Apologies for the neglect, but there has been little but same-old to report. The weather is stunningly non-wintry, the hills of Takao are luminous in the slanting solstice sunlight, and I've already packed off one smiling roommate to Thailand after quasi-celebrating quasi-Christmas at a newly discovered and pretty awesome restaurant in Takao. Our pitiful reliance on its one English speaking staffer, however, was a slap in our Japaneseless mouths. Owch. So I have been spurred into action and am currently (right right now) trying to find a language exchange partner. Wish me luck.

Things here in this bustling metropolis will be interesting over break. Yikes. Travel time! Still trying to decide what to do . . . I don't imagine anyone ever got anything done by endlessly pondering options, but I'm hoping that maybe that's the case.

Enjoy for a funny and accurate account of the good old Tokyo subway system. The picture on this site features a car that looks exactly like the ones on the Chuo line (the one I ride each day). Telltale turqoise seats would seal the deal, but I can't see any. Kudos to this soul for so accurately expressing the joys of riding the subway Tokyo-style. Reading brings to mind a funny subway story. Yesterday I was crammed in on the Special Rapid so tightly that my left arm was pinned to my side. Directly in front of me was a businessman diligently reading a book with his left arm similarly pinned. Each time he got to the end of a page he would try to turn to the next using a combination of his chin, shoulder and thumb. I finally grew frustrated with this routine, so the next time he came to the end of a page I reached over and turned it for him with my free right hand. My fleeting satisfaction was ended by the oppressive ackwardness that ensued. Awesome.

Merry Christmas,
Heart,
Eliz