I live in Ohtawara-shi, Tochigi-ken, Japan and teach English at the seven junior high schools in the city. It's a tough gig, but it's rife. Okay... it's not that tough.
In case my family calls from Toronto, I plug the phone back into the wall.
I ride my bicycle in to the Ohtawara Board of Education (OBOE) office with a mail delivery slip to pick-up a package from my mom.
I don't do anything work-related, and instead write this diary out and write a few stories. It's flowing out of the cesspool that is my mind. And, all is well.
After eating a spaghetti lunch courtesy of the office, I ask Kanemaru-san if he would drive me to the post office. I wouldn't normally ask my boss this weenie little favor, but it's raining like a bastard out there and I don't want to ride my bicycle in the rain and get the package wet - or my hair. I hate having my hair messed up. It's the one vanity I have - that I will admit to.
Receiving the box, I count out 105 40-cent stamps + one 5-cent stamp on it. $42.05 to send this box from Toronto to Japan? Wow. Thanks.
As Kanemaru-san drives me back to my apartment to drop off the box, he pulls out a couple of packages and hands them to me.
See photo above: One is a freshly-made indigo hand-dyed scrolled wall hanging of a dragon (I was born in the Year of The Dragon, plus, my name Andrew, when translated into Kanji means "Peaceful-Leader-Dragon") and the other is a framed set of pressed flowers made of folded paper, made by his wife.
I'm touched by his thoughtful gesture, as he struggles to say in English "Happy Birthday, my friend" before slapping me on the shoulder. He even gave me a card, with a hand-written message in English - surely from from Tomohiro, his six-year-old son! I love that kid, and want one just like him if I grow up (and, 20 years later... I do!)
My package from home contains letters from the family, a video tape, a CD, two audio tapes, some books, comics, and microwaveable popcorn. Two bags - because who wants to share? Thanks to my little brother Ben for putting together most of that! There's even a $50 (about ¥4,000) cheque from Grandpa. I have no idea how to change it into yen, and while I appreciate the gesture, I don't really want to take the old man's money.
Kanemaru-san, by the way, was the first person to wish me a happy birthday.
I go back to the office afterwards with Kanemaru-san and read the letters and then draft a few in response.
I ride home in the rain. Ashley is there already inside waiting for me. While she doesn't say 'Happy Birthday'. she hugs me and says 'hi'.
As I get up from the couch to get some Coke, I show Ashley a birthday card Yumiko Ebe (a former adult night school student of mine), who is now living in Ibaraki-ken (Ibaraki Prefecture) sent me. It had some Sesame Street character on it spelling out happy birthday.
As I sit back down with two glasses of Coke, Ashley is in shock as she didn't know it was my birthday. We've know each other for 15 months, and we did celebrate it last year - sort of. Still... I know her birthday (still do, 20 years later - I guess my memory hasn't been wiped clean yet).
Anyhow.. she says she feels like crap because she forgot. Then again, when someone you care about doesn't care enough to remember... well... I feel like crap, too.
Back home in the evening, James (Jimmy Jive) Dalton, a good friend and fellow Assistant English Teacher (AET) who is originally from Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada - phones. He wishes me, too.I've known him since August of this year.
Then Matthew calls. Matthew Hall was my first friend here in Japan and remains one of my best friends (20 years later). More wishes.
James calls again and tells me we have two tickets to Singapore!!!! leaving December 22 and returning on January 1 for ¥66,000 (~ Cdn/US $883).
Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) Joy Mori calls and also wishes me a happy birthday! How the hell does she know? It doesn't matter. She cares enough to call. She also asks what's up with me, as it appears as though I am shutting out people... wow... she's good. Not one to lie when asked a direct question, I tell her all. She's not pushy or judgmental. Just caring.
Kristine South calls! Then Karen (this year)! Amanda (this year)! And Matthew again! Rob Jones from Toronto calls! Holy crapola!
As I chat with Rob about life, liberty and the pursuit of easy women (He listens and takes notes), Ashley answers the door for me - letting in Mrs. Matsuda and Yumiko! She came all this way from Ibaraki just see me! Man... if she wasn't married... hell... it's a pity bigamy is illegal. It is illegal, right?
They all meet Ashley. They have some food and a birthday cake for me... complete with my name spelled in the correct Canadian order. There's even the right number of candles! The four of us eat, and have a good time.
They know of Ashley, but had not met her in person before as only Matthew and I teach extra night school for some cash on the side. Ashley needs her R&R and besides, she's as shy as I am pretending to be an introvert. Can someone pretend for 15 months? Maybe this is me?
Tim Mould calls - but just to talk, as he was worried about me. Then my dad calls and we chat for a while.
Crap.
All these people are making this difficult for me. Even James said "Expletive them all!"
I'm confused.
Maybe I should just pay attention to what my real friends say and feel about me rather than the rest of the rabble AETs. D'uh.
Anyhow... finally everyone leaves, except Ashley... and the phone finally stops ringing. I'm sure every time it does, Ashley dies a little bit inside. Still... she did just show up at my place out of the blue, and did have a present for me a couple of days ago - just because she felt like giving me something.
We watch a few videos and then have a bit of sex. I still can't finish... is it her or me? Still... sex on one's birthday, when you are in a relationship should be a given... and since Ashley and I aren't really boyfriend/girlfriend anymore, I guess not finishing what I started seems par for the course. She did forget.
Maybe crap like that bothers me more than I realize.
Nope.
I know it bothers me.
Somewhere this is my rife,
Andrew Joseph
Today's blog is by the Animals. Why not? I started this Japan - It's A Wonderful Rife blog with one of their songs (sic) as a title...
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