Cards!

When I got up this morning, I had a sore throat. I decided that I would never catch a cold in this winter. So I didn't want to recognize that was a cold. Because I needed to bring English textbooks, I always use another shoulder bag which is bigger than green one for work. I repacked my valuables into it. At that time, I made a blunder. But I didn't notice it.

I took a class early in the morning today. I needed to go to the office. I had to handle a complaint by a client. After class, I went to a contact lens shop. I used up contact lens this week. It has been a long time since I saw an eye doctor. So I was going to take medical advice from a doctor. But I couldn't find my health insurance certificate in my bag. I thought I left it home, because it was a small thin card. It was a chance to recognize my situation.
I got on a bus bound for Hirathuka st. and I had lunch near the office. I noticed I didn't have enough money. So I was going to pay by credit card. I thought it was not a problem. After the lunch, I was going to withdraw my deposit. For it, I brought my bank card.

The clerk said. " We cannot accept credit cards. Please pay by cash."
I asked her . "I don't have enough money. So can I go to a bank ? I' ll be back here as soon as possible."
She answered "OK. You must pay it today. Leave your baggage."
So I was going to take my bank card out of my bag. But there wasn't it in my bag. Why?
I was embarrassed. I told her it. She was confused.
I handed my business card, and asked her again. " Can I pay for it next Monday?" But she told me. "That won't do."
I proposed that I paid a part of payment today and the rest of it next Monday. She approved. In that moment, I hit on an idea. The workers of the organization I work are always entitled to a ten percent cash discount in the restaurant. I asked her again. "If I can take advantage of it, I might be able to pay by cash. To my surprise, the sum of money after discount was the same as money I have. At last, I could leave the restaurant.

But another difficulty came up soon. When I stood in front of the door of the office, I noticed there was not my security card in my bag. I needed to insert my card into the security system machine to open the door. I could enter EV hall but couldn't enter the room. I sat down in front of the door. I felt matters were getting worse and worse. And it made my condition worse. I felt chill.

Probably, if I waited for a while or a long time, someone would come here and I could enter the room. But I didn't want to work any longer. I decided to go back home. I should recover from this cold. I was going to repack this morning but I must have took my cards out of green one and put them into it again.

The third problem has arisen. I remembered that I spent all the money I had and I didn't have my bank card now. I used up the last bus card to come to Hirathuka and I didn't memorize my personal code of my credit card.
Well then…How will I go back home?

In the last resort, I called home. What a shame that I would rely on my parents! I asked them to pick me up. I didn't want to move any more. During I was waiting, I have time. So I checked my fortune of today. In small picture of my cell phone, the tarot card said that I was down on my luck now. The fact was not that my failure was due to bad luck. It was my mistake. After I went back home, I was down with cold.

I hope I can arrive at my desk tomorrow.

Venezia

When I was going to have dinner at home yesterday, the TV program about "Venezia" just started. http://www.nhk.or.jp/sekaiisan/card/cardr067.html Some readers must realize what I'm going to write here. Did you watch it? The title of TV program is "The labyrinth city on the water". As you know, it comes from the book written by Prof. J. The TV program explained that topics which he taught us in his class. I reviewed them watching clear pictures in this program. It was an interesting experience.

When I went Venezia about seven years ago, I visited places where was written in his book having the book under my arm. I looked the Moorish carved relief. Sometimes I lost my way. But I enjoyed it. If I didn't lose my way in the labyrinth, it would be meaningless.

Because my friend who had traveled Europe with me had gone to Britain to study English, I traveled Italy by myself. Unexpectedly I was busy during taking a walk. A group of students from the U.S. asked me to a take picture. And a Japanese couple asked me too at Rialto Bridge. In Piazza San Marco, a backpacker from Japan asked me to take a picture. A peddler who was a middle-aged woman and had many pieces of luggage asked me the way to Piazza San Marco. She wore no makeup and shabby clothes. I imagined that she came from rural area in Italy and would sell somehing. We passed each other on a crowded street. Because she hurried on her way and didn't stop walking, I cried her pointing the direction. " Over there!"

I cannot forget the scenery and the atmosphere when I first met Venezia. I got on a wrong water-bus which didn't go through Canal Grande. The small ship pull out to sea and went toward to Piazza San Marco where was the center of Venezia.
When we were in offshore, we saw a Venezia which was like a small jewel in darkness.
The wind was heavy and there was only darkness around us who were tourists. We felt uneasy. But as the bus went forward, the small jewel became bigger and beautiful buildings dramatically appeared. It was difficult to believe its existence for me at that moment.

A illusion city is written in the novel "the Wonderful Adventure of Nils". The city can appear only once in a year. If someone buys something in the city, the city can be a real city. Nils tried to buy something but he cannot. Every time I think about Venezia, I remember this fairy tale. Actually sea –level rise will be serious problem for Venezia. The TV program explained some buildings were leaning to on side by the land subsidence. Venezia might be an illusion city like this fairy tale.

I recommend you visit the labyrinth before it sinks beneath the waves.

New Year's Party

I went to the New Year's party held at Prof.J's house.
It was the fourth invitation since I graduated. Every year students graduated. So our OB and OG increase more and more. Every year OB party is held on a large scale in spring. But invitation to his house is special for us.

We gathered at the party each bringing something with us. In this case, we shouldn't bring foods of Italy. I learned it from previous experience. He and his wife lived in Italy before. She cooked well and they are particular about Italian food. So I made a European but not Italian dessert. It was good choice.

I might not need to explain, his study is about cities in the Mediterranean littoral. Some Japanese had studied in Italy or Turkey or Spain when they were students. And international students from the Islamic world and the U.S. joined the party. Don't worry. They're good friends. As you know, women from the Islamic world cannot eat pork. So we sometimes had to consider the ingredients of dishes. Was this soup stock pork or chicken? It was like a quiz.

A friend of mine from school and his wife told me they recently visited Manazuru town and look at the building I designed and oversaw the construction site. They gave their impressions of it frankly. He asked me about some points which should be improved. I was really glad. It's easy to say nice things. Because they had careful look at the building, they could say opinions on it.

When I belonged to the laboratory, I didn't know what might happen in the future. I always thought I wanted to be an architect but I had no confidence. I often stayed up all night to draw plan and make a model. I didn't know only how to makeup.
I and my friends became a man /a woman and we can do something now. I felt time has gone by and thought I'm a really lucky person. I can enjoy this moment with my great teacher and my friends from this laboratory. I talked to them the concept of the building drinking a glass of wine. I felt happy. New Year came.