June 10, 2018

June 10, 2018

            It’s been a while since my last update, so I figured now would be an okay time.  The reason for the drought of updates is simply that life has stabilized around a routine.  I wake up between 9 and 10 most days, then I do exercises, which I’m proud to say I increase by one each day I do them. It consists of squats, push-ups, and sit ups, then a shower, lunch, and whatever project I have for the day before a quick nap, then work. My current projects are: a journal that details my views on Tarot, going through each card, with meaning, story, and picture descriptions for them.  This will take a while, since it’s hand written.  Also, I edit my book, and I’ve started working towards getting a dating profile back online.  I’ll drop the money I need for that come July, right now I’m still getting the Q/A section of it finished, or at least well along.

            My family and friends are coming to visit me in August and October respectively, so I’ve also been micromanaging that.  We have hotels booked, but I need to book the ferry and Shinkansen tickets for my respective visitors.  I also REALLY wanna get back to my Japanese studies.  My language has improved since staying here, but I feel I could improve more with proper time, even if it’s just once a week, dedicated to studying, so I think I will in July or August.  I want to take a language placement test to prove my worth as a Japanese language speaker at some point in the future.

            In other news, life is pretty stable here.  Summer has come and good lord do I hate that.  It’s got some beautiful scenery, like the rice fields which are a sea of green at this point, but the heat and sunlight are difficult for me, especially since I burn really easily.  Classes are hot, well, those without central A/C are, but the students get a kick out of my fan, which I need to survive.  I always doubt myself, no matter how skilled I become, but it seems like my students are having fun and enjoying my lessons, so I am happy here.  This year has been spectacular in small ways.  It’s the little improvements that make things, like going to Seimes weekly to get my special candy or visiting my ramen shop or yakiniku.  I can’t overstate how much I love this place and how happy I am these days, even if it is tempered by exhaustion after work days.

            My staff and I went out for an all you can drink party as well, which was cool.  I don’t drink beer, so I had my fill of soda, then headed home.  I’m not much for big parties, but I had a good time.  I also checked out a house because I am getting in the mindset of buying one.  Nowhere near enough money at this point, but…maybe someday. I’m also hanging out with people a bit more, some Japanese, some foreign.  But I do also enjoy my private time.

            The Switch is still really fun for me, though I just finished Hyrule warriors and good lord was that a slog. I like playing as Zelda characters, but the story mode is just awful.  And I’m stuck in limbo waiting for an entry into the Magic the Gathering beta online, which I want to try while Gwent gets its crap together.  Games are still a big part of my life, but…eh…I’m okay with less of them these days.

            A reason for less games has been the death of John Bain, which…I took harder than I thought.  He was British, but he lived in my state and was one of, if not the most, influential games journalists of all times, acting as comedian, rights advocate, critic, and newscaster, all with a level of wit, humor, and professionalism that shames modern news outlets.  It’s been about two weeks now, and I’m only just getting over it.  I still have his backlog to watch, but…it’s the end of an era.  A sad end, too.  Cancer at 33.  Just this once, I’ll also be posting a link to a gofund me for his wife and son, who deserve help after all the medical bills for cancer.  God bless capitalism.  I do want to take a moment and say how awesome universal health care is in Japan…get your act together, US.

            I’ve also been talking with my best friend a lot more.  She’s had more free time after a grueling semester working towards her masters.  It’s been…a nice addition to my routine.  She puts me at ease, though I feel we pick at each other sometimes.  She posed the question to me, do I want to stay in Japan?  I’ve kind of held out hope that the US would shape up and I could return and find work there, at least for a bit, and see my family and friends, but the more I live in Natori, the more I don’t want to leave Japan.  This country is wonderful and I love it.  Still, my future is up in the air.  The only thing I know is I want to finish my book.  We’re drawing close.  A few more months and hopefully it’ll be finished before the year’s end.  Then the revising and editing begins.

            So, yeah, we have small moments here, but my schedule is pretty set and, for the most part, I like it.  I miss family and friends, I miss DnD, I miss some of my foods, but it’s a small thing compared to how easy it is to live in Japan.  I do my job, which I love, and it feels as if I don’t have a care in the world.  Can it last forever?  Probably not, but…I intend to enjoy it while it does last.  Not sure when the next update will be.  Till then.