Aaargh! Just read Smitha's blog (hey Smitha!) and about how all the westies went for karaoke in Mikamo and had a great night and blah blah blah... definite lurch of the stomach and stinging of the eyes. I really should not keep such a close track of life back in Tokkers, as it will only make life that much harder for me out here. But you know, with nothing on my hands but time at the moment... it's hard to let go.
I had kind of a downer today anyway, so I'll bet that when I am up, I won't feel as inclined to go clicking round blogs of yore. They're all just such good writers, though, and more often than not, it's really good to read what people are up to.
I saw Jane today, which was good. She has a new job lined up, starting next week. Imagine, our wee Jane finally a lawyer! Good for her.
I also saw Pernilla! Oh my oh my, it was SO good to see Perny again! She's sort of as down as me, having just graduated from Glasgow School of Art in Embroidery, but not finding the scene in Glasgow to be really buzzing just now. She's heading back to Malmo next month for a break and to gather her thoughts. She looks great though, in the quirky, unique way that only Pernilla can look great.
Sex and the City day turned out to be a so-so affair. It was good to get out and meet new people, but you know, all these people have families, are in their 30s and live in places like Curry and West Calder, so it's not as if I really networked. And some, who shall remain nameless, are total snobs, even worse than the pseudo-snobbery I put on to piss my friends off. True snobs, and they weren't brought up like that.
I heard from Vivi today too, and that was great! I miss Vivi and her ray of sunshine smile. Man, I am planning a MASSIVE trip around NA, I can tell you. I tried to link to Vivi's new website, but I think my blogger template is really screwed, so intead I'll list it here for now.
Back on the job hunt tomorrow. I wish I could give myself more time to get used to this country again, but I really need an income, and idleness does not become me.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Thursday, August 24, 2006
On Being Back Part 1
So I've been back a few days now. Primary reflections of an alien in her own home:
Firstly, this is NOT my home. I am in Roslin (yeah, that place from The Da Vinci Code) at my parents house, which is simply cavernous. Except the folks aren't here. They're in Canada, and I am here with the sweet, batty grandparents. I haven't LIVED here for six years. my room is exactely the way it was when I graduated high school (all suns and moons, Kurt Cobain posters, wind shimes and fairy lights). It's sort of depressing, but sort of comforting. Sort of like returning to the womb.
I went for a walk yesterday in Roslin, and for the first time that I can recall, I didn't see a single person I knew. Where did everyone go? I guess Roslin is an attractive suburb, with good local schools, and has seen an influx of new families. The Chapel is simply crawling with tourists, and there is a big new car park on Crawford's field where we used to go sledging in winter. Sad. Interesting. Progressive.
In doing my washing, it never fails to delight me to see my clothes come out CLEAN, not covered in lint, and smelling nice.
I went to Fopp in Cockburn Street (pronounced Co-burn for all you non-Edinburghites) the other day, and was immediatley transpoted into paroxysms of delight at the sight of all the new non-Jpop music... all sorts of stuff that I wanna share with people everywhere. Some special people are gonna be gettin' some special CDs through the mail in the future.
It is light here until a ridiculous hour at night, meaning I think the night is still young, when it is, in fact, 10pm. Nuts.
I went to Boots today and was BOWLED OVER at the cosmetics on offer. I mean.. where am I supposed to start? I guess it was the same in Japan, but I could easily ignore most of it, given I couldn't understand the packaging. But today, I found myself puzzling over blackhead prevention facial scrub, and deep-down daily facial scrub. Whatever happened to a simple scrub? I went for the daily stuff. Also, I love how in Japan the body lotions have whitener in them, and the ones here have bronzer in them!
I have been pouring over cookery books, planning my first assault on the kitchen. I am ITCHING to do some cooking again.
I saw some cows today and was all sorts of happy over seeing them. They just aren't seen in my part of Japan. These were beautiful big balck and white beasts with soft brown eyes, in a GRASSY field. Divine.
Amyway... just some random observations.
Snow Patrol with Kirsty tomorrow. Lunch with Jill on Saturday. Sex and the City day on Sunday. Glasgow to meet Jane and visit Perny on Monday. Excitement. Miss having a bloke friend on hand...
Firstly, this is NOT my home. I am in Roslin (yeah, that place from The Da Vinci Code) at my parents house, which is simply cavernous. Except the folks aren't here. They're in Canada, and I am here with the sweet, batty grandparents. I haven't LIVED here for six years. my room is exactely the way it was when I graduated high school (all suns and moons, Kurt Cobain posters, wind shimes and fairy lights). It's sort of depressing, but sort of comforting. Sort of like returning to the womb.
I went for a walk yesterday in Roslin, and for the first time that I can recall, I didn't see a single person I knew. Where did everyone go? I guess Roslin is an attractive suburb, with good local schools, and has seen an influx of new families. The Chapel is simply crawling with tourists, and there is a big new car park on Crawford's field where we used to go sledging in winter. Sad. Interesting. Progressive.
In doing my washing, it never fails to delight me to see my clothes come out CLEAN, not covered in lint, and smelling nice.
I went to Fopp in Cockburn Street (pronounced Co-burn for all you non-Edinburghites) the other day, and was immediatley transpoted into paroxysms of delight at the sight of all the new non-Jpop music... all sorts of stuff that I wanna share with people everywhere. Some special people are gonna be gettin' some special CDs through the mail in the future.
It is light here until a ridiculous hour at night, meaning I think the night is still young, when it is, in fact, 10pm. Nuts.
I went to Boots today and was BOWLED OVER at the cosmetics on offer. I mean.. where am I supposed to start? I guess it was the same in Japan, but I could easily ignore most of it, given I couldn't understand the packaging. But today, I found myself puzzling over blackhead prevention facial scrub, and deep-down daily facial scrub. Whatever happened to a simple scrub? I went for the daily stuff. Also, I love how in Japan the body lotions have whitener in them, and the ones here have bronzer in them!
I have been pouring over cookery books, planning my first assault on the kitchen. I am ITCHING to do some cooking again.
I saw some cows today and was all sorts of happy over seeing them. They just aren't seen in my part of Japan. These were beautiful big balck and white beasts with soft brown eyes, in a GRASSY field. Divine.
Amyway... just some random observations.
Snow Patrol with Kirsty tomorrow. Lunch with Jill on Saturday. Sex and the City day on Sunday. Glasgow to meet Jane and visit Perny on Monday. Excitement. Miss having a bloke friend on hand...
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Home Is Where the Heart Is.
Hello all. I am back. The day dream hath ended. Now I can no longer cackle in ignorant bliss at the phrase 'income tax'. I made a new friend yesterday called Stephanie, and she is my account manager at RBOS. All of a sudden, I am a grown-up, and I have Stuff To Do.
My last couple of weeks in Japan were busy, stressful, wonderful, sad and unforgettable. I spent a week or so living and working at Happy Raft as General Bitch About the Base, making lunches, serving tea, answering questions and the like. I lived in the guidehouse with Dave, which I doubt even the most hardened of outdoor type dudes would warm to. I mean, if the boys of the house find the toilet too grim to even pee into, how was a girly gonna manage? Well, I didn't, I made do with a bush, and saved the rest for the lovely flusher at the base. Other than the nasty house, the time at the base was.... hard work, exhausting, but a welcome change from being sat at my desk in Miyoshi-chu, wanting to be outside.
On the 9th, Sally arrived. She looked scared. And it took her a while to stop looking scared. But by the time I took my leave of her, she was beginning to relax. She's very different to me, I think, but that's a good thing. It's excellent for the kids to be exposed to all sorts of foreigners.
Obon was exhausting, and emotional, but a lot of fun. Minoda-ren gave me a poster panel of the poster I feature on this year. People cried, and told me to come back next year. The ren has been like a family to me these three years, so bidding them farewell really hurt.
The eikaiwa class gave me a truly wonderful send-off as only they can. Amazing food, entirely too many presents, and a whole lotta love.
Hanna and Kuni were simply wonderful at putting me up, and holding onto my stupid amount of baggage while I was homeless. They really made the whole thing less stressful for me. Looking forward to showing them the same sort of hospitality whenever they come out to Scotland.
My goodbye to Joe was wonderful. We were walking along the street after Awa Odori with the noobs in Tokushima, and he said "I don't want to talk to you anymore Ellie". And I said "That's fine, I don't want to talk to you either". And we didn't, we walked off in opposite directions. It was funny and sweet, because if it hadn't been like that, it would have been messy.
Of course the hardest goodbyes were Dave and Nate. I said goodbye to Nate twice. His Dad was visiting, and on the day of our first goodbye (the final day of dancing too), I spent a wonderful morning with them at the onsen and later on at the beautiful Kurozo marshland between Nishiiya and Ikeda. Nate's Dad is an incredibly warm-hearted, big bear of a man. I took to him immediatley, and was able to see where Nate gets a least some of his traits from. Lovely. They came to see me dance, along with the whole gaggle of Miyoshi-gun noobs, and I was so happy to see familiar faces in the crowds. They drove me home after dancing, after I said goodbye to the ren. And although I didn't cry when I said bye to Nate, I had to go and lock myself in the bathroom to howl for a good 10 minutes when I got into the apartment. Poor Sally must have felt a bit awkward.
Luckily, I got a second goodbye cuddle from Nate a few days later, and I didn't cry this time either. I think cause I was spent from crying so much, but also because he made me feel loved and missed, and somehow that took the edge off.
My goodbye to Dave was, as not as... drawn-out as I had planned. A good thing? It was sad, I cried a heap, told him I loved him, and left not sure if we would ever see eachother again, despite me being so sure we would previously. Tough one. I can't talk about it too much, I am still crying over him not being close to me.
Japan tried to send me off by charging me an extra 8.5,an for excess baggage. I nearly died. A nice man decided to knock it down to 3.5man for me. Screw you Japan, love you Lufthansa man!
I am home, and cold, and not really believeing that I am here to stay. Odd feeling. Need a job, need to get some friends. But I only want Nate and Dave and Joe and Jordan and Jenna and Amber and Tera and Kelly and Anya. And everyone else back in Japan or wherever you are.
Stay tuned, people, it's going to be an interesting time of it.
Sayonara pictures coming as soon as I figure out how to hook my camera (on its last legs) up to Daddy's computer.
I LOVE YOU ALL AND MISS YOU TREMENDOUSLY.
My last couple of weeks in Japan were busy, stressful, wonderful, sad and unforgettable. I spent a week or so living and working at Happy Raft as General Bitch About the Base, making lunches, serving tea, answering questions and the like. I lived in the guidehouse with Dave, which I doubt even the most hardened of outdoor type dudes would warm to. I mean, if the boys of the house find the toilet too grim to even pee into, how was a girly gonna manage? Well, I didn't, I made do with a bush, and saved the rest for the lovely flusher at the base. Other than the nasty house, the time at the base was.... hard work, exhausting, but a welcome change from being sat at my desk in Miyoshi-chu, wanting to be outside.
On the 9th, Sally arrived. She looked scared. And it took her a while to stop looking scared. But by the time I took my leave of her, she was beginning to relax. She's very different to me, I think, but that's a good thing. It's excellent for the kids to be exposed to all sorts of foreigners.
Obon was exhausting, and emotional, but a lot of fun. Minoda-ren gave me a poster panel of the poster I feature on this year. People cried, and told me to come back next year. The ren has been like a family to me these three years, so bidding them farewell really hurt.
The eikaiwa class gave me a truly wonderful send-off as only they can. Amazing food, entirely too many presents, and a whole lotta love.
Hanna and Kuni were simply wonderful at putting me up, and holding onto my stupid amount of baggage while I was homeless. They really made the whole thing less stressful for me. Looking forward to showing them the same sort of hospitality whenever they come out to Scotland.
My goodbye to Joe was wonderful. We were walking along the street after Awa Odori with the noobs in Tokushima, and he said "I don't want to talk to you anymore Ellie". And I said "That's fine, I don't want to talk to you either". And we didn't, we walked off in opposite directions. It was funny and sweet, because if it hadn't been like that, it would have been messy.
Of course the hardest goodbyes were Dave and Nate. I said goodbye to Nate twice. His Dad was visiting, and on the day of our first goodbye (the final day of dancing too), I spent a wonderful morning with them at the onsen and later on at the beautiful Kurozo marshland between Nishiiya and Ikeda. Nate's Dad is an incredibly warm-hearted, big bear of a man. I took to him immediatley, and was able to see where Nate gets a least some of his traits from. Lovely. They came to see me dance, along with the whole gaggle of Miyoshi-gun noobs, and I was so happy to see familiar faces in the crowds. They drove me home after dancing, after I said goodbye to the ren. And although I didn't cry when I said bye to Nate, I had to go and lock myself in the bathroom to howl for a good 10 minutes when I got into the apartment. Poor Sally must have felt a bit awkward.
Luckily, I got a second goodbye cuddle from Nate a few days later, and I didn't cry this time either. I think cause I was spent from crying so much, but also because he made me feel loved and missed, and somehow that took the edge off.
My goodbye to Dave was, as not as... drawn-out as I had planned. A good thing? It was sad, I cried a heap, told him I loved him, and left not sure if we would ever see eachother again, despite me being so sure we would previously. Tough one. I can't talk about it too much, I am still crying over him not being close to me.
Japan tried to send me off by charging me an extra 8.5,an for excess baggage. I nearly died. A nice man decided to knock it down to 3.5man for me. Screw you Japan, love you Lufthansa man!
I am home, and cold, and not really believeing that I am here to stay. Odd feeling. Need a job, need to get some friends. But I only want Nate and Dave and Joe and Jordan and Jenna and Amber and Tera and Kelly and Anya. And everyone else back in Japan or wherever you are.
Stay tuned, people, it's going to be an interesting time of it.
Sayonara pictures coming as soon as I figure out how to hook my camera (on its last legs) up to Daddy's computer.
I LOVE YOU ALL AND MISS YOU TREMENDOUSLY.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
2.5 weeks....
Man, I am so ready to be outta here. I am have telling everyone this, and I am sick of talking about it, so I'll say no more. But yes, that is my feeling.
Things have been cer-azy recently. Mad parties up at Sean's, getting totally floored by a cold, cleaning, packing, seeking out alternative accomodation for when I lose the house, enkais, dancing... yup, with all that, really it's no wonder I got sick.
Sean's party was a blast. Two weeks ago, up at his amazingly renovated house in Higashiiya. It was a very esoteric crowd, it was an odd party, but a good one. Me and Nate smoked cigars. I saw Dave. I felt love for everyone there. I enjoyed the speactacle of seeing Sean get totally wasted. And his ensuing hangover the next day. I also enjoyed swimming in Nate's river the next day with Anya-chan and Nacho himself.
My house looks amazing. It has been gutted. It is clean. It is tidy. And I have SO MUCH stuff to send home. Mum and Dad'll have a fit. Man, I feel like I still have a lot to do. I really would just rather have it all over now.
Not much else to tell, and not any time to tell it in, so you'll just have to wait. :)
Things have been cer-azy recently. Mad parties up at Sean's, getting totally floored by a cold, cleaning, packing, seeking out alternative accomodation for when I lose the house, enkais, dancing... yup, with all that, really it's no wonder I got sick.
Sean's party was a blast. Two weeks ago, up at his amazingly renovated house in Higashiiya. It was a very esoteric crowd, it was an odd party, but a good one. Me and Nate smoked cigars. I saw Dave. I felt love for everyone there. I enjoyed the speactacle of seeing Sean get totally wasted. And his ensuing hangover the next day. I also enjoyed swimming in Nate's river the next day with Anya-chan and Nacho himself.
My house looks amazing. It has been gutted. It is clean. It is tidy. And I have SO MUCH stuff to send home. Mum and Dad'll have a fit. Man, I feel like I still have a lot to do. I really would just rather have it all over now.
Not much else to tell, and not any time to tell it in, so you'll just have to wait. :)
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