Today is my boss's last day. Huzzah! I'm so happy he's leaving. Alas, I will have to see him again, but not every day, so it will be much better. I think this job has been causing me lots of stress which may or may not have been affecting my health, so I hope his departure will make me feel better.
Friday, I went to curry with Lauren. It was delicious, as usual. We also had a nice chat with the guy who runs the place. He's so nice. He's from Nepal, though, so he doesn't speak English much, so we just chatted in Japanese. It was funny. I will really miss that place when I leave.
Then on Saturday, I did three loads of laundry. I wanted to do two more loads, but the clothes weren't drying as fast as I'd hoped. It was a little colder this weekend, I guess. And then it rained all day Sunday, and of course, I'd forgotten to get my clothes down, so they all got damp again. It's sunny today, though, so they should be dry by the end of the day.
Saturday night, I went out for dinner and drinks with Lauren and Jamie at Shinbashi. I love that place, mainly for their chuuhais, but the owner is very friendly, and the food is pretty good for an izakaya. After that, we walked over to Tsutaya and rented Ocean's 13 and watched that at Lauren's. It was much better than 12, but 11 is still the best.
It rained all day yesterday, as I mentioned before, so I didn't do anything. I went to Jusco and got a pizza and some other non-essentials. I got the book I'd ordered from Amazon: World War Z - An oral history of the zombie war. It's by the same guy who wrote The Zombie Survival Guide, which is one of my favorite books. Aside from that, I downloaded several episodes of Numb3rs and watched them. And I played Mario on my DS. So I guess it's not that I didn't do anything, I just didn't do anything important.
Now I will sit and enjoy the final hours of my boss's reign of terror.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
sakura
The weather has been so nice lately. Finally. It went from being really cold to pleasantly mild while I was in Kagoshima, which was already pleasantly mild. Not a lot of in-between weather.
The sakura are blooming now, and pretty soon, Japanese people everywhere will be losing their shit to go sit under one and have a picnic. Ah, hanami. Maybe I'll go up to Konoue for that, since they allegedly have a ton of sakura. And it's in the middle of the mountains, so maybe not so many people?
I had a dream last night that I was in a weird flirty relationship with Nagase Tomoya (Ayumi's ex and all-around hottie), but he had confused me for some other white girl he'd seen in a production of Peter Pan several years prior, who I later met at a bus stop. I didn't want to tell him about the mix-up, as I was enjoying his company, but the girl seemed really nice, so I was torn. Even in my dreams, I can't have a boyfriend.
It appears that the other people in my section went out for drinks or something after work yesterday. The ALTs, of course, were not invited. Not that I would've gone if invited, but still. Jerks.
The sakura are blooming now, and pretty soon, Japanese people everywhere will be losing their shit to go sit under one and have a picnic. Ah, hanami. Maybe I'll go up to Konoue for that, since they allegedly have a ton of sakura. And it's in the middle of the mountains, so maybe not so many people?
I had a dream last night that I was in a weird flirty relationship with Nagase Tomoya (Ayumi's ex and all-around hottie), but he had confused me for some other white girl he'd seen in a production of Peter Pan several years prior, who I later met at a bus stop. I didn't want to tell him about the mix-up, as I was enjoying his company, but the girl seemed really nice, so I was torn. Even in my dreams, I can't have a boyfriend.
It appears that the other people in my section went out for drinks or something after work yesterday. The ALTs, of course, were not invited. Not that I would've gone if invited, but still. Jerks.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
bed time
I took a nice long walk with Lauren along the sea wall after work today. The weather is finally warming up, so it was a good day for it. And then we went for sushi. I will miss cheap sushi.
Being at the office all day with nothing to do is quite taxing. Even the Internet gets boring after a while. But I refuse to study Japanese, since that's something my boss might want me to do. And I can't plan lessons, since I don't know what my schedule will be like yet, and won't until April 11. Fun.
T-minus four business days until we are minus-T. I can't wait to see him go.
Being at the office all day with nothing to do is quite taxing. Even the Internet gets boring after a while. But I refuse to study Japanese, since that's something my boss might want me to do. And I can't plan lessons, since I don't know what my schedule will be like yet, and won't until April 11. Fun.
T-minus four business days until we are minus-T. I can't wait to see him go.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
...sigh
I'm home now after spending a few days in Kagoshima with Michelle, and I'm lonely. As much as I love living by myself, I wish I lived closer to Michelle. Not that I don't like my other Japan friends, but Michelle is one of my bestest friends. It's different.
I flew down and back, and flying domestically here is so much easier than international or any other flying in the States. I didn't have to take off my shoes or my jacket or take out my toiletries, lines were short, and I wasn't interrogated by anybody. And the security folks are nice and will help you move your stuff along the counters/belts. Not like the TSA jackasses that just stand there and stare as you try to move five of those fucking crates over a tabletop. I'm looking at YOU, Dallas-Fort Worth.
Anyway, we had a great time. We went to the Meiji Restoration museum, which features some awesome pro-Satsuma revisionist history. There was even a diorama! And we got to try on some clothes and take pictures.
We did go see two awful movies, unfortunately. The first was Jumper. Ugh. Hayden Christensen owes me about $35 for wasting my time with his movies. He is a terrible actor and his character was a grade-A douche. Jamie Bell was wasted in this travesty.
We saw Jumper on Friday and we were left unentertained, so on Saturday we went to see the new One Piece movie, which was by some feat, worse than Jumper. It started out good, but then there was this flashback that lasted at least half of the movie. I was getting seriously angry that the flashback wasn't ending, and when it finally did, the action wasn't improving, so we got up and left.
I did see one good movie, though. One of Michelle's friends burned lots of movies for her, so we watched the Aqua Teen movie, and it was amazing. I miss that show. Jesus. I think I'll have to buy that one.
Last night, we went out for yakiniku (for the second time in three days), and it was perfection. We ate four plates of meat between the two of us, plus almost a whole vegetable plate and a big bowl of rice. And the waiters were hot. And it wasn't expensive. Excellent.
Now I'm exhausted. Travel really wears me out. And the fact that I have to go to work tomorrow makes me very unhappy. Plus, Cat's gone to India for a week, so I'll be there by myself. I hope Drew doesn't show up.
...sigh
I flew down and back, and flying domestically here is so much easier than international or any other flying in the States. I didn't have to take off my shoes or my jacket or take out my toiletries, lines were short, and I wasn't interrogated by anybody. And the security folks are nice and will help you move your stuff along the counters/belts. Not like the TSA jackasses that just stand there and stare as you try to move five of those fucking crates over a tabletop. I'm looking at YOU, Dallas-Fort Worth.
Anyway, we had a great time. We went to the Meiji Restoration museum, which features some awesome pro-Satsuma revisionist history. There was even a diorama! And we got to try on some clothes and take pictures.
We did go see two awful movies, unfortunately. The first was Jumper. Ugh. Hayden Christensen owes me about $35 for wasting my time with his movies. He is a terrible actor and his character was a grade-A douche. Jamie Bell was wasted in this travesty.
We saw Jumper on Friday and we were left unentertained, so on Saturday we went to see the new One Piece movie, which was by some feat, worse than Jumper. It started out good, but then there was this flashback that lasted at least half of the movie. I was getting seriously angry that the flashback wasn't ending, and when it finally did, the action wasn't improving, so we got up and left.
I did see one good movie, though. One of Michelle's friends burned lots of movies for her, so we watched the Aqua Teen movie, and it was amazing. I miss that show. Jesus. I think I'll have to buy that one.
Last night, we went out for yakiniku (for the second time in three days), and it was perfection. We ate four plates of meat between the two of us, plus almost a whole vegetable plate and a big bowl of rice. And the waiters were hot. And it wasn't expensive. Excellent.
Now I'm exhausted. Travel really wears me out. And the fact that I have to go to work tomorrow makes me very unhappy. Plus, Cat's gone to India for a week, so I'll be there by myself. I hope Drew doesn't show up.
...sigh
Friday, March 14, 2008
mary louise parker is amazing
I've been at home all day, "resting" and taking my medicine at the appropriate times. I've also been buying TV shows off iTunes like crazy. It's just so fast! I can't stop myself.
So far, I am in love with two shows that I hadn't seen before. The first is Weeds, about a widowed housewife (Mary Louise Parker--amazing) who sells pot to suburbanites. I really can't believe I haven't been watching this all along. My only excuse is that it's on Showtime and at home we only have HBO.
The second show I'm really enjoying is Dirt, with Courtney Cox-Arquette. It's about one of my favorite things ever, celebrity gossip, and since it's a cable show, it's extra scandalous.
I also downloaded some Mythbusters and Numb3rs, because those are great shows.
So far, I am in love with two shows that I hadn't seen before. The first is Weeds, about a widowed housewife (Mary Louise Parker--amazing) who sells pot to suburbanites. I really can't believe I haven't been watching this all along. My only excuse is that it's on Showtime and at home we only have HBO.
The second show I'm really enjoying is Dirt, with Courtney Cox-Arquette. It's about one of my favorite things ever, celebrity gossip, and since it's a cable show, it's extra scandalous.
I also downloaded some Mythbusters and Numb3rs, because those are great shows.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
doctor doctor
I have a cold. And a sore throat. Which did get me out of a boring day at the office, but I just traded that for a boring day at home, with a little visit to Jusco and the doctor. And before that, a trip to the bank, so I could pay for food and the doctor.
Fortunately, the doctor closest to our apartment speaks English. Even though I could've understood all that he said in Japanese, when I'm not feeling well, I'd rather not have to think in another language. He told me it's just a viral infection, so it would be healed by rest and eating and drinking well. Surprise. Colds in Japan are exactly like they are at home.
I think maybe I don't have a toothache after all. Maybe I'm just grinding my teeth at night. I've caught myself doing it during the day. Isn't that caused by stress? Thanks, employers!
I'm going to see Michelle in a week! Yay! I think I will drive up to Tsu and take the ferry to the Nagoya airport, as that will be the cheapest thing for me to do. And my flight times are such that I won't have to leave super early or drive in the dark. Hooray.
Fortunately, the doctor closest to our apartment speaks English. Even though I could've understood all that he said in Japanese, when I'm not feeling well, I'd rather not have to think in another language. He told me it's just a viral infection, so it would be healed by rest and eating and drinking well. Surprise. Colds in Japan are exactly like they are at home.
I think maybe I don't have a toothache after all. Maybe I'm just grinding my teeth at night. I've caught myself doing it during the day. Isn't that caused by stress? Thanks, employers!
I'm going to see Michelle in a week! Yay! I think I will drive up to Tsu and take the ferry to the Nagoya airport, as that will be the cheapest thing for me to do. And my flight times are such that I won't have to leave super early or drive in the dark. Hooray.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
meat and rice
I went to graduation today at Isato and got surprisingly emotional. Everybody else was crying, and seeing other people cry tends to make me get all weepy too. Plus I've known the four kids that graduated for almost two years, and I go to Isato the most, so it was sad to see them leave.
On the way back into town, I talked with the principal and told him about the shit that went down at the office yesterday. His first response was, "Is that a joke?" When I assured him it wasn't he said it was "nonsense" and I totally agreed with him. Then he said how the office will be much better when my supervisor is transferred. Yes. It warms my heart to hear Japanese people say stuff like that, because it means that I am not just some crazy gaijin who doesn't understand Japanese people. An asshole is an asshole, no matter what country you're in.
Cat and I wrote notes to each other at the office today like fucking 12-year-olds. Ugh. I think she should teach me sign language.
We went for a walk with Lauren on the sea wall today after work since the weather was so nice. And then Lauren and I went for cheap yakiniku, after dropping off Cat, since she's a veggie. Alas. But it was delicious and cheap. I love meat!
I think the pain in my face is actually a toothache. This is an unfortunate development, since I really don't trust Japanese dentistry, given the state of the teeth I've seen here. But if it keeps hurting, I'll go to the guy that Emily liked, Satou or Saitou, and see what's up. I'm not looking forward to it. Fix yourself, tooth!
Also, WWII in about 2 minutes. All you need to know.
On the way back into town, I talked with the principal and told him about the shit that went down at the office yesterday. His first response was, "Is that a joke?" When I assured him it wasn't he said it was "nonsense" and I totally agreed with him. Then he said how the office will be much better when my supervisor is transferred. Yes. It warms my heart to hear Japanese people say stuff like that, because it means that I am not just some crazy gaijin who doesn't understand Japanese people. An asshole is an asshole, no matter what country you're in.
Cat and I wrote notes to each other at the office today like fucking 12-year-olds. Ugh. I think she should teach me sign language.
We went for a walk with Lauren on the sea wall today after work since the weather was so nice. And then Lauren and I went for cheap yakiniku, after dropping off Cat, since she's a veggie. Alas. But it was delicious and cheap. I love meat!
I think the pain in my face is actually a toothache. This is an unfortunate development, since I really don't trust Japanese dentistry, given the state of the teeth I've seen here. But if it keeps hurting, I'll go to the guy that Emily liked, Satou or Saitou, and see what's up. I'm not looking forward to it. Fix yourself, tooth!
Also, WWII in about 2 minutes. All you need to know.
Monday, March 10, 2008
fuck them
Ugh. I hate my office so much.
Today, as we walked to work, Catherine was in a bad mood since we had to leave earlier and, you know, walk, so I tried to cheer her up a bit. I mean, I was pissed that we had to walk too, but at least the weather was nice.
So we get into the office, and before I can even sit down, Y comes over and is all, "Kara, everyone here is very busy and blah blah blah so if you and Catherine want to talk, please go somewhere else."
ASDFJKL:SDFAHS:DFHASF
I was so angry I wanted to cry. It's such bullshit. We don't sit at our desks and talk in loud voices all fucking day. We make quiet comments to each other over the course of the day. That's it. Sure, not everything we talk about is work-related, but you know what? All the shit they talk about all day isn't work-related either. And I fail to see how our infrequent chit-chat is more distracting than T yelling into the phone every fucking second of the day and yelling at people across the room, hell, even people in our section, when he's not on the phone.
Christ. I'm so angry, 12 hours later.
And what pisses me off even more is that they have clearly had at least one conversation about our talking to each other (or rather that crazy bitch M complained), because he was ready with his little spiel as soon as we walked in. Goddamn!
The only positive news of the day was that T is most likely leaving in April. A-FUCKING-MEN. Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out, mother fucker! All of the ALTs are "requested" to go to the welcome-goodbye enkai in April. I will go and get drunk, even if it is on a weekday, and hopefully say something mean that I can't be blamed for later.
I was already in a pissy mood due to my sinus congestion, and all this shit today, combined with the no-driving bullshit just made me stew all day. I was super unfriendly to everybody except the Yamamotos, because I don't hate them with all my soul, and would tell them before I burned down the building.
Cat and I Gchatted all day cursing them. It was fun. And on the way home, this old lady on a bike came up behind us and bumped Cat to get around her, and I actually yelled at her, "Bitch, get off the fucking bike!" and it felt really good, even if she couldn't understand.
Anyway, it should be clear that ALT morale in Kumano is at an all-time high. If it wouldn't cause a problem for my schools, I would just leave. Fuck this, really. But I like my teachers and my students (at least half of them), so I don't want to be the sketch foreigner that bailed on her contract, but I also don't want to have to deal with all the shit the office piles on us.
我慢する。
Today, as we walked to work, Catherine was in a bad mood since we had to leave earlier and, you know, walk, so I tried to cheer her up a bit. I mean, I was pissed that we had to walk too, but at least the weather was nice.
So we get into the office, and before I can even sit down, Y comes over and is all, "Kara, everyone here is very busy and blah blah blah so if you and Catherine want to talk, please go somewhere else."
ASDFJKL:SDFAHS:DFHASF
I was so angry I wanted to cry. It's such bullshit. We don't sit at our desks and talk in loud voices all fucking day. We make quiet comments to each other over the course of the day. That's it. Sure, not everything we talk about is work-related, but you know what? All the shit they talk about all day isn't work-related either. And I fail to see how our infrequent chit-chat is more distracting than T yelling into the phone every fucking second of the day and yelling at people across the room, hell, even people in our section, when he's not on the phone.
Christ. I'm so angry, 12 hours later.
And what pisses me off even more is that they have clearly had at least one conversation about our talking to each other (or rather that crazy bitch M complained), because he was ready with his little spiel as soon as we walked in. Goddamn!
The only positive news of the day was that T is most likely leaving in April. A-FUCKING-MEN. Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out, mother fucker! All of the ALTs are "requested" to go to the welcome-goodbye enkai in April. I will go and get drunk, even if it is on a weekday, and hopefully say something mean that I can't be blamed for later.
I was already in a pissy mood due to my sinus congestion, and all this shit today, combined with the no-driving bullshit just made me stew all day. I was super unfriendly to everybody except the Yamamotos, because I don't hate them with all my soul, and would tell them before I burned down the building.
Cat and I Gchatted all day cursing them. It was fun. And on the way home, this old lady on a bike came up behind us and bumped Cat to get around her, and I actually yelled at her, "Bitch, get off the fucking bike!" and it felt really good, even if she couldn't understand.
Anyway, it should be clear that ALT morale in Kumano is at an all-time high. If it wouldn't cause a problem for my schools, I would just leave. Fuck this, really. But I like my teachers and my students (at least half of them), so I don't want to be the sketch foreigner that bailed on her contract, but I also don't want to have to deal with all the shit the office piles on us.
我慢する。
Saturday, March 8, 2008
stupid face
I have been super useless today. My throat no longer hurts, but my sinuses are really stuffed up, but only on the left side, so one side of my face has been hurting all day. Fun.
I did go to Jusco to get a few provisions, but that made me feel worse, so I've spent most of the day either in bed or under the kotatsu.
I'm glad I don't have school on Monday. Yes, it sucks that I will be walking to work, but whatever. I don't feel like teaching for a few days. And I'm just going to graduation at Isato on Tuesday, so no teaching that day either! I just have to dress up.
Back to Dino Comics. \O/ <--This means hooray.
I did go to Jusco to get a few provisions, but that made me feel worse, so I've spent most of the day either in bed or under the kotatsu.
I'm glad I don't have school on Monday. Yes, it sucks that I will be walking to work, but whatever. I don't feel like teaching for a few days. And I'm just going to graduation at Isato on Tuesday, so no teaching that day either! I just have to dress up.
Back to Dino Comics. \O/ <--This means hooray.
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