The stench of fishy tofu and strangeness is filling the staffroom. That’s right! It is lunch time. School lunch is being served. I should be used to the smell by now but it makes my stomach turn every time. I guess it is because I don’t eat fish. I know most people do but I will never understand how that smell is appetizing.

I have a pen-pal at SJH. She writes to me 2 or 3 times a week every other week when I am at her school. This time I have made her a tape of music in English. I wasn’t too sure about what to put on it – I don’t have any Avril Lavigne or Eminem here. Sarah Harmer, Tegan and Sara, Jen Lane, Leona Naess, Elliot Smith, The New Pornographers, etc will have to do. I tried to pick slower songs so she could maybe understand a few words here and there.

Tomorrow and the next day are midterm test days at my school. Today’s classes have consisted of a listening practice test and repeating after Nancy-sensei. Not my favorite thing to do but not the worst thing I could be doing.

I have been studying really hard for the Japanese test Jon and I are taking on December 5th. I can use the free time today and tomorrow to do more studying.