3 hour indocurry

1/10

To my dear, trunky family, [This is Syd's mom - we've been a little obvious that we can't wait for her to get home! She's teasing and reprimanding in this greeting. :) ]

Worry not, dear loved ones. I will be home in fifteen emails.

... [This is Syd's mom. I am inserting this into Syd's letter so you understand what she's referring to, next - I had sent her several pictures from before her mission - I'll include some of my favorites below. In them, her hair was longer and blonder, and her eyes were more open in the pictures because I would always harp on her to not squint. She was comparing those to how she looks now in the pictures she's sending from Japan :) ]
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Great Scott.

I was finally turning Japanese, too. My eyes were getting slimmer and I was losing fat (well, haha, not since shougatsu (New Year's)), and my hair was getting darker and everything. Give me another year and I would have lost two inches. I would have been Buddhist.

On that note, I have learned so darn much about Buddho-shintoism that--

Anyways. Family, worry not. I have 2 transfers left. I'm practically home already.

So, we had a crazy day, but long story short, we spent 3 HOURS in the Ganges indocurry restaurant. Took forever.

Hour one: Us, upset that the chouroutachi (elders) have ignored our texts asking when they would be down with the person they were bringing for us to meet, and with another lesson postponed until three, decided to eat food on our own.

Hour two: Chouroutachi and the person we were meeting and her dad appear! EL GASP. We have to sit and eat at different tables because the male/female ratio is even. Time passes. Our 3:00 appointment texts, so we go to get her.

Hour two-point-five: We drink lassi (yogurt drink) while everyone else eats. The girl the chouroutachi brought finishes and leaves, so we don’t have an opportunity to share a message with her and making the male/female ratio even again. The chouroutachi get up to "go to the bathroom" while we share a quick message with the rest of the table.

Hour three: Everyone but S-shimai leaves and we have a deep lesson with her. That part actually worked out very well.

BUT THREE HOURS AT INDOCURRY. Thank heavens it was preparation/personal/free day. On a normal day, despite two lessons... just. No.

Also on the way home, met a nice old man who liked gaijin (foreingers) and set another appointment with us. :D

So, altogether... today was not bad. I really hope the owners don't hate us now. Gomen ne...