Running errands

Today wasn’t actually very hot. It was humid as hell, but not very hot. It was a bit of a relief today that I actually felt like I was having a good nights sleep.

The first order of business today was a conversation that I had with CFri. She actually had awoken me up to talk about our upcoming trip to Thailand. I’m quite happy that she will come with me. I had asked her to go, but she immediately said that she couldn’t, but I think I gave it time and she turned her answer around. She’s been one of my best friends for years now, but I always felt like she was a bit distant towards me. We will go with one of her friends too, so I think that’s why she might be going though. Anyways, I’m glad that we will get a chance to all go together, and that I might be a third leg. I still don’t care because I’m going to Thailand.

I think that I have tried to come up with a compromise on my summer plan. I had originally decided that I will go to three places in August, but that wouldn’t be feasible with the rest of my plans for the year. I would really like to travel, but with time and money constraints, I’ll have to wait till I make my millions later. But I think that two places are still possible and won’t alter my plans too much. I have enough now, but how I want to go about spending it will ultimately decide where I go and what I do.

I had to run an errand today, and it was to go to the Immigration office which is near Yamashita Park. It closes at 4pm, but I didn’t leave my house till 2:45pm. It sounds like that’s a lot of time, but that’s really not. It takes about 30 minutes to get to the train station and then another 30 to get to Ishikawacho station and then another little 15 minute walk to the office. Actually those are overestimates, because I walked really fast to the station and it ended up being like 20 minutes. Then the train ride really only took about 20 minutes. The walk to the office was about 15 minutes though, even though I was walking a bit fast. I just made it in the door, and since I was only there to pick up papers, I didn’t need to wait around like usual. I wanted to get all the forms so I could renew my visa and stay in Japan for another year. Even though my visa lasts till October, I’d like to get it out of the way in August when I’m still on break, than to deal with it during school. The lady at the immigration office was VERY helpful. I was shocked that she spoke English, since most of the workers there that I’ve talked to before don’t speak English at all. I usually fumble through what I need to get across since they use different terms that I’m not used to. I was able to get all the forms that I needed and extra copies of them too. I figured that while I’m at it, I should renew my re-entry permit too. So I could be free to travel as much as I want to during the next term of my visa. I’d like to get a 3-year visa, but I know that I’m only going to get a one year visa, so they could make the money on renewals next year.

I had finished all this by 4pm, and I thought that it was a bit too hot to go home and it was a bit early. So I wanted to get some shopping out of the way. I went back to Motomachi Street and went into the gap. Mainly because they have a really high-powered air conditioning machine and you could feel it walking outside. I was just looking around, till I saw a deal that was too good to resist. It was for a small little carrying bag. I needed something small for the things that I only need to carry around. Even though, I already had a bag that I bought in Okinawa. It was a deal that was too good to pass up though. It was 800 yen, which is about $8 U.S.D. actually less, but in either way, I think it was a good buy. After I thought I was hogging the A.C. too much I decided to leave. I was taking my time though and I think the clerk was getting to realize that. When I was paying, she said that the deal was very good and the bag that I bought was a good deal since it normally sells for about 4000 yen. I think it was only discounted because the seasons are starting to change and they will take them off the shelves soon.

I then left the Ishikawacho area and headed for Kannai. I wanted to get a new belt and a new wallet. Those are still on my shopping list of things that I should get. I went to the Isezaki mall, and couldn’t find one that I liked, so I didn’t get anything. I was about to die of thirst at this point, so I stopped in Caffe Veloce. I like their Iced Royal Milk Tea, even though the milk tea at Tapioca Express is far superior. In Japan, this café is supreme. I hadn’t eaten lunch yet, so I decided to get it here. I was there for about 30 minutes or so, drinking my tea and eating lunch, and studying Japanese. I finally started studying again. I was making flash cards for myself covering chapter 8 vocabulary and verbs. I knew most of the vocabulary words already since I’ve been living in Japan for a year now, but I started to write it down in Kanji. I didn’t finish it, and will review it again some other time because I want to see how much of it I retain.

Then I went to the bank to get some cash to pay for my vacation package, so I could pay it off in the coming days. On the way to the bank though, I found a bag that I liked. It’s more of a 3-4 day bag, since I was borrowing one from EK before and he’s gotten it back, now I don’t have one. So I bought it since it was cheap as well. It is probably cheap in quality as much as it was in price. But I will only need it for a few times while I’m in Japan. The next time I’ll be able to use it will be August 20th when I go on a little excursion to Hakone with the 7th grade students. I will need to pack for 3 days. I’m not sure if I will use it for my trip to Thailand though. I think a backpack might be better since Thailand isn’t as safe or trustworthy as Japan. It’s better to carry-on than to have a bag underneath the plane. There’s no telling what might happen with the luggage while I’m in Thailand too. So I think it’s better to be safe than sorry, although I’ll probably lose something there anyways. I just hope it’s not my passport and plane ticket. I won’t be taking anything too valuable there, I think only my digital camera, and that’s it. I’m debating whether I should bring that or not, but I think that I wouldn’t take as many pictures as I do if I didn’t bring it.

Then I left for home. It was around 6-6:30pm now and it’s cooled down quite a bit, so I thought it would be a good time to go home. It was pretty crowded on the train. I almost forgot how that was. I stopped off the grocery store to get some dinner and breakfast tomorrow. My plan tomorrow is to go to the Kamakura fireworks in Kamakura. So I think that I’ll be able to get other foods there.

When I came home, I took a shower and then ate dinner while watching Patch Adams. As much it is a corny story with the comedy, I still like it because of the drama that’s behind it. It’s really cool to see someone’s dream lived out. It revitalizes my dream and my purpose for being here and doing what I’m doing. I don’t think many understand what I’m doing here exactly, only that I’m living in Japan doing what everyone else does when they come here. But I look at it, as helping someone see their dream and to live it out, it’s just in a different language, but the same message. I really believe that I’ve got the ability to communicate to other people, and I know that I’ve got to use it, or lose it. So here I am using it. I often think that people here understand my English better than they could understand my Japanese…it’s good and bad in a way.

On a side note, someone sent me an e-mail today about a situation that’s occurring in my hometown. I believe that he’s asking for advice, but then stopping himself by saying that it might be over the line. I would like to comment that it is wrong to involve me in their love relationship. They fight because of me, but I’m no where to be found in the situation. I’m not sure why it would involve me, since I have nothing to do with it. I don’t want to be a part of it either because it’s not my problem to solve. It would be wrong of me to get involved and do anything about it. I didn’t create any problems for anyone else by lying, but that’s how they got into this problem to begin with. They based their relationship and lies and deceit. It’s a tragic thing to see, since no one will be happy in the end, but it’s not my problem. So I don’t want to worry about it. I won’t respond to the e-mail until 4 days later, since he finally told me that he’s going out with my ex-girlfriend 4 months later. I figured that if he made me wait, I could also return the favor of a delayed response. He believed that I’ve known about their relationship for about 4 months, but I only found out 2 weeks ago. It wasn’t because of him or her telling me either. Not that they would have to, but if they wanted my input, they should have let me know earlier. Yeah, I might be an asshole or something, but that’s life. Anyways, I’m not going to get involved in it, and I shouldn’t since it’s their problem to solve and not mine to get involved with. They did it to themselves and gotten every one of my college friends involved with it too. An organization that I’ve helped start and create has died because of this. But anyways, I’m not in any position to judge or even do anything about it. I’m just going to go on my merry little way and know that they have to decide what they want for themselves and by themselves.

On a happier note, I left a message on Friendster for one of the people that I truly admire today. I tried to put as much as I could to let him know that he’s been an inspiration for me. I’m a much better person for knowing him. I just wanted him to know that. He’s still a person I look up to, even though I haven’t seen him in YEARS! His thoughts and principles have guided me to be the person I am today. I know that it might be much later than he expected, but I’m glad to have at least reached this point in my life. I just thanked him for being him and for showing me that change within someone is possible if linked with the correct character and a vision so strong that it moves you to take action. I wouldn’t be in Japan teaching English if it wasn’t for him.

I wanted to add another message for other people who have influenced my life, but I couldn’t find the words that will be decent enough to convey that message to them. I have the vocabulary, but it’s not adequate enough to let them know, how important they are for me. I will find the words some day, and will give them the proper thanks that they deserve at that time. Its 1:30am now, and since the time I’ve started writing this, I’ve made another appointment to meet up with a friend of mine who I will be seeing for the last time tomorrow at noon. It’s very sad, since she’s come back to Japan. I’ve seen her more than any of my other friends and I’ve even gotten closer to her friends too. I’ve gotten much closer to her than I did when we were in San Diego, and I’m glad to be friends with her. I’m going to really miss her when she’s gone.