No Countdowns

I just don’t like countdowns. Something about it makes the days leading up to day zero less important. Right now, they’re more important. Saying good bye to family and friends. Figuring out how to part with me boyfriend and my pets. I guess I should be happy that my subconscious is more concerned with connections and relationships than material things.

Speaking of friends and family, I had 3 parties this weekend and one I didn’t know about until I showed up. It was good ^o^ very enjoyable. The best part about a party being a surprise is you don’t have to worry about any of the setup! The other best part of course is that you get to see people you really didn’t think you would. Not that I hadn’t been trying to see them. Everyone has busy lives, ’tis all. By day 3, I was absolutely exhausted. We’re talking bloated from food, tired from doing way more than normal for 3 straight days, and worn out from answering the same questions a ba-jillion times. But it’s all worth it. My Grandma and Nana are coming to see me off tomorrow (they’re about a 5 hour drive away) so I’m expecting less running around but more answering questions. Grandparents will be grandparents.

Note – I hadn’t been posting much to my busy state of being as well as waiting to check-in with my Osaka branch contact about still coming to work. All is well. She assures me that things are happening as planned and I have other reliable friends in the area who also tell me that the rest of Japan is unaffected, physically at least. Though I’m sure everyone who has connections with the area of the disaster has been affected emotionally. Hopefully, I’ll be able to find a volunteer relief group that I can help in some way.

For anyone wanting to know where I am in relation to Fukushima power plant, see the previous post on placement. I’m in Nanao, 6 hours minimum or 250 miles minimum from the site.  Also, check out this article about keeping a reign in on all this sensationalism going on in the media. I have to admit, I’m kinda looking forward to a less crowded flight and airport. We shall see…

I know I had wanted to do a whole post on packing (I might do a follow up one after I get settled in Nanao) but here’s a sum-up of my plan. I have a monster bag I bought recently, Athalon I think, which separates into 2 bags for checking at the airport. International flights get 2 free checked bags with a 50 lb limit. Separating the bags helps keep them under the limit. I also have a small 20 inch carry on and my backpack. I compiled a list of items I want to take ages ago and had one pre-packing with an older bag. I highly recommend both a  list and pre-packing that list. I realized what things I really didn’t need (like lots of shoes… hey, I’m female) and what I needed more of such as work shirts. I’m likely going to have a full weeks worth of suit pants, a couple nice suit jackets, and 2 weeks worth of work shirts with assorted short-sleeve and long sleeve. Work stuffs is my biggest concern because I’m a bit curvy and I have a hard enough time finding shirts that fit in the States. Something else important to consider is bringing a couple items with sentimental or fun meaning (my items are a sweatshirt, a pair of heels, some corsets, and particular jewelry).

Today is a collect-items-for-the-kids day for me. Stickers, coins, photos, and so on. I’ll try to put another post together specifically about JET vs Interac but it may not get finished until after I’m in Japan.

With love – M

Quakes and Shakes

3/16 Update: Alright… I feel like everyone’s freaking out. Until I get some solid scientific sources about the new reports on radiation levels and such, I am forming no opinions of my own. I’m usually pretty trusting of BBC but with this stuff, I want someone with a degree in radioactive isotopes or something.

 

By now, anyone that doesn’t live under a rock has heard about the goings on in Japan. To be honest, I don’t think the worst part was the earthquake or the tsunami. The aftermath of food, water, and energy (electricity and petrol) shortages in those areas is going to be the hardest and longest hurdle.

Since so many friends and family have been asking me questions about Japan and me and what in blue-blazes is going on, below is a sum up.

1. I am still going. My town is far from the epicenter and hopefully I won’t have issues flying into Tokyo. If I do, we’ll deal with that when it happens. I will be contacting my contacts in Tokyo as my departure draws closer but right now, they have enough on their hands dealing with the poor ALT’s going to or are already living in those areas. Please pray for their safety. In addition, if allowed, I will be heading anywhere I can that needs help while over there. However, I have a feeling my company may advise to simply do my job so that it will help things continue to some sense of normalcy.
2. The media is blowing a lot of smoke here in the states so please don’t just watch the news. Read a source that is at least slightly educated in how nuclear reactors work. My boyfriend found a very good blog post that has gotten attention for being effective at explaining what actually happened and why Japan is not in danger of having something like Chernobyl happen, ever. Please at least read the sum up at the end. It’s all much more complicated than many of the news videos I’ve been watching via abc and cnn. Let’s be real, news reporters are not scientists. And safe news is boring news.
3. Yes, from what I understand there is one more quake on it’s way. The earth has to loosen a belt notch one more time before it can settle, I assume. No sense holding our breath on it though. Whatever happens, happens. Let’s just hope everyone comes out of it alive and well. It’s hard when you’re on the other side of the world and all you can do is sit and watch. If you do have the means to go help the efforts over there in some way, please do. Like I said, the worst is what comes after. But it’s also the best, right? People really come together and lift each other up. I have no doubt the Japanese will do just that.

Enough blabber from me. I’m mostly done work so I hope to have a couple more posts about my preparations before I leave in 2 weeks. And thank you to everyone that’s been concerned for me. I’ll be just fine ^__^

With love – M

The Oops and Recovery

Man oh man. There’s been a bit of back and forth on things so I was trying to wait for the dust to settle before I did another update. To be clear, not ‘bad’ back and forth, just… lots of decisions to be made. Some rearranging of my schools and also where I’ll be living. I will update with maps as soon as I have a more final answer/decision. The worst part is waiting for a reply. Gotta love that 14 hour time difference.

I had my not-so-official last day in the office this past Friday. Fortunately and unfortunately, since this isn’t really my job and I’ve pretty much taken on my bosses duties out of the goodness of my heart, I can drop the reigns at any point. But I won’t. I’m seeing all these loose ends through as far as I can see them. The last thing I want is for this program to suffer any just because I got tired and let some things slide. It’s not in my nature. But, come to an end it shall. I can’t really help anyone while on the other side of the world… well, maybe just some emails here and there… and some powerpoint presentations… and maybe some website stuff… GAH.

On to heavier things.

The Oops: The day I was going to mail my visa, I discovered my passport was missing from our family safe. On the night before I was going in to get my replacement passport, I discover my birth certificate is also missing. I officially have thieving gnomes that follow me around. Panic ensued.

And Recovery: After a few tears, I gathered my wits and sent off for my birth certificate. I wasn’t born here, in Delaware, so I had to request it from Orange County, Florida. I know, right? Just my luck. Surprisingly, I got it less than 3 business days after I ordered it using the credit card expedited method they recommended. Then I was off to get my passport replacement, which went off without a hitch. (Make sure you have all your paperwork in order BEFORE you go! Several people were having fits due to their own unpreparedness.) And today I picked up my passport, again just under 3 business day wait, and mailed it off to the Consulate in New York.

When I hold that visa in my hand, then I shall dance and scream SUCCESS.

For those of you out there who fear this scenario, and fear it you should, don’t be like me and wait to make sure that passport is where you think it is. Caress it each week until you send it off for your visa. But at least, in this sort of worst case event, all is not lost. Well, it was… but I made it reappear. Stay sharp, stay calm. As Tim Gunn says, make it work!

And now for some awesome.

With love – M