Another quick update


Timeline

3/18 - interview with MLS
3/19 - first phone contact with the Utsunomiya School
3/20 - did-nothing. Some research on ECE, interview prep, etc.
3/21 - stayed home to watch the soap-opera real life. The Afro girl is getting scarier and scarier by the minute
3/22 - Interview at Utsunomiya. Spend hours and hours going over time table and contract, etc. Then I looked at one apartment.
3/23 - Gave notice to Sakura house
3/24 - helped my roommate move her furnitures to Takadanobaba.
3/25 - Made an Inkan! Woohoo~
3/26 - did nothing.
3/27 - Sight-seeing with roommate in Odaiba. We even did all the tourist stuff like riding the ferris wheel...
3/28 - picked up my Gaijin card, and spend the rest of the day in Shibuya. I oogled at the camping gears, dry suits, kayak paddles, outdoors grills, etc. But bought nothing at the end. (Got myself a scarf at a fashion shop though. I also got some cozy wool socks ^_^)
3/29 - went to Hanami at Yoyogi koen, sampled snacks like takoyaki at food stalls, bought a charger for my ipod speaker in the speaker, but I don't think it works O_O;; My ipod is now corrupted.... bahh
3/30 - was going to go to Yoyogi koen again, but then it rained. Verbally agreed to confirm to rent an apartment unit that I haven't seen myself in Utsunomiya. Planned to do dinner with two french girls , but C is freaking out over every little thing, and generally being loudly indecisive. I got so annoyed that I wanted to snap at her and tell her to just stop apologizing, but that's probably just gonna make it worse, so I shut myself up and came upstair to blog.

All in all, I am really glad that I am leaving this sh!thole of a guesthouse. I know I am not being very tolerant, but it seems, every week, a new weirdo moves in. My roommate is easy enough to live with, but she can be selfish too -- like, when she wants to watch a movie until 2am, she takes it for granted that I should stay up with her and go to bed as soon as her movie is over. When I have some e-mails to reply to at 1am, she gets out of bed and tells me off for using my computer so late.

The new French girl is cool, we could actually have decent conversations like grad school, college life, travel experiences etc, instead of the constant gossips of diet and breast size and popular hair style and clothes etc. The french canadien girl is always glued to her though, and I am running out of patience for her constant apologies and worries. "Should I go to kareoke now or should I go later? Oh I am so mad at myself for wasting that 100 yen in the laundry. Oh I am really hungry and I want to eat some rice but I am going to get fat so fast! Oh I am so sorry I am not even helping with dinner, I guess I just don't deserve to eat. Oh I am so sorry. Oh I am sorry..."

Then the American girl came home to talk about her job interview. "Oh basically, by the end of it, they are like, like, like saying, WHAT!? YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN A MODEL BEFORE? YOU ARE KIDDING ME RIGHT. They are so sorry that I am leaving Japan in 3 months. They don't know what they are going to do without me."

That's the last straw, really. I am ready to admit that I am an old lady. I don't know why society likes to glorify the youthful feminine and immortalize them on magazine covers, when in reality, it's just a psychological pit of constant self-consciousness minus any degree of self-awareness.

Glad I am moving on.

Just a quick one (and I got a job!)

The Yokohama school still hasn't call back for the second interview. I think that means they are not hiring me.

Or maybe I am just saying this to myself to feel better; as much as I like them, I need a job! Now! No more wishy-washy! So when I went up to Tochigi yesterday for my interview and they decided they like me, I signed my soul away.

At least for the year to come.

At first I did like what I saw: small classs (or they promised at first...), no blackboard, fun class with kids. Not that different from the Yokohama school in philosophy, right? So what have I got to lose?

There were a few, shall I say, yellow-flags, that flashed by me though. For example, the original salary offer was 255,000, but because I don't have a driver's license, they told me they will reduce my salary to 250,000.

Fine, I can see it makes life difficult for the roster-churners, because I can't cover classes that are not accessible by bus or JR. I am happy with that compromise.

So before I sign the contract, I read through it and asked the rijijo some specific questions. One clause says that I am not allowed to work outside this school. So I asked if I am allowed to offer language exchange -- i.e. I privately tutor English and receive Japanese lesson in return, but even that isn't allowed. Though, it's not very clear on the paper, I still don't see how they can stop me from doing it.

Another clause says that I must not have "any kind of relationship with their students or related members in private." Before I sign, rijijo told me that it's just to make sure foreigners christian don't try to force their believes onto their clients or their family by pressuring them into church services etc. After I sign the contract, rijijo spilled the ugly story of previous employee marrying a mother of one of the students, and the school facing angry husband complaining, plus the whole nine yard.

We continue to talk about working arrangements, living arrangements and so on. She (rijijo) is pleasant enough, I enjoyed talking to her and she is polite and hospitable, and not very imposing. But then she started telling me about all the gaijin she had hired in the past that are giving her headaches, including nosy gaijin, selfish gaijin, disobedient gaijin...

I am already starting to wonder, have I signed my soul to the devil? Or can I be so culturally sensitive that I turn myself into a cold (i.e. form no human-relationship with people I work with), altruistic, ask-no-question, obedient gaijin.

But what if I do? I will still be a gaijin.

-Lia

A Slow Day

I spend today doing ... absolutely nothing!

I was going to call James or Sumie to see if they want to check out Harajuku with me, either that, or go to Akibahara again to pick up a charger for my ipod, or better yet, go to Jimbocho (aka bookworms heaven) to shop for some mind-candies.

But it rained from the moment I woke up, until... now. I feel guilty and even a little stressed out about doing nothing, because I know there is a time limit in landing a job and time is running out fast. But it's a national holiday today and most schools aren't even open, so instead, I took advantage of a stable network in Sakura House today (a small miracle, really) and surfed gaijinpod for hours.

The truth is, my roommate went to her uncle's house for her vacation. (It's spring break for school children right now,) which mean I can finally have some space to myself. I liked having this unexpected privacy so much, even the prospect of book-shopping in Jimbocho paled in comparison.

As I have been getting quite a few calls for interviews, I am feeling optimistic about my visa situation. Today, I lied on my bed fantasizing what life in Nikkou would be like. I have a job offer there, I spend a long time talking on the phone with them yesterday and I think they really like me. Nikkou is one of the few areas in Japan where people actually live on the mountains. It would be far far away from the ocean, which is disappointing, but being surrounded by waterfall and onsen and forest isn't all bad either. If it's good enough for Tokugawa Ieyasu, it can't be that bad. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I like it.

The only problem is commuting, as I don't have a driver'slicense, I can't use the car the company provides. What am I ever going to do in a god-forsaken rural place like Nikkou without a car? I can't even paddle my kayak! (except down the waterfall... maybe)

I am going up for an interview on Saturday. How soon will they make their decision? They asked me to bring my passport, does that mean I have to decide and sign the contract right away? Nikkou is very far from Tokyo, so it doesn't make sense for me to travel up there for a day interview, go home to think about it, and then travel up there again just to sign the paperworks. But given a choice, I think I'd rather work in Yokohama. Yokohama is right next to the ocean, so I am already fantasizing a happy life of afterschool surfing and kayaking. Besides, the Yokohama admin staff seems really friendly, they also have a high teachers-return rate (70%), which means they don't go through their gaijin staff like toilet-paper, as most eikaiwa schools are notorious for.

I should stop now, I am just thinking out loud, I am sure my readers are also bored to death :-)

First Interview


I had my first interview with a English language school today. The topic of the colonization of HK has came up so much that, I am getting a little tired of it.

I think the interview went well enough, at least, I think I have performed as well as I could, it would be really nice if I get that job -- because I really like what I have seen so far, but even if I don't, I did my best, so I will just call it a good experience :-)

I have a few more interviews coming, but the flakey Internet connection at my guesthouse won't let me send and check e-mail >_<


Last night, I went to a pub called Angel in the red light district in Shinjuku, with James and Andrzej. (It's too bad Richard couldn't come) I also met Hiroko, Andrzej's friend. She is a salesperson in an accessory store, it was nice talking to her, as far as acquaintance goes, but she was so polite, I can't help but to think that she is only showing me her business face.

I am surprised though, it's a really nice and cozy little pub, but my group was the only customers for an hour or two. It's only when we were about to leave that other patrons start to come in. How do they pay rent in the Kabukicho district in Shinjuku when they have so little business?

As I mentioned before, the colonization issue came up more frequently than I expect. At the interview today, I had to explain how come I have a Brit passport. Then I came home to talk to the Canadian and American girls in the kitchen; the topic came up again (something about a shared past of being Brit colony :p~). I just see it as a joke between travellers, because we all define our nationalities in relation to each other; similar to the way Brits joke with Brazilians about soccer games.

But for some reasons, everybody seems to think that Hongkies got lucky because the Brits ruled us for a century; like today, the people that interviewed me commented that "wow, you were lucky you were born at the right time!" So readers, tell me, is it just me or is it a little ... condescending? So I am getting cynical about this colonization thing. And when the topic came up yesterday, James got really pissed off. Honestly, I do think it's ridiculous for the Brits to take over HK, silk and our tea, and pay us back with opium. But I don't hold Brits of this generation responsible, and I certainly hope I didn't come across that way.


***************

As I still don't have a job, I have been careful about my spendings until now. Today, I had my first interview, and I think I did well, so I rewarded myself with some immediate comforts. I bought some snacks, sashimi and a bottle of umeshu at a kyukyu-shop. It's alarming though, I am spending over 50% of today's expense on alcohol (and I finished the bottle!). I hope I don't make this a habit :p~~

Anyway, it's about time I do another quick briefing of my timeline:


12/3 - Foodex at Kaihin Makuhari w/ Mr.R and Sonoko
13/3 - Finally mailed out my EJU applications. I chickened out and picked science stream :p Oh, and for the first time, I cooked a real meal (except for the time I cooked for my host...)
14/3 - bought some writing paper and rice, which is significant because, stocking up on these things means I am finally settling down.
15/3 - Got my cell phone!! Finally ;___; I also ate at McDonalds, I know, what shame...
16/3 - Went out with Mr. R, K, and Sara for what is supposed to be a relaxing day, but instead, it stressed me to my breaking point and beyond! I think that's when you say to yourself, "never again!"
17/3 - Went to Angel for a few drinks and snacks. The fact that I am drinking probably means I am finally allowing myself to relax and not be constantly vigillant.
18/3 - First job interview!!! I know I shouldn't do this but I am feeling unreasonably hopeful :)

-Lia

Personal Space

I felt like crap yesterday. I think, being constantly surrounded by so many people in Tokyo is really getting to my nerves. I am sick of being polite to people; I am sick of all the ritualized gestures of politeness that is (to me) over the top and maybe not even sincere; and it doesn't help that I have to share a room with a roommate now, which means, I almost never ever have personal time, I am constantly trying to adjust and adapt my lifestyle into some else's schedules and quirks. I feel as though, I don't even know who I am anymore.

But, isn't it so wonderful to be a grown up? I like traveling alone, not because it's all freedom and hee hee ha ha, but because of times like this, when you are in the pit, but you just have to pick yourself up and walk on with what is left of you. It doesn't sound so wonderful, but I think it's time like this that makes me feel confident about myself and enables to take on bigger advantures. Like when I got caught in the dumpsurf zone in the dark in Tung Ping Chau last year -- you just know there is nothing left to do but to focus on survival, and at the end, when I came out alive, I knew that I didn't just survive, I've won the game.

Today, I'd like to curl up in bed and remain miserable; I'd like to take a box of tissue and cry my eyes out in the nearest park. But instead, I pick up what is left of myself, adjust my pace, and take a baby step forward at a time. I stayed in Tung Ping Chau until noon after the dumpsurf incidence, I am allowed to slow down at times. At the end, it would all work out. It has always worked out for me.

I have got two e-mails that are asking for interviews for teaching English, and one more e-mail from Pasona groups which I couldn't read, because the Japanese fonts all turned into bakeji. Really, this is the best news I've received since I arrived Japan! I gotta cheer up ^__^

Better yet, James and maybe Andrew and Richard are coming out for a drink in Shinjuku tonight. I hope they can both come, I am really looking forward to it.

Got errands to run now, can't hide in the cave forever, babe...

-Lia

What people think we are, and what we think we are


I am in a reflexive mood today.

Last night, a young Canadien moved into our guesthouse. I didn't get to talk to her though. She seems intimidated by me, probably because I greeted her in Japanese. She probably assumed that I speak no English, because she opens up to the other caucasians in the guesthouse right away. Funny how people do that.

This morning, I told her I am more comfortable with English than I am with Japanese language, she instantly became less shy and talked to me more openly. She told me she is feeling so discouraged and frightened that, she wants to quickly get a plane ticket and go back to Canada.

So I got all flamboyant, told her to chill out, take it easy, you are only starting, it takes time to get used to it, give it a chance, blah blah blah. Hah, so guru of me. I even acted all mentor like and took her out for a walk to show her around the area, where to buy grocery, where to get a phone, where is the nearest pay phone, how to get to a post office, etc.

Little did I know, it's gonna be one of those kind of days for me...



Then I came back upstairs. My roommate from Shanhai is slowly warming up to me. At first she didn't seem to want to talk to me. But now, she is friendly, inquisitive. This morning, she asked me when am I going to go back to Canada, because she would like to save some money and visit Canada with me when I go back. She also invites me to visit mainland China with her, which I got very excited about. This is her first time leaving home for a foreign country, but after a few months, apparently she likes it.

I was so grateful that I have a cool roommate, a roommate that also likes to travel, to let the world opens up her mind.

Little did I know, it's going to be one of those days...


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Fred, I got your e-mail. Thanks, I guess you are trying to be nice. Any other day, I would write back to you personally and try to be encouraging. But not today. Today, I can't even cheer myself up. I guess, the best I can do is to commiserate.

You think I am SO FREE? Do you want to know what I am doing right now? I am blogging in a shared bedroom in a dirty little guesthouse in Tokyo, biting into my lip, trying hard not to cry, so that my roommate won't hear me. So I went into the shower to cry when I can't hold it anymore, but was too afraid that other inmates in the guesthouse would hear me, so I had to sob silently into the shower too. Really, I feel like I am in prison.

How is that for freedom? Do you still think I am OH SO COOL?

Today is exactly what I have always feared and dragged. A few hours after I got my plane ticket to Tokyo, I started to panic. Today is exactly the kind of days that holds me back, makes me afraid to move forward, or to move anywhere, at all. But I knew, whenever I uproot myself, days like this will come to me, and thankfully, I also know it will pass.

I do a lot of things on impulse, and alone. Somehow people get the idea that I am aloof, that I do not succumb to peer pressure, to social obligations. I do, I do it so much, sometimes I wonder, if there is anything I do that isn't borne out of social motivations.

Today, I spend a lot of time with people I like, people that I naively thought are my friends. Who am I kidding? How long have I been in Tokyo? How can I be so naive as to think, that I can almost relax, or that I have friends whom I can count on?

Today is one of those days when I am surrounded by a lot of people that we call friends, but only I know, in the heart of my heart, that I am miserably, utterly, frighteningly, alone.

Fred, there is nothing wrong with being materialistic. I am not as materialistic as you are because I don't make as much money as you do, that's all. I still have an ipod, I still have a laptop, a nice set of carbon-fiber paddles, GPS, EPIRB, and god knows what. I know what it is like to be burdened by your material possessions; it wasn't that long ago that I had to wear my 85L backpack around Tokyo, bumping into people and had to bow to apologize too. (and hit them again with my backpack while I bow.)

I miss you, Fred. I miss paddling Indian Summer back to Pak Kok Tsuen, and I sincerely miss coming home to your cozy little house, all exhausted, only to be assaulted by mosquitos and then get knocked over by Loshue. As much as I used to curse them, even the mosquitos seem endearing to me now. I miss those days when you were also in Hong Kong, and we were so used to each other's company that we could afford to take each other for granted. We didn't even used to say anything to each other, no superficial "how was your day," no empty politeness. You would come home and just start replying e-mails, but somehow I felt more content than I do today, when I spend all day sight-seeing with "friends," having fancy sweets and giggling about meaningless things. It's so terrible, to be with so many people, but at the same time be utterly alone.

I would offer to sing you a song now, but that would wake my roommate up. So instead, I will just type you the lyrics -- the lyrics of the song I sang to myself again and again when I paddled my HKSAR circumnavigation solo trip, when I was oh so free to do whatever I please:

Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose,
Nothing don't mean nothing honey if it ain't free...
'feeling good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues,
...feeling good was good enough for me,
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee.

You know how they say, grass is always greener on the other side. If it makes you feel any better at all, Fred, I am now nursing my heavy heart, mourning the loss of the place that isn't good enough for you, mourning for the loss of the place where I used to call home.

Flakey Internet, even Flakier People

I meant to blog a bit more, but the Sakura House Internet has been acting really really strange. For the last week or so, I have been able to use Skype and P2P without too much trouble. (Skype did get cut off on a few occasions, but then I was able to reconnect within a few hours... so I didn't freak out.) But for some very odd reasons, I can't seem to use my browser for the last 2 days.

As the Internet services crash, my frustrations mount. Yesterday, I spend all day walking in the rain, from Yoyogi through Shinjuku and almost to Shibuya, visiting one bank then another, none of them would let me open an account with a temporary stay visa. I got even more frustrated when, I went to the mobile phone shops and they rejected my attempt to purchase a prepaid phone for the same reason. I mean, god damn, it's a prepaid phone. I pay for everything up front. What are you worried about, people? That I run back to my country, with a phone and credits that I have already paid for, in advance, and in cash?

It's actually a long drawn game. At first, I was told I couldn't get one without a Gaigokuji Toroku Shomeisho. Fine, I will docilely submit myself to the Japanese surveillance network. So I went to the Shibuya Kuyakusho to register myself, and came back to the phone company to try to buy a prepaid phone again. That's when they tell me that I need a visa that is longer than 90 days to get the prepaid phone. Why couldn't they tell me in the first place?

So I got soaked in the rain, then patiently walked from buildings to buildings, from one bank to another, and got turned down everywhere I went. No wonder Japanese are so patient; I suppose they train you early on. Amazingly, I didn't explode on these poor Japanese bankers and cell phone salespersons. I even bow to them and thanked them for their, um, "helps."

I exploded though, when I went home finally, soaked to the core and miserable. I didn't even realize I was frustrated and upset until I talked to Mr.R on skype. No, seriously, I was almost smiling until he said, "you must be so frustrated." I almost wanted to cry at that moment. Funny how red isn't really red until you call it red, I didn't realize I was upset until someone named my emotion... in English.

It's like, when I am operating in the Japanese mode, being frustrated and impatient and upset isn't part of the vocabulary, and by induction, it also isn't part of my emotional repatoire. But as soon as I switch back to the English speaking mode, I was enraged!



Looking at the brighter side of things though, I now know how to walk to Shinjuku and even Shibuya from Yoyogi, so I don't have to go through the freakish Shinjuku JR station anymore, which is a huge relief.

By the same token, the brighter side of having unreliable internet service is ... is... is what? I am really being trained up to stop procrastination. DO IT WHILE YOU CAN, because the internet connection WON'T LAST.

Which is why I am blogging now. Hell, I better submit my blog entry before I get cut off again.

Another strange encounter in the Guesthouse

Morning: finally made up my mind about EJU, I send out the application in the post office this morning, it was simple enough to do, and the officer in the Post office, like everybody else in Japan, has been extrodinarily helpful.

Afternoon: Spend a ridiculous amount of time blogging (and I am doing it again now, gah!), then chatted with Aaron on Skype for a bit. He is more geeky than I remember, I guess that could be cute, but, it's really hard for me to keep up with a conversation when it strays into topics like debugging codes and motorola OS documentations. Sorry Aaron, I really like you and everything, I am just not a geek :p~

The plan is to do some quick brush-up on Math, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. I need to decide which subject to take before stomping into the Jimbocho district and look for exam-prep books.

When I went downstairs to make pasta (again!), I ran into another American girl in the kitchen. She has been glued to the TV since early this morning, so I am surprised to see her again at 4pm. Every time I went down to make tea, or to cook, she is there.

She is tall, and anorexic-thin. She has a wild afro hairdo, and is dressed in somewhat strange but pretty combination of clothes. The only thing is, she is dramatically, painfully, heartbreakingly shy. She mumbles when she speaks and she can't take her eyes off the table (or the floor). At first, I thought, hmm, another American teenager with low self-esteem. But then she told me her hobby was "ango," and after a painfully slow and delicate conversation, she told me she studied cryptography in American University and is now studying Japanese in Japan. She has been here for two years.

I don't know what to think. She wiggles her body and covers her face when she talks, and the volume of her voice gets lower and lower by the minute. Is she trying to assimilate herself into Japanese culture by imitating shojo-manga genre? More than a few people have commented that I am "bijin janaikedo, kawaiine." Which is an underhanded compliment that says, "you are not beautiful, but you are cute." Now, I really wonder what they mean. I hope I am not giving people the impression that I am walking around with my eyes casted down and my head hanging low, with a cute wiggle in the hip and squeaky, girly-girl voice. Really, I am learning to hold my tongue and bow and be polite, I am trying to remember to say thank you etc., but, but, but... I don't ever want to turn into a shy, nerdy, shojo-anime-princess>_<

First Week of Japan


I have been in Tokyo for a little over a week now. For most tourists, they might have already seen all the temples and parks and fancy restaurants. I, on the other hand, am only beginning to fall in love with Tokyo.

Apologies to myself for not blogging until now. I arrived at a busy time, so I always feel rushed to get things done. Being in Tokyo itself feels like being in college all over again, everything has a deadline, a schedule and a hierarchy. Sometimes I think blogging takes away too much of my time, but it's wonderful to be able to look back and laugh at all the little mistakes I used to make, so I think it's still a worthy compromise.

So here goes my lengthy blog--

Brief Timeline

3/3 - Depart from Hong Kong
4/3 - Arrive Narita, bus to Kichijoji, met Mr. R
5/3 - Visited a few guesthouses in Higashinagano, Nakano Shinbashi, tried and failed to get a cell phone, and cooked for my host.
6/3 - Visited a few guesthouses in Sendagaya, Higashi Koganei. Spend a few peaceful hours at Kichijoji Park. (I think this is when I really fall in love with Kichijoji and feel really at home...)
7/3 - Unbelievably stressed out. Met Sumie, Moved out to Higashi Koganei, met Yuliya, got lost in Shinjuku, freaked out, and finally found my way to Sakura HQ and paid my deposit.
8/3 - I wore a suit! Good god, I feel so weird, like a monkey in a boardroom. I went to the International JobFair in Akibahara. It was ... intense. Then I went to Sakura HQ again to pick up my room key and sign all my contracts. I am so irritable and bitchy when I speak in English... but it has to be done, signing contracts has never been a pleasant business anyway. Then I met James and Richard at the Higashi Koganei guesthouse.
9/3 - Met Andrew; and have breakfast with James, Andrew and Richard at Jonathan's. mmMMmmmm, sausage, bacon and eggs. I never thought I would say that but American breakfast is goooood. Then I moved to Sakura House in Sendagaya near Yoyogi station. Then I met Sumie-chan for dinner at a Izakanaya, we had Oden, a salad and a few drinks.
10/3 - Talked to American student in the Sakura house kitchen. Tried to find my barings around yoyogi area, e-mailed a few eikawa schools, and picked up some leaflets from several schools in yoyogi area. (anime schools, language schools, and yobiko)
11/3 - Walked into a Chinese restaurant to ask for a job, I think I got it (but I am still waiting for the e-mail.) Then I went to Shibuya to fill in my Gaijin Registrations. Then I went into an Apple Shop to admire the Mac Book Air... how I wish I could have one!! ;__; Then I spend hours and hours and hours in Kinokuniya (after visiting a few smaller bookshops.) I think I am in love with Shibuya, what with the apple shop and bookstores, I feel right at home!
12/3 - Went to Foodex with MrR and Sonoko, Internet died at sakura house that day and everyone suddenly have nothing to do... hurray! People are finally talking to me! Two Chinese girls came into my room after their part time job. Chating casually like this reminds me of the good old time in Lombok, Indonesia.



3-Mar-2008 Depart Hong Kong

I knew something was wrong as soon as I got up. Damn it, I still have so much to do. I was hoping to see a few more friends before I go, I still need to pack a few things, and was hoping to burn more data onto DVD for reference use in Japan. But, but, but... I have to wake up with the stomach flu (?)

I am not the kind to use drugs recklessly ... normally. I mean, I work in a clinic, I have seen enough animals getting mortally sick from owners who try to play doctor and self-medicate them with over the counter drugs. But, this is my last day in HK, and I wake up feeling like crap, so... after my first bout of diarrhea in the morning, I took some herbal medicine and hope to feel better.


A few hours afterwards, my diarrhea got worse. My whole body aches and I felt dizzy. I don't have a thermometer, but I just know I had a fever... either that, or I think I have one coming. So I took some paracetamol.

Then I proceed to sleep through most of the day. I couldn't actually sleep, but I was feeling too week to do anything else. Mom came back for lunch and offered to cook for me, but I was so nauseated I couldn't keep any food down. At last, I ate some lattice and tried very hard not to vomit.

Then came night time, mom and dad tested me for fever with the good old parental way -- with the back of their hands on my forehead ^_^;; They both think I had the fever, and I was feeling worse by the minute. I was starting to worry that they won't let me onto the airplane.

We were going to have dinner at the airport, but I just don't think I could keep anything down. So instead, mom and dad send me off and I entered the gate a few hours early. I was sweating one minute and shivering the next. I don't even get sick that often, why do I have to get sick now!??


4-Mar-2008 Arrive Tokyo

I found a cell phone in the airport, I tried to give it to one of the staff, he wouldn't even touch it. He told me to give it to a security officer, but offered no help as to where to find one. How is that for airport security? Some country encourage people to be alert about suspicious objects in public transits, HK airport just can't be bothered! Well, I am sick and I am dragging an oversized backpack around, so too bad if the cellphone is bomb activator. I just don't care!

0050am, I finally boarded the plane. I fell asleep almost as soon as I sat down, by the time they wake me up for the meal, I was feeling much better. I even managed to eat without feeling like throwing up. Seriously, I am not superstitious and I don't believe in fung shui, but I think there is something about HK that just ... makes me sick. As soon as I leave HK region, I am healthy again! Woohoo!!

The reality of going to Japan started to hit me as soon as I changed flight in Korea. The first announcement for boarding was in Korean, which I couldn't understand. So all the Korean started lining up and the rest of us just sit around like dummies. Then came the Japanese announcement, which was easy enough to understand, so I obediently joint the queue. At last, they did an annoucement in English thick in accent, which I actually couldn't understand. And the foreigners start to line up to0. I wonder what would I do if I were a typical Hongkie, with broken English and understand no Japanese.

During the entire flight, the flight attendants spoke to me in Japanese. Probably because I grabbed a copy of the Japanese news paper while I was boarding. It made me a little nervous and I was a little shy to speak at first, but I got over it quickly.

Japanese custom is simple if you have done your homework. I have to declare an address where I will be staying and I have to tell them what I would be doing. Since I have no solid plan, I just pulled Mr. R's addy out of my bluebook and walked on with no further issue. They didn't even ask to see my return ticket.

I took the Limosine Bus service from the airport to Kichijoji, which was simple enough. The first panic was the telephone system, which I got a little confused. I tried to reach Mr. R at a telephone box once I've reached Kichijoji, but I couldn't get through. I knew the number works because I had called him from HK before, but somehow I can't connect from with Japan. Luckily for me, there is a koban (police box) nearby, the omawarisan (cops) have been eyeing me with curiosity for some times anyway, due to my oversized backpack. So I walked in and explained my situation, I am supposed to call this person but I can't get the number to work. They were helpful enough -- turns out you have to add a zero in front of the area code when you call within Japan.

I waited in front of the koban for about an hour, and finally Mr.R came. I had no idea how busy he is at the time, I only start to appreciate the efforts he is making to help me (a total stranger to him) after living with him for a few days. Really, as wonderful as Tokyo is, nothing is easy. Choosing to couchsurf at a well-established gaijin's home is probably the best thing that happened to me. I thought gaijins are so preveledged in japan, life must be easy, but boy, I was wrong.


* * * That's enough writing for a day... I will blog again .. later. Right now, I gotta catch up with Aaron!