DearScotty

“11:39, 11:39: I can`t possibly miss this train again. Haven`t I learned my lesson? Leaving the club at 11 will give me plenty of time to make it back on time.” The walk back to the subway station was pleasant as the rain died down a little. I debated catching a cab and skipping the subway and heading straight for the train station. But what for? I had plenty of time. Turns out, I planned it perfectly. I would safely catch the last train home on this school night. Yet, here I am in the internet cafe looking up train times to get home in the morning.

How did I get on the wrong subway? Oh easy! Poorly labeled subway signs that don`t properly indicate that a certain subway line will become another line. Maybe it was the few beers I had but I called a friend who said he makes the same mistake about twice a month. Thank goodness for Mr. Donut and their angel filled delights. Thought I’d get some grub on as I headed to Cybac Internet Cafe. But even donuts don’t always cheer me up. I`m such a moron. Let`s hope my phone battery doesn’t die so I can wake up on time to catch the first train home…

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While eating some black mush that must’ve been a potion conjured up by the Dark Arts, I flashed back to my happy escape in Korea. It’s just a shame not knowing if you’re eating a plant or animal. Add on top of that the fear that you’re eating cursed food to cause your rational thought to shrivel up like an aged lotus root. How I miss Korea already.

Korea is like a real country. They have people who act, walk and talk like humans. It was quite a relief to get hassled and laughed at by some Korean taxi drivers standing outside the train station. We didn’t have a clue where to go and were laughed at for our ignorance. Instantly, Mike, Tim and I laughed. We all realized we had left Japan and entered a country with guts.

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It’s snowing! Yeah, I suppose that’s great news. Even greater if you didn’t have to ride your bike home. I lucked out today because I didn’t have to teach first period at the elementary. So, I slept in. While brushing my teeth I got a call from the Board of Education (BOE). No idea what she was saying but it was clear that I was expected to be somewhere. I did my best to say that I was leaving now and got off the phone. Forty five minutes later I began the journey to the elementary.

After de-thawing in the hallway a few teachers scrambled to greet me. They hurried me into the teacher’s room and started to ask why I wasn’t there. I showed them my schedule which showed an empty first period and they began to scribble all over it, making changes including one that said I should be in the first grade at that moment. They understood that I had a bad schedule and so weren’t really upset. I figured then that we would stick to the schedule I had but no, it didn’t work that way. With ten minutes left to go in the first class I was ushered in. The kids were working on their Japanese writing and probably assumed I was missing the class. When they saw me, it was if we were in the Great Hall as Neville was being awarded ten points to Gryffindor for his bravery which then gave them the house cup victory over Slytherin. The kids were roaring with cheers and laughter. This definitely was the most epic moment in my teaching career.

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