Juxtaposed in Japan
Monday, March 30th

The horrors of Japanese doctors

Current Sounds: FFU - Over the Fantasy

As I promised myself, I went to the doctor this morning because I have been coughing for over a week straight. I figured everything was either totally okay and there's absolutely nothing a doctor can do for me, but by the sheer fact that I live by myself, I feel a deeper sense of responsibility when it comes to taking care of myself since, frankly, no one else will. And of all the epic ways I could go, dying from a cough is just lame.

Conversely, I kinda wish they gave you a price quote prior to going in, so you could evaluate how badly you really want to see the doctor. $19.93 to see a doctor, get a shot, and get 4 different medications? I call highway robbery and would've been content to stick with coughing and complaining. Now, the fact that I would choose 'death' over $19.93 is actually pretty pathetic and shows that I lack any true sense of priorities, but pay not attention to that silly fact.

Went in, filled out a questionnaire in Japanese (I could read most of it, and the rest I figured circling 'no' is the best choice, since medical questionnaires never ask, anything positive) and was given a thermometer. In America, usually you're alone with the thermometer, but here in Japan they leave you in the lobby and then tell you to reach through your collar and put it under your arm. Huh... okay, fair enough.

Finally I'm taken in to see the doctor (who speaks English, which is why all the English teachers go to him). He asks random questions, I talk about coughing up my lung for a week straight. Then he asks if I've had a shot. "Like... recently? Ever?", I ask. "Ever," came his reply. Uh.. I'm sorry, but last I checked, America's a pretty advanced country. Yes, I've certainly had shots in my life. I find he was asking because he wanted to give me a ridiculously large shot into some vein in my arm. What, exactly, does a giant shot have to do with a cough? I have absolutely not clue, but like a trooper, I took one for the "Jason" team. While I have no problems with shots and I really don't care much, if it takes over 60 seconds to push everything in, then the injection is simply too big and we need to reconsider what we're doing. Especially when I'm praying the whole time that I don't cough while a needle is in my arm.

That joy comes to an end, I pay for the checkup and walk next door to the pharmacy. There, I collect my medications (took about 10 minutes), pay for those, and I'm on my way. With 4 medications. For a cough. Overkill, anyone? No one bothers to explain what they're doing or why in Japan. They just do it. Giant injection.. why? Who knows! What's in it? No clue! He just said "gonna jump start your engine!" and sent me on my way. Breaking out my awesome Japanese skills, I learned that one is a cough suppressant, another is a painkiller, another is an antibiotic, and the last is to break up the mucus. Two pills, one syrup, and one... powder?

A.... powder?? I don't know about you, but I'm at a loss as to what to do with a powder. Do I swallow it? Mix it in water to make a medicinal drink? Sell it on the street? So I called my Japanese coworker (she's first on the list, but I was willing to go through my whole phone book of Japanese friends until someone could answer what to do with this powder) and asked what had to have been the weirdest question of the day: "So.. uh.. I got some weird powder in a bag from the doctor. Oh, yeah. It's white. So.. what do I do with it? Make a paste? Mix it in a drink? Just put it on my tongue and swallow?"

I'd hate to die from doing something stupid with medicine. That's just ironic.

But anyway.. I gotta run to work. In short, I'm totally healthy (blood pressure's at 124, weigh about 130-132lbs last I checked). Just got something hanging out in my lungs that I'm now declaring Jihad on. Take that.

I'll write sometime again..!
Jason on 03.30.09 @ 03:36 PM JST [link] [comment]


Sunday, March 29th

Spring updates

Current Sounds: "Sixth Sense" on TV

So.. I guess the most obvious thing is that I've updated the design and changed the title. I was going to opt for the FULL title of "Jason Juxtaposed in Japan" because of the awesomeness that it contains, but that's far too long and sounds just a tad.. yeah. So I figured 'Jason' can be implied.

Why the change? Well, I felt the other one had been up for too long, and I wanted to show that some change has taken place in my life since coming to Japan (living abroad is a bit of a big step). So, I went for some sumi-e style paintings, and a nice photo of me (which is, ironically, in Korea, not Japan. I don't have many pictures of me in Japan, actually). Dunno, just kinda felt like something new, and a bit more.. mature? I don't know. Just didn't feel like the last design really represented me anymore.

That's about all I've got for you. Going on day 7 of this cough. Really, really getting annoyed. But, on another note, I bring you an updated movie of my apartment! Now you can see where I live, recorded 20 minutes ago. I figured the last movie was made the same day I moved in, so I should show how life has changed (which I assume it did).

So, ENJOY! I'll write later.

My Apartment: 10 Months Later
Jason on 03.29.09 @ 08:36 PM JST [link] [comment]


Wednesday, March 25th

Where do I go now?

Current Sounds: Some Japanese dance show

Dunno.. just been feeling like writing lately. Must be the cough or something, or having nothing else to do with my time.

I don't know what it is or why, but for some reason I keep feeling lately like I'm wasting my life away, and that I'm just not doing enough with myself or my life. I try to assure myself that the facts don't really back that up, as I seem to be doing pretty well for myself on the surface, that it doesn't really help much.

So what is it that I should be doing with my life? It's too early and soon to push for a 'better' job, especially in this economy (and to boot, I really no longer have any complaints about my current job. I'm making good money, I'm debt free, and I'm even getting an 8% increase in June). Besides, the only big motivators for change would be more money or a different field. Having only worked for 9 months, I think I'm okay on both fronts.

It's not that I'm depressed per se. Rather, I just frequently (more than once a day, pretty much since I got here) wonder what I should be doing, and if I couldn't be doing something better with myself. I think the problem is my lack of goals right now. As I wrote before I left to Japan, since I was 16 years old or so (probably younger), my goal has been "go to Japan". And, of course, the goal of "graduate". I had these goals for many years and most of what I did somehow worked towards those goals. What I did had a reason, no matter how inane or menial the task was. Writing a term paper about the Whig party? It gave me a grade which contributed to the class which contributed to my general education credits which I needed to graduate. Not to say I enjoyed or appreciated all of it, but I think it helped.

Now, though, I think it bothers me because I don't really have any direct/indirect goals. It scares me, really, the chance of losing yourself and all your drive to a "work, come home, eat, sleep, work" lifestyle. I worked too hard for that.. didn't I? I've limited myself to working in this job (or English teaching in general, in case I decide to move to another city) for 3 years (I've already put in to extend my contract for a second year). But what then? I'm saving money now.. but what will I do with it? I say I'd like to go to grad school (and I would), but is that what's best?

I just wish it didn't feel like any choice I make wasn't closing all the other doors behind me. One of my students was talking about her "mental age" this week, and she said that though she's 60, her mental age is 40. She asked mine; I said "yeah, probably about 40 too". I just need to relax and enjoy life. Somehow. I've always kinda been bad at that.

Anyway, I should get some rest. Gotta sleep so this stupid cough will go away. Tired of sucking on Vicks orange throat lozenges.

See ya...!
Jason on 03.25.09 @ 06:29 AM JST [link] [comment]


Tuesday, March 24th

The joys of English teaching

Current Sounds: Aqua Teen Hunger Force, season 2

As I may or may not have mentioned, I work up to 29 hours a week before overtime kicks in. Certainly can't complain about that, though there's the one quirk: that's 29 teaching hours, which does not include waiting at the office, driving, or preparing for classes. I teach 33-34 classes in a week (though some classes are 30 minutes, so that's why I don't pass that limit yet), though they are unfortunately not one after the other. Sometimes I've got 30 minutes, sometimes I've got an hour. The problem comes in when I have an hour but I'm in another city teaching, so I can't actually go home.

This worked out to being a job perk on Monday, though (not being paid means I'm not on the clock and can do what I please between classes). I was still feeling bad on Monday (well.. even today on Tuesday, but that's besides the point) so after teaching kindergarten till 2pm, I was free until 4:30. It's a 15 minute drive home (and back, so 30 minutes driving time), so instead I opted to sleep in the office in the spare classroom. Didn't actually 'sleep' per se, but it was good to at least rest.

Until suddenly my phone rings. I check the caller ID (me? screen calls? Never..!) and it's my coworker (the Japanese one I meet on weekends). She's in a panic and says "I'm in the parking lot and my car's not working! Can you come and help??" So, as I head to the parking lot, it strikes me that though I have a decent theoretical knowledge of cars and understand how they work (along with basic troubleshooting at problems), I realize that I have very little practical car-fixing experience.

So, I arrive and the shows me that the ignition isn't releasing the key. It starts up, it cuts the engine, but power will stay on and the key isn't releasing. After consulting my vast repertoire of car problems, my best guess is that the car's not in park (why? Because it's happened to me). I check and, sure enough, the car's still in drive. Problem solved!

Seriously.. there's no end to the excitement in the life of an English teacher. Really.

Next up on the agenda is teaching at the Japanese air force base tomorrow, so seeing as talking isn't really working for me right now, and it's a two hour class, we're bringing a DVD to class: "Liar Liar" with Jim Carrey. Pretty good movie, if you haven't seen it.

Anyway... that's about it for now. I need to get some rest, but I'll write more later. Maybe soon I'll tell the exciting story of learning that my student's husband just died, right in the middle of class. Oh, and starts crying about it, too, because I brought the painful memory up. Yeeeep. Good times.

Later!
Jason on 03.24.09 @ 05:06 AM JST [link] [1 comment]


Sunday, March 22nd

Making... progress?


So, first off, I'd just like to dedicate my first-born child to expired Nyquil. I woke up about 3 times in the middle of the night and felt infinitely worse than when I went to bed, including a newfound feeling a nausea, but by the time I finally dragged my body out of bed (at 1:36, a whole 24 minutes before I was supposed to meet someone at McDonalds to study), I felt great! How? I have no idea, and I don't even really care. I'd just like to say that of all the stupid things I've done in my life, this one's worked out okay... kinda.

Wake up, see the time on my cell phone, dash to the shower, get dressed, pack a bag, jump into the car and go, all in about 15 minutes. Awesome. I would've called to push the meeting time off by half an hour, but I was the one who insisted on 2pm when she had said 3. It's more than a little tacky for me to call and then move the time. Besides, I made it.

All I need to contend with now is this annoying cough. To be honest, I really don't know what one does about a cough, other than "drink hot stuff" or "don't cough". I'll give both of them a shot. But if anyone has any suggestions, feel free to e-mail me. I also assume that pink phlegm in a cough, while adorable, is not a good thing. But seeing as I've been coughing a lot and it's not "horror movie red", we'll assume things are kosher for another day or so.

Yeah, I'm totally the picture of health. GO ME!

Anyway, really.. I'm totally okay. If worse comes to worse, I'll bite the bullet and go sit down in the clinic for a few hours and wile away my time with a book while I wait for a doctor to tell me I'm totally okay. Since the fever broke, I'm gonna let things sit a little longer than before and now I'll till Tuesday before doing anything.

Don't you just love reading my ramblings about not just my health, but how I seem to consistently do everything wrong in my attempts to keep myself alive? And that's saying nothing of all the medicine I took Friday and chased with a cup of tea, two bottles of water, and two energy drinks. I assure you, it's really not as bad as it sounds most of the time!

That's about it for now.. gonna try to get some grade A, quality sleep for once and then teach some kindergarten kids English tomorrow. Joy of joys!

Later!
Jason on 03.22.09 @ 06:01 AM JST [link] [comment]


Saturday, March 21st

Gaaaar... siiiiiiiick

Current Sounds: Mythbusters on TV

First off, I should say that as I write this, I'm sick, so keep that in mind if something doesn't make sense. I don't think it's anything serious; fever, headache--standard cold symptoms. At least it started on Thursday night, so I have the weekend to try to get better. If it gets worse, I could theoretically go to the clinic, but waiting 4-5 hours at a doctor's office is the absolute last resort. Yes, I have horrible priorities. I just did a google search on "expired nyquil". Please don't ask why..

So, what've I been up? Somehow, I manage to both do something interesting everyday and yet do absolutely nothing of note. How? I'm just awesome like that. Every weekend I meet with my coworker for studying Japanese/English (she passed her English test, so we've been focusing more on Japanese as of late), twice a month I go to practice calligraphy. Last weekend, I went bowling. Bowling!

Basically, my boss belongs to the women's charity group called "Soroptimist International" (basically a women-only spinoff of the Rotary Club). They had a bowling event for... something (no one bothered to tell me), and my boss wanted some of the foreign teachers to come. Naturally, we all said "Hahahahahahahahaha...! No!" (English teachers are not the most dedicated of people, especially when it involves leaving your house before 9am on the weekend) So, she upped the ante and offered to pay for a steak lunch for any teachers that go, and 3 of us volunteered. Shameless? Sure. But hey, free steak in Japan? Can't turn that down.

After the steak, my phone rang and one of my students (who goes fishing every weekend) invited me to meet up with him and some of my other former students for a small party. So, I went along with them and had fresh sashimi (from fish caught from the ocean just 6 hours before). Free lunch and free dinner? The makings of a great weekend.

Hmm.. I bought a new tv as well, and sold my old tv at a horrible loss. But since I'm now aiming to stay here about another 2 years, it seemed like a reasonable upgrade (I went from 20" widescreen to 32"). Plus, it was on sale. ON SALE. How could I possibly turn it down? I'm still putting money away every month now, though. I'm not exactly sure what for, but I'm thinking I'd like to go to graduate school; possibly in Japan. Since I have to pay ridiculous fees to wire-transfer money, I'm aiming to do it once or twice a year before investing it (leaving money in the bank is just wasteful, anyway. Gotta make it work for me! Lazy money...)

So, that's about it for me. Just popped some of the previously-mentioned Nyquil and then going to pass out and hope I feel better in the morning. If I'm not better by Monday, I might call in sick and go to the doctor. But.. I should be fine! As for plans on the horizon? Not a whole lot going on. Just standard stuff, living day by day, and having super awesome adventures that'd make you all jealous.

Indeed!
Jason on 03.21.09 @ 06:36 AM JST [link] [comment]


Sunday, March 1st

Graduations, tests, and suits


Current Sounds: The Chipmunk Adventure on TV

SO! I write again. I haven't really written much as of late because.. well.. it's a mixture of 'there's absolutely nothing to talk about and it's boring to write about my daily life' and 'I have a lot to talk about, and it'd take too long to write it down, so I opt to be lazy instead'. Oddly enough, these happen at the same time. How? I really don't know. But take my word for it.

First and foremost, today was graduation day at the high school I teach at. Was getting all set up and ready yesterday when I realized: I own a suit, but I have never worn a suit in my life. So I figured it might, just might, be a good idea to try my suit on and make sure all's as it should be before the big day. As it turns out, that was a good idea. I bought this suit back in America two weeks before I left the country (never needed one before) then never actually wore it in Japan. I had tried it on and checked everything in the store, but apparently I was crazy, had bad lighting, or something, because it was way too big (I have lost weight since arriving, about 17lbs, but not all around the upper torso). This means that I had about.. 7 hours to get a new suit and get the pants properly sized.

'Measure twice, cut once...' There's some serious logic in that. Bought a proper suit, I'd be fine now. But.. whatever, that's life. So, I went out to the store and was confronted with a rack of suits, with helpful tags labelled B, Y, and A with numbers from 4-9. Now.. WHAT?! After trying on 10 different sizes and letters to figure out what they even mean, I finally got something that fit nicely (and later found a chart taped to the wall explaining it). Err.. go me. So, finally got my suit, got it to the sewing-girl (is that the PC term? Probably not. I did meet her, and it was a girl, and she did sew.. so I'm gonna call 'okay' on that one), and all was safe.

Since I bought a suit, I also went out and bought a toaster oven. There's absolutely no relation on the surface to these purchases, but it somehow made sense to me, and I really have been needing an oven. In fact, I baked cookies from scratch as soon as I came back home. Aren't I nicely domesticated?

But now, that brings us to today. Got up early, got nice and dressed up and went off to watch the graduation. Oddly enough, this is the first time I've ever attended a high school graduation. Kinda funny that I do so as a teacher and not as a student.. but that's life. Though I have no direct 'high school graduation' experience, I feel I know enough about the affair to say that it's totally different in Japan. Here, it's much more solemn, much more serious, and totally formal and organized. We listened to many speeches, listened to the school anthem, that sort of thing. I'll spare you the play by play of the boring details. The highlights include a 1st year student (yes, ALL students must attend the graduation, even if you're not graduating) blacking out while standing during a speech (I think he locked his knees, blocked circulation) and after I heard the crash, two teachers next to be ran to grab him and escort him off, all the while the speaker didn't skip a beat. Kinda funny, in a weird way. Also, the student who gave the speech on behalf of the 3 graduating classes gave a long 7-10 minute speech and started crying halfway through. It was a sweet speech, and a deeply emotional time for the students, I think.

After that, I stuck around for a bit, wrote in 3 year books, talked to students, and took pictures. Then I had to kill some time and come back to the high school to catch a bus to the dinner party for the teachers and staff. It was a pretty nice party at a ritzy hotel, random seating so teachers are forced to mingle, and lots of traditional food (sushi, sukiyaki and the like). I talked to some of the Japanese staff I usually don't talk to, and had a generally good time. The only tough part is having to explain that I don't drink. The purpose of events like this is to drink. Of course, they offer tea for those who don't, but being American means everyone thinks I drink. Being a man means everyone thinks I drink. American man? Seriously, I should be drunk even before I arrive. Other than that, though.. I had a good time! Really nice people, and I look forward to coming back next semester (in April).

Aand.. that pretty much brings you up to date on my life. Under 'more..' you'll find a picture of my snazzy new suit and with some of the graduating students that I taught. Nice kids, it'll be sad to see them go and not have them next year. But such is life.

Oh... also, I didn't pass my Japanese language test, so gotta take it again in July, and I'm still studying to take level 1 in December. Blah. Gotta keep it up.

Sooo.. yeah. That's about it for my life! Pretty almost kinda exciting!

I'll try to write a bit more frequently. Not everything needs to be a 3 page epic..

I'm gonna head to bed. Been a long day. I'll write later!
Jason on 03.01.09 @ 07:14 AM JST [more..]




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Name:Jason
Age:23
Born:12-30
Location:Arizona


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Location: Japan
Doing: English Teacher
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