The definition of miserable.

miserable: adjective.
1. very unhappy: experiencing a serious lack of contentment or happiness
2. very unpleasant: causing or accompanied by discomfort, unpleasantness, or unhappiness.
3. contemptible: deserving contempt or condemnation
4. inadequate: inadequate, often insultingly or embarrassingly inadequate, in quantity or quality.
5. dirty or squalid: dirty, squalid, and lacking any comfort

I especially want to focus on points 2-5. I can be happy and still be uncomfortable.

It is 92 degrees today. There is no air-conditioning. There are no ceiling fans. There are no fans at all. No wind is blowing in through the open windows. And I am recovering from a summer head cold, chills 'n' fever, my own kleenex box, the works.

The rainy season has only begun and I'm already "miserable".

I am totally buying a clipfan for my desk in the staffroom.

A Brickwall of Homesickness

It kinda hit me all at once.

I knew perfectly well that my mom had only the slimmest chance of coming to Japan this summer, and I told myself not to get my hopes up and I thought I hadn't. After all, I can be rational and logical. Of course, only after the fact that it's for certain she isn't coming do I feel the full effect of her absence.

On top of that, yesterday was Father's Day. I suppose Father's Day was doubly sentimental... maybe even triply (tripley?)... since I had spent Father's Day at Camp Tahkodah for almost a decade. Of course, my thoughts are towards Daddy, but I get a little nostalgic thinking of the 2nd Sessioners that are being visited by their parents, getting to swim in Salado Creek, walk along the Lower Darn, etc. I am kinda jealous of their youth and carefree-ness.

So today, Monday, I am having a hard time being motivated at my job. There are 2 weeks until final exams and maybe 2 weeks after that to come up with random activities before the end of the first semester. I think it is 10,000 shades of idiotic to have final exams and then STILL have classes after. Final Exams are called Final Exams because they are FINAL. THE END. CLOSURE. DONE. FINITO. ETC. -.- Ugh.....

And have I complained yet about how Japanese teachers don't get summer vacation? Yeah... I have to use my last 5 days of paid vacation to host a friend. Definitely looking forward to the visit, but certainly NOT looking forward to using paid vacation when there are no classes, no students at school, but teachers gotta be there. D-U-M-B, DUMB!

To end on a positive note, I bought a really cute teapot. I broke the lid of the previous one and Japan doesn't sell teapot lids. It is the same color as the blue serving dish Granddaddy gave my mom. Mom, if you are reading this, I really want that bowl, the bamboo tea set, and the piano. I can settle for just the piano though ;)

Superstitions

To get my students out of a slump, I had a culture lesson about superstitions. I suppose I could've waited to use this until Halloween, but it's also the Culture Festival soon, so here is some culture!

Japanese superstitions, the good and the bad (but mostly bad).

If you whistle at night, a snake will appear.

If your naval is facing the thunder when it claps, the Thunder God will capture your naval.

If you find a tea stem floating upright in your tea, you will have happiness all your life.

If you cut yourself with a nail, you will not be able to be with your parents on their deathbeds.

If you do not eat all the rice you are served, your eyes will be taken out.

A certain combination on a yellow license plate is supposed to be lucky.

If you step on an ant, it will rain.

I don't remember many of the good ones... the bad ones seemed a lot more interesting.

Adventures in Shopping

The last vestiges of Spring are lingering in Shizuoka. The rainy season is supposed to start soon, but we have had lazy, hazy days lately with only random sputters of rain. This has left the area warm in the daytime and cool at night.

And I am STILL wearing black pants to work.

So I thought I needed to update my spring/summer wardrobe. Since I could only bring 2 suitcases with me, I was very minimal on "dressy clothes". But I am one of those people that sizes are hard to find in EVERYTHING, especially shoes and pants.

But I am so tired of pants. And summer is approaching, why would I want to wear pants to work? So my goals for the next shopping trip were to 1) try new stores, 2) get more dresses 3) find things in COTTON! For some reason, Japan really likes to blend materials which aren't necessarily breathable. And just to note, Americans sweat a lot more than Japanese. Lucky them.

So I went into the city, not really knowing where to go, but there was a handy "popular sites" map in the underground walkway, so I headed to Matsuzakaya and Marui Department Stores.

Now, when I think of a "department store", I am thinking of ONE store, like Dillards, JCPenny, Kohl's etc. No, in Japan, a "department store" is equivalent to a mall.

Matsuzakaya was hugely disappointing. Enough said.

But Marui Department store.... *insert angelic chorus*

They had two buildings but I only had the time (and energy) to explore one. And I spent most of my time in a new found sanctuary: the Gap.

Now, the Gap has always been pricey. But hey, their goods are high quality, easy to accessorize, and can be used in various outfits. I think I tried on their complete collection of girls clothing (which they had a GREAT selection) and came away with two dresses, a white peasant top, two tanks, a long polo, and a jean jacket/shrug all in COTTON! *second angelic chorus*

FYI, I look super cute today with brown headband, grass green shin-length cotton dress, dark jean shrug, and brown sandels in gladiator style.

Thank you, GAP.