WireTransfers and Mittens

12-16 10:30am

Yesterday was my first payday. Woot woot. I had been wondering what all the various horrendous deductions would be this first paycheck, but it doesn’t seem to have turned out as bad as I thought.
I had the huge first rent payment because it included the prorated October, and the ridiculous three month insurance charge, which theoretically shouldn’t be a party of either December’s or January’s paycheck. I somehow had failed to take into consideration either Social Security or income tax, so I kinda slapped myself upside the head when I saw those charges and realized what they were. It’s not really Social Security here, it’s a social insurance fund, it’s more like the Welfare program, or unemployment. Either way, their combined total was only 4.6% of my gross income, so, all things considered that’s great. 4.6%. You hear that folks back in America? I earned 249,450yen gross and paid 11,425yen in income tax/welfare. At least compared to Oregon, that’s so very, very nice. Actual deposit into my account? 110,509 yen.

But, all in all after I calculate the rest of me expenses, I am going to wind up well, just about $200 above water this month. Next month will be better, and so on, but, like I suspected, at least for a while, given what I came here to do, it will be tight living.

11:52pm

I went to the 柏 SMBC Bank this morning, shortly after writing the previous entry. I went there on a mission to order a wire transfer to my account back home. Damned things cost 4,000 yen a pop, but, given the immediacy of the need, it was worth it. It already shows up on my WellsFargo account summary, though it is still pending. I went ahead and authorized the necessary payments though, so that they will hit shortly after the transfer clears. I’m not really interested in making late payments, so, in a way I’m kiting the checks. Oh well. Such is life, at least until I figure out a more efficient way to do this.
After that, feeling a little more financially stable, I took a little trip to the Takashimaya Department Store to take a look at gloves. I found a nice pair, and as I was trying them on, I noticed there was an employee, a cute little Japanese woman overlooking my search. She looked at me, and in very good English remarked “It suits you.” I don’t think I stopped smiling for about three hours. I keep saying that over and over in my head, despite the grammar of using “it” for gloves being incorrect. Anyway, grammatical pedantry aside, she was so very kind, and I told her that I would take them. She asked if they were a gift, or for myself, and I said myself, and went to ring them up. She came back a minute later with my receipt, and it was then I first realized the true nature of our conversation. She handed me my receipt, and explained the Takashimaya point card she had started for me, where every time I spend more than 2,000 yen I get a stamp, up to five, then it’s a coupon for something or other.
Anyway, the important thing here is that as she was talking to me, I never even looked at the card. Her hand, her poor, sweet little hand was shaking. Trembling, actually. That poor girl must have felt like her heart was going to pop out of her chest. As soon as I got my bearings back after reeling at the thought that despite her perfect English she was that nervous, I smiled, and very politely thanked her for her help. I just wanted to give her a big hug and tell her everything was okay. It was just so weird for me to see her that nervous after being so suave when out conversation first started. I think that was the first time I’ve actually heard a Japanese person straight out state an opinion, sales pitch or not.

This observation was reiterated later today when the bank called me to confirm some information on my wire transfer application. They called while I was teaching, and the first time they just hung up. The next time, they left a message but I picked up my phone before I could check it. They were calling to confirm the spelling of my name on the application, where my handwriting was apparently somewhat illegible. His English was so very timid, and when I listened to the message, I realized what had happened in both instances of customer service today.

Somewhere, these poor employees were having a conference as to who should be the one to talk to me. Someone was elected to go talk to me. And the anxiety was painted all over their faces. I think the best part was listening to the phone message. Poor guy must have been sweating bullets. It’s a message, it’s recorded, and not only that it has to be right, the first and only time. And it’s from a bank. It really, really has to be correct.

I know how they feel though, I used to get so stressed talking to Hispanic customers at the grocery store. But oh man. Money matters. Yeesh. I have resolved to take up studying Japanese again. These poor people are going to have a heart attack at 30 otherwise.