World Traveler: Crazy Day

insect count: 1 - but only a tiny flying bug, mmm

Today was a crazy day. I got to sleep in, thank goodness, as last night it took me a long time to fall asleep. I hadn't heard from Limor last night (she said she would let me know the plan) so I texted her a question mark. She then called me and said she was still planning on coming and that she had to shower and then drive and would see me in 3 hours. I thus got up and put on some clothes to go grocery shopping. It had been raining since 1300 yesterday so when it started to sprinkle, I jumped on the chance to be able to ride my bike to get my groceries. Oh man. Because I have to buy my bus cards out of pocket (I get reimbursed for them at the end of the following month.), I didn't have that much cash on me. (I had about $40.) I figured this would be enough. It wasn't. It was so embarrassing (humiliating even) to have to ask her to put things back. It gave me flashbacks to when I had to donate plasma to buy groceries when Jerod and I were struggling. I wanted to break down and cry at the store. The thing is, I have money in my bank account. Do they do debit cards here in this technologically advanced country? No. So having only my atm card that doesn't serve as a debit or credit card means that I can only use the cash I have on me. Really I had to put back the food my period wanted (some ice cream and bread), but it was the PUTTING BACK that was devastating. I wanted to bawl my eyes out. A woman who I had met a month or so ago at the grocery store (she approached me and we had a very short conversation) saw me. She asked me if I was well and I said I was. Apparently she didn't believe me (and well, she was right) because as soon as I was done at the counter she approached me and gave me flowers. It was very sweet of her. It helped me feel not as stressed and cornered. I thanked her and she ran off quickly before I could give her something from my grocery bags as a thank you. I'm going to make a small card and carry it with me for if I see her again.

When I got back to my apartment I cried a little bit as I put my groceries away but kept telling myself I was being ridiculous. "It's your period. You have plenty of money. Don't worry!" Besides, I had to shower and finish getting ready for Limor's arrival. (so glad I cleaned yesterday, mmm) So I showered, told my bff my woes, and read my scriptures (I do this every morning). That reminds me - I wanted to share something I learned a couple weeks ago. My brother who is serving a mission in Indiana wrote a letter in which he shared something he learned from the latter chapters (the war chapters) of Alma. It so happened that just then I too was in those chapters and had learned something valuable too. In reading Alma 57:25, it talks about the 2,060 stripling warriors. These were extremely valiant young men who obeyed with exactness (something I have always tried to emulate). It says in this verse that to Helaman's joy, all the men were alive, HOWEVER not one of them was without grievous wounds. That suddenly struck me. I have often wondered why my life has gone as it has. I have tried hard to make good decisions and a lot of bad things have happened to me as a result of other people's poor decisions. Then I was blessed with inspiration: these young men were so righteous and had so much faith yet they were in a war. They all survived (what a great blessing) BUT they all had been hurt. 100% of them. Despite their faith. Despite their exact obedience. So I learned that being good doesn't mean I'm immune to life. But it does afford me protection. And I have been protected. Of course, I wish it had been where most of the hurt has historically come (my heart), but the wounds are part of life. I've thought a lot about that lesson since and I will yet think on it.

After I was ready, I sat with my heating pad and fan and waited for Limor to show up. She eventually got here and we chatted for a while. (It's amazing to me with the 2 hour phone conversations 1-3 times a week that we had anything left to say to one another!) In any case, it was nice to chat with her and nice to be able to sit on my heating pad while doing it. Then we went out to find a place to eat a late lunch. Neither of us had eaten breakfast nor lunch. Oops. We ended up at a place a couple blocks from my apartment. We both got tonkatsu (she got hers plain and I asked for the curry). It was funny because we're both so inept with Japanese that ordering was an adventure. I asked about spicy options and the girl said the currys were my best bet. I asked which one, and I said something along the lines of "Which spicy?" lol - such advanced Japanese. She pointed one out and said two words that had prefixes I understood: big and small. For some reason my brain was thinking spicy. So I said big. Then I realized she meant the size of the dish and suddenly said, "No! Iie! Chiisai!" (small - and the smalls here are HUGE) then I added, "Ookii karai!" LOL Big spicy. -- Explaining what I had thought. All three of us laughed at me so thank goodness for that. Lunch was good and we talked all through that. Then Limor wanted to get coffee so we went to a coffee shop next door and spent another hour talking. I think we spent a total of 5 hours straight talking. By the end I was browsing reddit and showing her funny stuff. (I was just mentally and physically exhausted - but I had a WONDERFUL time with her - I'm so grateful she came up!) After that we went inside Nanak (a giant department store) and Limor was able to do some shopping and we did some more talking. After that, we walked back to my place and her (what I call) bunny-mobile. (Seriously. Her car is a Lapin and has bunny logos everywhere! LOL)

After she left (it was 20h00) I biked down to Aiina. I didn't feel like it because of cramps and it was muggy, but I love reading much more than I dislike the mugginess of Japan's Tsuyu (rainy season). I made it there just fine and talked to the guy about the letter I got in the mail today. They found a Japanese tutor for me who would like help with English and French. So we will be helping one another voluntarily. :) It was when I got that letter that I realized just what all those mysterious missed calls at work were. I was too chicken to call the number back as I was worried they would only speak Japanese. LOL I told him that but he was not amused. ? That's ok, I laughed. He also had gotten my email wrong so long story short I told him I had planned on emailing him back when I got home and we tentatively set up an initial meeting for the 15th. Unfortunately, I have to go down to Aiina for it (on the form I filled out I asked that the person be willing to meet by my apartment because of the weather - both the heat and everyone's been saying it's SO freezing in the winter so I was trying to be smart about it). I emailed him when I got home (oh and finally got to officially say my fast prayer ~ I said it in my heart after my late lunch and then got to kneel down and say it again :) ). Then I worked on a lesson for Monday - I hope it goes well! And now I'm going to print out my Monday worksheets. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! XOXO, A

Oh ya! I forgot a small story: at the beginning of last month, I was biking into town when some random guy on the street called out, "Hello!" to me as I passed him and his group of friends. I thought it was one of my students but my quick glance over my shoulder showed it wasn't. I called out hello back and didn't stop. Kinda weird, but funny. :)

Oh and one more quick story! On Thursday, as I was teaching with Oikawa-sensei, one of the girls said something to him in Japanese and pointed at me. He answered her in surprise and laughed and turned to me and said, "She said they expect you to play your guitar and sing for them." What the heck guys!? I sang for ONE class, THAT SAME DAY and the news was already out! Made me feel awesome though... and worried. LOL Because afternoon classes are cancelled next week for SEPs (they obviously call them something else here ~ and the classes are cancelled because their are no guidance counselors here so all the future plans discussions happen with the parents, teacher, and student), I won't be teaching them. However I promised another class I would bring my guitar in 2 weeks (as I thought I was teaching them the music lesson - found out I'm not but I keep my promises!), so I will bring it then. Yowsa!

my face last night when I couldn't sleep

forgot to mention! my jeans gave up the ghost today - hopefully Abbey and Tara are able to bring me some things from home (I've asked my mom to include a pair of jeans as I am now jeans-less)