling. I can't wait to go again...sort of.

On my way back I past my old University. So I hit up my old lunching spot, Bambi's restaurant. By Japanese standards, Bambi's is probably the equivalent of a local mom and pop diner back in the States with slightly greasy everything on the menu. But I love Bambi's, seasoned hamburger patty on a plate with some pasta, fried croquet of creamed corn, white rice, and chicken stock soup.  I want a picture of the meal to share with you but my camera broke when I sat on it in the Yamanote. So I gleaned a few from Tabelog which is a Japanese site for searching for good food in Japan. Thanks to hopkins  for posting these on Tabelog. Just picture a very happy white guy (or a very white happy guy) on a very tiny bar stool, seated at the bar which creates a semicircle around the cooks area. Now picture that crowded into half the size you are imagining and you might have a faint glimpse of what it was like for me today.
The food :-D

The shop :-l

das Feuer!

My main man!*see note below*


The entire ordering and payment system! Insert a 1000 yen bill and press your pick, let the Old Guy take it from here. 

Pay attention, because this is the remarkable thing about this whole day. The 65 year old cook who used to serve me 5 years ago (pictured above) when I was an exchange student, is now older and grayer but still serving. Spectacular coincidence, probably not. But how about the fact that he was now operating with a stub for a right thumb and the first knuckle removed from his right index finger. Figure that one out! My first thought was possibly trouble paying up with the local yakuza? What do you think?

Friday, September 7, 2012

休みの日

今日は休みです。やるべきことはたくさんあるけど、どうしようかなと考えています。今週、中古自転車と中古バイクを買ったので、登録する為に区役所に行った。でも、その日判子を忘れたので登録出来ないと思ったのですが、区役所の役員は出来た申請書類を渡すと「サインをしてまた郵便で返してください」と親切に教えてくれました。とても嬉しかったです。僕は判子を忘れがちです。でも今週はすごく忙しかったから送る時間がありませんでした。今日こそ絶対に送ります。他にも色々あるべきことがあります
  1. 新しいカメラを買いたいです。
  2. 自転車のインナーチューブを交換
  3. インナーチューブを交換するために、可動レンチが必要なので、ドンキーへ行なくちゃいけません。
  4. ちょっと勉強したいです。(ポルトガル語か日本語かベーシックプログラミング言語Cにも興味があるからこの頃勉強している。)日本語は間違いが多いけど、このブログで大丈夫です。
  5. 今晩、自宅で小さなパーティーの予定があるので、そのために買い物と料理をしなくちゃいけない。でも何を作るかと聞かれたら、全く分かりません

あぁ、そうか。これに決めました。今日最初に買い物します。

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

2012年九月五日11:46午後

今日はすごく疲れた。自分に『お疲れさまです』言うのはちょっと変だと思われるかも知れないですが、今日はそんな感じでした。8:30から13:00までベルリッツで教えたり、13:10から一時間プライベートレッスンの生徒に会ったり、14:30から三時間弁護士事務所でのバイトもしました。そして、ベルリッツへ戻り、18:15から21:10の間4つのレッスンした。で、帰り道を歩きながらストレスがたまってきたことに気づいた。最近、僕はそのストレスに対処できるように皇居ランをしています。今日の最後の事で成功しました5キロの皇居を26分で走ってきた。そのようなペースは初めてです。達成感から一日の最後、寝る前に笑顔になりました。