Hello Dad!
I’m not sure if you’re going to get this at midday or in the morning. It is now 2:17am here and I can’t sleep. It might be because I got 12 hours last night. I joined a gym and got a really good workout in. When I went home I just crashed and couldn’t get up in the morning. So now I’m paying the price for getting up at 11:00am today. In case you are wondering about school, today was Waseda’s founding day so no classes.
Level 3 is excellent. This is what I expected from a language program. Levels one and two were pretty slow just going over grammar everyday and taking tests on it. Now I’m surrounded by people who are actually pretty good in the language and it provides me with a challenge. I have to work hard, but I really thrive at this level of intensity. It makes me glad to actually feel myself learning more with each passing day and be able to use it out in the real world. I feel I’ve broken another barrier.
Like I mentioned above, I joined a gym. The university had one but after a series of problems and hassles (I’ll go into it when I’m home,, just the usual unreasonable Japanese anality) I decided to just join a pay gym for $72 a month. It’s not a bad rate for Tokyo and it’s with a student discount. Also, anality is an actual word because I checked it on the internet and found it in 5 dictionaries. This gym has a lot more equipment along with Sauna, hot tub, and plenty of aerobic machines. I am making H join because frankly, we need something else to do as a couple. In Tokyo there isn’t much to do except shop, see a movie, go to the small park or drink alcohol. I was getting tired of just watching movies and eating with her but there was nothing else we could really do together. Unfortunately she isn’t much of a studier and falls asleep after the first 10 minutes. So I think doing the gym together will not only get her into shape and be a good lifelong activity to get started on, but will simply provide us with a fun activity to do together.
I am pretty sure I’m going to join an Aikido club. They have classes in the early morning and it’s actually the “Aikido World Headquarters.” That would look good on a resume. It’s also a pay place and they charge $90 a month. They have practice everyday and you can come when you want. They won’t kick me out or be so strict like the people in the karate club were.
Finally, I bought my plane ticket today. I did about 2 hours of research today trying to decipher the complex code that airlines use to confuse the complete hell out of their customers. I came to the conclusion that NW wasn’t treating me like a company should treat their customers. I’ve tried 4 times to get an upgraded seat with my miles but am refused every time. I found out that if I fly with American Airlines and chose their 777 jet, I will have my own personal video monitor in coach class. Not only that but they provide power ports for laptops, so I’ll be able to work/play on my computer the whole time! So I’ve officially switched to AA. Now I’ll be flying from Dallas/Ft. Worth to Columbus and be arriving at around 2:10pm or so. I’ll send you the flight itinerary soon.
One last note. I don’t know if I’ll have another chance to E-mail so I would like to wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY in advance. You have one gift from me coming in the mail from Banana Republic and another one from Japan that will arrive late as usual. (I’m sending it first thing in the morning and it should get there in a week or so).
Please let me know what’s going on at the home front.
Mateo
PS: I’m looking forward to coming home for the holidays and if you have time getting out for a beer with you. I had a good time the last time at that place next to Oxley Field. Only this time, let’s try and talk to some girls that are under 50 years old and not from the tailor park.
