Taipei-ing It

For one of our last hurrahs, Haruka and I decided to have an adventure in Taipei. Why? 1. We both have never been before. 2. Real Chinese food!!! 3. We would get a stamp in our passports. However, leading up to our departures, we were both preoccupied with life to really plan for the trip.

Day 1:
I arrived a day earlier because I was able to get a dirt-cheap ticket. Now, the reason why the ticket was dirt-cheap was because I landed in Taipei at 10p. With no hotel reservation and putting my trust with the tourist information counter at the airport, I headed into the city. My room was less than ideal. I felt like I was in the slum capital of the world. I spent the night watching "8 Mile" figuring if I didn't sleep, the roaches wouldn't get me.
Day 2:
I headed out early in the morning hoping to find better accommodations. In my illegally copied Lonely Planet, the guide recommended a little dive called Happy Family 2. (Not sure what happened to Happy Family 1, but I did find it amusing.) After circling the vicinity for a good hour or so, a lady started yelling at me from the side and gestured me to go. Giving up all hope, I went. It so happened that it was the hostel. The owner was great. He gave me an upgrade because I spoke some Cantonese. On my floor, I ran into a Korean girl named Yoon who was traveling by herself. Since I was by myself too, we decided that 2 heads would be better than 1. Our first stop was the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial.
We watched the changing of the guards while fight some eager tourists ready to push anyone aside for a good photo opt. Afterwards, we attempted to find "The Matone" (aka the Toilet restaurant) for about 2 hours until we were informed the restaurant had been closed. So, we settled for a decent looking place, ate, walked some more, then parted ways for a bit. In the evening, I spent about 2 hours on a bus getting back to the airport to meet Haruka. We got back to the city and ate some Chinese food. All in all... not a bad day.

Day 3:
Haruka and I spent most of the day shopping and eating. First, we went to a farmer's market where we sampled some goodies that I've been missing. Later, we ventured to another shopping area and ate more food along the way.

As we were walking along, there were some ladies set up on the sidewalk with strings tied between their fingers and pulling it against another person's white-powdered face. Intrigued by all this, I decided to pull up a chair and chalked up. The ladies were doing facial hair pulling. It was pretty cool albeit a bit painful.

Continuing with our walk, we finally reached our destination, the only thing I really had to see while in Taipei, the toilet restaurant. While day 2's excursion was a bust, this one was a success. The restaurant was under a new name, "The Modern Toilet." I would rate the food as a 2 out of 4 flushes. It was more for the novelty of it all.

In the evening, we headed to the Shilin Night Market and again, we ate. I really miss proper Chinese food. We also watching people stick lit candles in their ear canal. People were shelling out ~$40 do so. It's suppose to clean out your ears but I couldn't really see how.




Day 4:
Day 4 had me, Haruka, and Yoon leaving central Taipei and into the countryside of Yamingshan National Park for some fresh air. Along the way, we ran into a really nice couple who showed us around the area. They even drove us to a really nice restaurant they frequent and paid for our lunch. We never really properly introduced ourselves (ie names). The guy is a Taiwanese diplomat who lived in South America for 3 years and the States for another 5. I was a bit envious. We returned to Taipei refreshed and headed to the grocery store to pick up some Chinese food for presents. Haruka ended up buying a whole lot of pineapple cake, Yoon got watermelon seeds, and I got egg roll cookies.


Day 5:
I can't really say this was a full day. My flight back to Nagoya left Taipei at 10am. (Darn cheap ticket!!!) I said my goodbyes to Haruka, Yoon, and Taiwan with a good feeling and about 5 lbs of Chinese food in my system. Gotta love MSG!

The Most Anti-Climatic Day Ever

Today was like a bad Christmas present. I waited patiently for this very day to come. I kept playing out how it would go in my head leading up to this day. But, when the day finally came, it was a bit of a let-down. Today was my last day at Nova. I still can't believe I was there for 648 days. Most people don't last more than 6 months. Anywho, the day came and went. It was a pretty easy day. I was only there for 5 lessons... a man to man kid, Voice, and 3 regular lessons. (I would've had a free if a newbie, who probably has some mental disorder because he stayed an extra 2 hours after his shift was over to "hang out", didn't insist on following me to an empty Voice room and proceeded to ask me every personal question he could think of. I should've smacked him.) After my last lesson, I punched out for the very last time, said my goodbyes to the Japanese staff, and took a little souvenir to remember the company by. I've got special plans for the souvenir. I also like fire.

Lamenting

00. Extremely fuzzy but was told I looked happy.
01. Pictures indicate it was good. However, all eyes went to the next attention-stealer. There's a picture of me in a pretty pink dress trying to get rid of the competition.
02. Very fuzzy
03. Went to Chinese school and learned how to say "You misbehave" in Mandarin and then told that to my grandmother. She finally forgave me about 17 years later.
04. Fuzzy
05. Fuzzy
06. First day of a new school, I threw up in the middle of the cafeteria. I was then known as the "throw up girl."
07. Second day of another new school, in an attempt to make new friends, I stood up in the middle of class and proceeded to tell a joke I heard on the playground and proceeded to butcher it. The silence was so defining that you could hear crickets.
08. Questionable
09. Questionable
10. Questionable
11. Questionable
12. I do not recommend going from a private religious school to a public school.
13. Questionable
14. Questionable
15. Questionable
16. Being a geek was hard work.
17. Watching mom cry as she helped me move into my first apartment was a bit traumatizing.
18. Questionable
19. Questionable
20. Questionable
21. Got 3 wheels of a car! Even better, I got to wear a black robe and a funny hat.
22. Entering the real world was scary.
23. The nomad-ing began!
24. Very questionable
25. Did not make mom happy but she knows I'm crazy so she accepted my decision. Glad I did it!
26. A very trying time but I think I learned a lot and have grown up because of it. Everyone needs one these rough patches to say they had one, I guess.
27. TBD

And So It Begins...

Current state: going through an emotional rollercoaster (jetcoaster, if you're Japanese).

I'm nearing the end of my life in Japan. (I told myself I wouldn't start counting again. Last time I did, I broke my leg. Superstitious? A bit.) I have my love/hate relationship with Japan. I love meeting people from all over the world. I hate having to say goodbye to my friends when they leave for good. I love the freedom and lack of responsibility that I have here. I hate working for a Japanese company. (I could go on and on but I won't.)

The future is a bit unknown at the moment, thus exacerbating my current mental state. I have these master plans but if it will ever make it into fruition remains to be seen.

Anywho... happy topic now. I'm off to Vietnam and Hong Kong on Thursday for 11 days. If anyone wants anything, please let me know. Can't wait to wear the pointy hat!!!

Thoughts...

It was a beautiful day today (or yesterday... technically). Did a lot of thinking and would like to share some thoughts.

• It sucks having only one day off. (But I can't really complain. Come December, I'll probably be begging someone to give me work.)
  
• Taking the Japanese Proficiency test is looking like a really bad idea now.
• For the first time in a really long time, I'm starting to feel normal again. (i.e. The leg is starting to feel normal again!!! YA-TA!!!)
• Holy moley!!! The exchange rate from yens to USD is horrible!!! I wanted to cry. ($1=¥121)
  
• It's been so long since I've seen US money. It looks like Monopoly money. I stared at it for a good 10 minutes.
  
• I really miss buying airplane tickets over the Internet. It's been a week now since I paid for my ticket to Vietnam, and it still hasn't come. (The travel agent has to call the airline for them to confirm that there is a seat available even though the computer said there is a seat. Then, once the airline receives payment for the said seat, a paper ticket is issued. [Apparently, the printer prints really slowly there.] Finally, after the ticket has been checked and rechecked, it is sent off to the travel agent, and given to an impatient customer.)
  
• I should probably stop buying vegetables since the only thing I do to it is let it rot in my refrigerator.
• I love discount stickers at the grocery store!
  
• Bic Camera can be an evil place. I want everything in there.
• My guilty pleasures: America's Top Model and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.
  
• I will never be a professional scrapbooker. (I just put lots of pictures to compensate the lack of creativity. Sorry Naomi... Have fun in Namibia!)
• I finally saw The Last Samurai. It was good. Had Tom Cruise not been it, it would've been better.
  
• I suck at poker. (Enjoy my money, Voan!)
  
• There was an attack of the Charisma Men and it wasn't pretty. (gag... gag... But there was a cheering section for the good side.)
• Nothing beats a woman's intuition.
  
• I really should sleep instead of write in my blog. (Why did the wireless have to work so well?!?!?!)
  

My morning routine

A friend asked me today what is it that I do in physical therapy everyday. So, here goes.

I'm only allowed to go to PT from 9a-12p. (Their rules... So, I go as soon as I wake up to beat the rush.) I ride on the subway for about 13 minutes. (Yes, I've timed it before.) Then, from the station to the hospital is about a 15 minute walk. Along the way, I stop by the QQ and get me a yogurt drink (for the calcium) and coffee (for my sanity). Once I enter the hospital, I check in and am greeted by the receptionist who usually makes a comment about my appearance that day. (I go so often that they recognized when my hair is up or down or when my days off are based on my clothes. It's a little scary.) Then, I go to triage and count how many people are on IV drips. (They love IV drips here. Have a hangnail? Get an IV drip.) I also have my blood pressure taken. Then, I walk into the rehabilitation room where all the therapists yell in union "Ohaiyo gozaimasu!!!" (Good morning!). I sit down and take off my knee brace while they prepare the electrodes. (Who needs coffee when you can have your leg zapped with electricity at 9 in the morning?! Mr. Itou, my therapist, has been upping the voltage too. Crazy man...) During my 15 minute zapping session, I usually attempt to study for the Japanese Proficiency test (the studying is not going so well), watch the other patients and give them all the polite head nods, and listen to the carnival music that the voltage machine plays. Afterwards, Mr. Itou usually readjusts my knee cap for 10 minutes while trying to make conversation. (I do appreciate how hard he tries to communicate with me. He told me he studies English when he's at home now but he always forgets what he had studied. So, we talk by making sound effects and hand motions.) Then, it becomes a mish-mash of exercises for another 30-40 minutes. And that's the end.

That's my typical morning now. I can't sleep in anymore but I'm OK with it. It's for a good cause... I hope.

The evil corporation they call Nova

I keep asking myself... Why the heck am I still working for Nova?!?! Oh yeah, I broke my leg and need the health insurance. Damn...

Two Mondays ago, I walked into work and accidentally saw the new schedule for November. I looked at my name wanting to know how many times will I not be at my branch when I discovered something interesting. My days off magically changed from Wednesday/Thursday to Saturday/Sunday, the coveted schedule that everyone wants (but me). It wouldn't have been such a big deal if the boss, who we will call The Tool, gave me a little more notice. And also, just by random luck, I would have to work 8 days straight before I get a day off. Anywho, as I was staring at the paper wondering if The Tool smoked some crack while writing the schedule, guess who calls and guess who he wants to speak to??? This was the basic gist of the conversation:

The Tool: I'm going to have to change your days off to Saturday/Sunday. A teacher will be transferring into the branch and she must have your days off.
Me: Yeah, I just saw the November schedule. Why must she have my days off?
The Tool: Oh, you weren't suppose to see that. [10 second pause] So, will it be a problem your days off change? [The Tool never answered my question.]
Me: Yes, it will be.
The Tool: Well, it's the same schedule as Mr. Plastic [the Nova spy who use to work at my branch but has since moved to be closer to The Tool]. Everyone wants Saturday/Sunday off.
Me: Hmmm... Not me. I already have plans in November based on my current schedule now. I have non-refundable plane tickets.
The Tool: Oh. Well, you can put in a vacation request and I will approve it even though it's less than a month away.
Me: Gee, thanks. I have to go prepare for class now. Bye.

I hung up the phone and was fuming. I couldn't wait until my 5 lessons were over. During the in-between time, I filled out several vacation requests and most important of all, the resignation form. It's now been more than a week since that last conversation. I still haven't turned in the resignation form. Strategic planning to create maximum damage.

Bitter? Possibly. I'm done now. Please excuse me.

As seen in Tokyo

In Shinjuku... It said to look, so I did. I saw train tracks.

Inside Jimbocho Station... It's Jack Bauer hawking a diet supplement! Good old Jack...


In Ueno Park... Duck hunting.


In Harajuku... In front of Condomania.


In Yoyogi... Dancing wannabe Japanese Elvises... I think.


Near Tokyo Station... A pretty rainbow.

From home

Excerpt from my mom's email:
"I'm very happy to hear from you. I think my daughter disappear from the earth."
My response:
"Hmmm... I thought I wrote to you a few days ago. Maybe I didn't. But I know I'm a horrible daughter. Sorry."

Snapshot of the day

Someone forgot their Nagoya hair.

The greatest feeling in the world

Since the accident, I never thought I would be able to ride my bike properly again. (Sorry mom, the boy was telling the truth. I rode a bike with a full leg cast and peddled with the good leg.) But today, after physical therapy, I decided to give it another go. (Itou-san's protractor is working again. I got it to bend it to 82 degrees!) So, I hopped on my rusty red bike, put both feet on the pedal, and magically, I was peddling with two legs. I let out a little scream. I rode to Nagoya station and back. (Very exciting!) And to celebrate, I went to the QQ and bought me an ice cream cone and Kit-Kat (BTW... bitter Kit-Kat is awesome). Life is good again.

Charisma Man

The myth... A man who might have otherwise been ignored in their respected country, comes to Japan and becomes Mr. Popular with Japanese girls flocking to them in droves thus inflating their egos by 110%. Some who have experienced life in Japan can probably say Charisma Man exists, especially the girls. I can write a lot more on Charisma Man complete with more theories backed by data, charts, and detailed analysis of those findings, but I won't. (I had a run-in with a Charisma Man today. I still remember when he was a good guy. Ok, I'll stop.) Have a look below and enjoy!

Random survey

Have you ever licked a 9V battery before?
If yes, are you a boy?

Karaoking and the day after

Truth be told, I love karaoking ... Last night was a friend's birthday party and the only way to have a proper birthday party in Japan is with karaoke. Somehow, we managed to cram 15 people into 3 small rooms where a lot of off-key singing and picture-taking took place.

Afterwards, some of us wandered to The Hub, a local English pub where another party just happened to take place. I saw some people I didn't really care to see and had a conversation with a few which I really wish to forget.

At around 2a, some of us decided to head home, especially since we had to be at work at 10a. However, we made a little detour to Yoshinoya. I'm sure the workers at Yoshinoya really love annoying (and pissed [...don't I sound British already?]) foreigners in the wee hours of the morning asking for photos.

The work part: I somehow managed to stagger in on time. I had to teach Ryota, a boy we think will be in jail by the time he's 7. During the lesson, he took off his shoe, smelled it, tried to make me smell it, and then proceed to lick his shoe. I was thoroughly disgusted. Then, we played his version of tic-tac-toe and he stopped. Miraculously, by 5p, I felt better. (My shift ended at 5:20p.) Went home and vowed never to drink again. (Hmmm... highly doubtful but at least I can say I tried.)

Lost in translation

Days like today makes me want to hop on the first plane back to the States. I decided to change my rehab place. The first place I went to just stuck a heat lamp on my knee for 10 minutes, massaged my leg for another 10, and then asked for ¥5000 (~$50). I told my little situation to one of my students, who just happens to be a doctor specializing in physical therapy. (I love Dr. Manzai!!!) So, she hooked me up with another hospital that actually does physical therapy. Now, my problem was my student is a very busy lady, running between 3 hospitals at any given day. So, when I went, she wasn’t there and there was no other English speaking person around. They tried asking me questions in English to the best of their ability and I responded likewise. I was able to get treatment. But at the end, the head PT, had his laptop out with a translator all ready to go. He typed a sentence in Japanese, the computer would think about then it would spit out some equivalent to an English translation. Then, I would do the vise-versa. We did this for about 30 minutes. I’m sure if we were able to verbally communicate with each other, it would’ve only taken 10 minutes max. Frustration is the only thing that pops in my mind now. Blah!!!!!

I Hate Goodbyes

Goodbye #1: Had to say goodbye to one of my favorite students, Naho. She's taking off to merry old England for 6 months to study art. I first met Naho (with her partner in crime, Sayaka) at my first day at Nishiharu. They asked me if I was from Thailand. Together, the knuckleheads tortured me relentlessly by somehow saying the following:
Naho: I'm stupid.
Sayaka: I'm stupid.
Naho+Sayaka: We are comedians.
That would go on for an entire lesson. I would be pounding my head on the table saying "What do I do?! What do I do?!" But I love them. (I taught them "sod off." They're going to try that on a Brit. hehe...)
Goodbye #2: Said goodbye to Rob who arrived in Japan the same time I did some 1.5 years ago. He helped make my life at Tajimi a little bit more tolerable.

I'm free!!!

I had a little visit to my favorite doctor today. I think I scare that man every time I go into his office. The look on his face every time he has to speak to me in English is priceless. Anywho, Dr. Takamatsu told me that I no longer have to wear my leg brace, the bane of my existence for the past month. Also gone are my wooden crutches (aka my prop to get a seat in the handicap section of the subway). The x-ray showed that the fractures are healing. However, I’m going to need rehabilitation for the next 2 months. There goes my trip to India. But that’s life, I guess.

仕様がない
[shoganai] - it can't be helped.

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