It's 2 o'clock at night, and I can't sleep because Shiv is away in UK. Well, actually it started with a mosquito bite that wouldn't stop itching no matter how much medicine I put on it.

Anyway, a lot of stuff happened in August, not all of it that great.
The good stuff was the university projects, I suppose. We had a workshop in an elementary school in Uto and another one in Minami Oguni as well as random trips.

The elementary school was designed with no air conditioning or heating. The no heating in Japan is normal, but not the absence of air conditioning in 30+C in the summer. The school had a very minimalist interior with floor to ceiling windows. All the spaces generally had only 2 walls. Some French architect seemed pleased he could meet a foreigner to get an opinion. We also got to hang out with the architect who designed the building and his office staff. He was also awesome because he paid for our meals.

The Minami Oguni project is still ongoing. We had 2 workshops so far and another one is coming up at the end of September/beginning of October. It's pretty hard for me because of the language barrier, but it's super fun hanging out with my classmates (lab-mates?). My favourite bit is the ride back :D

We had a trip to a ryokan for Sonyan's going away project presentation/drinking party. Watching grown people who never dance trying to mimic Michael Jackson in 'Beat it' is very funny. However, I was too tired, so I went to sleep an hour early.

The bad stuff was me being stung by a jellyfish when I was in Shimonoseki, and then the sting becoming irritated with inflammation. Falling out of the bus and hitting my back and elbow. Had to go back home, my arm was so much in pain I couldn't move it. Getting my foot caught in a blanket and falling face first onto an ironing board. I broke the ironing board and bruised my nose that started bleeding.

That about sums up some of the stuff I did or had happen to me up to this point.

A week's worth or so of things

Lots of stuff to recount. First of all, on Thursday I got to talk a bit to the two Chinese ladies in the YMCA group. It was kind of fun. The most important thing is - I can talk without worrying I sound stupid, because they're on the same level as I am.

On Saturday we went to Uto to watch a firework competition.

Uto is an hour away or so, and the reason for holding the fireworks' display there is because it has a river.

Sooooooo many people. Big bridge :) We ate lots of tasty things - I especially liked the chicken(?) in sweet sauce and the crepe with chocolate and banana (I made some thin pancakes at home later on).

The fireworks themselves were divided into sections. There were some standard flower entrees, and in between them show-style ones. They were awesome!!! One of the most amazing and imaginative ones was the Requiem.

Two of Shiv's students caught a cold. It seems Shiori-san's is pretty serious. Still we were lucky, since some nice people let us sit on their mat. No wet grass - happiness. I did take some warm clothes with me, but it didn't feel like enough. If we ever go there in the same season, I am taking a blanket.

On Tuesday we had two more people join us in the YMCA group. The lesson dragged on a bit as the teacher was trying to see if the new guy could read all the hiragana. I guess the lessons will become a bit slower now that there are more people, but, hopefully, not fatally so. Also, there are 6 people, so it's good for dialogues.

Trying to shift our sleeping schedule. Not going so well. I went to sleep early-ish, but woke up in the early hours and couldn't sleep. Then slept until 11... Le sigh.