Single figures!!! And to think, it didnt seem that long ago that I was excited about getting to double figures...
Tohoku came up with another sob story today - they want me to either tell the scholarship people that I'm sick and have to leave, or make up some reason that I have to go to America right away, that can't be put off until next year, and ... this floored me.. come back to Japan later in the year to withdraw formally.
Apparently right now is the time of year when Tokyo is sorting out scholarship applications, and if I were to cancel mine, they are worried that this would 'reflect badly on Tohoku'. So they dont mind if I leave, but suggested (read: instructed) me to return here in September or October for a two minute talk with scholarship people to cancel it there and then.
Hah!! If they think this is at all likely they have another thing coming. Yes, it may reflect badly on Tohoku Uni, but they should have thought of that before, shouldnt they!
Im leaving Sendai in less than a week now - booked my trip to Osaka - the flight from here to Osaka, plus flying from Osaka to Tokyo was cheaper than taking the shinkansen one way! This time next week I shall be in Osaka, this time in nine days I shall be on a plane, three hours out over the Pacific.
Can't Wait!!
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Friday, May 21, 2004
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Diplomacy, or 'saving face'?
Saita sensei just came to visit - she wanted me to think about what I am going to tell the people over at the scholarship office about why I am leaving. She reckons I will have to write a letter to them explaining my 'inexplicable' reasons for even considering such an idea as actually voluntarily leaving Japan before the end of the year.
She heard my reasoning, and agreed that there was no point in staying, though I didnt go into anywhere near as much detail as I did with that big email to Hendriks. So, maybe she doesnt grasp the severity of this. Anyway, the advice I was given was to outright lie, and say either that I have become very sick and need to return home, or that some rather serious problem has developed at home, like a family member being similarly sick.
Apparently, to say something like this is desired, and I think this is because it puts all the responsibility (blame, if you will) on my leaving Tohoku squarely onto me. If I were to allow other people to hear my real reasons, this would be 'not what they want to hear', and my thoughts lead me to that this will mean that there is something on paper attesting to the fact that THEY are not perfect, and it was not 'all the gaijin's fault'... which seems to be what they want.
I think I'll go back to the burrow now and re write that letter to Hendriks into Japanese so I can be prepared properly... with everything that needs to be said!
And anyway... TEN days to go!!! 10!!! This time tomorrow it will be.... yes.... SINGLE FIGURES!!! (Yes, this excites me)
Saita sensei just came to visit - she wanted me to think about what I am going to tell the people over at the scholarship office about why I am leaving. She reckons I will have to write a letter to them explaining my 'inexplicable' reasons for even considering such an idea as actually voluntarily leaving Japan before the end of the year.
She heard my reasoning, and agreed that there was no point in staying, though I didnt go into anywhere near as much detail as I did with that big email to Hendriks. So, maybe she doesnt grasp the severity of this. Anyway, the advice I was given was to outright lie, and say either that I have become very sick and need to return home, or that some rather serious problem has developed at home, like a family member being similarly sick.
Apparently, to say something like this is desired, and I think this is because it puts all the responsibility (blame, if you will) on my leaving Tohoku squarely onto me. If I were to allow other people to hear my real reasons, this would be 'not what they want to hear', and my thoughts lead me to that this will mean that there is something on paper attesting to the fact that THEY are not perfect, and it was not 'all the gaijin's fault'... which seems to be what they want.
I think I'll go back to the burrow now and re write that letter to Hendriks into Japanese so I can be prepared properly... with everything that needs to be said!
And anyway... TEN days to go!!! 10!!! This time tomorrow it will be.... yes.... SINGLE FIGURES!!! (Yes, this excites me)
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
I really hope I'm not getting sick again... I've had a nasty cough since the weekend (much to Sarah's concern), and last night I began to worry that I was getting a bit high a temperature, so took a couple of whatever passes for Panadol in this country, and let myself sleep late, and haven't left my burrow all day. I will need to at least go up to Family Mart to get something for tea - unless... I'll see how hungry I get, but I might order a pizza, or something equally decadent. I did register for Pizza Hut's discount coupons on my phone, and thanks to a little creative license with the registering, they emailed me a 'birthday discount', a thousand yen off, if I order anything before my 'birthday', which, as far as Pizza Hut are concerned, is this weekend. It's very sad though - even with this discount its still going to cost me as much as three pizzas in Canberra. Oh well, I deserve a treat! Plus, it means I won't have to leave the building.
I reckon that's part of why I'm a little under the weather - I've been doing an awful lot of walking this last week since my bike went walkabout, and I'm not eating enough fruit to compensate. Do Pizza Hut offer side orders of fruit salad? Actually, looking at their menu (amazing the things you find when you clean your desk, isnt it?), they have "Corn Salad"... a bowl of corn kernels. Thats it.
Sigh.
Now, if only Family Mart had a fruit section, saving me the half an hour (each way) trip to the supermarket. Mind you, the supermarket has a habit of being very expensive...
I should start packing up the stuff in my room, I guess. My posters are already jumping off the walls in eager anticipation of leaving, and the occasional photo has done the same. I'm still undecided about luggage - Yusuke reminded me that I can get a courier to take my bags from my burrow direct to Narita airport, where I collect them and check in, but at $40 per bag, I might just send one and let the other follow me around to Osaka. Then there's the ANU stuff, which I must remember to try and find a storage place for in the Uni this week, then figure out some way of transporting it up there.
The big question remains - which pizza do I get? Potato, sticky-rice-paste, teriyaki chicken (with lettuce and mayonaisse), corn, tuna, or something a little more, shall we say, traditional?
[Edited to add, yes, the lettuce on the pizza is cooked. They put it on fresh, but then it all goes through that big pizza oven...]
11
I reckon that's part of why I'm a little under the weather - I've been doing an awful lot of walking this last week since my bike went walkabout, and I'm not eating enough fruit to compensate. Do Pizza Hut offer side orders of fruit salad? Actually, looking at their menu (amazing the things you find when you clean your desk, isnt it?), they have "Corn Salad"... a bowl of corn kernels. Thats it.
Sigh.
Now, if only Family Mart had a fruit section, saving me the half an hour (each way) trip to the supermarket. Mind you, the supermarket has a habit of being very expensive...
I should start packing up the stuff in my room, I guess. My posters are already jumping off the walls in eager anticipation of leaving, and the occasional photo has done the same. I'm still undecided about luggage - Yusuke reminded me that I can get a courier to take my bags from my burrow direct to Narita airport, where I collect them and check in, but at $40 per bag, I might just send one and let the other follow me around to Osaka. Then there's the ANU stuff, which I must remember to try and find a storage place for in the Uni this week, then figure out some way of transporting it up there.
The big question remains - which pizza do I get? Potato, sticky-rice-paste, teriyaki chicken (with lettuce and mayonaisse), corn, tuna, or something a little more, shall we say, traditional?
[Edited to add, yes, the lettuce on the pizza is cooked. They put it on fresh, but then it all goes through that big pizza oven...]
11
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Told the people at the international house today that I'm leaving.... they just nodded and told me to make sure I clean my stove. I guess the idea of my just picking up and leaving is pretty normal to them...
Gas bill was also due today, and last month's rent. While at it I paid the futon rent charge - never was it part of Tohoku's philosophy to include anything for free if they could charge for it - our showers are taxed, and they make us pay for the use of a futon if we dont bring our own.
Who on earth brings a FUTON when travelling overseas?
It looks like its going to be much much easier, quicker, and ... CHEAPER to fly to Osaka if I were going that way. The airfare from Sendai to Osaka, then Osaka to Narita is about the same price as the return shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka, cuts hours off the trip, and on the train I would still have to make my way from Sendai to Tokyo, then once back again Tokyo to Narita. Yeah, the Tokyo International Airport is an hour away from Tokyo...
Would indeed be nice to get down to Osaka... affording it is the tricky part.
Sigh..
Oh well... 12 days and I'm out of this country for good! Cant wait!
Gas bill was also due today, and last month's rent. While at it I paid the futon rent charge - never was it part of Tohoku's philosophy to include anything for free if they could charge for it - our showers are taxed, and they make us pay for the use of a futon if we dont bring our own.
Who on earth brings a FUTON when travelling overseas?
It looks like its going to be much much easier, quicker, and ... CHEAPER to fly to Osaka if I were going that way. The airfare from Sendai to Osaka, then Osaka to Narita is about the same price as the return shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka, cuts hours off the trip, and on the train I would still have to make my way from Sendai to Tokyo, then once back again Tokyo to Narita. Yeah, the Tokyo International Airport is an hour away from Tokyo...
Would indeed be nice to get down to Osaka... affording it is the tricky part.
Sigh..
Oh well... 12 days and I'm out of this country for good! Cant wait!
Monday, May 17, 2004
Ticket booked!!
When I went to the travel agent on campus on Friday, the little oompa loompa attempted to reserve a ticket, but said I would have to wait until later that day to find out whether there was an available seat or not. She rang me back at 5.30 to say, sorry, the flight was full. I left her three more options, and she said she would try another one of them, but I would have to come back on Monday to see if there was an available seat or not!
So, Monday it is, and back to the travel agent. (This is why internet booking exists... its a terrible shame that the cheapest online tickets I could find were three times the price at this travel agent). The oompa loompa says, sorry, the flight was full. She would see about the next option, and if I would be so kind as to come back tomorrow she would be able to tell me.
What sort of travel agent cannot tell you straight away whether or not there are any available seats?? Most of them will even tell you before you book!
All it took was a little squeezing. I made sure she understood that I was not leaving that seat by her desk until I was booked and confirmed on a flight going where I want. Two hours later, after asking me each and every time which airline I wanted to fly (I made the mistake of saying I would prefer, if possible, a Star Alliance or One World carrier, but as long as I could get a seat anything was fine).
Anyway, two hours down and she finds a seat for me, flying Delta (havent flown them since I was 12), 13 hours Tokyo to Atlanta, then an hour and a half to Indianapolis! Very very exciting!
I leave Japan on May 30th. That's only thirteen days away!!
When I went to the travel agent on campus on Friday, the little oompa loompa attempted to reserve a ticket, but said I would have to wait until later that day to find out whether there was an available seat or not. She rang me back at 5.30 to say, sorry, the flight was full. I left her three more options, and she said she would try another one of them, but I would have to come back on Monday to see if there was an available seat or not!
So, Monday it is, and back to the travel agent. (This is why internet booking exists... its a terrible shame that the cheapest online tickets I could find were three times the price at this travel agent). The oompa loompa says, sorry, the flight was full. She would see about the next option, and if I would be so kind as to come back tomorrow she would be able to tell me.
What sort of travel agent cannot tell you straight away whether or not there are any available seats?? Most of them will even tell you before you book!
All it took was a little squeezing. I made sure she understood that I was not leaving that seat by her desk until I was booked and confirmed on a flight going where I want. Two hours later, after asking me each and every time which airline I wanted to fly (I made the mistake of saying I would prefer, if possible, a Star Alliance or One World carrier, but as long as I could get a seat anything was fine).
Anyway, two hours down and she finds a seat for me, flying Delta (havent flown them since I was 12), 13 hours Tokyo to Atlanta, then an hour and a half to Indianapolis! Very very exciting!
I leave Japan on May 30th. That's only thirteen days away!!
Sunday, May 16, 2004
Yet another lazy day, mooching around my burrow while it drizzled outside all day. It's rather frustrating killing time until Monday, because I have to wait for the travel agent to open again to finalise my ticket. They are not very efficient - it took the oompa loompa two hours to tell me that the flight I wanted to fly on was full - two hours from when I paid my deposit. At least, that deposit is transferrable to whichever flight I end up on, so that is OK.
By this time tomorrow though I should have my exact departure date, time, and location fixed (Might be Tokyo, might be Osaka) - and of course that means my exact arrival time too... I cant wait, knowing that in two weeks I will be out of here, gone from Sendai, gone from Tohoku, gone from Japan.
Japan itself isnt a bad place - I know I had fun here, so much fun that I extended my visa when I was here four years ago. And even this time around, I have had fun. Just, none of the fun times were related to Tohoku Uni. Still, I can't wait to leave, and will post details of precisely when I shall do that.
My address, too, will of course change. Anything posted to me up til know should make it to me before I leave, but I wouldnt like the chances, for anything yet to come. Here is my new address, valid immediately if anyone wanted to post us some Dairy Milk, though I shan't be living there myself until in a couple of weeks.
Stephen Harrington
3200 Longview Ave.
Apt 15
Bloomington, IN 47408
USA
This is from a reliable source (Sarah), not Uchiyama san, so it is accurate, this time, I promise!
Should be heading back to the burrow soon... getting rather hungry. Wonder what's left in the cupboard for grazing on...
15
By this time tomorrow though I should have my exact departure date, time, and location fixed (Might be Tokyo, might be Osaka) - and of course that means my exact arrival time too... I cant wait, knowing that in two weeks I will be out of here, gone from Sendai, gone from Tohoku, gone from Japan.
Japan itself isnt a bad place - I know I had fun here, so much fun that I extended my visa when I was here four years ago. And even this time around, I have had fun. Just, none of the fun times were related to Tohoku Uni. Still, I can't wait to leave, and will post details of precisely when I shall do that.
My address, too, will of course change. Anything posted to me up til know should make it to me before I leave, but I wouldnt like the chances, for anything yet to come. Here is my new address, valid immediately if anyone wanted to post us some Dairy Milk, though I shan't be living there myself until in a couple of weeks.
Stephen Harrington
3200 Longview Ave.
Apt 15
Bloomington, IN 47408
USA
This is from a reliable source (Sarah), not Uchiyama san, so it is accurate, this time, I promise!
Should be heading back to the burrow soon... getting rather hungry. Wonder what's left in the cupboard for grazing on...
15
Lazy day today. Woke up rather late after not sleeping very well last night, and with a sore throat. I was very thirsty when I got back to the burrow last night and drank a fair bit of water from the tap, though it had a slightly odd taste. Funny thing about the water here - it is not particularly refreshing, so to feel rehydrated one needs to drink a lot more water than anything else. My apple juice ran out yesterday too, so water it was. Spent the entire day reading, watching TV, and rang Sarah of course.
The view out the window wasnt that appealing either, bleak, grey, and raining on and off. I only left my burrow to go to Family Mart and replenish my phone card, and get some milk and bread. Too much effort required to go anywhere else, and I really didnt feel like it. Especially since I'm without a bike now... I locked it up at Sendai Station when I went to Tokyo this week, but when I got back again it had gone walkabout. No big loss really, though, because I dont like that particular bike, and I'm sure it doesnt like me. The chain would fall off, front and back, whenever I hit a bump in the road, and on Monday night it threw me off onto the asphalt and bruised me in two places, and gave me whiplash in the neck. I'm OK now except for a diminishing yellow splodge on my leg that hurts when I poke it (guess I should stop poking it, hey?), and my neck works properly again. So, yeah, all in all, I'm not sorry to see the bike go. One less thing for me to worry about when packing up. It was given to me anyway by someone leaving Sendai who knew it wasnt worth transporting anywhere else.
Speaking of other stuff to pack up, Eugene brought around the rest of the ANU stuff today - some more crockery, a futon and... a microwave oven! Well... at least these will be useful for the next week or two, but in two weeks I will be out of here for good! Cant wait!
15
The view out the window wasnt that appealing either, bleak, grey, and raining on and off. I only left my burrow to go to Family Mart and replenish my phone card, and get some milk and bread. Too much effort required to go anywhere else, and I really didnt feel like it. Especially since I'm without a bike now... I locked it up at Sendai Station when I went to Tokyo this week, but when I got back again it had gone walkabout. No big loss really, though, because I dont like that particular bike, and I'm sure it doesnt like me. The chain would fall off, front and back, whenever I hit a bump in the road, and on Monday night it threw me off onto the asphalt and bruised me in two places, and gave me whiplash in the neck. I'm OK now except for a diminishing yellow splodge on my leg that hurts when I poke it (guess I should stop poking it, hey?), and my neck works properly again. So, yeah, all in all, I'm not sorry to see the bike go. One less thing for me to worry about when packing up. It was given to me anyway by someone leaving Sendai who knew it wasnt worth transporting anywhere else.
Speaking of other stuff to pack up, Eugene brought around the rest of the ANU stuff today - some more crockery, a futon and... a microwave oven! Well... at least these will be useful for the next week or two, but in two weeks I will be out of here for good! Cant wait!
15
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