Atsui desu ne!

It’s been in the 90’s for almost 3 weeks now, apparently unusual for Tokyo. It's so hot, I even learned how to say "it's hot" just from overhearing it so often! Meanwhile, China’s on maritime maneuvers with the US, thanks to Obama. The Fukishima nuclear plant is leaking radioactive waste into the ocean, and one of our volcanoes is erupting ash and smoke. So maybe it's finally time for everyone to stop being so smug and aloof. Maybe it's time to open our hearts to the hope that Jesus offers Japan!

Just a few weeks ago I started one-on-one Japanese lessons at a local City Center (I am determined to know more than just the names of my favorite foods!). There's a large room with several big tables where students and their teachers can practice their nihongo. Although there are individual lessons going on all around the room, it's not distracting. This is Japan, where everyone studies (and no one makes too much noise).

They have a whole program dedicated to foreign residents. There are even classes for what to do when there's a major disaster. 

Hey, that DOES looks like my apartment there on the right!

It's not a bad idea, really. Think about it - Godzilla attacks Tokyo (surprisingly, that doesn't sound odd to the ear). The Emergency Warning System goes off. Instructions are calmly given over loudspeakers on the street, and Japanese citizens quietly and obediently slip out and go (wherever it is we're supposed to go! I haven't taken the class yet!).

See, the problem is, someone is always giving instructions calmly over loudspeakers on the streets. We imagine that it must be an emergency vehicle of some kind (we never make it to the balcony in time to see) and I'm sure they're probably just encouraging people to step back from the street, but for all we know, they're saying: "Peaches! Get your fresh peaches! 2 for only 500 Yen!"

So, unless we foreign residents take the class, the next time a voice politely announces: "Earthquake... volcano... Godzilla san... Please to evacuate...", all we're going to hear is "Peaches, fresh peaches" and future archaeologists are going to have a heyday trying to explain why the only human fossils are non-Asian (or half-Asian) and why they all have a reusable market bag under one arm...

I like peaches, or "momo"
(Dang! That's another food word!)