January 31st: Homesick.
Jan.
31st, 1986 (Age 7, Evansburg, New Hampshire)
Dear
diary, my dad is really into boats. I,
on the other hand, am not crazy about them at all. Well, sort of.
* * * * *
Thursday, January 31st, 1991 (Age 12, Evansburg)
* * * * *
Friday, January 31st, 1992 (Age 13, Evansburg)
Thursday, January 31st, 1991 (Age 12, Evansburg)
Hi! I’m spending the night at Mandy’s house
tomorrow night. Wow!!!
I’m wearing metallic turquoise
nail polish on my fingernails and gold sparkle nail polish on my toenails. There was no school today. It was cancelled because of snow, even though
it didn’t snow at all! I’m talking to
Mandy on the phone right now.
The war in the Gulf is going on
its third week.
Now Mandy is reading me her
diary entries out of her new diary. Bye!!!
* * * * *
Friday, January 31st, 1992 (Age 13, Evansburg)
It’s the end
of the last day of the month! I almost forgot to write today, but I remembered
while I was putting my nightdress on.
Sunday is Groundhog’s Day. I don’t
think it will see its shadow. I hope it doesn’t!
We have an HBO and Disney channel preview this weekend.
I’m recording twelve hours worth of movies! I have just enough tape. I’ll
write down what movies I record as I record them. I wish The Fisher King was going to be on. I want to see that.
* * * * *
Sunday, January 31st, 1993 (Age 14, Evansburg)
It snowed all day. It's still going. I didn't leave the house.
* * * * *
Monday, January 31st, 1994 (Age 15, Nagasaki, Japan)
I'm starting to think about what I'll do if I can't live at Evangeline's. I know I can stay with Sonia because they've got two extra bedrooms, a huge house, and plus they took in her brother's friend for a year. Maybe it would be a better idea to stay at Sonia's. We don't have any of the same interests, which means we wouldn't have to be together all the time. I'd have more privacy, and I'd definitely be able to keep my car. The only bad thing is that she lives kind of far away from everything.
There are so many things I can imagine myself doing. Being in the school plays, going on dates, maybe even starting a band like I've always wanted (Jacob's Ladder -- now there's a good name!). I've already figured out the classes I would be taking next year if I were at Evansburg High: world literature, creative writing, American history, pre-college math, Spanish 3, band, chorus, jazz band (hopefully), gym and drama. I need this to happen, but I still don't believe it will.
* * * * *
Tuesday, January 31st, 1995 (Age 16, Nagasaki)
I'm going back to Kobe tomorrow! I just barely squeezed my clothes into my backpack.
My mom insisted I get a warmer winter coat. I found a long black wool one that I liked at a shop downtown. It cost 15,000 yen and my mom only had 11,000 yen on her. The store wouldn't let her cash a traveler's check. There happened to be a university student who spoke good English also trying on coats. She insisted on lending us the money! Then we had to wait around at Mister Donuts for my dad to come so he could pay her back. We ran into my old Japanese teacher there. She has her own school now.
Anyway, tomorrow it's back to the dorm. No water, but freedom!
* * * * *
Wednesday, January 31st, 1996 (Age 17, Kobe, Japan)
Sei made a mistake, his first exams are Friday and Sunday mornings. So I guess I’ll have some quality time to myself this weekend. That’s good, because I need to buy some material for my senior project. I’ve only made one dress so far.
* * * * *
Friday, January 31st, 1997 (Age 18, Exton, New Brunswick)
Last night there was a little party at Sei's apartment. I had a good time, but at one point there was an idiotic debate going on. It was the university students versus the full-time jobbers, who thought they were better than the students. I refused to participate because it was like a contest on who had the worst childhood, when obviously they're all different and therefore incomparable.
Sei's neighbor is very disturbing. Every night he yells obscenities to no one. Last night we almost called the police because he was screaming stuff like, "I'll get you, you faggots," "You're the first person I'll beat up around here," and "I'll get you for playing that ni**er music all night long!"
* * * * *
Saturday, January 31st, 1998 (Age 19, Exton)
Sei and I went all the way to the mall with the intention of buying a light and a shower curtain, but instead we ended up getting a fax machine. His mother told him to buy one.
* * * * *
Sunday, January 31st, 1999 (Age 20, Exton)
My period is a few days late. I hate it when this happens, because all I do is worry that it won't come!
* * * * *
Monday, January 31st, 2000 (Age 21, Exton)
I just got an email from Matias from high school! Sei will be happy. He's still in Norway. He says he's still in touch with Max, who just married a Japanese girl and they have a baby! I couldn't believe it.
* * * * *
Wednesday, January 31st, 2001 (Age 22, Kobe)
I had to teach seven bad classes today and didn't have time for dinner. I just downed a piece of cheesecake. A few of the students are planning to quit but we have to keep teaching them till the end of the month. Those classes are miserable.
I haven't heard from Evangeline in a while. She really hates her job, maybe more than I hate mine. At least I get paid well. She only gets $1,000 a month and she works every day.
* * * * *
Thursday, January 31st, 2002 (Age 23, Kobe)
I had to teach the antsy three-year-old boy again, but he was a little better today. He wouldn't do the worksheet of letters I had brought for him, so instead we colored Ultraman and sang a song in Japanese. Some English lesson. He knows what I'm saying sometimes but he won't answer or repeat after me in English.
* * * * *
Friday, January 31st, 2003 (Age 24, Kobe)
It seems like I never go out of the house on Fridays. I only went to the post office to send some fabric orders, and then to the video store. I rented Austin Powers: Goldmember, Chariots of Fire, and A Life Less Ordinary. I felt like seeing a Ewan MacGregor movie. I've already seen all of his that are at our video store, but I hadn't seen this one for a few years. I rented Chariots of Fire because I've never seen it, and I remember my mother loved the theme song (though I don't think she ever watched it, either).
* * * * *
Saturday, January 31st, 2004 (Age 25, Kobe)
I've started knitting the orange sweater. The black one kind of bombed. I did get it finished, but it's very tight under the arms, the neck looks funny, and the ribbed bottom is bulky. It'll probably never make it out of the closet.
* * * * *
Monday, January 31st, 2005 (Age 26, Kobe)
My period took me by surprise today. I wasn't even keeping track -- it's only been seventeen days since my last one, anyway.
* * * * *
Tuesday, January 31st, 2006 (Age 27, Kobe)
I got my usual disappointment today -- my period came. No Libra baby for me. I just ordered an ovulation kit on the internet.
* * * * *
Wednesday, January 31st, 2007 (Age 28, Kobe)
I'm staying at Kai's tonight but I'm going to go to bed at 12:00 on the dot so I won't be sick like last week when I stayed over and had to wake up early for work. We've been together every day since...when? It must be two weeks, maybe more? That's incredible.
Disclaimer: This blog is a work of non-fiction. Most personal names (except for those of celebrities) and place names have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals.
Sunday, January 31st, 1993 (Age 14, Evansburg)
It snowed all day. It's still going. I didn't leave the house.
* * * * *
Monday, January 31st, 1994 (Age 15, Nagasaki, Japan)
I'm starting to think about what I'll do if I can't live at Evangeline's. I know I can stay with Sonia because they've got two extra bedrooms, a huge house, and plus they took in her brother's friend for a year. Maybe it would be a better idea to stay at Sonia's. We don't have any of the same interests, which means we wouldn't have to be together all the time. I'd have more privacy, and I'd definitely be able to keep my car. The only bad thing is that she lives kind of far away from everything.
There are so many things I can imagine myself doing. Being in the school plays, going on dates, maybe even starting a band like I've always wanted (Jacob's Ladder -- now there's a good name!). I've already figured out the classes I would be taking next year if I were at Evansburg High: world literature, creative writing, American history, pre-college math, Spanish 3, band, chorus, jazz band (hopefully), gym and drama. I need this to happen, but I still don't believe it will.
* * * * *
Tuesday, January 31st, 1995 (Age 16, Nagasaki)
I'm going back to Kobe tomorrow! I just barely squeezed my clothes into my backpack.
My mom insisted I get a warmer winter coat. I found a long black wool one that I liked at a shop downtown. It cost 15,000 yen and my mom only had 11,000 yen on her. The store wouldn't let her cash a traveler's check. There happened to be a university student who spoke good English also trying on coats. She insisted on lending us the money! Then we had to wait around at Mister Donuts for my dad to come so he could pay her back. We ran into my old Japanese teacher there. She has her own school now.
Anyway, tomorrow it's back to the dorm. No water, but freedom!
* * * * *
Wednesday, January 31st, 1996 (Age 17, Kobe, Japan)
Sei made a mistake, his first exams are Friday and Sunday mornings. So I guess I’ll have some quality time to myself this weekend. That’s good, because I need to buy some material for my senior project. I’ve only made one dress so far.
* * * * *
Friday, January 31st, 1997 (Age 18, Exton, New Brunswick)
Last night there was a little party at Sei's apartment. I had a good time, but at one point there was an idiotic debate going on. It was the university students versus the full-time jobbers, who thought they were better than the students. I refused to participate because it was like a contest on who had the worst childhood, when obviously they're all different and therefore incomparable.
Sei's neighbor is very disturbing. Every night he yells obscenities to no one. Last night we almost called the police because he was screaming stuff like, "I'll get you, you faggots," "You're the first person I'll beat up around here," and "I'll get you for playing that ni**er music all night long!"
* * * * *
Saturday, January 31st, 1998 (Age 19, Exton)
Sei and I went all the way to the mall with the intention of buying a light and a shower curtain, but instead we ended up getting a fax machine. His mother told him to buy one.
* * * * *
Sunday, January 31st, 1999 (Age 20, Exton)
My period is a few days late. I hate it when this happens, because all I do is worry that it won't come!
* * * * *
Monday, January 31st, 2000 (Age 21, Exton)
I just got an email from Matias from high school! Sei will be happy. He's still in Norway. He says he's still in touch with Max, who just married a Japanese girl and they have a baby! I couldn't believe it.
* * * * *
Wednesday, January 31st, 2001 (Age 22, Kobe)
I had to teach seven bad classes today and didn't have time for dinner. I just downed a piece of cheesecake. A few of the students are planning to quit but we have to keep teaching them till the end of the month. Those classes are miserable.
I haven't heard from Evangeline in a while. She really hates her job, maybe more than I hate mine. At least I get paid well. She only gets $1,000 a month and she works every day.
* * * * *
Thursday, January 31st, 2002 (Age 23, Kobe)
I had to teach the antsy three-year-old boy again, but he was a little better today. He wouldn't do the worksheet of letters I had brought for him, so instead we colored Ultraman and sang a song in Japanese. Some English lesson. He knows what I'm saying sometimes but he won't answer or repeat after me in English.
* * * * *
Friday, January 31st, 2003 (Age 24, Kobe)
It seems like I never go out of the house on Fridays. I only went to the post office to send some fabric orders, and then to the video store. I rented Austin Powers: Goldmember, Chariots of Fire, and A Life Less Ordinary. I felt like seeing a Ewan MacGregor movie. I've already seen all of his that are at our video store, but I hadn't seen this one for a few years. I rented Chariots of Fire because I've never seen it, and I remember my mother loved the theme song (though I don't think she ever watched it, either).
* * * * *
Saturday, January 31st, 2004 (Age 25, Kobe)
I've started knitting the orange sweater. The black one kind of bombed. I did get it finished, but it's very tight under the arms, the neck looks funny, and the ribbed bottom is bulky. It'll probably never make it out of the closet.
* * * * *
Monday, January 31st, 2005 (Age 26, Kobe)
My period took me by surprise today. I wasn't even keeping track -- it's only been seventeen days since my last one, anyway.
* * * * *
Tuesday, January 31st, 2006 (Age 27, Kobe)
I got my usual disappointment today -- my period came. No Libra baby for me. I just ordered an ovulation kit on the internet.
* * * * *
Wednesday, January 31st, 2007 (Age 28, Kobe)
I'm staying at Kai's tonight but I'm going to go to bed at 12:00 on the dot so I won't be sick like last week when I stayed over and had to wake up early for work. We've been together every day since...when? It must be two weeks, maybe more? That's incredible.
Disclaimer: This blog is a work of non-fiction. Most personal names (except for those of celebrities) and place names have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals.
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