Humidity, Plague, TV and The Elusive Otherworld of Thought

1. Mushi Atsui! That’s what the Japanese call humid. And boy, it’s humid right now. Going outside is much like going to a sauna, and to do even the slightest bit of excercise (say, like walking to the shops) means you’re taking a shower — fully clothed and in your own sweat. I feel like a boiled sweet, only salty. Mmmm. Boiled salts.

2. I was going away for the weekend this weekend, but unfortunatly the girlfriend contracted some virulent strain of the flu which has left her bedridden with 40 degree fevers. Her temperature is bouncing around like a yo-yo, from 40 to normal to 39 back to normal; needless to say she’s staying at home, in bed, and mostly sleeping.

3. There seems to be an awful lot of people I know that is sick with something over the last week. One of my co-workers has had a cold for a while, another teacher suffered heatstroke, a few of my students have had bouts of something which hopefully I haven’t caught, and I’ve had trouble with hayfever and asthma. Even my ezcema has gone a bit nuts lately, which is stranger because it’s usually dry weather that causes it, not super humidity. Then again, I’ve never lived for so long in super humidity, so maybe I just discovered yet another facinating side to my allergies. Oh, to be boring and allergy-less.

4. I’m currently typing this from work, with my new VAIO. With the help of a nice and small USB keyboard, which has cool “clickety-clack” keys. Makes typing fun!

5. (It’s also a Japanese keyboard, but it’s been remapped as an English keyboard, so while there are markings on each key, they lie.)

6. With the plague floating about, this is also the first weekend since I’ve come to Japan where I don’t have any plans — which means I might spend the whole weekend sober. Makes for a healthy change I suppose, and it gives me time to study Japanese, and do the homework I have for the Japanese class I’ve just started. One good thing about my company is that I get 24 free lessons with the Japanese English teachers at work, which should give me the basics. So far I’ve learnt my numbers and a few greetings, and I’m trying to memorise Katakana. I’m doing ok, but learning a new language is like learning how to think all over again, and there’s an awful long way for me to go.

7. On top of that there’s a slew of interesting new TV shows coming out later this year. I’m especially keen for Aaron Sorkin’s new show Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, starring a few of the notables from the West Wing. Psych also looks good, and it’s another show with a former West Wing star. And I’m curious about Made in Eureka, seems like an interesting concept.

7. That’s it for me this week, not much else to report from Shoebox Central. Stay tuned.

Comments

  1. I’m a bit of a slow thinker here – I have a 100% unused Learn Kanji book from my failed attempted at learning Japanese – not sure if you can find English-language learning materials there so let me know if you want me to pop it in the post.

    I still remember most hiragana and katakana, but kanji was totally beyond me.

    Comment by Tim — July 17, 2006 @ 8:02 am

  2. Cheers mate, I may need to call on you for that, but Kanji is so far beyond me right now that it would be a waste if you sent it now!

    And don’t worry, kanji is difficult for most Japanese, so you’re in with a pretty good crowd :)

    Comment by JohnK — July 18, 2006 @ 3:14 am

  3. take care John,as you are not used to that weather ,drink more water.seeing you soon

    Comment by mum — August 20, 2006 @ 10:44 pm

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