Update with news!

Now, just as a forewarning. I wrote this entry about a week or two ago, but decided not to update it because I wanted to wait for Mike. So, all my plans about what I'm going to do next weekend here, have already happened. I also have some pictures now! but I'm also too lazy to rewrite this entry in the present tense while I'm at work. On that note, let's go!

Hello everyone,

Here is an update of my past week and my plans for next week.

I suppose I'll start off with my big news. On Febuary 1st, Mike and I decided officially that I would recontract and that we would stay in Japan for another 18 months. The other side of this very shiney and lovely coin is that because of Mike's visa restrictions and our mutual want to be together we are going to get married here in Japan. Hoorraaayy!

How the process works here in japan is much different from that in Canada. In Canada, you sign your documents on your wedding day during your ceremony (whether it be civil or religious) and are hence forth legally joined. In Japan, you sign your papers at the city office thus registering you legally joined, and then you have a wedding ceremony (purely for religious reasons and/or shits and giggles) some time later. So, Mike and I are going to file the papers here, and then once we return to Canada we'll have a Canadian style wedding ceremony with friends and family. I know some of you are probably asking, but wait, won't you have already been married for over a year by then? haha, well, Yes, but consider it then either a long engagement, or a wedding celebration of our first year together. I plan on wearing some form of a dress to the city office when we submit our paperwork, and Mike said he would put on a nice shirt as well.

So that's my big news on that front! In case　anyone is wondering, Mike is waiting until I choose a ring before he officially asks. (And he did on Febuary 16th.)

Last Saturday I went to the optometrist to have my eyes checked. I've noticed that only my right eye has become blurry. Some of you may remember that I was having similar troubles in Canada last year with one eye changing then the other eye changing to match a few months later. They ran a whole series of tests on my eyes and have decided that it's either because of eye-stress/strain on tired eyes, or some form of auto immune problem that's causing my eyes to swell. They gave me a prescription for some eye drops to help with the swelling. Should it help, then it's just tired eyes, but if not, then likely some auto immune thing. I have a feeling it's a poor mixture. I've had this problem for a while and the constant blurry vision is causing stress on my eyes which in turn causes more swelling. Gah. Anyways, I was very lucky that my eye doctor spoke very good English and was able to translate other questions that other eye doctors had.

On Sunday I went to my ceramics class and finished up my two bowls. Next time I go in I will glaze them and fire them again and start on something else. Any suggestions? I was thinking of making some nice big hot chocolate mugs for mike and I, but it's starting to warm up now, and soon we'll want big ice tea cups.

On Monday at about 5 am I woke up with tearing pain in my lower abdomen. After about an hour I contacted my supervisor and she found a clinic that I could go see where they spoke English (twice in one weekend? So lucky!) As I suspected at the time, I had a urinary tract infection. I was told I could take the day off to rest and take my medication and I was feeling much better by the evening. Though there is still lingering discomfort.

The rest of the work week so far has been pretty tame. This Friday is Japan Foundation Day so I get a day off. I also previously requested the Monday off so now I have a 4 day weekend. YAY. I'm looking forward to getting some rest. Though, I have Japanese practice on sunday and am going to Miyajima on Saturday.

On Saturday, Noriko, myself and possibly some others will be going to a festival on Miyajima Island. We're planning on wearing kimonos and painting the little town red. I believe there is also an oyster festival there this weekend too.

(Here's a recap of how Saturday went)
Going to Miyajima was a hoot! Though we must have chosen the worst day for the worst weather to go. All morning long we had snow with high winds and thunder/lightning. It was truly a sight to behold. But myself and about 10 others trudged out in our wooden geta (shoes) and kimonos with umbrellas and went to Miyajima.


Click to see larger!









I can say at least that the weather improved over the course of day. While on Miyajima, we watched a Kagura style dance performance, ate all kinds of oysters, and drank tea. It was very busy! At the end of the day, Noriko and I went to the public hot spring baths and soaked away our weary muscles. I'd never been to these baths before, but as with most public baths here in Japan, there is an indoor and an outdoor section. Personally I'm always a fan of the outdoor baths, and these ones were very nice!