Nobody Panic Except Me

Two little pills. In the entirety of the day, my goal is to not forget medicines. Failing that, the post office is a suck experience. Never have any forms visible an official is not required to see. Because baby rabbits will have to be sacrificed to the gods of happiness to regulate the ire brought about in that situation.

Completing the proper sacrifices and shelling out the proper monies led me to return home, where my failure was noted. And coffee was drunk. Not to really fix anything, I just have a rather strong fondness for coffee.

I now have a revenue stamp. But I'm not going to say I'm happy about it.

Running Red

I went running the other day. Not that I wanted to. I don't hate running anymore. I used to. Running was just so...not what anyone could want to be doing. But now it's mostly just a method to be somewhere in a faster way than usual.

But I was actually running in a great big circle. Surrounded by 700+ children; also running. My honor had been challenged by a small contagion of 4th graders, you see. And that just doesn't fly down in Toda-town.

So, yes, I ran. With the running. And it was fine. I kinda wished we had more of a warm-up and any of a cool-down. (Stretch on my own time...I know, I know.) Coupled with my 30 minute bicycle-shaped commute, the three minutes of running got the blood pumping. Right on up into my face.

This is a big, giant deal in Japan. Apparently red-facedness only happens when you are:
A. Well and Truly Drunk
B. Very Nearly Dying

So knowing that I had shown up to work sober, the students were more than a titch concerned. Almost endearing. Slightly annoying. (Though they may have thought I snuck a fifth while changing in the locker room.)

Care Packages for Expats

In dire need of a care package. And it's not that I want to be home...I just want my stuff from home. Globalization, get your ass in gear!

I partly blame the return of Wendy's to Japan while the market fails so, so very hard at making a single Taco Bell accessible. And there is no way it can be due to the quality of T-Bell, I know people who eat at Yoshinoya regularly. (You know who you are and what you did...the eating thing. I just mentioned it. Pay attention.)

The list that was requested of me is primarily composed of snacks and candy. I'm usually able to clothe myself, except that one time. But you weren't there for it, so I guess it wasn't worth mentioning. I'm also not terribly fussed about personal products. Except for deodorant. I very much would like deodorant.

En Zed

It's getting to be a wee bit cold. I've been here for only a short bit, but so far today is just the chilliest. I've stayed firm on my campaign to ninja-thieve my boyfriend's yofuku. I have one of his jumpers pulled on right now.
I've filled up my memory card already. Yatta for excessive picture-taking skillz. As of tomorrow I should have a computer that I can put pictures on so I'll be able to load things up and put them on the interwebs. But New Zealand really is photogenic and the air is so darn clean. It's like I can breathe or sommat. My lungs are going to hate me when I go back to Nippon.
My shopping experiences have been somewhat restrained thus far. Only toiletries and shoes. The shoes are quite comfy. And that's good because there is a lot of walking which can be done. I really need to get a move on buying those awesome things that I wanted to get in the first place. (Jeans, dresses, slacks, etc.)
Later today we are going to be doing the family dinner thing. I've already met his mother. Yet to meet are his sister and brother-in-law. Presents for everyone! Ah crap. That reminds me I need to find green tea today. Shite.
Gonna try to take off soon. Hopefully it becomes less horribly cold.

Drunked

So my work sometimes does these party things. Escaping the school, going out to an izakaya and getting our drinking done. It's also an amazingly awesome way for me to practice Japanese.

I showed up a minute late. (This is socially the same as not showing up and slapping your boss.) And sometimes the izakaya will act dumb. All like, "Why's this gaijin here?" And I have to try to convince them I'm a teacher. But the izakaya we went to had their act together. They see a white girl and everyone chorused "ALT!" Also, I got there well before the 6th grade teachers, so nobody was upset with me.

Last night was awesome. I keep getting put on the VP's team. We were the "Sharks!!!" and darn proud of it. Like 3 toasts proud. We lost bingo. Cuz bingo is a stupid arbitrary game of stupidness. But there was the exciting element of number calling. Because if you called the wrong number...your team had to draw a word with their collective asses. It was brilliant to watch. Just brilliant I tell you. Extra brilliant because I didn't know what they were up to at first.

Because we were a big-ass group spending all kinds of money, the owner brought out a few bottles of sake for *free*. Everyone was pretty stoked. The principal was given about half of each bottle, because that's how it's done. It shows you respect the man. You do respect him, don't you?

At the end, we all had to stand up, remain standing, clap and say "thank you" to the organisers. Due to the respectfulness of all the teachers, the principal failed epically at step two. He bit it hard across the table...in Japan those things are way closer to ground level than comfy falling level. Only difference was our tables were covered with bowls and glasses. Which went flying upon impact with sensei body. He was not fazed. He was also not sober. Two teachers wound up holding him upright for the rest of the toast.

There weren't many broken bits. So yay for really strong tableware. But after that it was home-going time. So I went home.

Packing my Packables

Getting ready for this trip is hoot! I go through periods of wild panic whenever I travel. Most relating to what I need to pack. This being no exception.

Benefits for this trip include knowing people who know the weather for where I'm going. So I can pester them with my many, many questions. I'm also going somewhere with opposite seasons. Which means the clothing I'm taking is from a wardrobe I'm not currently using.

But this, of course, means that I've already started packing items into my suitcase. I've already reduced my packing list by starting early. Everyone says you don't need much while traveling. And I decided to finally follow this advice. If only because, push come to shove, I will steal my boyfriend's clothing while I'm there. In fact, I might just do that anyway. Because I like wearing his stuff. The goal is to get all of my clothes into one half of my suitcase (which has zips and flaps to make the allocation simple enough). The other half will hold presents and consumables for the journey.

So far I will be taking:
- Coat (medium weight and waterproof)
- Scarf and Gloves
- Thermal Underwear
- Jeans
- 4 sweaters (2 are fairly light and okay for layering)
- 2 turtlenecks
- 1 dress (just in case)
- assorted t-shirts
- socks/panties/bras
- 1 pullover

I'm currently working out medicine, paperwork, souvenirs and body care items. But those are things I'm using right now, so I'm a bit hesitant to pack them away. Especially the medicine.

And I don't have all my souvenirs. I don't actually use the souvenirs I get for people, though I was told that I'm totally allowed to use one item, but I don't think that a) I'm going to or b) it will get packed in my checked luggage.

So I have under 20 days to sort it out before I'm leaving Japan's hot and humid summer for New Zealand's cold and humid winter!
Any suggestions for packing or souvenirs?

Pillz for Skillz

Doing uncomfortably grown-up things successfully in a foreign language is something of a well deserved ego-boost. I found a clinic, signed up as a new patient, had a discussion with a nurse that didn't shoot my blood pressure through the roof, was able to talk to the doctor and procured the medication that I went in looking for; all in Japanese.

I find I psych myself out far too much when it comes to these sorts of things, when I am able to hold conversations about a great many things which pertain to daily life. By no means am I fluent, and the nurses spoke slowly and pantomimed a great deal (which I'm fairly certain they did not do for the other patients) but I was able to respond using somewhat coherent thoughts delivered with a language that I didn't start using regularly until earlier this year. I had a wee bit of trouble with the kanji on the forms, because it's a stupid butt-pain used to prevent people from enjoying the acquisition of this tongue.

Fun fact, people think way more highly of you if you're a teacher and a gaijin (as opposed to a gaijin doing other gaijin-y jobs of gaijinness). They made a special note of it in my health file. I don't think it's medically relevant (other than the overwhelming germ exposure) and there wasn't a place in the forms for it. Nope. She just wrote it out on the cover of my file. Right next to the big sticky tab reading "ピル". It reads "pill" for all of you too lazy to Google X-late that. Which is short for "the pill" which is what I was after.

Finding the pill in Japan hasn't been any sort of a problem for me. Sure, they don't always have the same brands, but darn near any ladies clinic will have the goods. If you're super advanced you can call ahead to see what is carried at the destination (I'm not, I will take the risk upon arrival). But it's kinda convenient that they have the pills in house, and they dispense up to 3 months at a time. It's kinda inconvenient that you have to go to the clinic every time you need a refill, but 3 months and a doctor visit running around 7000円 is much better than what I was on in the States with insurance. So make sure you utilize the heck outta those visits!

On a fairly related topic; I've got nearly all my ducks aligned for NZ. Yes, oral contraceptive is a duck now, just work with me. I was even bad and broke open my coin bank early. More than I expected, less than I hoped. It's going to make someone fairly happy though. With happiness. Which is good. I like making people happy. I think the 18th, I will be doing some sjupa schjopping. Just cuz I can. And I kinda need to. I know I need sunglasses and hairties. I'm sure there are other things too. I'll post a packing list later.

Vacation HO!

Not yet. But it will be soon. And I'm super excited! It'll be the first new country I've been to in a while. Summer vacation I'm heading to NZ! Which means I'm going to abandon my summer for a soggy winter. Not the best plan I know. But just think of the Passport stamp!

I'm actually trying to think of things to do while I'm there. Sightseeing might be kinda suck but I'm going to make the best of it. I've heard things like ski lodges and glaciers a hella fun. Also sky diving...but I'd like to save that for when it's a bit warmer. I hate the cold. Good thing there's a boy there.

So..I'm really planning on heading back around New Years to get some sunny weather in too.

Driving Myself

So there are some goals I have. The most pressing immediate one is going to New Zealand to jump my boyfriend. Others include getting sandals and boots, being able to run from my apartment to the station without stopping, knowing how to choose a wine, and getting a refrigerator. Some of these require money, so I've taken the initiative to make some extra money!
I've got private lessons lined up with decreasing regard for my free time. I think I have too much of it. And if I take it away while still having control it'll be nice. It's like self-induced productivity. Although it might just be an excuse to avoid cleaning. Cuz boo cleaning. Stupid dishes.
I think I'm forgetting some sort of large bill though. I've slapped up a budget and it looks like I'll have extra monies with my base salary. But that's never true. We'll see how it rocks as the month comes to an end.

Dream Recall

We were strolling along a pier. The body of water it tracked was foreign and old. Trapped in a time we no longer used. Not to say the pier was abandoned or in any way left to the ages. It was only the time that was old.

The great many other strollers enjoyed the weather. For it was nothing if not very wonderful indeed. They had all chosen white. It seems to be a habit of those who are caught strolling along piers. I say this with confidence for those who stroll with us are not only today's strollers. No. Surrounding us are those who have strolled on this pier on the very finest of their days.

There is a striking woman wearing a dress fit for Ascot with great swaths of navy cut into the belts of the bodice and hat further emphasizing that fact that she has chosen to spend her today in white. The lace drapes into a mermaid train and caresses its way down her arms, lending a softness of texture to the harsh whiteness she is enveloped in as she is strolling on this pier.

Everyone, to a man, has the very best of manners, as one does on such a pier.

Coming upon a small row of shops in which those who take pleasure in strolling along piers in white on rather fine days would find those things which are conducive to strolling, we discovered a point.

Past the parasols and fans, standing in front of a parlor dedicated to iced treats, was a small child who was quite alone.

Aside from being solitary, this child had other attributes. For instance, it was a girl, rendering it a she rather than the aforementioned it. She was also garbed in white, except, quite sensibly, for her shoes, which were very smart patent-leather Mary Janes. The white lace of her socks puffed about jauntily above them. A rather fetching, oversized bonnet-style cap served to protect her fair, young skin as well as to obscure her face from passersby. She perhaps was quite the lovely child, but certainly had dark hair. The ends of which brushed her shoulders and invited attention to her well-tended pinafore sundress, entirely white. Far too white for any unattended child standing in such close vicinity to an iced treats shop.

Asking the whereabouts of her guardian brought the extension of one slender arm along a length of pier. Holding my hand, as it is proper to do when being escorted for a child and because I was nearer the child's height than my companion. My companion led the way, keeping alert for any who may be misplaced of a child.

Rawr! I'm vicious!

Soooooooo.....
I'm being 10 pounds of lame in a 6 pound bag.
Tomorrow, however! Tomorrow things shall change! I'll be getting a new computer! IF my bank doesn't go def con block on me again. International bank accounts need to be a thing. Also, unify the markets and consolidate the monetary units. Cuz transfer fees are bullshit.

I'm hoping to make a day of it in Tokyo tomorrow. Having fun. Going to the temple-y areas. Mostly because present-getting is an incessant priority of mine. But the purchase of a cheap, pink, floral yukata is in the works. And it will be appreciated at a later date. Like early August.

It's getting crazy thinking about spending all kinds of money before I have the dratted stuff. I hate having to look forward to the end of the month when I'll have funds again. But likely still won't want to spend them. Boo to being a tightwad skinflint.

Danger!

Wine is not your friend. It's not my friend. The price is easier to swallow than beer. The crazy vomit is not. So from now on, beer. Or nothing. I really shouldn't drink without peeps. Always seem to hit the low note.

Started the exercise again today. Need a wee bit more time before the run, but I do believe it will be happening! I sprinted for a bit yesterday, without stretching first, which the "online" says is abunai. I did some stretches today already (mostly to work out yesterday's kinks). Gotta remember the sunscreen though. It will be important today.

I've missed the aftereffects of a good workout. That sore feeling means that I accomplished something. And remembering where I put all of those muscles has been another super duper time.

I am a wuss

Had to psych myself up for an epic battle versus the rain. Then it really wasn't. Looks like the weather is moving in and out today. But at least I got over myself to take the damned run. First time, no worries. Keeping up with it will be the challenge. After work and weekends seem like they'll be the time I have for it. I did learn I'll be able to swim with the kids at school this summer. Gotta try to slim down a bit before then. Running...AWAY!

We only expand ourself by dealing with the challenges we are presented. I will be dealing with the challenge of a phone call in Japanese today. Only after figuring out what these postcards are blathering on about. I'm going to kill for the Roman alphabet someday. And it will be sooooo worth it.

So effing

Just weird and tired times. Moving on with growing up by going back to school. For which I've decided I need more sweaters, cardigans, jackets or sports coats. I'll be checking out the men's section in this regard more often. Because doing so recently has rendered me a kakoi individual. Might have to wait until the almighty monies pop in. Aside from the stuff I have earmarked for bills, vacation and appliances. Yup, definitely growing up. Will have to do something exceptionally immature in the near future.