Typhoon
It's about the middle of typhoon number 18, which I guess is referred to as Melor outside of Japan. The Waseda university home page doesn't load, because I suppose everyone's trying to check whether their classes have been canceled. I have only one class today, in 3rd period. They promised to announce whether classes from that period on would be held by 11 a.m. Even if they don't cancel the class, there's no way I'm going. It's really windy, even if it's practically stopped raining. Actually, now it seems like the university site is completely down. What a crappy two bit university this is.
Yesterday I got my own internet. Like so many things here, it was unexpectedly hard. With my internet comes a set-up cd, which I was instructed to pop in and just follow the directions. Except that when I did, nothing happened. I called the support service, but at the time I was so upset by the internet not working that I was nearly in tears, and when I'm nervous or upset, my linguistic abilities seem to vanish. I was directed to the english support. There I was told that the reason the cd did nothing was the fact that my comp is not of Japanese manufacture. I would have to call Plala, my provider, and do it manually. Enter 20 solid minutes of technical support in japanese. The girl at the Plala technical support was simply amazing. A couple of times I tried to drop subtle hints, like if maybe there would be someone who spoke english there, but she just forged on, not giving up on me. That's so sweet!
So, since I got the internet to work, the evening was very effectively spent chatting with the family. And of course mailing with everyone I know here about the approaching typhoon. Lili hadn't even known that there was a typhoon approaching, and was really worried. It's her first typhoon too. Remi mailed me in what seemed like genuine panic, but after learning that I didn't have any morning classes, she seemed to calm down. We ended up writing about how much we both hate the incessant rain, and how great it'd be if the typhoon got rid of it. Koushi mailed his warning, and instead of phrasing it in the generic fashion of "be careful", he wrote "Don't leave the house!", which I thought was pretty damn cute. I wrote back that I was more worried about him, with his crazy intentions of riding the Shinkansen today, because the typhoon was said to be the biggest in the last ten years, and about Lili, because she lives in the first storey of a wooden house. Me, I have typhoon-proof steel mesh windows. Otherwise I might be a little worried about myself too. He seemed quite impressed by my selflessness, writing back how kind he thinks I am. It's pretty damn easy being selfless when you have steel mesh windows and live in the second floor of an earthquake-proof reinforced concrete building. I got myself a good amount of food and drink yesterday, so I have no need to go out. I can just sit on the comp the whole day if I want!
Now the weather's absolutely dreamy! Just like Remi said. There're still gusts of wind, but no clouds in the sky anywhere. I should go see if any shops are open. Buy a chair or something maybe. If I'm careful, Koushi shouldn't get too angry at me...
It seems like I'm making light of the typhoon. I'm not. Two people died and at the moment 59 are reported injured. In a country where there're over 8 million people living in Tokyo alone, that's not much, but still. I've been hearing sirens since last night.
Yuki mailed me this morning. We're going out on Sunday. The nice weather should keep. Lili got the day off as well. Remi just mailed me and she's fine. The only one I haven't heard back from yet today is Koushi. This is alarming. According to Yomiuri Online, Shinkansen had some trouble, but nothing serious. Trains didn't go off the tracks for instance.
Yesterday I got my own internet. Like so many things here, it was unexpectedly hard. With my internet comes a set-up cd, which I was instructed to pop in and just follow the directions. Except that when I did, nothing happened. I called the support service, but at the time I was so upset by the internet not working that I was nearly in tears, and when I'm nervous or upset, my linguistic abilities seem to vanish. I was directed to the english support. There I was told that the reason the cd did nothing was the fact that my comp is not of Japanese manufacture. I would have to call Plala, my provider, and do it manually. Enter 20 solid minutes of technical support in japanese. The girl at the Plala technical support was simply amazing. A couple of times I tried to drop subtle hints, like if maybe there would be someone who spoke english there, but she just forged on, not giving up on me. That's so sweet!
So, since I got the internet to work, the evening was very effectively spent chatting with the family. And of course mailing with everyone I know here about the approaching typhoon. Lili hadn't even known that there was a typhoon approaching, and was really worried. It's her first typhoon too. Remi mailed me in what seemed like genuine panic, but after learning that I didn't have any morning classes, she seemed to calm down. We ended up writing about how much we both hate the incessant rain, and how great it'd be if the typhoon got rid of it. Koushi mailed his warning, and instead of phrasing it in the generic fashion of "be careful", he wrote "Don't leave the house!", which I thought was pretty damn cute. I wrote back that I was more worried about him, with his crazy intentions of riding the Shinkansen today, because the typhoon was said to be the biggest in the last ten years, and about Lili, because she lives in the first storey of a wooden house. Me, I have typhoon-proof steel mesh windows. Otherwise I might be a little worried about myself too. He seemed quite impressed by my selflessness, writing back how kind he thinks I am. It's pretty damn easy being selfless when you have steel mesh windows and live in the second floor of an earthquake-proof reinforced concrete building. I got myself a good amount of food and drink yesterday, so I have no need to go out. I can just sit on the comp the whole day if I want!
Now the weather's absolutely dreamy! Just like Remi said. There're still gusts of wind, but no clouds in the sky anywhere. I should go see if any shops are open. Buy a chair or something maybe. If I'm careful, Koushi shouldn't get too angry at me...
It seems like I'm making light of the typhoon. I'm not. Two people died and at the moment 59 are reported injured. In a country where there're over 8 million people living in Tokyo alone, that's not much, but still. I've been hearing sirens since last night.
Yuki mailed me this morning. We're going out on Sunday. The nice weather should keep. Lili got the day off as well. Remi just mailed me and she's fine. The only one I haven't heard back from yet today is Koushi. This is alarming. According to Yomiuri Online, Shinkansen had some trouble, but nothing serious. Trains didn't go off the tracks for instance.