(8 Months Later Continued)

mer.

As I said, so much has happened.  Not all of it to us directly, but even the events in the news or elsewhere make us feel that time is moving quickly.  Of course, we welcomed the new millenium 14 hours before the U.S. East Coast.  The worldwide celebrations were fun to watch, and we enjoyed the annual red and white (men vs. women) singing contest on NHK.  Prior to that, I had a chance to play Santa Clause and be a judge in a town cake contest.  Yuki was the official videographer of that event.  At the request of an Ogi Town committee, we have volunteered to teach a weekly English class for town residents.  We've been doing that for about 2 months now.  I got my Japanese drivers license.  Yuki still does most of the driving, however.  I'm still not comfortable with the small roads and bicyclists. 

From home, we listen intently when we here things like a shooting at the National Zoo or a hurricane moving up the East Coast.  We've missed the introduction of the Maryland quarter and the new gold dollar coin, but we'll see the introduction of a new 2,000 yen bill in July.  In December, we lost a dear friend from back home to cancer.  We can't help but feel we should have been there.  And other things have given us the same feeling.

And maybe back there some of you here news from Japan and wonder about its effect on us.  The eruption of Mt. Usu and the sudden illness of former Prime Minister Obuchi were big stories, but really didn't have much of an impact on day-to-day life in Ogi or Saga Prefecture.  Closer to home, the Ogi mayor resigned from office a few days ago after confessing to accepting a bribe of 1 million yen.  That news was quickly overshadowed by yesterday's hijacking of a bus headed from Saga City to Fukuoka.  This resulted in the death of one passenger and injuries to several others.  Many passengers were from Saga, including two from Ogi.  We don't know anyone involved, but you can be sure I'll be looking around with more than a casual interest the next time I take the bus from Ogi to Fukuoka, which I do twice a week.

Summer is coming.  No doubt it will be hot and sticky.  Probably won't feel much like writing, but I'll try.  Thanks for reading.