Oct 27th, 2001. Missing you.

So here I am, with my nightly plate of cookies and tea. The cookies here are so good, I am beginning to wonder if there is something special in them that makes them so damn addictive. My flatmates and I each go through a box of cookies every one and a half days. Hmm...I think I have just figured out what they do with all those unsold magic mushrooms.

Ok, so this is my first time away from home for any substantial period of time. Needless to say, it's quite a jump going from having your parents do everything for you, and being totally spoiled with attention from your friends, girlfriend and family to being alone most of the time in a country where you can't even speak the language. I keep saying that I am effectively illiterate here. And I might as well be deaf, blind and dumb as well.

But, fret not, dear reader. One of the most remarkable things about being human is about to kick in. What am I talking about? Adaptability. It's amazing what you can get used to. I'm sure that if you think hard enough about it, you can come up with a few bizarre things that happen in everyday life that you totally disregard now because it happens so often. It's only when an outsider looks at it, that it comes to your attention. Anyway, I am starting to adapt to life here. I am getting used to rush hour traffic on the trains. Man, you have not seen crowded until you have been here. Trust me.

 

This is actually a shot of me from the night before. I just put it here because it doesn't really fit in with the theme for yesterday's page. It's probably about 5pm and I am just waiting to leave for dinner. I'm meeting my mom's boss, Stan, and his colleague, Nick, for dinner.

I ventured all the way to the Akasaka Prince Hotel, just off the Ginza subway line. Took me about 40 minutes to get there. We went to eat Japanese food in the area, and found this quiet little place, tucked away in a corner.

Stan asked what I wanted to eat, I said I was up for anything. Big mistake. He ordered sashimi (raw fish), which was great, but then came the "anything" I asked for. Stan ordered ama-ebi, or raw shrimp. Not only is this shrimp raw, but it is still moving. Well, by the time we got it, it stopped moving, but YUCK! Nick wouldn't touch the stuff, and must have been getting a little queasy from all the raw meat, as he headed out a little early.

The ama-ebi was delicious, and I am thankful that Stan goaded me into trying some. Whoever thought that live seafood would taste good?

Ok, on to October 27th. For those of you who knew me back in Canada, you will no doubt be wondering how the hell I am getting on without my girlfriend, Frances, at my side.

For those of you who don't know, Frances is very close to me, and we spend so much time together at home, it's almost imaginable that I would leave her for an entire year. At times, I catch myself wondering that exact thing. What the hell was I thinking?

Well, it's really hard, but what I said above about humans having an uncanny ability to adapt holds true, even in this case. It's scary, but I am actually finding ways to cope with being away. I figured that I would be a hapless wreck, but here I am.

I have printed out her picture and have posted it on my wall, near the lightswitch, so I will see her each time I leave or enter my room. And see that red thing at the top left corner of the clothes rack? It's a little plush heart she bought for me, from Ikea.
 

Click on the photo above for a slightly larger sized pic. Before I left, I bought Frances a webcam as a going away present. It was my hope that I would have internet access at my place, and thus be able to speak to her through something like MS NetMeeting.

I have yet to get internet access, but this will serve as motivation to do so quickly.

Right. So I have some photos posted on my wall. How can that compare to actually having someone you can hold in your arms at night? Pictures are nice, but sometimes, there has to be something physical there. I agree. That's why I found a temporary stand in for Frances, while I am in Japan. She's a little flat, this replacement, but that's something you will have to put up with while in Japan. Beggars can't be choosers. Besides, they are both super-sweet.

Ok, you can go throw up now.

 

Wait. Before you go running to the toilet, congratulate me, please. I am now officially part of the Japanese banking system. They gave me my bank card and bank book today at work. Of course, I have no money in the account right now, but that's not the point. The point is that I am now a somebody!

I felt the same kind of joy when they gave me my employee number at work. Good old 20931. It has a nice ring to it. Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.