Japanese Columbo? Maybe?

Tuesday the 10th I got up at about 9:45am and cleaned up my room a little. I had been awakened by the cleaning people as they knocked next door at Casey's. Then were coming to clean so I needed to put away my stuff and wanted to lock up my computer and such. But of course first I had to try to translate for Casey. I was a little annoyed the cleaning guy didn't seem to be listening to me first of all and Casey couldn't seem to decide if she just wanted new towels or cleaning as well but not the sheets changed.

Finally, when I thought I had gotten across what Casey wanted and that he could come back in 15 minutes for my room, I went to get my stuff for my computer so I could talk to people online while I waited. I ended up doing a lot of talking and checking email and stuff. At one point Michael came up to talk to me. He was talking about the cleaning people and really wouldn't go away. Finally though he went back down. At about 1pm I went back down and gave chocolates to Casey again because they would need a box for their next lesson.

After that I decided to run a few system scans on my computer while I watched some TV. I managed to find this one drama on TV that I kinda have gotten addicted to. I don't even really know it's name but I found it intriguing and I think it's supposedly slightly historical, so I spent a couple of hours watching that. (The scans on my computer take a really long time.) After that I got ready, my computer was still scanning, and then I ended up watching this show which, I swear, seemed like a Japanese version of Columbo. Seriously, right down to Columbo's thing of saying, "Just one more thing". This detective guy would say kinda the Japanese equivalent of "Chotto matta" which is like hold on a second, implying that he wants to talk to you more.

Also while I was watching this I saw for the first time a commercial for Aflac. Yes Aflac has apparently made it to Japan. After the detective show it was time for me to head off to my lesson. After I got to the station close to my lesson I stopped at a little conbini (convenience store) and bought a little bag of chocolate chip cookies and some tea. I hadn't gotten to eat lunch before I left and I didn't want to go to class on an empty stomach. Even though it was a little rude I snacked on the cookies as I walked to class, though I tried to be discreet.

I ended up getting there a little early actually and walked around the block and discovered the back entrance to the shrine. I took some pictures and since they even had a couple of plaques there translated into English I was able to learn that there is a festival there on July 1st. I hope to go and have some fun. I was a bit nervous about the lesson since no one spoke English and this time Terumi-san wouldn't be there, but it went well.

After the lesson the only other woman in the group walked with me back to the train station and we chatted a little. She even saw me off at the train because her train was right across the platform, she was very nice. When I got back to Kita-Urawa I was hungry to I decided to go get some McDonalds since I 1) had a coupon and 2) there was one right next to the train station on the other side. As I waited for my order this weird looking Japanese guy, who looked gay (no, really!), said hello and asked me where I was from. I answered, this is all in Japanese except his first hello, that I was American. His response to that amused me. He said "But your eyes aren't blue." To which I responded, since I didn't want to talk to him in the first place and my order was thankfully ready, that my mother was Peruvian so that's why. I then left very quickly.

I brought my food back to the center and ate while I watched a little more TV. I actually came across a live action version of Absolute Boyfriend, a manga I read, and was instantly amused and riveted. After it went off I threw out my trash and decided to finish the remainder of my cookies and tea for dessert, after all I had only ordered a kids meal. It was actually quite cute the tea had come with a little mirror attached as a gift or something. I got the only for July but I hope to get the one for June soon as well.

After I finished my dessert I went to get some hot water and ran into Casey in the lounge on the 1st floor. She had apparently just come back from shopping at the supermarket nearby. I had a piece of her chocolate chip melon bread. It was quite yummy, I'll have to buy some at some point. As I was headed back to my room I noticed a strong smell like a candle burning or something. I debated a little and then went to tell the security guard. He came with me to see what it was and then proceeded to tell me in length, most of which I didn't understand, that it was incense or something and that even though they're not supposed to have it in the rooms since he didn't know where it was coming from he couldn't do anything. Or at least something like that.

When he was finally done I went back to my room to try and deal with a virus that my computer had found. I kept scanning and trying to remove it but it wouldn't go away. I ended up being up late trying to fix that to no avail. And thus my day came to an end.