So, first I went to the bank. I've been dreading visiting alone (I haven't been back since I got here). They were closed but the atms were open so I did a balance inquiry - luckily they have an English option. So I found out I'm in much better shape than I thought! Bills are supposed to come out on the 25th ... and that's today, so I'm not sure if those have processed yet as today was Saturday, but in any case, I was doing better than I thought and that was a HUGE relief. (I've had one paycheck but it was for an hourly rate of a week of training. At the end of this month I will be paid half of my salary as I started on the 15th of April. So it won't be until the end of June that I get a full paycheck! So I've been worried, but I was ok! mmm)
After that as I was walking back to my bike I stopped at a shop I passed WEEKS ago that had t-shirts for cheap. I got one for myself and when I went inside I saw they had belts (and I NEED one of those) so I grabbed one and YATTA! I have one more t-shirt and a belt! I also got myself a facepalm and frustration with the school. The shirt that I got is a men's L. The freakin school had me order a 4L shirt for myself! That better be a women's size as if I wear an "L" and am getting a "4L" ... AAARRRGGHHH! That will be WAY too big! However at the same time I will be able to comment to them, "This is WAY too big for me!" and perhaps have the satisfaction of their embarrassment of their assumption at my huge American size. *rolls eyes*
Then I went to run the other errand I've been putting off. However, I have to back up to last night. Last night as I was getting ready for bed, well I was ready and had taken out my contacts and was JUST about to turn out the light, my doorbell sounds. Uhhh.. (lol I had to put on pants!) I answered the door and there was Bruce! I couldn't see him very well as I had taken out my contacts. He asked what I was doing, if I had plans for the weekend and was like, "Oh were you just going to bed?" I felt badly. I was so tired though. We chatted for a bit and when he asked if I had plans for the weekend I told him I was running errands I had put off for forever. He asked what they were and I told him. One of those errands is a haircut (well a trim). He referred me to a hairstylist who speaks English and is only 2 blocks from me. YAY!
So, back to today, I rode my bike down there. They were booked for today, but (MMM!) the girl did indeed speak English and I was able to get an appointment. I was worried at first as the price sheet out front showed a haircut for women was ¥4200! (over $42) However as I only want a trim it will be ¥2000. It's about the amount I expected so that made me feel better. So this coming Friday evening I will get my hair trimmed. I would have planned it for Saturday but I may have training. Did I tell you that? Yesterday at that long meeting at the office Bryan told me that the training on June 1st would be on lesson planning. He said, "Do you want to come?" I said, "To be honest, no. I don't feel like lesson planning is a weakness of mine. However if you would like me to go, I will. Just remember my compensatory day-off! (As I have not yet received one for the other training I attended earlier this month.)" So I'm not sure if I will be asked to go or not. We lesson planned as a group last time and it was a NIGHTMARE. Our "facilitator" and the two guys in our group got in a testosterone match. *rolls eyes* They all were sure THEY had the best idea and got in a fight about it. Limor, Tom, and I kept trying to just settle on one idea. I mean... this was a FICTIONAL plan. So RIDICULOUS to fight about it, well IMO. So I REALLY would not look forward to doing that again. I think the office people really like me though. I mean, Bryan invited me to that training (he made it sound like he wanted me to come though he admitted he thought I was right and that my lesson plans are really good) and Tsukasa told me I could stop by the office any time and to please come in sometimes. Aww :) I like them too! But sometimes it feels like I'm prolonging work when I go visit! *laughs*
In any case, what I told Bryan was, "Let's do this: since you're observing me this week (he's coming on Tuesday), you'll be able to see me in action. If you feel like I need the training, I will be happy to come. If not, I will run my errands and have my Saturday." He agreed that was a good idea. Then it occurred to me that on Tuesday I will be teaching lessons that are essentially all student taught. That is, they are going to teach me about Japan so there won't be a lot of speaking from me. :/ *shrug* Oh well! I still am going to plan what I do for my warm-up and so on though. And I need to apologize to that one class for making the worksheet too hard. Anyway...
Then after I got home I realized I hadn't run all my errands. That was very stressful for me. I was back to the safety of my apartment and I needed to go back out. Luckily it was overcast today but man it was MUGGY. In any case, I kept telling myself, "You can do this!" And got on my bike and off I went into the center of town. On the way my mp3 player (whose screen is broken so I can't control what song plays when anymore) played me "I'm Trying to be Like Jesus" by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. By the time I got to Aiina I was feeling so peaceful. And then I found out Aiina was closed. DOH! I mean, the peace was still there but I was sad as I had wanted to get new books. :/ I checked a bookstore on the way home, but it had slightly questionable tastes in English books. There were maybe 50 in total and they were all books in which I had no interest (50 Shades of Grey has three books, did you know? They had all three there! Yuck). Well, there were a couple in which I had interest but without getting a recommendation from anyone, I didn't want to chance it (especially since the books I recognized were ones that I have heard are filled with gratuitous sex and violence).
So I pedaled back home. When I got home I was pretty icky (sweaty). I cleaned my apartment and then took a shower. Somewhere over the rainbow!! I had a really great afternoon. Once it was dark I ventured back outside and went to get groceries. I got some really great stuff. Getting my emotional equilibrium back helped me to grab some new things at the grocery store. I grabbed some packages of... well I don't know what they are but I'm going to try them! :) I also got a Kiwi "ice." -- A slushie bar. I was going to say fruit bar, but it's more of a slushie type thing. It had been hot today and the thought of a cold fruit bar was enough to sell me. And it was cheap too! I wanted strawberry but they had only 4 flavors. One was Cola, no thanks. I got one Kiwi and one Grapefruit. I didn't even check the other flavor as the wrapper wasn't red so it wouldn't be strawberry.
Then I pedaled my bike home. Now I have a food storage of 4 big bottles of water, a can of diced tomatoes, 3 cans of tuna, a bag of "spice" peanuts, a bag of regular peanuts, and a bag of my favorite peanut crackers. I add a bottle of water and another canned or packaged good every time I go grocery shopping. Today I thought to myself, "how much is enough?" I supposed I'll keep adding until it gets close to my departure and then I will eat that food. Although I'm going to start running out of room for the bottles of water... hmmm. In any case, I'm happy to have them and to feel I am obeying the prophet AND listening to my employer. Disasters have been fairly frequent here in Japan so they told us to prepare just in case. I am so grateful to be a member of the church. It just reminds me of all the prophetic counsel and guidance I receive each Conference. I am so blessed. I also have such wonderful friends and family! I miss everyone terribly, but I am so blessed with technology and means to keep in contact with them. :)
For dinner I went very casual. I had edamame, and that kiwi bar. I wasn't that hungry. *shrug* I had a lot of water though. I've had a couple migraines the past couple days and they're tied to allergies, lack of sleep, or dehydration. So I'm trying to do my best on all fronts! I took some pain killers today and then sat down to connect with you. :) I don't have any funny moments from today, sorry. However, please celebrate this "win" day with me as I did some very stressful things and this weekend I have been in and will contact the people I love most in my life. :D Have a wonderful weekend! XOXO, A
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| this statue is near Aiina :) I put it on fb and dedicated it to fellow lovers of Ghibli - I do so here as well :D |
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