July: July 7 - July 12, 2017

July 7, 2017

Ugh…god, so tired.  I went to the bank this morning and was able to operate the ATM without any help, so that felt good, but I feel like I’m lacking in sleep.  I managed to get through my classes today, but it was harder than I thought.  Which is weird, since Friday is supposed to be my other easy day.  I think it’s because of the prep work for the Chicago classes, which I also made homework sheets for.  I’m teaching some kids language for a brief homestay in the US, so…that’s tomorrow. On Saturday.  Ugh.  Anyway, after that, I plan to get a bath and before that I plan to make tacos.  Let’s hope the best laid plans don’t screw up.  Anyway, till later everyone.  If I don’t upload the Matsushima pictures this weekend, it’ll be next weekend.

I just want to add that there was an earthquake during Yakiniku time last night.  Lasted for like 30 seconds, was a bit weird, then done. That’s how most earthquakes are.  I was a bit shocked at first, but on reflection, it really wasn’t a big deal.  Low magnitude, so no one was really bothered.

July 8, 2017

Well, putting writing on hold for today.  We’ll see about tomorrow.  Anyway, I talked with my family after sleeping in, that was a mistake, but they took it all in good stride.  I did some gaming and then I went to teach my class on home stay in the US.  A bit stressful.  The heat was hard to deal with and while the students got it and we were able to do some good practice, it felt off…you know, being as I had already finished my work week.

After that, I went to the bathhouse.  Weirdly It was really crowded around 5.  Much more so than I thought it would be.  I still got some good zen time in, but I dunno…I tend to prefer being alone for these situations, but whatever.  I got some good food afterwards and then headed home.  The heat today was real though, so I was sweating by the time I got home.

I also should mention I made tacos for lunch.  Worked SURPRISINGLY well.  I had a taco kit from the Yamaya and with the squash, cheese, and beef I used, it was…quite good, actually.  May do that again…hmmmm…anyway, that was a big high point and I have tacos for two more days.

I feel like I need to take a moment and talk Dark Souls, especially given how much grief Bloodborne gave me.  I like it because it tends to be a bit slower, more methodical, and less twitchy.  However, today I got really frustrated with a few moments.  I beat the game, but I still have a bit of DLC to go through.  Now, I want to bring this up just for a bit of game analytics.  Now, I fought the end boss, who was a great throwback to bosses previous, using moves from my own characters and the original lord of flames.  I also fought a DLC boss who I was super frustrated by because of some BS tactics.  Finally, I fought a secret boss who may have been the best boss I’ve played in…maybe any game.  Now, they all have something in common.  They’re all multi battle bosses, where you beat them once, then you fight another form.  Number 1 and 3 do this well, but number 2, GOOD GOD…I mean, the first form’s okay, a bit of ice, a bit of invisible backstabbing BS, but then their second form is coupled with room filling blasts of damage and they gain a buddy for two on one.  Then there is a THIRD form.  Sigh…by the end, I was exhausted.  Now, the secret boss has two forms as well, but it was much more fair.  All the attacks were predictable and while he was fast, strong, and durable, I was able to win in the end.  Took me a good 20 tries, but I enjoyed every try and wasn’t cursing at the game for being BS.  This is what I want more of in games, honestly.  I want a battle that is fair and where you can learn to fight back without feeling like you’re being cheap shotted.  It’s a shame there won’t be any more Dark Souls for a while, but…at least they stuck the Nameless King and his storm drake steed in the last one.  I toppled them.  I am the dragon king now.

July 9, 2017

Finally finished Dark Souls 3 and I’m glad it’s over.  I’ll enjoy it more in subsequent playthroughs, but for now, it’s just been a bit frustrating, especially the last area with a BS mega dragon boss, nothing like the fair and fun Nameless King.  Anyway, I finally beat the game when I was talking with a friend of mine on the phone.  I had to stay calm for her sake, so it actually helped me focus a bit.

Writing is suffering a bit.  I did manage to get in about 3 pages, maybe 4, but it’s not like my usual output.  The stress of my six day work week combined with less time to write on Saturday, which is my usual day, and finally the Dark Souls equation, which exhausted me mentally and physically, I just didn’t have much in me.  Hoping it will be easier to do some writing next week.  We’ll see.  As long as I get more sleep, it ought to be fine.  Anyway, I need to get some tacos.  I am hungry.

July 10, 2017

Ugh…the heat of the day continues to exhaust me to the point I wonder how I’ll go on.  If it’s this bad in Natori, imagine what it must be stateside.  Also, my efforts to get medicine sent to Natori have fallen through, so far.  That leaves me with three options, unless the bank can get it’s shit together and just pay the damn company I’m trying to use, as my credit card has been declined twice and I KNOW there’s money in my account.  Option 1, I run out of medicine and don’t take more until I get sick.  At least I know where the eye clinic is.  That means, twice a year, I’d have to deal with red eye and go to the eye clinic to get myself treated.  Not fun.  Option 2, I go to the clinic every two weeks or maybe every month to get more eye medicine from them, since I’m only given basically a 12 day supply.  Again, not fun and tedious.  Option 3, I get my family to send me the medicine.  Possible, but a lot of red tape.  I’d need them to buy the medicine, which could be annoying without a prescription, and then I’d need a Yakkan Shoumei form from the Japanese government to have it released from customs.  All of these sound like super not fun.  Ugh…having eye disease sucks.

July 11, 2017

Today was not great.  A combination of pain in my thumb from unknown swelling, I think I burned it or have somehow actually overused it, being told I’ve got…well, they don’t want to say an evaluation, but that’s what it feels like coming up, and that it was Tuesday just…made my life unpleasant.  The evaluation will probably be fine, it’s Thursday.  I’m not great, but I’m not terrible and this will likely just be things I should try to work on, which I will because I want to do better.  Anyway, Tuesday is, as I have said, my least favorite day.  It’s a combination of stress for it being the middle of the week and the fact that I get students with either way too much energy, so they can feel overpowering, or with so little I feel like I’m dragging them along, which makes it hard.  I’ve learned a few lessons, of course, but still, it takes…effort to get through.  Couple that with the heat and I just did not have a good time.  So very tired.

July 12, 2017

God…so tired.  Today’s classes were fine.  Wednesday, despite being a very exhausting day, is one of the good ones.  It really does show how different things can go depending on student attitudes and the like.  Anyway, classes were fine, but I did mess up and forgot to give one of my classes ice cream as a treat.  While my colleagues insist it’s not a big deal, I feel bad because…these students worked hard and deserved a treat.  I should note, it’s not a big deal because I can do it later, but still…still…

I also cleaned my house today.  Another reason I’m tired.  Also frustrating is that after I cleaned my house and went to work, bugs started appearing.  Four so far, but I doubt there will be more.  They seem to be drawn by the heat, but when the AC turns on, there is nothing for them.  I hate summer here.  I like summer festivals, but I hate the heat and the humidity.

I’m also tired because I’m pushing myself to play a game called Hollow Knight.  It’s a beautiful game, but I’d rather be playing Dragon Quest Builders.  I put it down once already for Dark Souls, so I just want to finish it.  It’s a beautiful Metroid-vania, however it does focus on, and this ties back to what I said before…bugs.  Yes, anthropomorphized bugs.  After crawling through a webbed up hell hole, I’m kinda ready for it to be over. The game has a mix of charming character design and Cronenburgian body horror which I suppose gels with the bugs idea, but still…*shiver*. While it is a good game and does have its charms, I want to go to something more comfort foody, which is what DQ is for me.  It’s the music, aesthetic, and simple, but satisfying gameplay.  It gets me every time.

Looks like my medicine is going to have to come from my family.  We’re working on getting it here now, but it’s a slow grind.  Also, I just feel so much fatigue lately.  It’s a mix of school work and the extra classes and stress.  I have a kind of evaluation meeting tomorrow.  No matter what happens, I’ll be fine.  I’ll try to improve based on suggestions and if worse comes to worse, I have finally made enough money that I’ve broken even.  If I get fired, I can go back to the states having lost nothing, at least in terms of money.  That said, again, I don’t want to be fired or quit.  I like this town, even in summer.  And I like being able to save like 1000 dollars a month.  So…I hope it all turns out okay.

Should add, I popped what I think was a pus bubble in my thumb, part of the swelling. It looks better and feels better so far, but it’s still a bit swollen, so I need more time.