So, the day after the festival, my host mother came a-pounding on the door. Did not understand (are you kidding, I don't understand english when I first get up, let alone japanese!) but got up and went downstairs. Something was afoot, did not understand except hurry get dressed. SO ran back upstairs, dressed and grabbed camera and ran down two flights of stairs. In the street was a children's parade.

ahh, the information dawned on me

So, the main idea is these children in their happi coats push this cart thingy, Omikoshi, a portable shrine with a tree on it, and kind of are out for donations. Isn't everybody. You give them 1000\ and they leap on the Omikoshi in manner of teeter-totter/see-saw and shake it up and down in front of your house, small children flying in every which direction, laughing and sometimes crying when they fell on their bum (the street was wet, I might've too). Then a woman (is it always a woman, I don't know) runs up with a little sake cup and you get a drink of sake for your trouble. Was completely awake after sake drink. So, we followed them about for a bit, taking pictures, and I slowly got the idea of what they were doing. My host mother had students in this parade, she introduced me and at first, again, they ran away. After they seemed ok and were all impressed by me. (Why is everyone so taken aback that I am American exchange student...?)

After, later in the day, we went to an Autumn festival thingy in Hiroshima downtown area. It was raining. Saw other gaijin and stared. Why do I keep staring at gaijin, clearly I am one too, why is it surprising??? The thing I remember most, of course, is eating a bad bento box and feeling like an alien was going to burst out of my gut for the rest of the day.

After that, on Monday we were going to go to Miyajima but it rained so we didnt. Harumi took me to Fuji (store not mountain), and we tried to take a picture to get the little sticker-picture things (it was broken). Saw lots of sanrio products, hello kitty on a spoon, on a keychain, on a barrett, on a box, on a handkercheif, on a towel, on a tiny suitcase, etc. Bought a couple stickers for letter purposes. Also, the host aunt works at Fuji, and she surprised me by telling me to please pick out something as a gift (for me), because she got a discount there. Was so sweet. Looked at toy store as love toys more now than ever as child. (Example:as child got box of toys from uncle, emptied it out and played with box. True story) Was disappointed that did not see any I liked. Also was still a bit queasy from devil lunch the day before, so was a bit hurried in my perusing, but found nothing of interest. Will continue search some other time.

Tuesday I saw Motoko, who was an exchange student at BG. Is marvelous to see a familiar face. She taught me how to ride the school's bus which is only 165\, so happy day, am saving money!Bus was hilarious. Had upholstery in manner of stuffy, expensive hotel's false velvet furniture, and a funny lighting system reminscent of mini-chandeliers. This is a bus. Mini-chandeliers on a bus. I thought this was funny. She also saved my life by telling me the secret of which densha (train) to take from Hiroshima eki (station). She is my hero.

Wednesday I got my copy of King Lear. Clearly the beginning 40 pages are not important, as they are simply not there. A bit mysterious but figure is less important than, say, the end 40 pages, so do not care. Met girl named Yuki-san in Shakespeare class, and she seems nice and eager to help.

Thursday, thing of merit I remember most was Kyudo. More on that soon.

Have met the little girl I am to be speaking in English with for my job. Her name is Miki and she may just be the cutest thing in the world. She seemed very sweet but I am ever vigilant and wary, as American children seemed to hate me. \2000 for two hours per week. Like twenty dollars I think. Am pretty certain can find way there. As I hear though, this is a pretty crappy wage. However, is hardly like work at all, as is informal teaching, more like be her friend but speak english. I am not quite sure how to approach this...