Aww :/

T5B: 1) Dinner was great. 2) I got another worksheet brainstormed. 3) My itinerary for this weekend sounds awesome! 4) I finished my book. 5) I only threw up one time.

basal temp: 36.21

Morning:
- The classic not enough sleep
1st - taught a class, went well (2.3)
2nd - taught a class, went well (3.7)
3rd - taught a class, went very well (1.6)
4th - corrected worksheets

Notes: Those were all new lessons! What a stressful morning - especially concerning 1.6. They did great though! After the lesson I did for 3.7, Oikawa-s told me, "They were engaged! Very good lesson!" YAY!!! I psyched out 1.6 by telling some of the boys that I liked Gintama. They were geeking out. :) Good times. Oh man, my stranest student is in that class. I'm not sure what's up with him, but he crawls on the floor, peers in and out of door through the glass (weirdly so). Today he was imitating me the entire lesson. I kept catching him at it and grinning and he would blush and pretend he hadn't been doing anything. Strange guy. -- Oh and on my itinerary! I am going to Koiwa Farm (a super famous farm in Japan with raw everything). It was funny the way Hashimoto-s explained it to me. "You will help with farm activities, like touching a sheep." ... Maybe he's never been to a farm. Or... noooooo. lol Also a place that makes senbei (Japanese crackers) and handcrafts! I'm so excited to participate in those things! Plus a bus tour and a homestay! YAHOO!

Afternoon:
- lunch was good (white stew and a mikan)
5th-6th - corrected worksheets, brainstormed and blocked out another worksheet
7th - taught a class, went well (1.4)
- bus ride home was nice (I read)

Notes: As I was going through the worksheets I found a few things that made me laugh. 1) Picture below. 2) A few students called me "Mr. Ann (and variations of my name with misspelling)" 3) As I was going through a stack of papers, I got to one and thought, "This person didn't do anything!" I was geting a little huffy about it until I turned it over... it was the key. Essentially, MY PAPER. LOL Oops.

Evening:
- went to the office to turn in receipts and fill out a form
- chatted with them for a bit
- was so mentally exhausted I wanted to hang out but couldn't and went home
- ate dinner
- finished my book
- threw up :/ dang it!

Notes: Hope you all had a wonderful day. My best to you all! XOXO, A

Something I found on fb when I woke up (since it was before my alarm): Patrick Steward, Dave Grohl, and Spiderman! LOL

I thought this was funny because it's essentially ME but in male form. (I told the students they could make up a parent.)

This is ice cream I bought for which I did not care at all. I figured I would take it to the office and give it to them. They LOVED it. WIN! (Then I got an email from my boss thanking me for making him an adult - I'm assuming he's referring to the first two kanji which are "big" and "person." LOL

Successful Day

T5B: 1) I was in pain, but didn't need any pain pills! 2) I got to message Jerod today. 3) I got to read one of the books my mom sent me. :D 4) I had a delicious dinner! 5) I got a lot done.

basal temp: 35.81

Morning:
- I went to bed early last night, then I slept 8 hours!
- I got up, showered, picked up my place (one guest used the entire place as a trashcan)
- I folded and put away my laundry
- read scriptures and stretched
- I made breakfast, ate
- read and messaged Jerod

Notes: Ya this morning I found used tissues everywhere. I found a lighter, bottles... I was REALLY frustrated then just stopped caring since it wasn't doing me any good to be upset. My place looks much better now. :)

Afternoon:
- messaged Jerod a bunch more
- watched a couple episodes of Gintama
- ate a fairly normal (for me) lunch!

Notes: My eating is almost back to normal, hallelujah!

Evening:
- I read some more
- printed out worksheets I need for tomorrow
- cleaned up my desk
- finished my winter prep in my kitchen (photo below)
- made dinner, ate it
- the sister missionaries visited and chatted with me for ... 2 hours? Wow!

Notes: Today was a succesful day. I had an errand to run that I skipped but that's ok. I can do it tomorrow or the next day after that. The important thing for me was staying warm and using the heating pad when I needed it. :) Love to you all! XOXO, A

Look at that! Sunset at 1630!!

Yep that's me today! :)

Ok I admit, I sucked in! (I'm justifying this since it's my period) - Still, I'm looking so awesome!

Here is the grapefruit juice ice cube/ball I made! :D

Finished! I put cardboard over that towel/hole and trimmed and put magnets on the towel at the base of the door. It doesn't stick when I open the door though. I need more magnets I guess. Still! It's there! :D

Some all natural peanut butter I got. It was SUPER expensive - but it's all natural! Also, please notice Takumi in the background. He's still with us! I got him (the balloon) on August 31! He's getting pretty old!

My dinner: egg, cheese, salami sandwich! It was super delicious!

Sunday - an excessively long day

My sister got engaged (Simone)!!! Congratulations to her! 

T5B: 1) I got an amazing blessing from the mission president. 2) The day started out ... is there a phrase worse than abysmally awful? But it ended up fantastic. 3) I got to spend a little time with Saz (and I saw Limor and Tim). 4) I ate a REAL dinner! (First time in ... a week?) 5) I watched a couple episodes of Gintama.

basal temp: 36.41

Morning:
- was woken up by drunken people staying at mine ... didn't even get back to sleep :/
- got ready for district conference (wanted to skip it and have a lie in, but went)
- ended up sitting next to Sister Mataoa who REALLY needed a friend today
- "got" to translate the mission president's wife's talk into French (ooh the immense pressure ... I feel like I completely failed)
- had a chat with the mission president, got a blessing
- didn't get to skype my family :c

Notes: Between the no sleep, the second period within a week, and a misunderstanding with Jerod... today started out REALLY rough.

Afternoon:
- my blessing IMMEDIATELY started to be carried out
- had a REALLY good talk with Jerod
- saw Limor and Tim for a few minutes, said goodbye to them
- Saz went shopping, I went with her (so she didn't have to go alone)

Notes: I didn't mention it before, but I didn't understand ANY of the district conference because 1) My Japanese isn't good enough. 2) My sleep starved brain made it hard to focus. 3) Sister Mataoa needed to get some things off her chest. Still, I felt the Spirit. The only off thing about it all was when I was interviewed by the mission president. When I explained my medical troubles he said they were MY fault for not taking the offered option of birth control. I JUST got done telling you I tried EVERY single variety in the US and they made me sick and crazy and you're getting after for that!? Like, here: try cyanide. -No way! That's poison! -Ya, but this is Japan! -SO!? It was really frustrating for me. I wanted to say, "Look, the DOCTORS already don't listen to me, why are you joining their side of this whole thing!?" He also kept saying I should just go home and take care of it. I will go home when it is time for me to go home. If you want me to go now, I need you to pay for my flight, my salary I will be missing, and then I can go. Ok, I feel better. Had to vent.

Evening:
- Saz dropped me off and went home
- I watched some Gintama
- got to message Jerod for a long while today
- ate a real dinner! SCORE!

Notes: Wish me lots of sleep! And I am wishing it for you! XOXO, A

(It won't let me upload a video I took!!! GRRRR!!)

My new winter coat (I got yesterday)!

SLEEPOVER!! (from last night)

Extra time on my hands...

I AM ANGRY (and despairing)

Happy birthday Pony!!! Love you!!

T5B: 1) I got to hang out with Limor and Saz most of the day. 2) We saw and got to hang out with Tim for a bit. 3) SLEEPOVER! 4) I got a jacket/coat (for the exact amount I wanted to spend AND it fits)! 5) I did laundry today and my place is fairly clean so I don't have to be all ashamed in front of my company. :)

basal temp: 35.81

Morning:
- woke up way too early :/
- period started, SIX DAYS after my last one ended
- did a load of laundry
- went to Zenrinkan
- one of the ladies in the class was very rude to me :/
- went home, did another load of laundry

Notes: I don't want to talk about what the lady said to me - but it made me sob, so ya, it was WAY outta line and very hurtful.

Afternoon:
- Saz arrives and we hang out and wait for Limor
- Limor arrives and we go to Aeon (the big mall here)
- we shop for 3 hours...
- I found a waterproof jacket that I can wear over my hoodies - the coats didn't fit me :/
- got to message Jerod a lot today

Notes: So grateful I found a jacket! (And I got it for $40!)

Evening:
- We went to a recycle shop, tried on second kimonos
- bought a book from them (Death Note 1)
- went back to my place
- hung out with Tim for a bit and chatted, talked
- they all took off, I showered and am writing this

Notes: Today was ROUGH, but really good too. I didn't mind shopping as much as I usually do because I was too focused on surviving my cramps. :/ So walking around helped and looking at stuff because it distracted me. HOWEVER, I just .. I feel incredibly overwhelmed and disheartened. I JUST finished a period, I had an IV on Tuesday, I'm coming off a monster cold, I'm still having some trouble eating, AND NOW PERIOD #2. I'm behind where I want to be for next week and I just feel like... I just don't understand. I also don't know why my doctor, who I emailed and she emailed back, FAILED TO MENTION that this is fairly normal. I would have said, then no, I don't want to try it. Have you experienced my periods? No. Then don't put me on something that is going to throw off my cycle. I don't understand how this is NOT some form of birth control which I said I ABSOLUTELY DID NOT WANT. Now it feels like she tricked me and my body is against me and I'm in SO MUCH PAIN and I know life is unfair but this is RIDICULOUS at this point. I just want to feel well again. I don't understand why doctors are using me like some sort of petri dish. "Ooh let's add THIS and see what happens!" I just want to give up. It's been SO great seeing the girls. At the same time, I've done a WHOLE lot of sobbing today and been in excruciating pain and WHY?? I just wish I understood the purpose of all this. It feels like I can't face the week. I have slept so little the past two weeks thanks to my period and then being SO ILL and now another week. I'm afraid I'll get sleep deprivation and hallucinate. Ya, THAT will go over well. :,( I just don't know what to do. Still, I love you guys and hope you're doing so much better than me. (Doesn't help that we're not going to a church building tomorrow so I can't skype my parents either. :,c) XOXO, A

Just showing off that I'm awesome

Reddit gold I found

See that orange cord in front of the curb? At first I thought it was a snake. I was like "Cool!" then "Oh crap!" because I didn't want to run over it!

The outside of Zenrinkan

At the mall ... wait what!?

Us leaving the mall :)

A day with only one anti-nausea pill

T5B: 1) I only took one of my anti nausea pills! Hooray! I'm saving the last two for another day (though hopefully I'll never need them). 2) I got to go grocery shopping today and got some red meat! 3) I got to talk to Jerod today! 4) My lessons went pretty well. 5) One of my students clapped for me today.

basal temp: 36.07

Morning:
- I slept fairly well (got to bed late, but slept like a rock ~ stupid alarm woke me early, but that's ok)
- got ready so quickly I was early to the bus (yay!)
1st - did prep like crazy (including hiding ghosts in Mai's room, LOL)
2nd - taught jhs (1&2a), went well
3rd - taught Mai, went very well
4th - prep (made a worksheet for MM)

Notes: I got to my jh room early to write some things on the board. As I was writing the katakana for the English, R saw me and started clapping. He's a pre-teen but I appreciated his approval all the same. T, one of my jh schoolers, was off today and it was concerning for me. :/ That's why I said the lesson "went well" rather than VERY well. He was in a funk that started to spread a little. :/ Still, we had a lot of fun and played hide and seek (since we were doing prepositions). Other side note: I felt ill-prepared today and technically I was, but I only had ONE DAY to plan and prepare for my lessons, so I'm gonna go ahead and lay that blame where it belongs - with the school. I wish they would let me know ahead of time like they used to! :/

Afternoon:
- lunch was delicious (saltines, a mikan, rice with veggies)
- finished up my worksheet and emailed it to Hashimoto-s (I'm officially ready for next week)
- thought I was going to miss my bus (home)! I ran part of the way and LUCKILY it was a little late
- went by the bank, went to get mascara, saw it was $26, didn't buy mascara
- went home

Evening:
- got to message Jerod
- watched an episode of Gintama
- went grocery shopping
- made myself some AMAZING broccoli beef (MAMAN! I got red meat!!)
- cut 1/4" off my fringe! (whew healthy hair grows quickly!)

Notes: I'll keep you all posted about the beef. Oh I may not have mentioned, my mom talked to a doctor back home. I was told here, "PCOS isn't painful." My mom double checked: doctor said, "Yes it's painful! Particularly if a cyst has burst or is leaking." Then I can't remember how it's tied exactly but something about PCOS and anemia (and I've always had problems with anemia) so HUGE click for my mom. She tells me, I proceed to buy beef tonight (I wanted ground beef but could only find stew meat), made myself a beef dinner. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Completely! Even though I'm not sure if the pain will stop (as it's not tomorrow yet and yes I've STILL been in pain throughout all this being sick), I have high hopes! I fully expected to report a reduction if not complete absence of dysmenorrhea tomorrow. I can't wait for that! Since July 28, August 21 has been my only cramp free day! So I am looking forward to no more pain! :D Tomorrow I am working in the morning at Zenrinkan. Then in the afternoon, Saz and Limor are coming to Morioka and we are going shopping for winter coats! They're going to spend the night at mine then I have district conference on Sunday. :) So yay weekend! (Also Monday is a holiday - culture day - so yay for still having time to RELAX!) My love to you all! XOXO, A

My door in daylight :)

What Japanese bills look like - these are (essentially) [top] $100 and [bottom] $10 bills

My broccoli beef dinner - I saved the juice to pour over rice tomorrow for lunch mmmm

My sleep graph for the past 5 days