1985/7 Japan

Kyoto, 32 Iorino-Cho, Ichijoji, Sakyo-ku
19 November 1986
Posted 21.11.86; received 25.11.86

Gleetings!

I know. It’s been ages since I last wrote. At first because not a whole hell of a lot was happening. And then because a whole hell of a lot was happening. I have moved from Kyoto to Okayama. A city of 500,000 situated on the south coast of Honshu midway between Kyoto and Hiroshima. I worked for the USA Academy here on a couple of occasions before I came home last April. On my return to Japan they offered me three days a week at a second school they were about to open. And then offered me a full-time post. I wasn’t terribly keen to leave Kyoto, especially resplendent in her autumn colours, or my friends or the familiar places I like to go. But work was scarce so I said if we could work out an attractive deal I might be tempted. So here I am. Let me tell you the things I DON’T like first and then I can go onto the longer list of things I do. I am living in a block of flats that has no garden and like most blocks of flats is outwardly unattractive. The block is situated at the crossroads of two major highways and both noise and pollution are therefore an irritant. I miss Kato-san’s garden and the mountains and the fresh air and the silence.

But I LOVE having a place of my own. For the first time in years. The apartment has two six-tatami rooms, one smaller bedroom, a fairly big kitchen and the usual bathroom facilities. It is quite large by Japanese standards and would be expected to house a family with two or three kids. It is larger than the apartment my bakers live in. I have shut off two of the rooms and am still unsure what to do with all the space!! My boss, Kuzuhara, either rents it on a permanent basis or owns it. I’m not sure which. Either way it has been empty for some time. It is exactly one minute’s walk from the new school where I work. An unbelievable bonus in a country where foreigners often spend three hours travelling just to teach for two or three hours. It is also rent-free!! Kuzuhara wanted to charge me ¥50,000 p.m. for it, but I said in that case I would rather stay in Kyoto and he could pay for me to commute. So now I am staying rent-free until such time as they have enough students to give me 20 hours’ work per week. At which point I will start to pay ¥15,000 p.m. Included in the deal I made are two free trips to Kyoto per month – on the bullet train ($78 return per trip) – also until such time as I have 20 hours’ work.

There is a coffee shop next door to the school and Kuzuhara has worked out a discount deal with them. Whereby for ¥300 (less than the price of a cup of coffee at Karafuneya in Kyoto) his employees can get both a meal AND a cup of coffee. I can’t possibly cook for as little and the food is tasty and the shop is virtually next door to home.

Also the people I work with are kind. Providing me with odds and ends. From fruit to crockery to a washing machine! Now – if only I can get my visa extended next month and my hours continue to build up – all will be well. Otherwise it’s off to Korea, I guess.

Kuzuhara arranged to have my bicycle and shelves and an armchair I picked up transported here. I have found someone near me who does Ikebana and I start lessons next week. The weather is warmer here in winter and I have a heater.

Sorry this letter’s a bit disjointed. I keep thinking about a book I started reading tonight and I want to get back to it. You might as well stick with Kato’s address until such time as I know if I’ll be staying beyond December. My friend, Michael, teaches here once a week and will bring my mail.

A favour please. At the Bryanston market was a lady who decorated straw boxes with real flowers preserved in a special way. I think she also sold the preserving goods and instructions, etc. Please could you find out – next time you’re in the area!!?? – what it is she uses and perhaps get me a copy of the instructions. If she has a small container that is not too expensive, I’d also like an example of her work. No big deal and no rush, OK.

That’s all for now. How goes work? What is Garth up to? Any plans for Xmas?

Take care
Lotsaluv
Gail