A Dilemma

One thing that I didn't count on when I got to Japan was how little time I would have to myself. I spend about 90% of my time working or preparing to go to work. Every chance I get, I try to get on the internet and blog or go traipsing about the city but then I get sucked into the black hole that is Facebook and can't seem to do anything but comment on statuses and look at pictures. And then there's Skype.

*Deep sigh of resignation*

Skype is a blessing and a curse. It's better than Facebook because you can actually see your friends in person. You can speak to them and hear the complete story behind what's going on in their lives. But on the other hand, you're hearing their "complete story" and it sucks your time up like you wouldn't believe. On top of this, the connection is reeeeally bad so I find myself shouting, "Can you hear me?" and attempting to reconnect dropped calls over and over and over again. I get on the internet to watch an episode of The Daily Show before work and the next thing I know, I'm sitting on Skype yelling, "Your screen is frozen . . . Can you hear me? . . . I'm going to hang up and call back."

So the funny thing about it, is the same people that I miss the most are the people I try to avoid when I get on Skype. Funny right? I'm in a country on the other side of the planet, missing my friends and family and yet sometimes I find that I'm avoiding these very people. It's a very strange problem to have.

Well . . . I gotta go.

Peace Snitches!

Dear Everyone

Dear Japanese people,

How are y. . . Oh! . . . Why, yes! I do look different. I'm tall, my skin is brown and my hair is different. Obviously I'm from another country. I know it's a little confusing and it's probably hard for you to really focus on what I'm saying to you because I look so gosh-darn strange. But technology is amazing and would you believe that there are these crazy things called airplanes that allow people from other countries to fly all the way to this small grouping of islands called Japan. I couldn't believe it either! Well, actually . . . I could. You see, I'm from America. There are all kinds of people in America. Tall, short, fat, skinny, brown, beige, blonde, brunette. Odds are, if you took an airplane to my country, you would not be stared at and pointed at the way that I am over here. In fact, no one would really care about you. That can be good and bad, though. Either way, thanks for all of the help that you've given me at times when I look extra lost. I guess it's worth all of the stares, giggles, and hair touching that I have to experience from time to time.

Sincerely,

The Freak of Nature Who's Mouth is Moving But You Don't Understand a Thing That She's Saying

Dear Elderly Japanese people,

I'm sorry about Hiroshima. I would love to tell you that during that terrible time, my people were being persecuted too . . . but I'm sure you don't want to hear all that. Regardless, attempting to play chicken with me on your bicycle is not going to make it all better. If anything, it might just send your old, fragile butt to the hospital. And don't try to blame it on your bad vision, either. When I am obviously riding my bike on the left side of the sidewalk, and you are obviously on the right side . . . there is no reason why you should suddenly start drifting over to my side, giving me as little room as humanly possible to eek by you. I know exactly what you're doing and it's not cute. And don't be surprised if I start to speed up. I am actually very good at chicken and I don't discriminate against the elderly . . . (in other words) I will run your butt over!

Sincerely,

"The Chicken Champion"

Dear Japanese parents,

I have only been here for 2 months, but I've been able to observe that you guys are successful at raising 2 types of children. There are the bright and gifted children. Intelligent and well rounded. Funny and refreshingly personable. I could go on and on. You put a lot of unnecessary pressure on these kids and oddly, some of them actually meet the challenge . . . but let's face it, most of them do not. Some of these kids barely know how to speak Japanese and you really expect them to sit down once a week and be able to absorb a foreign language. And they try to, but sometimes I think it's just important for you to know that your child IS doing their best and just because they can't recite the U.S. constitution doesn't meant they're not learning. Now to the parents of the OTHER kind of children. I think it's important for you to know that your children pick their boogers and eat them, scream and yell out as if they have tourette syndrome, throw things, run around and don't listen to a thing that I say or just sit and stare at the ceiling with their eyes glazed over for 40 straight minutes. To the parents of these particular children, I'm thinking you should stop sticking them into these classes and start actually raising them. Maybe then, you can decipher whether the problem is that your child is mentally retarded or if it's just that you did a terrible job of raising a stable human being. Only then, can the healing begin.

Sincerely,

The person who is trying to keep your children from killing one another

That's all I got. Now to find the nearest post office!

Things On My Mind

First of all . . . the manfriend still hasn't heard back from the "big job" and sadly I've started to give up hope. I've been missing him and the dog like crazy and find my thoughts drifting back to our last little vacation at Disney World. There was one particular morning that keeps flooding back to my mind. We decided to eat a home cooked meal at the hotel. Cheese eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, a croissant and some orange juice. It was soooo good and the day was just perfect and sunny. Just the randomness that pops in your head when you're on the other side of the planet. *Sigh* But one really good thing that has taken place in the past couple weeks or so is that the culture shock is finally beginning to let up and I'm actually getting used to everything a little bit more.

I find solace in exploring new places, sitting in a quiet restaurant or cafe, eating and reading books on my iPad. Call me an old lady, but I also enjoy playing Scrabble and even beat the computer for the first time yesterday. I find that the ability to be alone is something that doesn't come natural to everybody . . . but it definitely comes natural to me and being out here makes it so much easier to just go to a Starbucks, park my butt in a seat, sip my Matcha (green tea) Frappuccino and just read my heart out.

Also, it's nice to be somewhere and not have to worry about running into an ex boyfriend or a coworker (or in my case, both . . . LOL). It's also nice not to have to worry about some of the problems that I had to deal with at home . . . like the family feuding or feeling obligated to spend time with people I don't even like. Regardless, I still miss American television and having the ability to read, write and speak to pretty much anyone and everyone I want to speak to.

I would write more but that's all I got for now. Time for me to hit the sack!

Randomness

It's times like these (when I haven't written in a while and don't have a good enough reason except the fact that I'm lazy) that I have to tell myself that I'm doing this blog for me and if I don't have the time or energy to blog . . . well, then so be it. (Also, all of my favorite bloggers haven't been writing a lot lately either, so I think there's something in the air.) But enough of the B.S. Here's some random things that have been happening in my life.

#1 - I actually considered dropping this blog and just using the other blog, since I've pretty much outed myself anyway. But then it hit me that this blog is my haven to be able to say whatever I'm REALLY feeling. I can whine and complain, talk about people, get all emotional and lovey dovey and just say what I really want to say about things which is something I don't feel comfortable doing on the other blog.

#2 - The Manfriend had a really important interview with a really important company a couple weeks ago and we're still waiting on the outcome. The place that the Manfriend interviewed with was so prestigious that his douchebag ex-supervisor found out about it and came calling trying to get some details and even dissuade him from attempting to go any further with it. Anywho, I'm really nervous and have been waking up and skyping home every morning to ask him if he's heard anything back.

#3 - Culture shock hit me like a ton of bricks. (Get ready for the understatement of the year). It's hard being out here alone and away from my family. Living overseas is no joke and every day I have to tell myself that I can make it another week. It's gotten easier, but if I revealed to friends and family how close I was to just packing it up and calling it quits, they would have probably sent me a plane ticket 2 weeks ago. I'm trudging along, but (despite what it may look like on the other blog) it's not as easy as it looks.

#4 - I've been watching clips of the BET Awards show and didn't appreciate Chris Breezy effing up Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" with all of his blubbering. He should have saved that ish for "I Can Transform You" or something.

#5 - I go on my first big trip this weekend. I'll be white water rafting. And in a couple of weeks, I will be climbing Mount Fuji. It finally feels like I'm going to be doing something that makes all of this homesickness worth it. I mean can you imagine the conversation I'll be having soon?

"Arnetta, how was your weekend?"

"It was great!"

"What'd you do?"

"Oh . . . you know . . . climbed MOUNT FREAKING FUJI!!!"

Well, that's all I got for now. Check the other blog for pics and stuff.