I have so much to write about. I want to write about our experience with the move, our new place, and our puppy, but instead I am going to write about movies.
As some people already are aware of, Suk's one and only hobby is watching movies, talking about movies and going to video stores to rent movies. I also love movies, so often our Saturday night dates consists of dinner and a movie. (Before you say, how nice that is, I want to stress - the grass is always greener! We are not an active couple who go camping, skiing, hiking, white water rafting, etc. together. Oh...how I imagined that kind of fun marriage when I was a kid!)
So, movies it is.
Last December, I reluctantly went and saw King Kong because Suk's company was doing the advertising for it in Japan. We took his mom with us because she loves scary blockbusters. I loved this movie from the first second to the last, and I went around and recommended it to everyone I knew, including all of the people I work with. No one that I know of went and saw it! Can you believe that?! This is the kind of movie that needs to be seen on the big screen. Naomi Watts, whom many people seem to under-estimate, was absolutely amazing. She conveyed all that emotion with nothing but a blue screen behind her and a big mechanical ape hand in front of her with Andy Serkis (the same guy who played Golem in LOTR) making faces at her. She should have won an Oscar for that, and I believe that someday, she will get an award for something. She really is a good actress.
Rent KING KONG if you have not already.
A couple weeks ago, another teacher and I went and saw Crash. It was the last night that it would be playing at the theaters in Japan, and Suk highly recommended it. He had never seen it, but he wanted me to report to him what all the fuss was about. It was an amazing portrayal of the underlying racial tensions that people from all sides feel in the USA. I could totally relate to this movie, and I hope most Americans will admit that they do also. I have seen it happen, and I have seen people completely deny its daily occurrance. I had been looking for an educational movie to show my high school students for their Intercultural Understanding course. This is definitely it. My students go on a study tour every year to Texas where they visit our two sister schools for 2 weeks and they stay with host families. Those students from the sister school also come here to visit us for two weeks. Anyway, some of my kids have commented on the fact that they believed that racism had disappeared from American culture after the Civil Rights movement...until they went to Texas and heard their host students using derogatory names for black people and making fun of them behind their backs. I was shocked as well. I am not blaming Texas, certainly. It is just a concrete example. Anyway, this movie is a must-see.
Last week, on our day off, Suk and I went and saw Brokeback Mountain. We wanted to see what all the fuss was about. It is one of those movies that stays with you for days. On one hand, it was really sad...so sad and hopeless. It just breaks your heart. On the other hand, (warning: this will be graphic), I was shocked by the scene where they do it for the first time. I can't stop thinking about it. 'Nuff said. Go rent it.
Today, I needed to get out of the house because Max and I are in the middle of training, and I have to get him used to being alone for long periods during the work day. We are working our way up to 9 hours. So, today, I needed to leave house for 4 hours, and I decided to go catch a movie since it is ladies day and all. (Ladies Day is once a week, and women get about 800 yen knocked off the ticket price.) I went and saw the Chronicles of Narnia. I had never read the books, so this was something new for me. In fact, it was so good that I think I will tell the story to my kids countless times and make them believe that I made the story up. It was that good.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Another Classic Move by Said Husband II
This will probably become a regular entry.
Let's see...what did he do today.
My parents called tonight which was an extremely rare occurrance. When they call, I am always so sure that someone has died or is going to die soon. Tonight they called to wish us good luck on the move. While on the phone (a record 63 minutes!), the call-waiting buzzed in, but I figured it was my husband since he is the only other person who ever calls and it was 11:30 PM, so I didn't bother to answer. I thought that if I cut my mom off mid-sentence and go to answer the call-waiting on a phone that she is paying for, she would probably say it's time to say good-bye and that would be it. I wouldn't hear from them again for months. Not...taking...any...chances.
After we got off the phone, I promptly called Suk back. He started in on a lecture about how call-waiting works. He is convinced that I have NEVER used call-waiting in my life...as if it is an invention by the Japanese and we primitive Americans don't understand this sort of technology. I explained all of the above pertaining to the phone call, and then somehow an argument ensued about his mother.
Why, oh, why do we always have to fight about his mom? There is a super-complicated situation going on that is related to furniture, and I am not going to bore you to death with the whole story, but basically we are giving her two pieces of large furniture and she is throwing her old furniture away to make room. Guess who is paying for the delivery of this furniture to her house and guess who is paying for the garbage-fee of the furniture she is throwing out? Us. Guess who is receiving two pieces of furniture for free? Her.
So, it seems that she comes out pretty good on this deal, and the reason we got in an argument was because I suggested that she pay the garbage fee herself. Well, low and behold, we can't possibly ask his precious mother to do such a thing! Then a fairly new piece of information was brought forth.
According to the sources (my husband has no memory of this and I had no knowledge until three weeks ago), four years ago, my husband went furniture shopping for our apartment. We had gotten married in the USA, but I didn't move to Japan until 2 months later, so my husband spent that two months looking for an apartment and then furnishing it. He claims to have spent his savings to buy the furniture (and since he was working full time and living at home, I could only assume that he had built up quite a savings). Anyway, recently, his mom informed him that she had taken out a loan to pay for some of our furniture and that she had just recently finished paying it off.
Now, before you say, oh that was so nice of her, I want to scream. Why didn't my husband pay her back? If he wasn't meant to pay her back, would it be considered a gift? We thought we were nice enough to give her this furniture for free, but now she claims that it has always belonged to her? What the fuck is going on here?
And, she came over about a month ago when I was not home. She was complaining to Suk about the marks on the furniture. Well, I thought it was mine and that I could bang it up if I wanted to!
The situation is actually gads more complicated than this, but you are getting the watered-down version. And now for the results:
1. We are paying the garbage fee.
2. My husband is pissed at me.
3. I have stopped packing for the night at his request because he claims that HE will do the REST. He also claims that I totally insisted on doing all the packing myself and that I "wouldn't let him help." Oh, you are going too, too far, Suk.
4. The wedge that has already been driven between me and Suk's family has been driven a little bit deeper, whether they know it or not, but Suk did say that he would be calling his mom to get her version of the furniture story because apparently, I can't be trusted. (And their versions always match, so there.)
I am officially staging a sit-in.
Update: I couldn't resist packing a few more boxes, and Suk didn't get home from work until about 6 am. We have already had 3 fights and several threats of "I'm going to cancel the whole thing." "I'm going to get my own apartment and you can live in the new place by yourself," and other similar such words being thrown back and forth. Status: Suk has now packed the rice cooker into a box. That is the extent of his effort so far.
Let's see...what did he do today.
My parents called tonight which was an extremely rare occurrance. When they call, I am always so sure that someone has died or is going to die soon. Tonight they called to wish us good luck on the move. While on the phone (a record 63 minutes!), the call-waiting buzzed in, but I figured it was my husband since he is the only other person who ever calls and it was 11:30 PM, so I didn't bother to answer. I thought that if I cut my mom off mid-sentence and go to answer the call-waiting on a phone that she is paying for, she would probably say it's time to say good-bye and that would be it. I wouldn't hear from them again for months. Not...taking...any...chances.
After we got off the phone, I promptly called Suk back. He started in on a lecture about how call-waiting works. He is convinced that I have NEVER used call-waiting in my life...as if it is an invention by the Japanese and we primitive Americans don't understand this sort of technology. I explained all of the above pertaining to the phone call, and then somehow an argument ensued about his mother.
Why, oh, why do we always have to fight about his mom? There is a super-complicated situation going on that is related to furniture, and I am not going to bore you to death with the whole story, but basically we are giving her two pieces of large furniture and she is throwing her old furniture away to make room. Guess who is paying for the delivery of this furniture to her house and guess who is paying for the garbage-fee of the furniture she is throwing out? Us. Guess who is receiving two pieces of furniture for free? Her.
So, it seems that she comes out pretty good on this deal, and the reason we got in an argument was because I suggested that she pay the garbage fee herself. Well, low and behold, we can't possibly ask his precious mother to do such a thing! Then a fairly new piece of information was brought forth.
According to the sources (my husband has no memory of this and I had no knowledge until three weeks ago), four years ago, my husband went furniture shopping for our apartment. We had gotten married in the USA, but I didn't move to Japan until 2 months later, so my husband spent that two months looking for an apartment and then furnishing it. He claims to have spent his savings to buy the furniture (and since he was working full time and living at home, I could only assume that he had built up quite a savings). Anyway, recently, his mom informed him that she had taken out a loan to pay for some of our furniture and that she had just recently finished paying it off.
Now, before you say, oh that was so nice of her, I want to scream. Why didn't my husband pay her back? If he wasn't meant to pay her back, would it be considered a gift? We thought we were nice enough to give her this furniture for free, but now she claims that it has always belonged to her? What the fuck is going on here?
And, she came over about a month ago when I was not home. She was complaining to Suk about the marks on the furniture. Well, I thought it was mine and that I could bang it up if I wanted to!
The situation is actually gads more complicated than this, but you are getting the watered-down version. And now for the results:
1. We are paying the garbage fee.
2. My husband is pissed at me.
3. I have stopped packing for the night at his request because he claims that HE will do the REST. He also claims that I totally insisted on doing all the packing myself and that I "wouldn't let him help." Oh, you are going too, too far, Suk.
4. The wedge that has already been driven between me and Suk's family has been driven a little bit deeper, whether they know it or not, but Suk did say that he would be calling his mom to get her version of the furniture story because apparently, I can't be trusted. (And their versions always match, so there.)
I am officially staging a sit-in.
Update: I couldn't resist packing a few more boxes, and Suk didn't get home from work until about 6 am. We have already had 3 fights and several threats of "I'm going to cancel the whole thing." "I'm going to get my own apartment and you can live in the new place by yourself," and other similar such words being thrown back and forth. Status: Suk has now packed the rice cooker into a box. That is the extent of his effort so far.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Once again, it is time to BNM*
*BNM means bitch 'n' moan.
We are on official count-down mode here. In 36 hours, we will be in the middle of moving to our new place. So after a day of hard window shopping and then finally purchasing a long-coveted bookshelf, I returned home to our old place (already calling it that out of mix of nostalgia & annoyance) to several towers of hastily labeled boxes.
I started packing the kitchen last night after making a final pot of curry - something that will last a few days, not only in quantity, but also in aroma. I have been noticing lately how much my age is catching up with me.
I mean, I know that I am only 29 and this summer will celebrate the big 30, but MAN, am I out of shape or what?! I feel sore after sitting in the same position for more than 5 minutes. I get up and my legs have muscle cramps and I have to limp to the next room. Then, after packing the kitchen (only 1/3 of it), I was so sore that I could barely crawl into my freezing-ass bed at 1 AM.
Did I mention the results of my health check a couple weeks ago? Well, I am a 36-year-old trapped in a 29-year-old's body. I have several friends who are in their late 30's, so I certainly don't want to offend anyone. But, if this is rate I am going, by the time I really am 36, I will be 50 on the inside. The saddest thing is that I have not had children yet, so my young, limber body (wherever it went!) will never have the chance to chase her kids around the yard. (Next, I should say that my new resolution is to take up yoga (for real, this time!) and to exercise regularly along with eating a well-balanced diet, but I won't satisfy you all with that kind of unrealistic bullshit. You know I won't do it, and I know that you know, so let's cut the crap.)
In a couple of weeks, after unpacking the house and while still being in the midst of training my new puppy, I will be so unbelievably busy at school with the start of the new year that I will be lucky to even think about food/exercise, other than the food I give to the dog and walks I take him on. Unhealthy I know, but students and dogs take precedence at this time in my life.
My husband often complains that I am the most selfish person in the world. I am SO NOT selfish. Just because I use the word "I" a lot does not make me, me, me a selfish person, right?
Enough of my blathering. I really need to stop reading other people's blogs and get back to work.
We are on official count-down mode here. In 36 hours, we will be in the middle of moving to our new place. So after a day of hard window shopping and then finally purchasing a long-coveted bookshelf, I returned home to our old place (already calling it that out of mix of nostalgia & annoyance) to several towers of hastily labeled boxes.
I started packing the kitchen last night after making a final pot of curry - something that will last a few days, not only in quantity, but also in aroma. I have been noticing lately how much my age is catching up with me.
I mean, I know that I am only 29 and this summer will celebrate the big 30, but MAN, am I out of shape or what?! I feel sore after sitting in the same position for more than 5 minutes. I get up and my legs have muscle cramps and I have to limp to the next room. Then, after packing the kitchen (only 1/3 of it), I was so sore that I could barely crawl into my freezing-ass bed at 1 AM.
Did I mention the results of my health check a couple weeks ago? Well, I am a 36-year-old trapped in a 29-year-old's body. I have several friends who are in their late 30's, so I certainly don't want to offend anyone. But, if this is rate I am going, by the time I really am 36, I will be 50 on the inside. The saddest thing is that I have not had children yet, so my young, limber body (wherever it went!) will never have the chance to chase her kids around the yard. (Next, I should say that my new resolution is to take up yoga (for real, this time!) and to exercise regularly along with eating a well-balanced diet, but I won't satisfy you all with that kind of unrealistic bullshit. You know I won't do it, and I know that you know, so let's cut the crap.)
In a couple of weeks, after unpacking the house and while still being in the midst of training my new puppy, I will be so unbelievably busy at school with the start of the new year that I will be lucky to even think about food/exercise, other than the food I give to the dog and walks I take him on. Unhealthy I know, but students and dogs take precedence at this time in my life.
My husband often complains that I am the most selfish person in the world. I am SO NOT selfish. Just because I use the word "I" a lot does not make me, me, me a selfish person, right?
Enough of my blathering. I really need to stop reading other people's blogs and get back to work.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Overheard at a Bar (No, wait, I was a part of this conversation!)
Last night, I went out with a group of English teachers, mostly Japanese, and Craig posed this question:
If you could live across the street from anything in the world, what would it be?"
Craig's answer: A brewery
MandeJ's answer: A coffee shop
Mr. O: A movie theater
Mr. K: A ramen shop
Mr. N: A park
Ms. K: A coffee shop, also
Mr. T: A book store
Mr. S: A librarian
Wait, a librarian? You mean, LIBRARY, right?
Mr. S, whose English is almost perfect, says, "No, I mean LIBRARIAN."
If you could live across the street from anything in the world, what would it be?"
Craig's answer: A brewery
MandeJ's answer: A coffee shop
Mr. O: A movie theater
Mr. K: A ramen shop
Mr. N: A park
Ms. K: A coffee shop, also
Mr. T: A book store
Mr. S: A librarian
Wait, a librarian? You mean, LIBRARY, right?
Mr. S, whose English is almost perfect, says, "No, I mean LIBRARIAN."
The One About the Bloody Stumps (and the Sweet Husband)
Ever seen a movie where they remove the boots of a man whose suffering from war wounds and they feet are just bloody stumps? And, then they have to decide whether to cut off his feet or not?
I do not take those movies lightly, but I'll share with you my story about bloody stumps.
Every summer, I go through this phase of wanting to wear high-heeled sandals of some kind, and then I practically kill my feet by putting them up to the challenge at least twice a week. I think, "Oh, I'll get used to it. I mean, look at all those other women who walk around in high heels every day. If they can do it, so can I." Problem is that my feet never do get used to it, and I end up wearing more bandaids that I can count on each foot, and I probably spend more on boxes of bandaids than I did on the sandals themselves.
Then, this January, after coming back from our winter vacation, we went shoe shopping for Suk. But, I found these terrific (low) high heels on sale and I tried all of them on before I finally settled on a pair I liked. I had never owned ultra-pointy high heels before, and I thought this would be a good opportunity to really style it up this winter.
I have only worn them three times, counting today. Each time, I have done the unthinkable - what Christine really hates - I wore them with jeans. Oh, the horrors!
So, today, since Suk and I were going on a date, I wore them because he really likes them. Typical, right? He thinks the clickety-click sound is sexy. I had to walk to the train station because my bike is still parked at work, but I walked evenly and slowly, and I actually made it without too much pain.
I had to run up the escalator to catch the train. Then, stand on train. Okay, still doing fine down there.
I met Suk at the station of our hangout and we walked over the our favorite curry restaurant. Walking a bit slower, but still managing.
We ate buffet-style lunch. Avoiding having to get up and walk anywhere. Asking Suk to get stuff for me sometimes.
Walked back to our favorite coffee shop and sat outside on the benches for a while. Sitting down so everything is a-okay.
We went to a furniture store nearby to (ONCE AGAIN) check out their bookshelves. Ow...pain...sit down on this here nice sofa...yep, just trying it out...okay, how about this one...no, I like this sofa better...good feeling...ow...ow...pain in foot.
Walking back to our coffee shop, I was going much slower, sort of dragging one foot behind me. I said, "Gee, I don't really want to go home yet. Can we stop and have some coffee first?"
"Your feet hurt, don't they?"
Damn, how did he notice?
We sat at the coffee shop for over an hour. My feet resting on the top of my shoes. It started to rain outside, so it gave us the excuse to stay longer.
But, then, Suk's mom called. Where the heck are you? I'm waiting for my bird!
Oh yeah, as a side-note update, Suk and SIL ordered another bird for their mom as soon as the first one ran away. It finally came into the pet store today, and Suk insisted on going to pick it up and bringing it to her personally. He also wanted to pay for it...out of his own allowance. That's a good boy...
So, back to reality, we have to go back to our station, trek over to the pet store by bus, get the damn bird, and somehow take it to his mom's house. It's at times like these when I really wish we had a car...or that I wasn't wearing high heels.
We go to the station, wait for the train, go back to our station, catch a bus to the pet store, which is quite a long walk from the bus stop, mind you, and by this time it is PAINFULLY obvious that I will not make it the rest of the evening if I have to walk anywhere.
At the pet store, we take a look at the bird, Suk pays for it, I sit on a bench and watch the caged dogs for a while, Suk calls his mom and they decide to go get the bird themselves the next day. No more worries about the bird, but Suk is depressed because he really wanted to take it to his mom himself. Damn shoes!!
After that, we walk across the street to the little shopping mall and buy some food for dinner. I can barely make it around the store. All I can think about is how bloody my feet must look by now. Meanwhile, Suk, who has somehow developed MY fear of public toilets, can only think about how badly he has to use the toilet. Both of us are crabby, but trying not to blame each other for it. (That is truly a positive sign that things are improving in our marriage!)
Then, we begin the long walk home (okay, about 10 minutes if you are wearing tennis shoes), but to me, it seems like a lifetime. Halfway there, I begin walking on my tippy toes, kind of like Barbie. If it was a hot, summer day, I would have just carried my shoes and walked barefoot. This was going too slow, and Suk, who still needed to use the toilet, said, "You are never ever going to wear these shoes again." Clickety-click sound isn't so sexy anymore, is it, my dear?
I kindly offered that he go on ahead, but he stuck with me...and he didn't yell at me or cuss me out. (Another good sign!) About 2/3 of the way home, he took off his left tennis shoe and offered it to me. Then, he put my left high heel on (I am sure that his foot barely fit inside it), and we walked on like that for about 5 minutes. This time he was walking a little slower than me, but oh god, MY left foot felt instant relief.
Then, he couldn't stand it anymore, and he offered to trade so that he could wear my right high heel and I could wear his right tennis shoe. Since we were very nearly home by that time, I gave him his shoe back and wore by high heel from hell back to our apartment.
So, the question is...will I ever wear those bloody-stump-makers again? Probably, but I will be sure to pack lots of bandaids and maybe an extra pair of tennis shoes in my bag.
I do not take those movies lightly, but I'll share with you my story about bloody stumps.
Every summer, I go through this phase of wanting to wear high-heeled sandals of some kind, and then I practically kill my feet by putting them up to the challenge at least twice a week. I think, "Oh, I'll get used to it. I mean, look at all those other women who walk around in high heels every day. If they can do it, so can I." Problem is that my feet never do get used to it, and I end up wearing more bandaids that I can count on each foot, and I probably spend more on boxes of bandaids than I did on the sandals themselves.
Then, this January, after coming back from our winter vacation, we went shoe shopping for Suk. But, I found these terrific (low) high heels on sale and I tried all of them on before I finally settled on a pair I liked. I had never owned ultra-pointy high heels before, and I thought this would be a good opportunity to really style it up this winter.
I have only worn them three times, counting today. Each time, I have done the unthinkable - what Christine really hates - I wore them with jeans. Oh, the horrors!
So, today, since Suk and I were going on a date, I wore them because he really likes them. Typical, right? He thinks the clickety-click sound is sexy. I had to walk to the train station because my bike is still parked at work, but I walked evenly and slowly, and I actually made it without too much pain.
I had to run up the escalator to catch the train. Then, stand on train. Okay, still doing fine down there.
I met Suk at the station of our hangout and we walked over the our favorite curry restaurant. Walking a bit slower, but still managing.
We ate buffet-style lunch. Avoiding having to get up and walk anywhere. Asking Suk to get stuff for me sometimes.
Walked back to our favorite coffee shop and sat outside on the benches for a while. Sitting down so everything is a-okay.
We went to a furniture store nearby to (ONCE AGAIN) check out their bookshelves. Ow...pain...sit down on this here nice sofa...yep, just trying it out...okay, how about this one...no, I like this sofa better...good feeling...ow...ow...pain in foot.
Walking back to our coffee shop, I was going much slower, sort of dragging one foot behind me. I said, "Gee, I don't really want to go home yet. Can we stop and have some coffee first?"
"Your feet hurt, don't they?"
Damn, how did he notice?
We sat at the coffee shop for over an hour. My feet resting on the top of my shoes. It started to rain outside, so it gave us the excuse to stay longer.
But, then, Suk's mom called. Where the heck are you? I'm waiting for my bird!
So, back to reality, we have to go back to our station, trek over to the pet store by bus, get the damn bird, and somehow take it to his mom's house. It's at times like these when I really wish we had a car...or that I wasn't wearing high heels.
We go to the station, wait for the train, go back to our station, catch a bus to the pet store, which is quite a long walk from the bus stop, mind you, and by this time it is PAINFULLY obvious that I will not make it the rest of the evening if I have to walk anywhere.
At the pet store, we take a look at the bird, Suk pays for it, I sit on a bench and watch the caged dogs for a while, Suk calls his mom and they decide to go get the bird themselves the next day. No more worries about the bird, but Suk is depressed because he really wanted to take it to his mom himself. Damn shoes!!
After that, we walk across the street to the little shopping mall and buy some food for dinner. I can barely make it around the store. All I can think about is how bloody my feet must look by now. Meanwhile, Suk, who has somehow developed MY fear of public toilets, can only think about how badly he has to use the toilet. Both of us are crabby, but trying not to blame each other for it. (That is truly a positive sign that things are improving in our marriage!)
Then, we begin the long walk home (okay, about 10 minutes if you are wearing tennis shoes), but to me, it seems like a lifetime. Halfway there, I begin walking on my tippy toes, kind of like Barbie. If it was a hot, summer day, I would have just carried my shoes and walked barefoot. This was going too slow, and Suk, who still needed to use the toilet, said, "You are never ever going to wear these shoes again." Clickety-click sound isn't so sexy anymore, is it, my dear?
I kindly offered that he go on ahead, but he stuck with me...and he didn't yell at me or cuss me out. (Another good sign!) About 2/3 of the way home, he took off his left tennis shoe and offered it to me. Then, he put my left high heel on (I am sure that his foot barely fit inside it), and we walked on like that for about 5 minutes. This time he was walking a little slower than me, but oh god, MY left foot felt instant relief.
Then, he couldn't stand it anymore, and he offered to trade so that he could wear my right high heel and I could wear his right tennis shoe. Since we were very nearly home by that time, I gave him his shoe back and wore by high heel from hell back to our apartment.
So, the question is...will I ever wear those bloody-stump-makers again? Probably, but I will be sure to pack lots of bandaids and maybe an extra pair of tennis shoes in my bag.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Another Classic Move by Said Husband
This is our last weekend to pack before the big move. Next weekend, on Saturday, we will go and pick up the key. Then, we'll have to day to finish packing. On Sunday, the movers will come early and pick up the stuff, so we can either go over the new place and help them, or we can stay here and finish the cleaning.
SIL (sister-in-law) and Sensei (her new husband) will be here to help out. They are planning to come over from Tokyo the day before and spend the night at Suk's mom's house, so that they can come over early the next morning. So, Suk had this bright idea to go over to his Mom's house to eat dinner with everyone on Saturday night.
What!?
He has used every excuse in the book to get out of helping me pack and clean. Last weekend, he just had to go over to his Mom's and have a "meeting" with her about two pieces of furniture we are giving her. These "meetings" seem to be a tradition in his family as they always have to meetings about everything...including things that really have nothing to do with anyone except me and Suk. I didn't go that time. I stayed home and packed some more boxes.
And, as you can guess, since a little argument about this Saturday-night-before-we-move dinner at his mom's house ensued, Suk claimed that he would be spending all of tomorrow alone outside, so there goes another day of potential assistance he could have given me.
Now, I know what some of you might be thinking. We would probably get in fight over how he packs boxes or god for bid, how he labels them, but it's just the principle of the thing.
SIL (sister-in-law) and Sensei (her new husband) will be here to help out. They are planning to come over from Tokyo the day before and spend the night at Suk's mom's house, so that they can come over early the next morning. So, Suk had this bright idea to go over to his Mom's house to eat dinner with everyone on Saturday night.
What!?
He has used every excuse in the book to get out of helping me pack and clean. Last weekend, he just had to go over to his Mom's and have a "meeting" with her about two pieces of furniture we are giving her. These "meetings" seem to be a tradition in his family as they always have to meetings about everything...including things that really have nothing to do with anyone except me and Suk. I didn't go that time. I stayed home and packed some more boxes.
And, as you can guess, since a little argument about this Saturday-night-before-we-move dinner at his mom's house ensued, Suk claimed that he would be spending all of tomorrow alone outside, so there goes another day of potential assistance he could have given me.
Now, I know what some of you might be thinking. We would probably get in fight over how he packs boxes or god for bid, how he labels them, but it's just the principle of the thing.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Eyes Aglaze
I realize that I may have invented the word "aglaze," but it refers to being forced to listen to someone drone on and on about something you care nothing about.
What is wrong with me? Am I abnormal for not being at all interested in topics like the latest on computer technology and laws, or the political relationship between Taiwan & China or the differences between Chinese kanji, Korean kanji and Japanese kanji. Look, people, I could not care less.
What if I give you a spontaneous lecture on the ins and outs of scrapbooking designs and techniques or the latest celebrity gossip? Okay, I admit it. I am not that smart, at least when it comes to the topics mentioned above, but I would blow your ass out of the water if the topic of scrapbooking or celeb gossip ever came up.
Is it because I am getting older and therefore less interested in what others have to say? Or, have I always been this way? And, on a non-related note, how can I politely let someone know that I am utterly and totally uninterested, now and forever, in what they are talking about?
What is wrong with me? Am I abnormal for not being at all interested in topics like the latest on computer technology and laws, or the political relationship between Taiwan & China or the differences between Chinese kanji, Korean kanji and Japanese kanji. Look, people, I could not care less.
What if I give you a spontaneous lecture on the ins and outs of scrapbooking designs and techniques or the latest celebrity gossip? Okay, I admit it. I am not that smart, at least when it comes to the topics mentioned above, but I would blow your ass out of the water if the topic of scrapbooking or celeb gossip ever came up.
Is it because I am getting older and therefore less interested in what others have to say? Or, have I always been this way? And, on a non-related note, how can I politely let someone know that I am utterly and totally uninterested, now and forever, in what they are talking about?
Friday, March 10, 2006
A Human Dock
This morning, I went in for my annual health check. Up until now, I have always gone to a hospital and just gotten an X-ray to check for tuberculosis. However, this year, perhaps because I am turning 30 or because my 3-year teaching license is being renewed, I was told to do the health check at the city public health office.
It started out fairly pleasantly. Everyone was super kind and smiley. I had to change into a pair of short pants and a Japanese-style shirt that ties in the front.
Urinanalysis
This could have been uneventful, but it wasn't. Someone had left a huge, stinky present in one of the Japanese-style toilets, and it caused the entire bathroom to reak. I thought I was going to throw up. Obviously that person has problems, and this is precisely why I feel extremely uneasy about using public toilets, especially those that look as if they might not flush.
X-Ray
After that, I felt like I would throw up, but I hoped the feeling would fade. The x-ray technician said hello to me when it was my turn, and I said "Onegai shimasu." This means, "Please" in Japanese, and it is a very commonly used phrase. He responded by saying, "Oh, you can speak Japanese so well." I said, "I only said one word." He said, "Oh, well...whatever."
Blood
They drew three viles of blood, and I asked the woman what my blood type is. My husband and his family have been asking me for years, but I have NO idea what it is. I don't really want to know because I would rather not be categorized like that. Plus, the topic of blood-type comes up in family-dinner conversation at least ONCE each time. They are so proud of the fact that they all have B-type blood. I know one thing though. I do NOT have B-type blood. I am nothing like them. Anyway, the woman said I would find out later today, but I didn't. I guess I have to wait until the results of all the tests get sent to my school.
Eyes
I had to do the eye test, and she said I have 1.5. Whatever that means. She said it was good. Eye tests here are pretty cool because you have to look at a circle with an opening and tell them whether the opening is on the top, right, bottom or left of the circle. Anyone can do it even if they are illiterate or dyslexic.
Ears
I had to go into a sound booth and put on headphones. Then, I had to listen for the beeps and press a button every time I heard them. Way better than hearing tests I had growing up. I have bad hearing, so I always failed those tests and had to go and have additional tests done. Luckily, I passed this one.
Weight/Height
They checked my weight/height and blood pressure here.
Lung Capacity
Here, you take a breathing test, and you have to breathe into a tube. They measure how much air you can take into your lungs.
Heart
I had to walk up and down this little set of stairs. Each step has a light and when the light goes on, you should be stepping on that step. The lights speed up and slow down, and you have to do for what seems like 10 minutes, but is probably only 2 or 3 minutes. Then, they check your heart by putting these electric nodes on your chest, arms and ankles. It is intense.
After that, the cardiologist talked to me and told me it looked fine, but that I am a little overweight. Actually, what he said was, "Taijuu wa ne...chotto." Well, maybe I am just having a fat day.
I was pretty exhausted by this point, but I still had a couple more checks to do.
Heart Rate
I had to ride a stationary bike for about 8 minutes while wearing a blood pressure cuff and a bunch of electric nodes on my torso. They make you ride until your heart goes up to 160, no matter how long it takes. I was sweating like a horse by time I was finished.
Various (Weird) Checks
I had to wait around for quite a while after that. Finally they called me and two other people in to do the last test. This is a series of 6 tests, including the following:
Strength test
Jumping test
Flexibility test
Balance test
Reflex test
Movement test
I have no idea what to call that last one. I had to run side to side on a mat, and she would count every time my foot went past a black line on either side.
I have really bad knees, plus I am slightly overweight (at least compared to Japanese people), so these tests were not easy for me. I suppose I should eat less and exercise more. I should not sit in front of a computer or my scrapbooking desk so much every day. And, I should eat a little less chocolate.
This last series of tests really did a number on my body. I felt like CRAP for the rest of the day, and I still have a sideache. I haven't had a sideache since gym class in high school when they forced us to run laps. I think I really did hurt myself somehow.
It started out fairly pleasantly. Everyone was super kind and smiley. I had to change into a pair of short pants and a Japanese-style shirt that ties in the front.
Urinanalysis
This could have been uneventful, but it wasn't. Someone had left a huge, stinky present in one of the Japanese-style toilets, and it caused the entire bathroom to reak. I thought I was going to throw up. Obviously that person has problems, and this is precisely why I feel extremely uneasy about using public toilets, especially those that look as if they might not flush.
X-Ray
After that, I felt like I would throw up, but I hoped the feeling would fade. The x-ray technician said hello to me when it was my turn, and I said "Onegai shimasu." This means, "Please" in Japanese, and it is a very commonly used phrase. He responded by saying, "Oh, you can speak Japanese so well." I said, "I only said one word." He said, "Oh, well...whatever."
Blood
They drew three viles of blood, and I asked the woman what my blood type is. My husband and his family have been asking me for years, but I have NO idea what it is. I don't really want to know because I would rather not be categorized like that. Plus, the topic of blood-type comes up in family-dinner conversation at least ONCE each time. They are so proud of the fact that they all have B-type blood. I know one thing though. I do NOT have B-type blood. I am nothing like them. Anyway, the woman said I would find out later today, but I didn't. I guess I have to wait until the results of all the tests get sent to my school.
Eyes
I had to do the eye test, and she said I have 1.5. Whatever that means. She said it was good. Eye tests here are pretty cool because you have to look at a circle with an opening and tell them whether the opening is on the top, right, bottom or left of the circle. Anyone can do it even if they are illiterate or dyslexic.
Ears
I had to go into a sound booth and put on headphones. Then, I had to listen for the beeps and press a button every time I heard them. Way better than hearing tests I had growing up. I have bad hearing, so I always failed those tests and had to go and have additional tests done. Luckily, I passed this one.
Weight/Height
They checked my weight/height and blood pressure here.
Lung Capacity
Here, you take a breathing test, and you have to breathe into a tube. They measure how much air you can take into your lungs.
Heart
I had to walk up and down this little set of stairs. Each step has a light and when the light goes on, you should be stepping on that step. The lights speed up and slow down, and you have to do for what seems like 10 minutes, but is probably only 2 or 3 minutes. Then, they check your heart by putting these electric nodes on your chest, arms and ankles. It is intense.
After that, the cardiologist talked to me and told me it looked fine, but that I am a little overweight. Actually, what he said was, "Taijuu wa ne...chotto." Well, maybe I am just having a fat day.
I was pretty exhausted by this point, but I still had a couple more checks to do.
Heart Rate
I had to ride a stationary bike for about 8 minutes while wearing a blood pressure cuff and a bunch of electric nodes on my torso. They make you ride until your heart goes up to 160, no matter how long it takes. I was sweating like a horse by time I was finished.
Various (Weird) Checks
I had to wait around for quite a while after that. Finally they called me and two other people in to do the last test. This is a series of 6 tests, including the following:
Strength test
Jumping test
Flexibility test
Balance test
Reflex test
Movement test
I have no idea what to call that last one. I had to run side to side on a mat, and she would count every time my foot went past a black line on either side.
I have really bad knees, plus I am slightly overweight (at least compared to Japanese people), so these tests were not easy for me. I suppose I should eat less and exercise more. I should not sit in front of a computer or my scrapbooking desk so much every day. And, I should eat a little less chocolate.
This last series of tests really did a number on my body. I felt like CRAP for the rest of the day, and I still have a sideache. I haven't had a sideache since gym class in high school when they forced us to run laps. I think I really did hurt myself somehow.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Staaaaa-baaaaaa
Recognize that word?
That's how we refer to "Starbucks" in Japanese.
It is my second favorite coffee shop, and I often go there because it is every where you look. Last summer, my friend gave me a Starbucks card for my birthday, and after the initial 1500 yen ran out, I have been adding money to it so I can keep using it.
One problem though. I never add more than 1000 yen at a time, so the next time I go to Starbucks and order my obigatory cafe mocha short size and chocolate chunk cookie, I have to pay the difference because 1000 yen just doesn't cover two visits to Starbucks. I always end up putting more money on the card just to cover my order.
And this happens repeatedly. They probably think of me as the "stingy card-carrying foreign woman."
So, yesterday, I was in Omotesando and I needed to eat something for dinner, so I went to STA-BA- and ordered the same thing I always get...to go. They put the cup in a bag with one of those green stoppers on it to prevent leakage.
It was pouring really hard outside, and I had no umbrella, plus I was in a huge hurry. So I took the cookie out and ate it while running down the street to my destination.
I think the running is what caused the green stopper to pop out of the coffee lid. Oh wait...I'm rushing through this story.
I arrived at my destination with my hair, coat and purse soaking wet. I am still holding the bag of coffee. I'm standing there waiting for my appointment and hoping that I can get a seat on the couch as soon as those ex-pats leave. Finally, they leave and I sit down on the couch. I realize that I need to fill out a form, so I set my coffee bag on the couch next to me. I still have not taken a sip because I've been too frazzled until this point. I grab a clipboard and dig for a pen to fill out the form.
While I am filling it out, I think, "Oh, I should down the coffee while I still have a few minutes."
I reach into the bag and pull out the cup. The bottom is soaked in coffee and the little green stopper has popped out and is just hanging there. I take one sip when it occurs to me that the coffee MAY HAVE leaked.
I look inside the bag and sure enough, the bottom of the bag is completely soaked. I lift the bag and see that the couch now has a large wet spot on it. Not just a wet spot, but a brownish wet spot.
My solution to the problem is to take the coffee and the bag into the bathroom. I dump the coffee into the sink and throw everything away. I go back out to the waiting room and see that there are coffee puddles over the floor. I go back into the bathroom to get toilet paper so I can wipe it up when I notice there are coffee puddles all over the bathroom floor as well as the counter.
I look down at my light khaki pants and see they are coffee stained, but LUCKILY (and this is the only bright spot in the story), the stain is at the cuff and you can always attribute that to mud.
Didn't I order the short size? Should I tell them that I just stained their couch? Would I be considered a liar if I just don't mention and hope that no one notices?
That's how we refer to "Starbucks" in Japanese.
It is my second favorite coffee shop, and I often go there because it is every where you look. Last summer, my friend gave me a Starbucks card for my birthday, and after the initial 1500 yen ran out, I have been adding money to it so I can keep using it.
One problem though. I never add more than 1000 yen at a time, so the next time I go to Starbucks and order my obigatory cafe mocha short size and chocolate chunk cookie, I have to pay the difference because 1000 yen just doesn't cover two visits to Starbucks. I always end up putting more money on the card just to cover my order.
And this happens repeatedly. They probably think of me as the "stingy card-carrying foreign woman."
So, yesterday, I was in Omotesando and I needed to eat something for dinner, so I went to STA-BA- and ordered the same thing I always get...to go. They put the cup in a bag with one of those green stoppers on it to prevent leakage.
It was pouring really hard outside, and I had no umbrella, plus I was in a huge hurry. So I took the cookie out and ate it while running down the street to my destination.
I think the running is what caused the green stopper to pop out of the coffee lid. Oh wait...I'm rushing through this story.
I arrived at my destination with my hair, coat and purse soaking wet. I am still holding the bag of coffee. I'm standing there waiting for my appointment and hoping that I can get a seat on the couch as soon as those ex-pats leave. Finally, they leave and I sit down on the couch. I realize that I need to fill out a form, so I set my coffee bag on the couch next to me. I still have not taken a sip because I've been too frazzled until this point. I grab a clipboard and dig for a pen to fill out the form.
While I am filling it out, I think, "Oh, I should down the coffee while I still have a few minutes."
I reach into the bag and pull out the cup. The bottom is soaked in coffee and the little green stopper has popped out and is just hanging there. I take one sip when it occurs to me that the coffee MAY HAVE leaked.
I look inside the bag and sure enough, the bottom of the bag is completely soaked. I lift the bag and see that the couch now has a large wet spot on it. Not just a wet spot, but a brownish wet spot.
My solution to the problem is to take the coffee and the bag into the bathroom. I dump the coffee into the sink and throw everything away. I go back out to the waiting room and see that there are coffee puddles over the floor. I go back into the bathroom to get toilet paper so I can wipe it up when I notice there are coffee puddles all over the bathroom floor as well as the counter.
I look down at my light khaki pants and see they are coffee stained, but LUCKILY (and this is the only bright spot in the story), the stain is at the cuff and you can always attribute that to mud.
Didn't I order the short size? Should I tell them that I just stained their couch? Would I be considered a liar if I just don't mention and hope that no one notices?
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