12:00 Day

Today I woke up at 7:30, 9:00, 10:05, and finally at 12:00. It's going to be one of those 12:00 days.

I used to time my computer usage so that I wouldn't be on the computer so much. I did this up until the end of last month. Every time I would sit down to use the computer I would put a timer on myself that would count down (from 99:00 minutes at first) until 00:00. When 00:00 would hit the alarm would sound and I would immediately force myself to turn off my computer. Everyday after that I would reduce my computer time privilege by 1:00 minute. I did this all the way until around 55:00 minutes or so. But since then I just sort of forgot about it. Mainly because I only use my computer for studying now. But alas, I sometimes still get sidetracked.

During those days the weather was less disagreeable and my spirits were higher. I was freer to go off and explore nearby cities on foot, by bicycle, or with local transportation. Due to the tundra climate my city has been experiencing this month I've been limited to the confines of my mansion and nearby area. No adventures to report on just yet. Just a lot of studying.

12:00 days never have any sort of agenda, but I'm going to try to do some meaningful things today anyway. I'm going to turn off my computer right now and see what happens.

~Anthans

High Tension

テンションが高い。

Translation: Tension is high.

The Japanese translation, which means a highness of spirits, is almost completely opposite of the English meaning . My "High Tension" title however represents the English meaning, mostly due to the high amount of stress/worry in my life right now.

For whatever reason I was suddenly overcome with lethargy today while passing out flyers for work. It must have been caused by a combination of reasons:

-the shitty ICE BOX weather
-girl drama
-the 1% uncertainty of whether or not I'll be able to take my next vacation or not in February
-the realization of my reality that I was passing out flyers for work


It almost prompted me to do something drastic like:

-Buying a new expensive toy
-Cutting my hair and trying a completely different style
-Quitting my job


However, as the night progressed I simmered down and returned to Neutral Mode.

Notwithstanding, I wish I was still in high tension mode so I could have an excuse to do something drastic like the above.


~Anthans

???

"Hmmm...."

I thought as I stood in my kitchen, trying to remember, as if it were a part of some world agenda, what the current ringtone of my cellphone was. Back in America I always knew what it was because I would receive a call at least once a day.

Here it's not uncommon for me to receive 0 phone calls in a week.

I'm blank.

~Anthans


P.S. People in Japan email (text) each other other 10x more than they call each other. So don't feel too bad for me. It's probably because they're all thinking the same thing: "Too 'spansive!"

Reindeer Games

"No matter how hard you try son, you're never going to fit in." -Momma

Out of the 127,000,000 or so people living here in Japan only about 1.5 million are foreign residents. That's about 1.2%. I wonder how the other 1,499,999 people are dealing with this fact right now.

The only time I ever see foreigners is in big cities. I can only go to big cities during my vacation time. My vacation time is scarcely limited. Ergo I'm always being stared at on a daily basis. 

The most priceless reaction I get is from children. They look up at me like I'm some monolith erected by aliens. This only further entices me to interact with them. If they stare at me long enough I like to lock in on their eyes and stare back with the most ridiculous look on my face. I always win but sometimes it's by default because their parents drag them away from the strange foreign man.

At work I'm not allowed to join in any reindeer games. If I want to play then I have to speak English. Meanwhile, everyone is laughing up a storm over something someone said (in Japanese) and I'm practically forced to pretend like I don't understand. It's despicable.

Just wait, one foggy Christmas Eve will come and Santa will come to say...

~Anthans

Don't Snow on my Parade

すごい大雪ですね。

Really big snow huh?

This is the phrase on the tip of everyone's tongue around here. I can't stand it.

As an alien living in another country (and under strict contract stipulations) I am not allowed to purchase or own a car. I wonder if I can rent one though... Anyway, I feel the time has come to seek out those who have cars!

Actually, I don't really miss driving that much. But I do miss riding my bicycle! Snow is annoying and it's dangerous to go anywhere via any means of transportation. Safty first right?

The snow isn't supposed to stop falling until February. Until then I'm just going to be gay and study at my mansion*.


*mansion: the term used for apartment in Japan

Love,

~Anthans

What a friend shared with me

Every day is the day!

My Life

When I meet someone for the first time, two streams of thought run through my mind:

1) What can I learn from this person?
2) What can I teach this person?

We are all teachers and students, always and forever.

However, if both criteria are unrealizable, I bid that person adieu.

~Anthans