Woke up and looked outside. The light was still on. I looked around again but couldn’t find the switch. I hated leaving it on but there was no choice. Something I wanted to do so bad-do the washing. I was sweating a lot and felt disgusting leaving the washing.
I could use the detergent there but I went out to get it. I needed to buy something to eat as well. There is a convenience store near by. I bought some other stuff and walked home. Everything is around and they are all open early in the morning and open until late. They are hard working people. Who said Japanese people work too much? But the thing is that people here don’t seem to be stressed at all. Went to this bakery I wanted to check out.
It was very Japanese style bakery. Now we have that in Melbourne, too. Felt so much better after doing the washing. The washing machine had instruction in Chinese but I could work it out cause it was made in Japan. Had breakfast-Hao tsu!! Left home around 10am. Took a photo of the mansion and about to forget to close the shutters. I would have been in trouble! Went in “su-den” (stationary store, which was 30 seconds away from where I’m staying) to find material. Because I had all the food I brought from Australia (Japanese food though), I didn’t have enough space in the basket of my bike(well, not mine but it is now) I bout this little paper was 30$. It was supposed to be easy. Leave it one the bench and she says how much it is, which is already written on the price tag then I give her the money and leave. Well, however, it didn’t work like that. When I put it on the bench, she said something long. I was silent for two seconds and said “sorry I don’t speak Chinese” This old lady was surprised and said something even more. I took my phrase book out and looked for “I don’t speak Chinese” which was already obvious. She said something and I pointed “I don’t understand”. Well she said that she can’t see that well(this I understood) and took her magnifying glass. Well, I was pointing ”I don’t understand but she read the next line, which was “I’m ill, please find a hospital” or something like that. I said NONONONO this one! And pointed “I don’t understand” again. She was like “oh” and I was like “yeah”. I was going to leave but she said wait wait and went somewhere. She came back with this lady who speaks Japanese. I explained why I’m here etc. The old lady seemed to be satisfied, I thought. I said to my translator that I would see her soon. 
Got to the camp and started to cut the paper I bought yesterday. 
It was too quiet I needed some music.
It was already time for lunch. We made fried rice. 
Talked with sue and I got a bit emotional. People in this country are very generous I think. We have done something terrible to them but they still don’t hate us. Some Asian country they still make sure that young generation learn what Japanese army did in the past etc. I heard that Taiwanese history book has a section “what are the good things Japanese left for us”. 
This young girl came and she could speak English a bit. I assume many people know as much as she does but they are being shy. She was a student studying multimedia and design at a university. She asked me if women can smoke on the street in Australia. I said well they can if they want to women are pretty strong there and they are equal. But smoking is restrict in Australia, people are not to smoke in public buildings. They just introduced a new law that people can not smoke in pubs since this July, which I think great, I said. Japan is very bad with this but I heard it's getting lot worse in China. Then I realised that she asked this question because she smokes. oops.
We went back to studio. Some people dropped in. I had met this girl the other day. She was one of the committees here. She said she will bring her daughter later.-sue translated this.
I could use the detergent there but I went out to get it. I needed to buy something to eat as well. There is a convenience store near by. I bought some other stuff and walked home. Everything is around and they are all open early in the morning and open until late. They are hard working people. Who said Japanese people work too much? But the thing is that people here don’t seem to be stressed at all. Went to this bakery I wanted to check out.
It was very Japanese style bakery. Now we have that in Melbourne, too. Felt so much better after doing the washing. The washing machine had instruction in Chinese but I could work it out cause it was made in Japan. Had breakfast-Hao tsu!! Left home around 10am. Took a photo of the mansion and about to forget to close the shutters. I would have been in trouble! Went in “su-den” (stationary store, which was 30 seconds away from where I’m staying) to find material. Because I had all the food I brought from Australia (Japanese food though), I didn’t have enough space in the basket of my bike(well, not mine but it is now) I bout this little paper was 30$. It was supposed to be easy. Leave it one the bench and she says how much it is, which is already written on the price tag then I give her the money and leave. Well, however, it didn’t work like that. When I put it on the bench, she said something long. I was silent for two seconds and said “sorry I don’t speak Chinese” This old lady was surprised and said something even more. I took my phrase book out and looked for “I don’t speak Chinese” which was already obvious. She said something and I pointed “I don’t understand”. Well she said that she can’t see that well(this I understood) and took her magnifying glass. Well, I was pointing ”I don’t understand but she read the next line, which was “I’m ill, please find a hospital” or something like that. I said NONONONO this one! And pointed “I don’t understand” again. She was like “oh” and I was like “yeah”. I was going to leave but she said wait wait and went somewhere. She came back with this lady who speaks Japanese. I explained why I’m here etc. The old lady seemed to be satisfied, I thought. I said to my translator that I would see her soon. 
Got to the camp and started to cut the paper I bought yesterday. 
It was too quiet I needed some music.
It was already time for lunch. We made fried rice. 
Talked with sue and I got a bit emotional. People in this country are very generous I think. We have done something terrible to them but they still don’t hate us. Some Asian country they still make sure that young generation learn what Japanese army did in the past etc. I heard that Taiwanese history book has a section “what are the good things Japanese left for us”. 
This young girl came and she could speak English a bit. I assume many people know as much as she does but they are being shy. She was a student studying multimedia and design at a university. She asked me if women can smoke on the street in Australia. I said well they can if they want to women are pretty strong there and they are equal. But smoking is restrict in Australia, people are not to smoke in public buildings. They just introduced a new law that people can not smoke in pubs since this July, which I think great, I said. Japan is very bad with this but I heard it's getting lot worse in China. Then I realised that she asked this question because she smokes. oops.
We went back to studio. Some people dropped in. I had met this girl the other day. She was one of the committees here. She said she will bring her daughter later.-sue translated this.
Sue and this girl left for interviewing someone.
I was alone in the studio for a little bit. Then this guy who is in early 70’s came and asked if he can use easel to paint. I said that I don’t speak Chinese but I ‘m sure he can use it. He could speak English and told me that his wife would be happy to meet me cause she is Studying Japanese. I said anytime.
An hour later she dropped in. She told me that she has relatives living in Japan and visited there for a week last year. She wanted to practice her Japanese with me so I said she can come anytime and I’m happy to help her. She even invited me for dinner.
A kid came with his dad. It was the girl’s daughter. She looked very nervous. I didn’t think she wanted to come and I was laughing. I thought she was gonna start crying. Well, she sat down uncomfortably but didn’t leave. I made her a bird which flaps its wings quickly. She seemed to like it. So I made her a flower and say “oh you can put it on your hair.” She understood this and shook her . Then a Samurai helmet and put it on her head. She didn’t smile so I took it off.
I was alone in the studio for a little bit. Then this guy who is in early 70’s came and asked if he can use easel to paint. I said that I don’t speak Chinese but I ‘m sure he can use it. He could speak English and told me that his wife would be happy to meet me cause she is Studying Japanese. I said anytime.
An hour later she dropped in. She told me that she has relatives living in Japan and visited there for a week last year. She wanted to practice her Japanese with me so I said she can come anytime and I’m happy to help her. She even invited me for dinner.
A kid came with his dad. It was the girl’s daughter. She looked very nervous. I didn’t think she wanted to come and I was laughing. I thought she was gonna start crying. Well, she sat down uncomfortably but didn’t leave. I made her a bird which flaps its wings quickly. She seemed to like it. So I made her a flower and say “oh you can put it on your hair.” She understood this and shook her . Then a Samurai helmet and put it on her head. She didn’t smile so I took it off.
Her mum came and she showed her what she got.
I found out her name was “Shun Shun”. I said it’s like pandas. They always have names like kankan. Whawhan etc. the girl started to smile a bit and in the end she got used to me. Phew..
I cooked Dinner. Japanese cream stew. Cha had to go and get milk for me but he thought it was worth it.
The young university student came back so isaid “shin” which means please, well I thought it was and she understood. Sue came back soon after but she had already eaten.
Many people dropped in. I went home.
I found out her name was “Shun Shun”. I said it’s like pandas. They always have names like kankan. Whawhan etc. the girl started to smile a bit and in the end she got used to me. Phew..
I cooked Dinner. Japanese cream stew. Cha had to go and get milk for me but he thought it was worth it.
The young university student came back so isaid “shin” which means please, well I thought it was and she understood. Sue came back soon after but she had already eaten.
Many people dropped in. I went home.
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