MyAdventure その1　　　　　　　　　

About forty years ago, just after the Tokyo Olympics.  The Japanese
government allowed us to go abroad freely.  I bought one-way ticket from
Japan to Helsinki. 

In those days, going to Europe through Siberia was the most popular
and the cheapest way.  I was nineteen then. 

In September  I left Yokohama for Nahotoka by boat, the nearest Russian
coastal city.  I've never had such an exciting journey in my life. 
I was fascinated when I stood at the Red Square in Moscow.

However, my wonderful journey was approaching the end.  
I became very nervous when my train was getting close to Helsinki.
I had no plans.  My money was also running out.  You may think I was brave,
but in fact, I was stupid and reckless. 

"I need someone to help me." I was desperate. In my compartment of
the train, there were two young men, the British and the Danish. 
I asked them to help me. The Danish man offered me to stay with his family
for a while. Thanks to his help, I could even find a job in Denmark. 

After eight months I became rich again and I was able to buy a train ticket
to England.  In 1966, I finally arrived in London.  I was so happy. 
I went to the immigration office cheerfully.  
"How long are you going to stay in Britain?" the officer asked. 
"As long as possible." I replied. "How much money do you have?" 
I showed him all the money I had.  "All right, you can stay here for a month." 
He stamped the date on my passport.

That broke me down. " I've come to England to become a fluent English
speaker. How can I manage to improve my English within a month?" 
Being so depressed, I went to Hyde Park and cried. But soon I noticed
that it's stupid to waste my time like that.  I began looking for a private
language school.    There were so many in London.
One was found near my youth hostel . I went there. The secretary said, 
"I'm afraid you can't afford to take the class of this school. The fee is
terribly expensive. Listen, this is a school for the rich children from France,
Belgium, and Arab etc....  I felt miserable again.  

But a few days later, an unexpected letter arrived at my hostel, that was
from the secretary. It said, "Dear little Japanese girl, I have an old mother
who is an alcoholic. If you don't mind taking care of her and do a little
housework, I can offer you an attic bed room and some food."  I cried for joy. 
The secretary, I called her Minnie, even introduced me a public school,
West London College. She also sent the immigration office a letter to ask
them to permit my stay longer.I appreciated her a great deal. 
Her mother, Mrs. Shakozy was a well educated lady and she spoke fine
English.  I was happy when she was not drinking. But once she got drunk,
she became very nasty.

At West London College I took afternoon class. You know, in a language
school you find so many students from all over the world and funny enough,
nobody can speak proper English.   Compare to their English, my Japanese-
English was much better.  I could improve my English little by little. 
In the end I got a certificate of intermediate English Course at Royal
society of Arts.

Well,  that  was a bit  of my old  adventurous days  with  warm  people  I have met.

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