I had a busy day today! School was nothing special. I had to play helper again and give the dumb speech that goes along with it but it turned out ok. At the end of school, I had to administer school evaluations and turn them in to the office.
After school, I went to Hiroba and then to a big department store in the area called Marui Imai. It's really upscale but not as expensive as Boni. There was a really nice sales lady who showed me cheap versions of the stuff I was buying. I looked all around the traditional clothing section and bought more tabi socks (the previos pair was woven and didn't feel very good; these are knit), and some scarves (?) for gifts. I guess that's what they are. It doesn't matter, that's what I'm telling people they are.
I went across the street to another department store called Daiei. These are everywhere and are seedier than the other stores. It has groceries, clothes, other dry goods like paper and toiletries, some appliances, bicycles, etc. On one floor, there was a book and cd store. I browsed the manga for hentai stuff but again turned up cold. The books there had a plastic band around them so you couldn't browse them. I went to the periodicals, where they keep the fat monthly manga, and there it was! Manga pr0n! It was out on a low shelf where everyone could see it, including small children. Also, there was lots and lots of gay hentai manga. I guess people buy it or there wouldn't be so much, right? Well, I bought some. I picked out some straight and gay. I had to get the gay one because its subtitle was "Seven lips in summer". I'm assuming they mean 7 pairs as opposed to 7 lips. I think I missed out on the actual books because its genre seems to be "deluxe". I saw a deluxe section but didn't check it out.
When I went to pay for them, there were 2 dudes working the register. I got kind of nervous and dropped most of my change on the floor like a gimp. Both of the guys came out from behind their counter to make sure I got it all. I tried hard to keep a straight face and said "It's ok!" and walked away as calmly as possible.
I gotta remember to think before I shop. Since today was Hiroba day, my backpack was extra heavy. Then I bought 2 large volumes of manga and I had another shopping bag. I had to lug all of it back home on foot. It was threatening rain all day, but then again, the sky seems to always be dark here. During the day, there was hardly any rain, but, of course, it's pouring now. The wind got really strong about an hour ago and now it's raining. And, naturally, it will be raining tomorrow as well. Miraculously, Thursday and Friday are predicted to be almost sunny, but I'm sure that will change.
I got home really late, around 6:30. It was nearly dark. Hiroshi, host mom, and I had another discussion about language after dinner, so I couldn't tape HEY! HEY! HEY!, a popular and long lived music show. However, I did tape SMAP x SMAP. At dinner, she told my why they thought it was strange that I liked to eat raw vegetables. Something about how they used to use raw vegetables in medicine.
Last night, I heard a crash against my door. When I got up, my door was open. I looked under my bed, and there was that damn cat again. Normally, I LUV cats, but I truly hate this one. I barricaded my door with host mom's new sewing maching which is still in its box. It was the only thing in my room that seemed suitable for keeping that damn cat out.
I gotta go to bed, it's late and I'm worn out.