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I think I have the flu, it feels different from all the other times I've been sick and I was really socked with sickness hard yesterday. I had a fever and I went home an hour or two early.
It's truly amazing how much longer the day feels when you get home before 5 PM. I putzed around a little and then went to sleep. I'd planned on waking up at midnight to watch the Thanksgiving parade with my family, but unfortunately my Ever-Failing-Alarm-Clock-From-Hell worked its magic again and didn't go off. I woke up around 2 AM, got a drink, and sent out some sad emails before going back to bed. After sleeping, I'm left feverless and with less congestion, but I'm still absolutely exhausted.
My plan was to take a half day today and go to get my re-entry visa from one of the other big cities nearby. I have to go about 40 minutes, and it's the closest place and I have to get the visa ASAP so they'll let me back into the country when I go home for Christmas. Originally I'd wanted to get my money's worth on the train ticket and spend the afternoon shopping and exploring, but now I'm going to pretty much turn around and leave straightaway. It's nice that I only have to work a half day, but it's a shame I'll be using my vacation time because I have to go while the office is open during the day. If I'm going to be using vacation time, I want to make it worthwhile! But unless I get a sudden burst of energy and healthiness, not only would it be a bad idea, but it'll be impossible to stick around.
I guess out of all the days I was going to get sick, the only better time would have been Saturday. Considering how full my schedule is, I couldn't have done it any other day without seriously screwing up some plans. Hopefully I'll recover soon and life can go back to normal. At least I don't have to worry about money, time seems to be my only issues these days. Which is good, because a lot of these end-of-the-year parties and other group dealies are really amazingly expensive. If you go to a party out at a restaurant in Japan, it's going to cost you at least $30, if not $60 and people aren't in the habit of telling you up front. I'm not used to spending that kind of money, let alone almost once a week, but in many cases it's not optional. The parties are important times for you to bond with your co-workers and neighbors. If it was really a problem, I guess I'd invent some kind of excuse. Fortunately I make enough money here that it's all right.
It makes me wonder what life will be like coming back to America when all this is over. I'll have learned some new bad habits of spending as much money as I like, but there won't be nearly as many money-spending opportunities and I'll know how to do them cheaply and I'll always be informed. I probably won't get paid as well though and I'll probably be going back to school. Still, I'm pretty responsible and I also won't need to pacify my culture shock by spending money either. I'm not too worried.
It's truly amazing how much longer the day feels when you get home before 5 PM. I putzed around a little and then went to sleep. I'd planned on waking up at midnight to watch the Thanksgiving parade with my family, but unfortunately my Ever-Failing-Alarm-Clock-From-Hell worked its magic again and didn't go off. I woke up around 2 AM, got a drink, and sent out some sad emails before going back to bed. After sleeping, I'm left feverless and with less congestion, but I'm still absolutely exhausted.
My plan was to take a half day today and go to get my re-entry visa from one of the other big cities nearby. I have to go about 40 minutes, and it's the closest place and I have to get the visa ASAP so they'll let me back into the country when I go home for Christmas. Originally I'd wanted to get my money's worth on the train ticket and spend the afternoon shopping and exploring, but now I'm going to pretty much turn around and leave straightaway. It's nice that I only have to work a half day, but it's a shame I'll be using my vacation time because I have to go while the office is open during the day. If I'm going to be using vacation time, I want to make it worthwhile! But unless I get a sudden burst of energy and healthiness, not only would it be a bad idea, but it'll be impossible to stick around.
I guess out of all the days I was going to get sick, the only better time would have been Saturday. Considering how full my schedule is, I couldn't have done it any other day without seriously screwing up some plans. Hopefully I'll recover soon and life can go back to normal. At least I don't have to worry about money, time seems to be my only issues these days. Which is good, because a lot of these end-of-the-year parties and other group dealies are really amazingly expensive. If you go to a party out at a restaurant in Japan, it's going to cost you at least $30, if not $60 and people aren't in the habit of telling you up front. I'm not used to spending that kind of money, let alone almost once a week, but in many cases it's not optional. The parties are important times for you to bond with your co-workers and neighbors. If it was really a problem, I guess I'd invent some kind of excuse. Fortunately I make enough money here that it's all right.
It makes me wonder what life will be like coming back to America when all this is over. I'll have learned some new bad habits of spending as much money as I like, but there won't be nearly as many money-spending opportunities and I'll know how to do them cheaply and I'll always be informed. I probably won't get paid as well though and I'll probably be going back to school. Still, I'm pretty responsible and I also won't need to pacify my culture shock by spending money either. I'm not too worried.
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