Groundhog’s Day and the rest.
How did I miss it? Well, it’s a shame that the groundhog saw his shadow. But then, my mom has been enjoying some fine snow this past weekend, so I can’t say i’m surprised. It seems to have snowed in Nagoya today, but not in my area. Today is Setsubun in Japan. It’s a holiday where the kids throw dried soybeans out the doors of their houses to scare the bad spirits away for another year. It’s also traditional to eat an entire sushi roll (uncut mind you) in silence while facing a pre-designated direction. This year is south south-west. Unfortunately I was unable to get my hands on a sushi roll in the conveni and it doesn’t matter anyways because I have no idea which direction is south south-west. I’ve been busy for a few weeks getting the final essays written and recommendations submitted for two of the three grad schools I’m applying for. Now, I have one more school to send an application to and then I have to worry about financial aid if I am accepted. I am applying for a masters degree in library and information science because I want to be a librarian. It may not be particularly romantic or exciting to you, but it is what I want to do. I have been in Japan for 3 years already trying to make this decision and now that I have made it, I’m looking forward to the future. I really hope I am accepted to one of these three grad schools. I don’t know what I’ll do if I’m not. Probably end up living in Japan as an English teacher until I die of old age or am set upon by an army of school children astonished to see a foreigner playing video games in the subway.
I will say one thing that’s great about winter. I’m always drawn to the real long and difficult classics during the season and I’m currently reading some Charles Dickens after reading a novel by Elizabeth Gaskell. I had never read any of her works before and I enjoyed Wives and Daughters very much. The next book on my list is Daniel Deronda by George Eliot. I am sorry to say I don’t think I’ve ever read anything by George Eliot before and I will be glad to change that. Here I am talking about books when I should be going to sleep. It’s nearly 1:30am in Nagoya and tomorrow is a work day. Sweet dreams or good day to you all!