R.I.P. Terrible Week (2/15-2/22)

I've been holding off on this update for two reasons 1. I haven't had internet access in over a week, and 2. I wanted time to put all things in perspective (the bad stuff doesn't seem so bad once it's over). Let's fill you in on all the little things that made it one disastrous week!

Alright, ignoring my Starbucks phone blog, the last thing I updated you all on was my visits to the bamboo fight and snow huts, yeah? Well, I think I mentioned somewhere in there that I was sick and that standing out in the snow was probably not a smart idea.

It wasn't. I got sicker. I mean, nothing major, just a really bad cold that lasted a good 10 days or so. But it was bad timing, like everything that week. You see, according to the Culture Shock Depression Graph (which is probably not called that), about halfway through your international stay you face a major downward spiral of homesickness, and last week, almost exactly six months, was definitely a homesick one. But see with the bad timing that makes it a terrible week, I was sick, too, and nothing makes you miss home more than being alone and sick.

Not to mention, it was cold and snowy, and I didn't think I could take another day of it (but I did)! Physically I was a mess - sick, cold, tired, kind of hungry (because I wasn't feel well enough to shop or cook) - and emotionally I was worse. The teachers at school and my English conversation students were all concerned - telling me I didn't look well, asking if I wanted to lie down, did I have a fever, etc. And then unpleasant things started to happen.

For one, while I was deliriously teaching the conversation class, my internet died. I came home from class and could no longer get online! Being sick and tired, I didn't even bother dealing with it and just went to bed. The next day I still couldn't connect so I decided to try buying a new LAN cable and see if that fixed the problem (it didn't). I figured it must be a problem with the modem, so the next day (Thursday) I asked my supervisor if she could help me call Yahoo!BB (my internet provider). She was busy and said she'd help me the next day, but I got the info to call on my own and fully intended to call after work. Unfortunately, the cold got the better of me and I fell asleep at 5pm. So finally on Friday, we go to my house, my supervisor calls Yahoo, everything's going fine, they decide it's a problem with the modem and they'll send me a new one, problem solved in less than a week. Then my supervisor asks them if they can change the name on the account (it's still in my predecessor's name even though I pay the bills every month). Well, YahooBB is very by the book and once they figured out the situation (i.e. my predecessor no longer lives in Japan), they said we'll have to cancel the service and reactivate in my name - which could take three weeks. GREAT!! (sarcastic) But there's nothing to be done so we cancel and decide to meet the next day to reactivate it, which we did. Keep in mind the internet is my lifeline, not just my entertainment. It's how I stay connected to the US both personally (e-mail, phone calls via Skype, etc.) and in general (reading the news, watching The Daily Show, etc.), so without it I feel really cutoff. [For the not-so-exciting conclusion to my computer problems, please scroll down. For now I will continue with Terrible Week.]

So now I'm sick, sad, and truly isolated, when I get more bad news. Oh, this little bit's also going to reveal a decision I committed to almost a month ago but hadn't announced to you all yet - I'm not recontracting, which means I'll be returning to America in August (more on that later). Other quick background info: My town is poor. It's made up of three smaller towns that merged in 2006 as a way to pool their funds - as a result, they went from having three JETs to two (me and a guy named Stephen). Well, on Thursday, my supervisor (she's the nice lady who helps me with EVERYTHING and goes with me when I visit elementary schools) tells me that when I go home in August, the town (mayor/town elders?) decided not to get a replacement. Which means the area once covered by three JETs (now by two) will now fall to just one (Stephen) - i.e. the students will see waaaaay less of their foreign English teacher. So I feel really, really bad about that (believe it or not, the students actually like having us come to class - it makes English seem worthwhile), but to top it off, my supervisor continues to tell me that as a result of all this, she's getting fired in April. Her job is to support the JETs, and seeing as I'm leaving and Stephen has been here for 4 years and speaks Japanese (i.e. doesn't need support) they decided to reallocate her salary elsewhere. So by leaving, I'm not only disappointing hundreds of students and teachers, but I'm also getting my supervisor (and friend) fired!! Looking at it rationally, I realize that it doesn't have so much to do with me, as it would have happened eventually (i.e. next year) because the town really doesn't have the money, and to be honest, JETs are expensive. But it still feels like it's my fault and last week I felt sure the whole community was going to be mad at me when they found out (they probably won't know for another month or two), not to mention my poor supervisor is totally sad about losing this job (but being very careful to never make me feel like it's my fault because she's sweet like that).

By Friday, I was barely holding it together. I was sure I'd hit the bottom, and almost happy to think it could only get better. But then it got worse. I turned on my heater Friday evening, only to have it read "Error". I couldn't figure out what was wrong until I realized I must have run out of kerosene. I should have thought to check the tank gauge outside earlier in the week, but with the sickness and everything else, it didn't even occur to me. So no gas = no heat = no hot water = no shower. NOW I was at the bottom of the bottom.

...and that's was turning point. I was either going to start sobbing or laughing hysterically. I started laughing. It really couldn't get worse - sick, sad, isolated, disappointing and cold! I just sat there staring at my heater blink "error", shaking my head, and laughing. If you had seen me, you might have thought I lost my marbles! But no, it was just a sign that my attitude was changing. Finally, I arranged to have more kerosene delivered the next morning, set up my tiny electric heater in my bedroom, and decided to go out to dinner.

I called up Christy and Paula and we went out for really great Indian food in the city. I spent the rest of the weekend relaxing and recuperating. And that was the end of Terrible Week.

To make up for it (and because I'm bored out of my mind with no internet), I've been really good to myself this week. I went to Starbucks twice (Sunday and Monday), I reread "The Little Prince", I rewatched season seven of Gilmore Girls, I rented and watched three Audrey Hebrun movies ("Sabrina", "Funny Face", and "Paris When it Sizzles"), I wrote my personal statement for grad school apps, I wrote an essay in Japanese for my correspondence course, I read one and a half novels, and I cooked a healthy, tasty dinner every night. Things are definitely looking up and working out.

That is, except for the computer situation.
[Not-so-exciting conclusion:]
I brought my computer to school on Monday (a school where I have internet access, unlike last week's), but when I plugged in the ethernet, I had no connection! That's when I realized my mysterious internet problems at home were not, in fact, internet problems, but rather a problem with my computer! I called Apple's (in Japan) English support line, told them what was going on and they decided it must be a hardware problem so they would need to take it in to be fixed. And whether it's because of Apple's great customer service or the fact that I'm in Japan, I was told someone would come to my house to pick up the computer on Wednesday (at a time of my choosing). Which all went well - except the repairman couldn't find my house (I don't blame him, my street's not on most maps), so he called me saying he was at the convenience store down the street, and after some failed attempts of me giving directions and him going "huh? I don't understand", I just met him there and he followed me back to my house (he needed to know where it was so he can drop it off again when it's fixed). Anyway, I don't exactly know when it will be fixed (I'm hoping a week?), but I have to wait for my new modem to come anyway, so in the meantime I've rented lots of movies and started a new book! Oh, and this weekend Christy most generously lent me her house/internet/computer while she's away, so I'm able to write this blog (and get work done tomorrow).


Okay, sorry that was so long, but I wanted to fill you in on what's been going on around here! Be well!

Starbucks

This is my first time blogging from my phone so we'll see how it goes!

I'm at the mall right now because I have no internet at home (I'll write about that another time.), so I decided to come here to watch a movie. While I wait for the movie, I'm hanging out in Starbucks, which is what prompted this blog.

Since moving to Japan, I've become hooked on Starbucks! Now that may not sound so unusual, since there are probably millions of people around the world who could make that statement, but you have to take into account that I don't like the taste of coffee and I can't drink anything with caffeine, then an addiction to Starbucks might start sounding a little strange. I'm actually at a loss for what to order when I go there. I used to love the chai lattes, but too many caffeine-induced nightmares have unfortunately nixed those. I do like hot chocolate, so sometimes I order that, but Starbucks' hot chocolate is powdery and awful world-wide, and therefore not so enjoyable. Basically, as far as drinks go, my best bet is water. Sad!

So why am I addicted? Or to what? It's the atmosphere, the experience. When I was at Berkeley, there was a FABULOUS cafe right below my apartment (www.villagegrounds.com) and a bazillion other local cafes so I pretty much never went to Starbucks. In Chico, I went occasionally with friends or my parents. Now, I usually go once a week (on Mondays) even though it's an hour away. Why? Because there's something comforting about it. About how the decor and music and cups are the same no matter where you are in the world. About how the people who work there are always friendly and cheerful in their green aprons. About the food and desserts that always taste fresh and strangely American. I don't know... I just love going. For the hour or two I sit there with bad hot chocolate and a tasty cookie in one of those typical "comfy chairs" (that aren't very comfy) I feel normal. Like I'm not in a foreign country thousands of miles from home, but rather right down the street.

Sometimes living here can be overwhelming in a number of ways, but with a little time reading in a Starbucks, I feel refreshed and ready to start tackling the world again. I think it's a good thing. It keeps me sane (as long as I avoid caffeine! lol).

Anyway, just thought I'd share my thoughts! Time for the movie. I'm going to see that one with Natalie Portman and a magical toy store - except it's dubbed in Japanese so that ought to be interesting! :)

Bye for now!

More info on the bamboo fight...

My JET colleague David just wrote a long post on his blog about the festival, including this description:

"My town, Rokugo, holds a festival on the 15th of February every year which involves the North and South side of the town having a square go with 20 foot long bamboo sticks. The concept is simple, as well as being scientifically proven I'm sure, if the North wins then there will be a good harvest for the year to come and if the South wins then the price of rice will rise. There are 3 rounds and during the final round a huge bonfire is set a light. It is also worth mentioning that it has been suggested that this festival is the 6th most dangerous in the world."

in case you were wondering...
This is what poor David looked like after being whacked by bamboo, kicked in the head by four people, and having his face stepped on (on purpose) - 9 stitches.

It's very cold

and I have a cold. boooo.

I went to two winter festivals this weekend, the Takeuchi Festival (aka giant bamboo fight) in Rokugo, and the Kamakura Festival (a.k.a. snow huts!) in Yokote. Akita is renowned for their winter festivals, so I felt obligated to go check them out. They were neat and totally worth the effort, though I'm not so sure it was such a good idea to stand in the snow at night when I was already sick...

Anyway pictures here:

Takeuchi and Kamakura Festivals

And video of the bamboo fighting here:

Two things...

I forgot to say Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

Also, I've definitely been in Japan longer than six months now!

Sapporo Snow Festival

Hello! I'm back from Sapporo and I got the pictures up here:

Hokkai-DO!

I'm not going to really write a recap here, because I pretty much described the whole trip in the captions. So go look and read! :)

Happy February!

I thought I'd post a little update about my weekend. I went to a masquerade party at a club on Saturday night for a charity called Peas for Peace, so I made a cool carnivale-esque mask and had a good time dancing away with my JET friends. I spent the night at my friend's place close to the city (we got home at 3:30am) and then I got up at 7:30am to meet my Japanese friends for my first snowboarding adventure.

Anyone who knows me is aware of how incredibly uncoordinated and clumsy I am. So, you can imagine if I can walk along a flat road without tripping, strapping a board to my feet and sending me out in the snow could really only mean disaster.

But, I survived! My Japanese friends were really kind and helped me a lot. By the end of the day I could make it down the run only falling twice, and I didn't break any bones - I just have sore muscles and a bruised bottom! (Thanks to Bunny for the pre-boarding advice: "Fall on your butt, not your face.")

And in my utter exhaustion last night, I spent some time thinking...

who invented snowboarding?
I want to know who sat around thinking, "hey, what if we strap our feet to a board and launch ourselves down a steep and icy hill?!"

crazy, is what that is.

But, I participated in this cultural phenomenon nonetheless. It was more frustrating than fun, but a good experience, and I like how every muscle in my body is aching. I also noticed how it teaches a number of good life lessons.

For example:
-it's easier to go fast than to go slow, but the consequences are much more disastrous.
-falling down only stings for a quick minute, it's the getting up that takes enormous effort and strength.
-you can't just give up halfway down the slope.
-even when you try and fail over and over and over, because you have to get up, you will.
-eating Japanese curry and rice makes everything better.

I guess I'd go again. The outing as a whole was more fun and fascinating than the actual snowboarding part, even when I was doing it successfully. But I'm always up for a good work-out, playing in the snow, and fun friends. :)

Pictures coming soon (they wouldn't let me bring my camera because they thought I would fall and break it, so I'm waiting for Yoshiki to send me pictures)!