Of all the F*#%!n Times!

Ok nobody ever calls for me at the BOE, except maybe the middle school or the main BOE in Hamamatsu city. Why would they? I have only been here for a few weeks and there is really now reason for anyone to call me.

Today I was sitting at the computer and realized I had to use the restroom. Well the squat toilets are down the hall and I almost always use the western ghandicappedh toiler because the room is really wide, so I am not cramped in and like I said itfs a western toiler. Anybody who knows me knows how much I despise Japanese squat toilers. Anyway I will move on.

Like I was saying earlier, the western toilet is right across from the office and not down the hall like the squatters. So, I am sitting there doing my business and out of nowhere I start hearing people shouting my name. I was thinking, gwhat the fvck?!h. Well it seems someone had actually called for me, and since I had discreetly let myself out of the office (i.e. nobody really cares what the hell I am doing) everyone was puzzled as to where I was and instead of poking their head out to see if I was outside, they decided to just yell and scream my name until I popped up. Well after 4 or 5, gNATASANNNNhs I finally gave a shout back of gTOIRE!!!h to which everyone was silent, and god only knows what they told the person on the phone.

After getting out I was informed that it was not the middle school or main BOE, but a gpersonalh call for me. I am still perplexed as to whom it might be. The only thing I can think of is that it is the credit card company or remittance service I just applied to that asked for my work address and number.

I guess the woman who talked to them, told them to call back in 10 minutes, but that was an hour ago and still nothing. I hope that she did not scare them away.

Fairly Uneventful Weekend

I did not do too much this weekend. I went shopping and the usual bit, but it was pretty lax compared with the last couple. Friday I headed down to Shiz city to meet up with Maiko and we just had dinner and went out to the used game shop to pick up some more games for my collection. The funny thing is I probably have enough to last me the next few months because I am not one who can sit there and play them all day everyday, but I figured this would probably be my last chance to get down to that place because she is moving to Tokyo on Wednesday and while I will be in Shiz somewhat on a regular basis, the places are too far out of the way to go to.

Saturday we just walked around Shiz a bit and then headed back to Maisaka. There was a small festival going on in town so we went there for a couple of hours. It was surprisingly pretty good. I was half expecting it to be really boring and only to make an appearance to appease my boss at the BOE but I ended up staying to watch the dancing. The thing that strikes me funny is the number of young mothers running around this place. If I saw any of them by themselves I would never have guessed that they have kids, but low and behold they do! Some even have 2.

Sunday was my, now regular, ggo to Hamamatsu for shoppingh day. I put a down payment on a $250 bike for Maiko to use when she comes and visits, which will be delivered Thursday. The ironic thing is she has been visiting the last 3 weekends and we have had only one bike, thus limiting where we could go around the immediate area, but now that I will have 2, it is going to be at least a month or so before she visits here again. Oh well, at least it will be here. I also bought myself a new pillow. Its one of those Japanese bead types ones, that while normal and cheap here, (I paid about $20 for it.) would be called some type of gmiracle pillowh back in the states and probably be at least $80.

I also finally managed to find an application for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test yesterday. It was such a pain the ass to find. When I signed up to take it in the states 2 years ago, all I had to do was register online, but here one has to go to a bookstore that carries it and actually buy the application for $5 and then send in the $50 for the test with the application later. Well, not only is it shitty that I have to BUY the application, but it took like 6 stores before I could find a place that either carried it, or carried it and was not sold out.  

That about sums up the weekend, but tomorrow will be a good day because (hopefully if things go as planned) my internet will be installed in the afternoon!

Doggy Style!

Ok so I had to go into the city today to drop one meesly piece of paper off at the big BOE but it was all good because it ate up my entire morning of gworkh. Well on the train platform I notice the really old couple, at least into their 80fs, who looked so funny together.

The sight of old women bent at 90 degree angles because of bad backs is very common, but it was the man in the relationship that made this so funny. The woman was bent over like usual, but the man seemed to be stuck in the total opposite position, bending backwards with his chest out. I swear it looked like they had been banging doggy style for too many years and got stuck in the position.

Oh and I get my phone today, yay!

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For my geographically challenged friends and family: The earthquake today was no where near me, so no need to worry.

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Feelin Pretty Shaity

As the title states, I am feeling like shit today. I have been since last night. When I get home from work, I usually jack up the air conditioner to cool down the room and then adjust it back down some to keep the apartment comfortable, but I was tired when I got home yesterday I laid down to take a nap and forgot to adjust it. I think that might have caused me to get a cold or something. I really did not want to come in today, and was actually a few minutes late (nobody said anything luckily since its still kind of obon) but I really do not want to let on that I donft feel well because they will insist that I go to the hospital and see a doctor.

Japanese people are obsessed with going to the hospital over the most trivial things. While in the west one might go see their doctor if they have a particularly bad cold, but usually just rest and some over the counter meds, but not in Japan. In fact, for me to even be able to use one of my sick days, I have to go see the doctor. I even remember one time while studying abroad in Hokkaido that one of the woman in charge of us was practically pleading with me to let her take me to the hospital because I had a little ear ache. I swear it was like a novelty to her. gOh pleeeeaaassseee let me take you.h

So yeah, I get to sit here in agony while I could be home sleeping it off.

In other relevance: The Kakegawa orientation went ok. The days were long but I managed to get a few useful ideas for the classroom so it was not a total waste. Not to mention that the nights were pretty fun.

Friday we had the gDisorientation Partyh in Shiz-city. The first place we went to was a good starting joint but there were too many people there and we had to move on to another venue. We ended up going to this lame bar (although people tried to tell us it was a gclubh on the way there) where there was literally nobody there before we all arrived. They had to beg the owner to put some music on. Lame, lame, lame. I spend most of the night outside waiting for the people whom I was crashing with.

Saturday was fun. I met up with Maiko and we along with my other companions wandered around Shiz-city for a bit before heading back to the Hama area for the night.

Sunday was just more exploring or Hamamatsu as I have yet to get there much.

I am hoping to either get there a lot this weekend or go to Nagoya to have a look around there. I have not decided yet.

I am also really excited to (hopefully) get my cell phone on Friday. I have been waiting for a week and a half to get my freakin gaijin card first so that I can get it. It would not be too bad if I had a land line or email, but nooo, those will not be coming until the 23rd or so.

Thatfs all for now kids. Play nice.