Day 118 in Japan - I Got Hit By A Car (Seriously)

Today was a very eventful day. Got hit by car on my walk to the train station. It was only a light tap - not even enough for me to fall over. The lady was obviously applying her makeup in the car - got out with eye makeup on one eye and frantically talked to me in slangy Japanese. She sounded apologetic, and I didn't know how to get her to stop talking, so eventually I just smiled and nodded and headed off to catch my train so that I wouldn't be late.

Morning workshops. Bit boring. ALT vs. JTE parts were a little bit interesting - we had to list what we wished JTEs would do (and what annoys us), and the JTE tables had to do the same for ALTs. Then we switched papers and wrote about what was surprising..I also heard the best predecessor story I have heard - everyone has a story about something weird that the JET before them left or did. This guy's predecessor was sleeping with a teacher at his school. And a student at his school. And he got the student pregnant. And the school was a Junior High School (13-15 year olds). AND HE GOT RECONTRACTED.

Lunch with Arj and Jodes at the nice cafe from yesterday. Plenary quite decent (comparisons with Harry Potter teachers were quite interesting). Freeeeeeeedom!

Walked to Sanno and went for a drink. Tried Clap but was closed. Went to Beefeater bar instead. Had to climb very steep ladders to get to drinking lounge.Was pretty cool, but not enough beers to warrant me going back.

Then on my way home, I saw my first Japanese businessman train spew. Every Friday and Saturday night, the train platforms are packed with swaying, drunken Japanese businessmen, and up until now I have been impressed with the fact that I have never seen anyone throw up. Up until now. And the dude did it in really spectacular fashion - the train was really packed, and I think he managed to coat about 7 people in a quite projectile vomit. And there was nothing anyone could do - it was too packed for us to move, so we all had to stand there and watch the poor people until the next station. They pushed the man out of the door at the next stop, and most of the vomitees got off as well, but the rest of us just had to try to avoid the area and block our noses for the rest of the trip. GROSS.

The end of the evening was much happier. We met up with Mai and her Mum at Gochisomura - a Japanese restaurant that is very close to our house. Anna had caught train back from Tokyo so all 5 of us in the Thompson party were there. The dinner was very nice, and Mai and her mother had brought presents for Mum and Dad and Anna. They were so sweet! And they insisted on paying for dinner. It was quite embarrassing, really. They taught us some origami (Mai's Mum is the master!), and eventually we got kicked out of the restaurant, being the last customers there by aaaaages.

Food Highlight of the Day: Fried udon - like deep fried uncooked spaghetti noodles with a bit of salt. They were very interesting.