An "Oops" or Two... Chalk this one up as one more thing I shouldn't've done while here... So, I don't know if you've ever noticed, but it seems that American dollars have more substance to them than just paper--like there may be some type of fabric-like fibers in them. This allows, or makes up for, at least, the stupidity of some Americans when they fold up money, stuff it in their pockets, and forget about it on laundry day. The bills generally come through the wash relatively unscathed. Well...Japanese money (yen) isn't quite so sturdy. Although the bills are prettier and more colorful (since being here, I've often wondered why on earth all our money is just plain green...), yen doesn't seem to possess any fabric-like fibers. How do I know this? Well, funny you should ask. I went to the beach on Saturday. In order to try to get some sun on my shoulders (which, by the way, I WAY oversucceeded in doing), I decided to put my bookbag down before Patty and I walked the beach. Although Japanese society allows for a lot more trust with leaving possessions lying around, I still didn't feel comfortable leaving the Y47,000 that I had grabbed that morning lying there for anyone to just pick up. (This is the equivalent of about $400--since everyone here operates in cash, I always make sure to have a decent amount with me when I travel anywhere). So, anyway, I pulled my wallet out of my bag, but it didn't fit into my pocket, so I decided to just fold my money up and slide it into the front pocket of my capris. No problem. My pockets were deep. No loss of money happened that day on the beach. The issue, however, came the following day. Sunday is laundry day at the Holly Keiper household. Guess who forgot about the yen in her pocket? Yeah, that would be me. I think I need my own "yen line" instead of a "clothes line" to refurbish my poor bills. You know what paper looks like when you soak it and let it dry? Yeah...an iron might be in order...I think I still operate like this stuff is Monopoly money or something. Maybe because it's not all green. Another "oops" I bore witness to, or maybe bore witness to the preceedings of, on Sunday occurred in Koriyama Station. I was stepping out of the women's restroom when I almost tripped over a little tyke scrambling through the door. I was a bit confused why he was in there by himself until I realized what he was doing--one hand in front, one hand in back, holding it in for all he was worth, waddling back and forth, I heard him plea, "Unchi!! Unchi!!" (Poop! Poop!) Poor kid! I asked him where his mom was, and he replied, "Just out there," pointing to the door. I wanted to help the little guy, but I figured his mom would entirely freak out if she walked in and saw a foreigner helping her kid use the restroom, so I wished the dude well and, compassionately snickering (if there is such a thing), returned to my waiting friends. On my way out, though, I noticed that his mom was not "just out there." I sincerely hope she found him before an "oops" happened with the "unchi"!!!