1998.06.17 WED

Past few days have been really busy - all sorts of homework, and I've had a really big vocabulary test to study for as well. The test on Friday covers the vocabulary for all the chapters studied since April, most of which I wasn't around for, so I've got a lot of cramming to do between now and then. I think I'll do okay though... :)

The streets here are REALLY narrow. You get enough space for your car, and that's pretty much it - the driver's certification tests here are a lot more strict and a lot more expensive than ones back in the States (the test is 20,000 yen or so). Not only that, the bigger your vehicle, the more expensive it gets. Until about two years ago, few people here drove the big Harley-Davidson-style bikes - the test for a large motorcycle was said to be one of the most difficult publically-administered tests ever. But then they made the tests easier, so now lots of people here are trying to get a big bike.

As small as the vehicles are, though, and as small as the roads are, I have yet to see a damaged vehicle on the streets. Perhaps there are vehicles with small, minor dents and scratches, but no taped-on bumpers or cracked windshields - everything is kept in excellent condition on the streets. I asked Adam about that and he said that every two years, people have to get their cars re-inspected, and the test is so exhaustive that most people usually just sell the cars and get brand new ones. Maybe they just buy a new car once they get in a wreck, too...

But as narrow as the streets are, people drive really wild, and they tend to park just about anywhere. Here at the school, only a few places are restricted from scooter parking (scooters are EVERYWHERE here), so usually you have to weave your way through a maze to get to the steps of the classrooms. Not only are the drivers different, but the pedestrians are more brave too - they'll walk in the middle of the street sometimes if the sidewalks are too narrow - or if there's more than three people walking along. Luckily, the drivers don't seem to mind, either.

Anyways, that was all I really have today to write about. I'll probably have more next week - tomorrow night we're meeting with Dr. Spence for dinner, and tonight... well, I don't know what I'm doing tonight. Next week, though, I take over English tutoring for James for a while, so that should be interesting. Anyways, I'll write again later, ja!