Frantic Packing
Well, here I am at half three in the morning, still mid-packing, trying to download i-tunes so I can listen to music in Japan. I can't believe my organisation skills are this poor. I should be in bed now, surrounded by packed bags that weigh the correct ammount and have a computer full of cds, but no. As usual I left everything to the final hours, as if I like this pressure. I think I'm missing uni!
Anyway, I've had a good couple of weeks. I went back to Lancaster to graduate on Thursday, which was mainly hot and stressful, but with a nice sense of relief once you had picked up your degree. I stayed in Lancaster till Sunday, seeing friends, drinking and clearing out my messy house. Thankfully a kind friend came and helped me sort my house out, even though he hadn't long got back from a month of travelling. I doubt I'll get my deposit back though, some landlords are mean, plus we didn't put the bins out before we left. Aside from that, it was sad to go home, but it then hit me how much I had to do. I've spent the last three days running around shopping and visiting people, and some things are still not done. Thankfully Rhys came to Chester with me on one trip, think I would have gone insane shopping alone all week.
I leave for London tomorrow, and the Japan at 9pm on Saturday, so I may not get a chance to blog for a while. Hopefully though me next blog will be full of exciting photos and lacking the inane drivel of my day-to-day activities. Yes, I realise how dull this blog is, but I promise it will pick up once I'm in Japan.
On that note, I'm returning to pack. Need sleep though zzzzzzzz
'He's just not that into you'
While exercising hard at the gym today, I came across an article about a
book with the above title. Written by Greg Behrendt, the former executive story editor for Sex and the City, and Liz Tuccillo, the book aims to teach women to stop making excuses for there commitment phobe, no effort boyfriends, and to find someone who really gives a damn about them. It really struck a chord, and I think it's so true, sometimes we all make excuses for people when they are just wasting your time. I felt quite liberated by it, and it made me face the truth about my current situation. It can be a bitter pill to swallow when a guy you spent alot of time with and said he liked you, just doesn't call etc. It can get you down. Now I just think 'he just wasn't that into me', so forget it, he's not worth it anyway. I must admit though my good friends have been telling me this for a long time (yes Suzanne, Cristin and Ryan, I admit you guys were right!). I think I'm going to buy the book for good plane reading, well, after I finish the new Harry Potter anyway.
Apart from reading empowering articles at the gym, I have been socialising. I had a very random evening on Saturday, which I thought would be a quiet night at the pub. It began that way, until after 4 large glasses of wine me and Helen decided to go to her brothers house party. The party started slowly, but then for some reason we moved to the roof, which I coped with quite well considering my great fear of heights. After moving inside and playing interesting games with a toy car till 5am, most people left. I stayed till 7.30 for some reason (though I did try and sleep on the sofa) but overall it was quite entertaining. Reminded me of being a teenager again!
On the Japan front, I've heard some more about my house. It's got a balcony and a small garden, and I also have a tv, vcr, toaster etc supplied which is so lucky compared with city JETs. I've found out I have to do a 'demo class' in October, which is like an inspection to see how the schools English classes are and how they use the JET in class. I'm nervous already but know I will be fine, I quite like the pressure really. I also bought a digital camera and laptop today, so feeling really excited now. Can't believe I go in 10 days!!! I better start packing!
Big 'Angry' Daikon
I was told about this
forum at the orientation for Japan. It's a forum for new and current JETs, and others who just seem to post anyway. I assumed it would be full of useful information, and happy cheerful people like the ones I had met that weekend. How wrong I was.
The forum is full of angry people who seem to hate Japan, JET, and people in general. I must add it's one of the funniest things I have read for ages, and all must be taken with a great big pinch of salt. Anyway, some of the characters I have already met, and some I will meet in Tokyo, and to be honest the newbies are a tad more positive then the people out there. It's really interesting, I think most of the anger comes from how liberating the internet can be. You don't care what you say because you can't see the person. Then some people take it just as seriously as face-to-face communication and get angry back. I have not yet posted on there due to fear, people are mean! I advise anyone with spare time who needs entertaining to check it out though.
Apart from spending time browsing Big Daikon, I have been trying to organise myself for Japan. I have found a lovely
laptop to buy, and I'm trying to find a digital camera now. I haven't quite become a social hermit yet though, after learning someone cared for me alot less than I anticipated I've been avoiding the computer and going out. I had a bit of a reunion at whetherspoons last night actually, bumping into people I hadn't seen for years. It was a tad surreal but in a good way.
Anyway, I'm going to try and get more of a life so I have something more interesting to say!
Terrorist attack in London
I have been watching the news about the explosions in London since I woke up this morning, as I'm sure many of you have. So far the news tells me that there have been 7 explosions on both the underground and the buses, there have been fatalities, and al-Qaida have been named by arab forces as the group responsible.
Explosions have happened at Liverpool Street, Aldgate East, Edgware Rd, Kings Cross, Moorgate, Russell Square tube stations. A bus was also targeted. I'm sure many of you know the situation, and those who don't can read more
here.This situation had been predicted, and that's why I think the emergency services have worked so fast to stop anything else happening. This has been an awful incident.
I began writing this at 10am, and since then more information has come to light. A splinter group from al-Qaeda are claiming responsibility, which was expected by many. This attack will have a great impact on British society. At the moment London does seem quite calm, and united, and the emergency services and British public dealt with the situation extremely well. Regardless of this I worry for the impact upon other aspects of society in the future. Hopefully London won't turn in on itself and the muslim community
For now though I can only think of the victims and their families.
Life in a box
I know I haven't written anything in ages but life has been so rushed. I've moved out of Lancaster and also been on my pre-departure orientation for Japan so I haven't had a base to write anything. Here is a quick update anyway.
I have spent most of the last week packing up all my belongings to leave Lancaster and head to sunny Wales. I realised that most of the items I packed I haven't seen since September and I only wore about a third of my wardrobe! With this in mind packing for Japan should be easier. It's very weird packing everything away and knowing I will never live in Lancaster again. I'm going to miss the place. The picture of was the view from my house this past year. We were so lucky to live in such a beautiful spot.
I have spent most of this week seeing friends and organising things but made sure I had lots of exciting trips to places I had never been too. I have to go on a tour of Lancaster castle before I go, I've lived opposite it for year and it would be a shame not to have a look round. The castle is still used as a prison today!
I arrived home on Saturday, and as much as I do like Lancaster, I'm very happy to be home. I've left with happy memories but certain things were going slightly sour just before I left so I got out at the best time.
My pre-departure orientation went really really well. I met some lovely people and found out loads of information. My language classes were really challenging though, with the teacher writing in Kanji much to my confusion. I was useless, much to the amusement of one of the friends I made in class. I'm really positive now though, and will just practice loads before I go.
Things are getting exciting with only 17 days left before I fly! I have to buy a laptop and clothes and get loads of loads of gifts for the school when I arrive. I had to have an injection today grr, and have another next week before I go. Thats all for now, just thought I'd have a quick update for now.
