basal temp: 36.65
Today was a bit rough for me. I've learned something about me: I really AM an introvert. I used to think I was naturally shy and that I just decided to change in high school and bam: outgoing. It's more like, I'm an introvert who learned how to step out of her shell. Mon-Thurs I work for ten hours and I'm surrounded by people. When I get home I just want to be left alone. I like to see people and I'm glad I have a part time job now but it's all very taxing for me. Usually I can recharge on the weekends but this weekend is jam-packed.
The day started with me waking up REALLY early. I only had 5 hours of sleep. :/ I then got up and since I was so exhausted I didn't get anything productive done. I just worried about how much time I was going to have to spend out of my apartment today. Around 10:10 I headed out to Zenrinkan. I told them I would help for two hours, and I did. I met and ran the nachos station with Gladys (from Colombia). We pretty much spoke Spanish the entire time. Now THAT was nice. She also asked me why I wasn't eating. I told I had not brought any money, and she kindly gave me $2 and I bought some really delicious Chinese food (a scoop of rice, a brown hard boiled egg, meat mixed with some spices including anise and some overcooked greens - well they were soggy). I thought that was very sweet of her. :) Also one lady did a Chinese tea ceremony presentation so I had some Chinese tea. Another lady did a Korean Okonomiyaki cooking demonstration. Gladys got some and was going to give me half and I asked for a quarter (I wasn't that hungry - hard to be when you've spent so many days puking up what you eat). It was REALLY good. And I was glad of that because I don't care for Japanese Okonomiyaki. Then two girls from the US put on a demonstration and marketed their homemade BBQ sauce. I guess I'm pretty picky. It tasted like glorified ketchup to me. I miss Bullseye. :/ MM Hickory smoke... Anyway, their veggie kebabs were ok. (They hadn't marinated the veggies and they really didn't cook them so it was like dipping raw veggies in BBQ sauce). Still, I'm glad I got an opportunity to speak Spanish. :) I actually left there with my Chinese food (I hadn't eaten it there - ate it after I'd been home for a little bit). When I got home, I waited for 15h50 to leave to go to the church.
Once again, I didn't get anything productive done. I was so tired and sad that I was going to have to see MORE people - not that I don't love the ward... I just need ME time - or at least family time. (When Jerod and I were married we spent each night in each others' company. Once or twice a month we would have people over and have a game night or movie night and at first I thought I wasn't giving Jerod enough social time but it turns out he felt the same way I did. It's not that we don't like other people, we just don't feel a burning need to be social butterflies. Besides, we ate Sunday dinner with my family every week so that fulfilled that need and it was great to be with my family.) As soon as the time rolled around, I headed out. I biked pretty hard to get there (I have NO IDEA why I biked so fast) and I was exhausted when I got to the church. I had already been exhausted because of lack of sleep and then I drained the rest of my energy. Oops. :/ However, today was a day of languages! I met the two new missionaries in the area - .. I didn't even get their names. DOH! However, they are from Tahiti!! So we stood around and spoke French for 15 minutes before my interview time came up. Oh man, poor Elder Norawong. He kept telling me he wants to learn French. He said to me, (I thought) "Je peins." "You paint?" "Japan" "JapOn?" "Ya that's it! Japon!" "What are you trying to say?" "Bread." "... le pain." "LE!? Why le!? Why can't I say 'je'?" "Because that means 'I'." *cue storming away in frustration. LOL Thanks for the laugh Elder.
The meeting with the president was ... a little awkward for me. Elder Norawong translated (which made the meeting go MUCH faster) but then his two greenies were there (one being one of the two from Tahiti). It was like, "Everyone learn about Ann's financial situation!" :/ Still the president was very kind and said the church will help me with any surgery bills I might get if I can't cover them. Hopefully I won't need help. We'll see what happens. I don't even care so long as I don't have to be in pain anymore. As we were walking out of Hoshino-Kaicho's (President Hoshino's) office, Elder Norawong told me I look pale and sickly. LOL Thanks elder! -He wasn't trying to hurt my feelings but I did feel slightly alarmed at hearing that. Anyway, after my interview was Hibiki's baptism.
Oh! I forgot to mention, I emailed Yasue about the baptism and she agreed to come and sit with me and translate for me. Best oneechan ever! :D I was really glad to see her. Oh also Elder Norawong asked if I would play piano. "Sure!" So fast forward to the baptism. There are two talks, and then the President says MY NAME and "utaimasu" (sing). I was like, "ME!? I'M singing!?" Then I thought he meant piano so I go to sit down but Sister Gas is playing piano. I say to the congregation "Bikkuri shimasu!" (Surprise!) Then Elder Norawong says to me, "No, just the elders and sisters are singing. He made a mistake." Walk of shame back to my seat. :/ I made a big show of being relieved but what the heck everyone!? Scare me, don't let me play piano, don't let me sing!! It was a little like this one time in college when I was called and told I was a finalist for poet of the year at UVU. Well, they left my name off the program. They had called and asked me to read my poem so I went up all confused. They confirmed it was an oversight. Well they didn't even ANNOUNCE me. I had to walk up and announce MYSELF. It was humiliating for me. I made a joke, "They left my name off the program by mistake. Guess I didn't win!" Well THEN (and this is how scummy the stupid kids were who organized the event) they give out prizes and certificates to everyone who participated. They don't call my name. People from the audience notice and are looking at me. I have to paste a smile on my face. I left in tears. My parents, being incredible, went up to the organizers and reamed them out. Guess who had a certificate for me WITH MY NAME PRINTED ON IT but didn't give it to me in front of everyone. I still have no idea to this day what possessed them to treat me like that. Today was a little like that for me. (Though at least with these guys I know they didn't do it on purpose.)
The baptism was nice. A little weird: everyone clapped after the baptism ordinance was done. I was like... Why are we clapping in church!? (Lol I was taught that's not appropriate for sacred events.) It was great to spend some time with Yasue. I felt bad because I wasn't that responsive to people around me as I was just shutting down from people overload. I also was in pain. Not a good combo. I did my best, then when it was over I was sneaking out but then told to go say "Congrats" to Hibiki. I got in line, told her (omeditou), hugged her, then hightailed it home. The ride home was easier (it's mostly downhill) but I had a REALLY close brush with a bus. Good thing I'm used to living in Japan! I rode between a giant metal phone pole and a bus. If I had moved either elbow up, I would have hit the pole or the bus. Steady Japanese bike riding skills! YAY! (I really am getting to be a pro at this - plus an elder told me in a blessing that I would be safe in Japan, so I figured that meant I wouldn't get hit by a car on my bike.) At home I made some dinner and now I'm just trying to relax before tomorrow's round. At least I get to see my family. :D Happy Saturday! XOXO, A
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| AHAHAHAHA! I got this picture last night - Takumi is alive and well (has been since Aug 31) - anyway, as I was pouring myself water, my hand was shaking and I got water on the top of the fridge. Well Takumi fell in it, and as you can see, it perfectly stained his mouth like he's some little mischievous child who got into something they weren't supposed to eat/drink. LOL |
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| This is Plaza Odette - we had some training here. It's also where you can get information in English about Morioka and Iwate (it's 3 blocks from my apartment). |
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| Ang and Bisou sent me funny faces so I took one for them - didn't work for their phones so I ended up emailing it to Ang. :D |
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