07/30/2008: "Take that, bread man!!"

When you're standing in the grocery store, actually excited to learn that bread is on sale on Tuesdays (about ­­­95¢ for a half loaf.. which, sadly, is a good sale price), you can now officially say that your life has hit a new low. The sale is every Tuesday, but I couldn't resist and sacrificed freezer space so I could store more bread and don't have to be sure to hit the store next Tuesday.

Yes, every week I learn that my life can drop just a few more pegs on the pathetic pole. For some stats that no one cares about, I live on $6.67 a day for groceries (yes, I track these things), electricity is about $1-2 a day. Water and gas, I don't remember offhand.. but utils don't even make $100 a month. If I had more time to cook, a refrigerator that's bigger than a laptop bag, and better cooking methods (gee, an oven would be nice).. I'm confident I could knock those food prices down.

Those who say it's expensive to live in Japan are clearly doing it wrong. If I felt dedicated enough, it'd really be helpful for me to write all this stuff down in one easy-to-find place, to assist those who plan to come to Japan in the future (you'd be surprised as to how little information there is on the logistics of getting yourself to another country).. but hey, I did it! So can they! (also.. I'm lazy)

I should mention something that everyone in the world shy of me probably knew.. but when your boss says "hey, are you coming to the company-sponsored socializing function this weekend?", this isn't actually a question. "Uh.. no." is not a preferred answer, and neither is "=D HA!". In short, I was cornered by two coworkers outside my apartment (while dressed in a hobo shirt, flashy dress pants and socks, and sandals, holding a trash bag.. I was a work of wonder) who advised me that I "Really should go" and then found my name written on the sign up sheet this morning, and my boss hitting me in the arm and saying what a fun time we'll have.

Have I mentioned that the life of an English teacher is not without interesting stories? Though it is severely lacking in massive paychecks, fast cars, and sexy women. I can deal with two of those three, but one of those is nearly a deal breaker (HINT, it's not the car).

Oddly enough, despite that my car's a terrible, terrible piece of work and I stare at it with disgust, I'm strangely attached to it. It may be terrible. But it's MY terrible car (on loan, of course). Funny how life is like that.

Also.. I never appreciated power steering until I drove a car without it. I can't drive with ONE HAND? That's a SIN, I tell you. I never, ever saw Jesus with his hands on 10 and 2. If it's good enough for our savior, it's good enough for me.

Anyway.. that's about it. Overall, no point to any of this. Just an update on my life. On a positive note, I had lunch with someone today and we just sat and talked in English/Japanese for about 2 hours. I also received grapes from a student (note that you'll spend about $12 for one bunch of grapes). Bad note.. uh.. dunno. Not much to complain about. I've kinda adjusted to the things that suck and they are now just a part of life. OH! I started paying back my loans, and spending money on stuff like that isn't fun.

Weird side? I had a 17 year old call me while I was prepping for class at 6pm and ask if I wanted to go to a bar with her. Uh.. what? I've only met this person once, for an hour, at a festival.

Life is definitely interesting.


Jason