the homogenous

My friday lesson with Gunch consisted of learning the kanji for homogenous and heterogenous. We discussed the benefits of each type of society and the drawbacks. He asked me about South Africa's Unity in Diversity motto and, it was only whilst discussing it with him thatI realised that it was a kind of synonym for integration. Whereas Apartheid was a synonym for segregation. A very obvious parallel perhaps, but I had to be three billion miles away with a 75 year old Japanese man to see it!

The following day, Saturday, I went to Onomichi - a town 10 minutes from Mihara. They are probably about the same size but whereas Mihara is industrial and ugly Onomichi is quaint and arty. I think I have fallen in love with it. There is a wide patch of lawn wedged between Onomichi station and the sea (with regulation breathtaking island view) where you can sit and drink beer (public drinking widely accepted in this wonderful country) and watch the otherworldly go by. The town is also littered with cool little clothes and tsastke (sp?) shops. I bought whati thought was a very rakish Annie Hall type hat which, upon return to Mihara looks a little little silly. I also went to an icecream parlour with friends. While we waited for seating at one of the small wooden tables - need I add they all had a sea view - we noticed something peculiar: all the steel icecream tubs on display had white icecream inside. were the different flavours invisible? Upon odering it turns out thatthe icecream parlour sells only vanilla icecream. the variety comes with whether you have it in a cup or a cone.

heehee
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