Perhaps

I obviously haven't updated in the past year. Perhaps I'll start soon regarding my training for Mt. Kilimanjaro, where I hope to go next summer.

Updates Soon

I made my blog public again, which was private for a little while during my job search. Not that I had anything posted that would get me in trouble, but just a level of comfort.

I'll do an update soon, probably tonight since I'm taking the holiday off from studying for the Series 7 exam.

Not Much To Say

I haven't updated because I didn't have Internet in my apartment in April, and then came home.

So, I'll update my final few weeks one of these days.

Getting closer

I'm using an Internet cafe now. The keyboards here require such strength when using the space bar.

I've done a lot the past few week, and will write again when I'm at a different place with better computers.

Only two more weeks now. I'm looking forward to enjoying cold, 12 oz. Miller Lite bottles.

3 Weeks Left

I'll be home at this time in 3 weeks.

Part of the reason I cut short my recent trip was because I didn't want to burn up my savings on transportation and lodging, and part because the weather forecast was rain and shitty weather for most of the week.

It's weird saying I have such little time left here. I've read other blogs of people who are leaving their countries to move abroad, and have such enthusiasm for their upcoming journey. I think I have the same.

Two years ago today I had my first real challenge in Japan when I got a bank account. Due to incorrect information about my address from the company I was working for, and unaware that minor details cause huge problems in Japan, I spent 4 hours going back and forth to the bank and city office trying to mend the mistake. I was frustrated, had little money, needed the account for a cash advance from the company I was working for, and felt like sitting by the river and crying. I remember the incident vividly, and also telling myself that when I close the account, I won't use English, and all will run smoothly.

Earlier today I closed that account. I had no problems. I didn't spend a long time at the bank, well, not too long at least. As is often the case, when I walked in, the staff got nervous that they might have to speak English, and after explaining in Japanese that I was there to close my account, the helper person got another helper person to confirm with me that I was there to close my account. I filled out a form, and was given a ticket. I sat and waited, while somebody's child had a fit in the seat in front of me. Accustomed to hearing children crying now, I paid little attention, and carried on looking at the pictures in some magazine. When my time was up, I went to the desk, and again explained I was there to close my account. I had to write some things in kanji (Chinese characters) which I've never done before. Aside from a little study here and there of survival phrases, I've never bothered with studying script, although, I can read a little. The lady applauded my copying skills, and then I had to go back to the chair and wait, while she took my form to somebody else, who then confirmed with me for the 4th time in 20 minutes that I wanted to close my account. A few minutes later, I left with my account closed, feeling completely satisfied there were no problems, and the closure I told myself two years ago I would have.

Now, everything is in place. My credit card has been charged for my ticket home, I know what I need to do to cancel my phone the day before I leave, my Internet will get cut off in the morning when the company comes to take away the router thing, and all is about finished.

Tomorrow night I'll go to a baseball game, which is one thing I've wanted to do, but still haven't. Sunday, the weather is suppose to be nice, so I'll go to Kamakura, the last place I want to visit.

This afternoon I went to the dentist. I was lucky that I called yesterday for an appointment, and was able to get in today. It was raining, and after a haircut in the morning, I was doing little else before except for getting some things in line to go.

The cleaning at the dentist is very thorough, however, the tool they use makes a sound like my teeth are being welded, and little sparks are flying out of my mouth. It sounds like nails on a chalkboard. With my national health insurance, it only costs $20. I've used the insurance twice in the past 9 months, and both times it was at the dentist.

After the cleaning, I noticed a shrine on the way back to the train station. Now is the season for cherry blossom (sakura) viewing in Japan. It's a popular time for people to have picnics under the trees, and enjoy the flowers. The sakura trees are a metaphor for life. Their birth is expected, their first few days on earth while blooming make them beautiful, before they get old, fall from the branches in their old age, and eventually become nothing but a memory of a short, but beautiful life.

I suppose any journey one partakes in is similar, and at the end we lie on the ground, rain drizzling on our backs, fighting for another moment, before the wind carries our souls away.