Accident Update

For those of you who are interested, or who have been following the car drama, there have been some developments. Surprisingly, mostly for the good this time!
Last week, I was called into the office of the head of the Oita Board of Education, for a meeting over this whole debacle. I went with my vice-principal, who has been pretty helpful and patient throughout this whole thing, even though we have a pretty hard time chatting, what with her speaking no English and me speaking only elementary Japanese. Luckily, the BOE guy does speak English, and translated everything.
First, they had to give me a warning about driving in Japan. This was pretty much expected on my part, and despite the fact that I've already been through enough hassle about this, I was pretty good about not letting my annoyance show.
Then, they proceeded to casually mention the following stupendously amazing fact: the other woman, who was threatening to financially ruin me by making me cover her hospital payments up front, decided out of the blue, a week ago, to take care of them herself. No one had mentioned this to me, so I was flabbergasted for a second, and then had to really restrain myself from jumping up and down. This pretty much solves my financial problems, after December anyway. I still have a few payments to make on the car, but they're manageable.
The only other glitch that has arisen from this mess (like I needed another) is that I now have to go to driving school. Feel free to laugh, because it is completely ridiculous. Also, to someone who has driven for 11 years with a previously perfect driving record, and who has obviously learned his lesson from this ordeal, this is the most insulting thing they could have possibly pushed on me at this point. ESPECIALLY since I have to pay a pretty hefty sum just for the *priviledge* of wasting a day being lectured. Oh yes, and I have to use a vacation day for this as well. I am fighting the urge to kill. Afterwards, at least, the whole ordeal should be over and done with.
So anyway, despite the financial reprieve, I still won't be making it home for Christmas, which is really a bitch. My plans, as they stand now, are to go to Korea for Christmas instead. It's closer, cheaper, and both my cousin and sister will be there. Should be fun, even though I do miss the Canada crowd so, SO MUCH! I just hope between now and then there will be no invasions from the North, because lemme tell ya, nothing ruins Christmas faster than a lunatic with nukes and a million-man army.
The possibility of me coming home for Golden Week (late April) is now in the air too - I hold out hope my cash flow will allow for it. Otherwise, I'll probably hang around Asia a little while longer, and see you all next August, when I plan to say goodbye to Japan.