11-04

11-04 10:30am – So Tired…

Man…I think I need another pillow or something, I dunno what it is, but I am tired lately waking up. Maybe it’s that I’ve been working…nah. Must be the pillow.
I have the day off. Dave has to be at work today, but, apparently most instructors get the day after training off. That will be nice, because then I will have to 8 hour days and then my official days off. A quick dip headfirst into the waters, then a chance to catch my breath before diving in completely.
So, today. Forge my way to Moraju Kashiwa. Try to find an internet connection to steal with my laptop. Stop talking in jagged sentences.
Alright, so now, we’ll listen, and repeat. Listen, and repeat.
“Did you ever wonder why we had to run for shelter when the promise of a brave new world unfurled beneath the clear blue sky? Goodbye, Blue Sky.”

12:18 – Success?

I was able to find an internet connection outside on the porch, and updated my journal with all my previous entries. That was good.
I also checked my email, which proved to be slightly less than good news.
Apparently CH2MHill is letting my mom go. Neither of my parents knows much more than that at this point, but she found out yesterday. I’m trying to wrap my head around the implications of that statement, but I’m having a hard time. Will she be able to get another job? Will she be forced into retirement? What are they going to do for income? Pac Rim can’t support them both, and lord knows that job is as unstable as any job can be. It would be nice to see my dad you know, use his qualifications for something professional, but, yea right, that’s gonna happen.
Theoretically, I shouldn’t need their support anymore. I should be making enough money to take care of my needs here, but, I guess this really is the last of the strings being cut. I can’t rely on them for money now even if I need to. I’m really glad it happened after I got set up here, to be honest.
I really hope they can work things out, I can’t imagine what that must be like for her, to have worked with them, and as an engineer for so long, only to be let go so near to her retirement.
In my traditional style, I’m going to not let it sink in much, and will go about my business normally, I can’t really afford to be thinking about that right now. I know things will work out. But I hold them both in my prayers.


8:51pm - Lost In Translation

I went to Kashiwa today, and hopped on the bus at station 4 like I was instructed. I got on the bus, asked the driver how much to Moraju Kashiwa, to which he responded 190 yen. Except, as it turns out, it was the wrong bus, and we went somewhere completely different. When we got to the final stop, he came and talked to me and we figured out where I had gone wrong. Then we got to talking about Nova, and how I work for them. He asked me about how much progress someone can make in a month, and I said, it depends, you ahve to practice a lot, but it's ok. This was all in japanese, mind you. So he took me on the way back towards the station to the nearest stop to Moraju, and I walked. The place really is in a mall. I work in the mall. Yeeeeehaw. Go me.
So, I couldn't find a bus back really, and so I ended up walking, and walking, and walking, like when I was in Italy and kinda hoped I wound up where I needed to go. I found a bus stop that was bound for the Station, so I decided to wait for a bus. When one came, the driver cruised past, all the while giving me this really strange look. I watched him drive off into the distance and hang a left before disappearing. I thought to myself...."There must be a reason other than me being a stupid foreigner to look at me like that...." So eventually I walked around the corner where he turned and oh. Yea, I'm just stupid. There was the station. I made my way back home, and bought some groceries and have been here lounging on the internet ever since. Go me. I rock.