Sorry for my online absence, but I have been very busy, and not busy at all. For a while I thought my laptop was dying, because it wasn't turning on :( I think it's okay now, fingers crossed.
It's been a while, and I'm sure I will miss out a lot of things but I will try to remember the important parts...and this time I have photos. Goodie! A few weeks ago I was in Hakuba again, riding the slopes (haha). I find it hilarious that I love snowboarding so much, considering my whole life I haven't really gotten into the whole 'loving sports' thing. I remember in my last year of High School a couple of friends and I hated sport so much we convinced the sport teacher to just let us walk around the town for exercise, rather than getting involved in sweaty, dirty sports. Now I feel it was a bit of a cop out, probably could've benifited from the exercise. Not to worry!
And other than being a sport, it's a winter sport! I hate the cold, but I really enjoy getting out in the snow and going down a mountain and getting snowed on. The company certainly helps as well :) But about Hakuba, once again it was great and I had a fantastic time. Dede did get a little (ha) annoyed at me because I wasn't able to do some turns as fast as he had expected. It was a little hurtful, I was trying the whole time, I never gave up until he got angry. He doesn't understand that not everyone is a natural at everything, unlike him. And besides, it was only my third time and I think I am doing awesomely considering. But it was okay, I met his work mates and got to hang out in the little shack where he works. I spoke Japanese with his boss, and everyone was surprised I knew Japanese so well. This time I think the praise was genuine, because I was able to have a few really great conversations. That boosted my confidence in Japanese, and I got over Dede being a meanie. (He apologised anyway, he understands now hehe).
We went out to dinner at a restuarant/izakaya named Kuikui. Dede had had 馬刺し basashi, or raw horse met here previously. I decided I would try it to, although I felt it was a bit strange killing a poor horsie just for meat. But I wasn't scared, and besides, I ate whale at one of my schools, so why not? I can't really remember what I could compare the meat to, but it was a little tougher than most raw meats are. I did enjoy it, but like whale, the flavour wasn't so amazing that I would be ordering it again. It's nothing special.
Back in Kiso, it had been snowing quite a lot. One day I opened my front door to discover the snow had started edging up my door. Exciting, but I didn't appreciate it getting colder. For a while the low had been at -11, apparently colder than usual, according to one of my Junior High teachers. Today it seems like most of the snow is melting away. Don't get me wrong, the snow is fun and all but I can't wait for it to be gone. I don't mind travelling to see it, but I don't want to live in it.
Last week was a busy, busy week for me. On Monday night I had to go to Kaida for an English conversation class; it was fun but a long way to drive, and at that time of the night I'm usually getting ready for bed. I love my sleep. On Tuesday I went out to dinner with my friend Nozomi because I haven't seen her in ages, and it was really nice. Having a normal conversation in Japanese though is so hard, but I'm trying to make a point to not use English at all when I can. Even when speaking to people who know English. Then on Wednesday night I went out to dinner with Saito-Sensei and a couple of other teachers for her birthday. We had chanko-nabe, which basically seems to be any kind of vegetables and meat in a pot. It was nice, but not amazing. But it was nice to be invited to her birthday and I had a really good time. Thursday night I had the Fukushima English conversation class; this one was harder than the other because people didn't really talk together very much. I had to think of questions and it was annoying, considering I'm not really the kind of person that asks questions. I usually let other people do that...so yeah, it ended up being quite a challenge. The people are nice but I feel like they are holding a lot back. Everyone speaks great English though so I was surprised. Friday night I was planning to go to the Fukushima Ice Candle Festival with Saito-Sensei and Brooke...but...
On Friday morning I was feeling a little under the weather, but not awful, so I went to school. I completed two classes, and started to feel a bit strange, but again, not awful. One teacher noticed that I was coughing a lot and got me to take my temperature. It was 37.2 and everyone freaked out, and told me to go to the hospital. I knew instantly that they were all suspecting it to be influenza, something that every single person in Japan seems to be terrified of. I always thought it was a little silly; just a little worse than a cold, and yes, the elderly and young can die from it...but it's life.
So I went to the hosital begrudgingly, and because I was a suspected influenza case, I had to wait in a little room on my own; can't infect all the elderly that typically fill clinics! Just like home :) After maybe half an hour a lady came in and looked a bit shocked to see a foreigner. She asked if I understood Japanese and I said 'a bit'. She then said she was going to perform a 検査 kensa, or a test. At the time my mind blanked and I just repeated kensa over and over but I couldn't remember the meaning at all! Crazy, I use the word all the time. Then she said she was going to stick something up my nose and it was going to hurt. I frowned, but put my head back obediently. And it did hurt, kind of like a stinging sensation. Doesn't last for long but I didn't like it. I had to wait even longer, and by this point I wasn't feeling too great and wanted to sleep.
Finally I saw the doctor, who was really, really old. I think he was speaking in a funny dialect too because I could not understand a word. The nurse beside me just rephrased what he said, and I understood her perfectly. He basically told me that my fever wasn't so bad, but if it got worse to go back to the hospital, and just take some cold medicine. That made me a little annoyed, all that waiting for nothing really. Then I had to wait another half an hour before I could pay. I thought it was a huge waste of my time, so I went home to sleep. That night Saito-Sensei came to my house to bring my some food and drink to help me feel better, which was very lovely.
The next day I was feeling a little worse, but on Sunday I was feeling fantastic. I was sure I would be going to school the next day, and it was also good because Dede was coming to stay for a few nights. He had a job interview with my company :)
But Monday came, and I was a million times worse. I hardly even left the couch (where I sleep now, seeing as my bedroom is so big and cold and expensive to heat). My supervisor told me to return to the hospital, but I couldn't go without help. I was exhausted and couldn't find the energy to do anything. Dede was due to get to Kiso at 9.30pm at night, but he missed the train due to a bit of confusion and had to take the last one, so he got here at 10.20pm. I had to help him get some things for his interview ready, and made it to bed at 12.00am; awful, but I knew I wouldn't be getting to school the next day unless there was some kind of miracle.
On Tuesday I took Dede to the station at 7.20am, wished him luck, then drove myself to the hospital. I was feeling so awful that I would have been stupid not to. I got there at 8.00am, and the doctor apparently starts work at 8.30am so I had to wait in his office. I had to have the nose test again which was just as bad as the first time. I was nearly falling asleep on the bed, but I wasn't sure if I was allowed to lie down; silly me, I'm sick, who would have cared?
Eventually the doctor turned up at 9.30am, there were a lot of questions, and eventually they told me that I had Influenza B, the worse one, and the one that had been going around my Junior High. (Classes all over the country have been cancelled according to how many children have been sick with influenza. At least everyday I had one class/grade that was sent home after lunch. Why they let them come to school before lunch, I don't understand.) I was given a million pills with a million different instructions, which I luckily understood, and I was pushed out the back door to prevent contact with those who don't have my illness!
I went home, checked my email and all that fun stuff and was about to sleep when Dede called. He had finished his interview with Altia and said it went great, although his lack of experience and Japanese ability may hinder him. But apparently he had a great personality and it went great! I knew he would go well :) He asked me to check what time the next train to Kiso would be. I said yes, but then I fell asleep, for what I thought would only be half an hour or so. I woke up at 3.00pm to the doorbell ringing, and Dede standing there with Krispy Kreme for me. Best boyfriend <3 I was so happy, I had thought about asking him to get me some, but then I had gotten sick and forgotten. He knows me too well and it made me feel very happy, despite feeling so awful. There were even special Valentine's Day ones in there!
We had a great night watching movies, but I was still feeling disgusting. The next day was sad for me, because Dede had to leave, and I just wanted him to stay and look after me. That night though, I actually felt a lot better.
Today is Friday, and I am still off work, because the doctor made me take a week off. It's probably a good thing, so I can really get over it. A pity though, because I have had a lot of expensive bills. I probably wasn't terribly smart either. I bought a new snowboard yesterday. Sitting at home with nothing to do is not good for me, but it did give me a lot of time to research. I badly, badly wanted the Burton Feather 140, either 2011 or 2012 model, it is so pretty and perfect for me. But I went with a slightly cheaper, but a board that is just as good. The Salomon Surface 142, 2011-2012. Apparently it *could* last me for 10 years. I suppose it all depends on how I progress and what kind of riding I find myself doing. Nevertheless, I bought it and was really scared, but now I hear it has been shipped and I am so excited. I feel like I can try things that I didn't before, since I was worried about the rental gear. It is so exciting!
Matsumoto Ice Sculpture Festival - I went with Brooke and Yui. We went to karaoke afterwards :)
My front door
Dede won three, I won two. All very close :)
Hakuba Station and carpark from Tanukis
It's been a while, and I'm sure I will miss out a lot of things but I will try to remember the important parts...and this time I have photos. Goodie! A few weeks ago I was in Hakuba again, riding the slopes (haha). I find it hilarious that I love snowboarding so much, considering my whole life I haven't really gotten into the whole 'loving sports' thing. I remember in my last year of High School a couple of friends and I hated sport so much we convinced the sport teacher to just let us walk around the town for exercise, rather than getting involved in sweaty, dirty sports. Now I feel it was a bit of a cop out, probably could've benifited from the exercise. Not to worry!
And other than being a sport, it's a winter sport! I hate the cold, but I really enjoy getting out in the snow and going down a mountain and getting snowed on. The company certainly helps as well :) But about Hakuba, once again it was great and I had a fantastic time. Dede did get a little (ha) annoyed at me because I wasn't able to do some turns as fast as he had expected. It was a little hurtful, I was trying the whole time, I never gave up until he got angry. He doesn't understand that not everyone is a natural at everything, unlike him. And besides, it was only my third time and I think I am doing awesomely considering. But it was okay, I met his work mates and got to hang out in the little shack where he works. I spoke Japanese with his boss, and everyone was surprised I knew Japanese so well. This time I think the praise was genuine, because I was able to have a few really great conversations. That boosted my confidence in Japanese, and I got over Dede being a meanie. (He apologised anyway, he understands now hehe).
We went out to dinner at a restuarant/izakaya named Kuikui. Dede had had 馬刺し basashi, or raw horse met here previously. I decided I would try it to, although I felt it was a bit strange killing a poor horsie just for meat. But I wasn't scared, and besides, I ate whale at one of my schools, so why not? I can't really remember what I could compare the meat to, but it was a little tougher than most raw meats are. I did enjoy it, but like whale, the flavour wasn't so amazing that I would be ordering it again. It's nothing special.
Back in Kiso, it had been snowing quite a lot. One day I opened my front door to discover the snow had started edging up my door. Exciting, but I didn't appreciate it getting colder. For a while the low had been at -11, apparently colder than usual, according to one of my Junior High teachers. Today it seems like most of the snow is melting away. Don't get me wrong, the snow is fun and all but I can't wait for it to be gone. I don't mind travelling to see it, but I don't want to live in it.
Last week was a busy, busy week for me. On Monday night I had to go to Kaida for an English conversation class; it was fun but a long way to drive, and at that time of the night I'm usually getting ready for bed. I love my sleep. On Tuesday I went out to dinner with my friend Nozomi because I haven't seen her in ages, and it was really nice. Having a normal conversation in Japanese though is so hard, but I'm trying to make a point to not use English at all when I can. Even when speaking to people who know English. Then on Wednesday night I went out to dinner with Saito-Sensei and a couple of other teachers for her birthday. We had chanko-nabe, which basically seems to be any kind of vegetables and meat in a pot. It was nice, but not amazing. But it was nice to be invited to her birthday and I had a really good time. Thursday night I had the Fukushima English conversation class; this one was harder than the other because people didn't really talk together very much. I had to think of questions and it was annoying, considering I'm not really the kind of person that asks questions. I usually let other people do that...so yeah, it ended up being quite a challenge. The people are nice but I feel like they are holding a lot back. Everyone speaks great English though so I was surprised. Friday night I was planning to go to the Fukushima Ice Candle Festival with Saito-Sensei and Brooke...but...
On Friday morning I was feeling a little under the weather, but not awful, so I went to school. I completed two classes, and started to feel a bit strange, but again, not awful. One teacher noticed that I was coughing a lot and got me to take my temperature. It was 37.2 and everyone freaked out, and told me to go to the hospital. I knew instantly that they were all suspecting it to be influenza, something that every single person in Japan seems to be terrified of. I always thought it was a little silly; just a little worse than a cold, and yes, the elderly and young can die from it...but it's life.
So I went to the hosital begrudgingly, and because I was a suspected influenza case, I had to wait in a little room on my own; can't infect all the elderly that typically fill clinics! Just like home :) After maybe half an hour a lady came in and looked a bit shocked to see a foreigner. She asked if I understood Japanese and I said 'a bit'. She then said she was going to perform a 検査 kensa, or a test. At the time my mind blanked and I just repeated kensa over and over but I couldn't remember the meaning at all! Crazy, I use the word all the time. Then she said she was going to stick something up my nose and it was going to hurt. I frowned, but put my head back obediently. And it did hurt, kind of like a stinging sensation. Doesn't last for long but I didn't like it. I had to wait even longer, and by this point I wasn't feeling too great and wanted to sleep.
Finally I saw the doctor, who was really, really old. I think he was speaking in a funny dialect too because I could not understand a word. The nurse beside me just rephrased what he said, and I understood her perfectly. He basically told me that my fever wasn't so bad, but if it got worse to go back to the hospital, and just take some cold medicine. That made me a little annoyed, all that waiting for nothing really. Then I had to wait another half an hour before I could pay. I thought it was a huge waste of my time, so I went home to sleep. That night Saito-Sensei came to my house to bring my some food and drink to help me feel better, which was very lovely.
The next day I was feeling a little worse, but on Sunday I was feeling fantastic. I was sure I would be going to school the next day, and it was also good because Dede was coming to stay for a few nights. He had a job interview with my company :)
But Monday came, and I was a million times worse. I hardly even left the couch (where I sleep now, seeing as my bedroom is so big and cold and expensive to heat). My supervisor told me to return to the hospital, but I couldn't go without help. I was exhausted and couldn't find the energy to do anything. Dede was due to get to Kiso at 9.30pm at night, but he missed the train due to a bit of confusion and had to take the last one, so he got here at 10.20pm. I had to help him get some things for his interview ready, and made it to bed at 12.00am; awful, but I knew I wouldn't be getting to school the next day unless there was some kind of miracle.
On Tuesday I took Dede to the station at 7.20am, wished him luck, then drove myself to the hospital. I was feeling so awful that I would have been stupid not to. I got there at 8.00am, and the doctor apparently starts work at 8.30am so I had to wait in his office. I had to have the nose test again which was just as bad as the first time. I was nearly falling asleep on the bed, but I wasn't sure if I was allowed to lie down; silly me, I'm sick, who would have cared?
Eventually the doctor turned up at 9.30am, there were a lot of questions, and eventually they told me that I had Influenza B, the worse one, and the one that had been going around my Junior High. (Classes all over the country have been cancelled according to how many children have been sick with influenza. At least everyday I had one class/grade that was sent home after lunch. Why they let them come to school before lunch, I don't understand.) I was given a million pills with a million different instructions, which I luckily understood, and I was pushed out the back door to prevent contact with those who don't have my illness!
I went home, checked my email and all that fun stuff and was about to sleep when Dede called. He had finished his interview with Altia and said it went great, although his lack of experience and Japanese ability may hinder him. But apparently he had a great personality and it went great! I knew he would go well :) He asked me to check what time the next train to Kiso would be. I said yes, but then I fell asleep, for what I thought would only be half an hour or so. I woke up at 3.00pm to the doorbell ringing, and Dede standing there with Krispy Kreme for me. Best boyfriend <3 I was so happy, I had thought about asking him to get me some, but then I had gotten sick and forgotten. He knows me too well and it made me feel very happy, despite feeling so awful. There were even special Valentine's Day ones in there!
We had a great night watching movies, but I was still feeling disgusting. The next day was sad for me, because Dede had to leave, and I just wanted him to stay and look after me. That night though, I actually felt a lot better.
Today is Friday, and I am still off work, because the doctor made me take a week off. It's probably a good thing, so I can really get over it. A pity though, because I have had a lot of expensive bills. I probably wasn't terribly smart either. I bought a new snowboard yesterday. Sitting at home with nothing to do is not good for me, but it did give me a lot of time to research. I badly, badly wanted the Burton Feather 140, either 2011 or 2012 model, it is so pretty and perfect for me. But I went with a slightly cheaper, but a board that is just as good. The Salomon Surface 142, 2011-2012. Apparently it *could* last me for 10 years. I suppose it all depends on how I progress and what kind of riding I find myself doing. Nevertheless, I bought it and was really scared, but now I hear it has been shipped and I am so excited. I feel like I can try things that I didn't before, since I was worried about the rental gear. It is so exciting!
Matsumoto Ice Sculpture Festival - I went with Brooke and Yui. We went to karaoke afterwards :)
My little town
My front door
Dede won three, I won two. All very close :)
Hakuba Station and carpark from Tanukis
An actual Tanuki :p
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