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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