Day Three
So it's been three days of biking to and from work. How's it going? Well, the shocking truth is... I kind of like it. Endorphins and I mix really well. I'm happier when I get to work and feel like I've accomplished something when I get home. My butt is really sore, but on the whole it's a very enjoyable ride. I get going before the sun gets too hot (still humid as hell, though) and leave just as the heat from midday starts to ebb off.
In short, I'd still rather be driving, but maybe this won't be as bad as I thought. Three weeks don't seem to be stretching into infinity anymore.
Last night I went out with the Sakawa Jr High peeps. Today is Inoue-sensei's last day. T.T Man, I'm gonna miss that guy. He was the only thing that made going to that school bearable sometimes. But he told me to call him and invite him out with the group anytime. When I get my license finally, I will certainly invite him to the enkai that I will demand we have to celebrate.
When I go out with this group, we always have dinner at this fabulous little place in an alley about five minutes on foot behind my apartment. Yes, a restaurant in an alley. Over the past year I've eaten in about half a dozen restaurants in Sakawa and I can say without a doubt that this is the best one. I think I like it even better than anywhere I've eaten in Kochi City. The owner is an amazing man. He's traveled all over the world and speaks great English. He's also not bad to look at. ;) Besides, the food is amazing. Last night we had maguro tataki sashimi that melted in my mouth. Can you imagine a raw fish so tender and moist that it has the texture of the most well-prepared fillet mignon? Awesome! We also pigged out on sasami cheese (like stuffed rolled cheese logs), shrimp senbei, and salty chicken. For dessert, we had Jersey milk vanilla ice cream. We also drank ourselves into a stupor. I had so many kahlua milks and vodka cranberries that I lost count. All I know is that we paid about $40 each, which, really, is a reasonable price for an enkai.
I want some of that tataki again really soon.
I will quote a line from GLaDOS here: It's hard to overstate my satisfaction. I am so happy with how I've rearranged my apartment so far. Yesterday I moved the couch from the den (note: moving a couch by yourself = no fun) into my bedroom. I just kind of sat there watching Stargate Atlantis on the TV and didn't move for ten minutes. I never realized how finding the perfect room arrangement can make one so content. And despite the fact that everything I use regularly is only in one room now, I feel like I'm actually using more of the apartment. It's like the apartment has gotten bigger. Weird, huh?
When winter comes, though, I may have to move the couch out of the bedroom. I don't know... I'm going to have mess with bed angles and such. I'm just excited about having both the bed and the computer in one room so I only have to heat one area. I'm gonna be toasty.
You know, if I had my way, I'd call in someone to knock down the wall between the bedroom and the "storage room" to double the size of the room. Other advantages to this would be having windows at either end so I could get some cross air flow going in the summer. Yeah, that would be sweet. Well, a girl can dream, can't she?
As long as I'm dreaming, you know what else would be awesome? Installing a brand-new air conditioner into the bedroom. I think if I decide to stay a third year (not that I'm planning on it right now,) getting a new air conditioner would be one of my conditions. I'd even try to get the town to cover some of the costs. lolz.
See, the air conditioner is in such a stupid, sucky place. It's in the main room on the far wall, facing toward the entrance. Now, I'm all for making my guests feel welcome, but not so much that I want the entryway to be the only air conditioned room in the apartment. I use a fan situated under the air conditioner to catch the cool air and throw it back into the room, but at best I'm only getting back 50% of what the air conditioner blows out. The only way I get any relief during those stagnant afternoons is by turning the thing on high. I'd use 75% less energy if I could set the air conditioner to super-low and not have to use the fan. Why, oh why is that air conditioner where it is? Grrr!
Anyway, wow... Lots of ranting about ideals. Nothing is ever ideal, so why do I bother? I guess I just like to dream.
I still have a few things to rearrange yet, but when I'm done, I'm going to take pictures. This is how proud I am of my new ergonomic atmosphere. XD
In short, I'd still rather be driving, but maybe this won't be as bad as I thought. Three weeks don't seem to be stretching into infinity anymore.
Last night I went out with the Sakawa Jr High peeps. Today is Inoue-sensei's last day. T.T Man, I'm gonna miss that guy. He was the only thing that made going to that school bearable sometimes. But he told me to call him and invite him out with the group anytime. When I get my license finally, I will certainly invite him to the enkai that I will demand we have to celebrate.
When I go out with this group, we always have dinner at this fabulous little place in an alley about five minutes on foot behind my apartment. Yes, a restaurant in an alley. Over the past year I've eaten in about half a dozen restaurants in Sakawa and I can say without a doubt that this is the best one. I think I like it even better than anywhere I've eaten in Kochi City. The owner is an amazing man. He's traveled all over the world and speaks great English. He's also not bad to look at. ;) Besides, the food is amazing. Last night we had maguro tataki sashimi that melted in my mouth. Can you imagine a raw fish so tender and moist that it has the texture of the most well-prepared fillet mignon? Awesome! We also pigged out on sasami cheese (like stuffed rolled cheese logs), shrimp senbei, and salty chicken. For dessert, we had Jersey milk vanilla ice cream. We also drank ourselves into a stupor. I had so many kahlua milks and vodka cranberries that I lost count. All I know is that we paid about $40 each, which, really, is a reasonable price for an enkai.
I want some of that tataki again really soon.
I will quote a line from GLaDOS here: It's hard to overstate my satisfaction. I am so happy with how I've rearranged my apartment so far. Yesterday I moved the couch from the den (note: moving a couch by yourself = no fun) into my bedroom. I just kind of sat there watching Stargate Atlantis on the TV and didn't move for ten minutes. I never realized how finding the perfect room arrangement can make one so content. And despite the fact that everything I use regularly is only in one room now, I feel like I'm actually using more of the apartment. It's like the apartment has gotten bigger. Weird, huh?
When winter comes, though, I may have to move the couch out of the bedroom. I don't know... I'm going to have mess with bed angles and such. I'm just excited about having both the bed and the computer in one room so I only have to heat one area. I'm gonna be toasty.
You know, if I had my way, I'd call in someone to knock down the wall between the bedroom and the "storage room" to double the size of the room. Other advantages to this would be having windows at either end so I could get some cross air flow going in the summer. Yeah, that would be sweet. Well, a girl can dream, can't she?
As long as I'm dreaming, you know what else would be awesome? Installing a brand-new air conditioner into the bedroom. I think if I decide to stay a third year (not that I'm planning on it right now,) getting a new air conditioner would be one of my conditions. I'd even try to get the town to cover some of the costs. lolz.
See, the air conditioner is in such a stupid, sucky place. It's in the main room on the far wall, facing toward the entrance. Now, I'm all for making my guests feel welcome, but not so much that I want the entryway to be the only air conditioned room in the apartment. I use a fan situated under the air conditioner to catch the cool air and throw it back into the room, but at best I'm only getting back 50% of what the air conditioner blows out. The only way I get any relief during those stagnant afternoons is by turning the thing on high. I'd use 75% less energy if I could set the air conditioner to super-low and not have to use the fan. Why, oh why is that air conditioner where it is? Grrr!
Anyway, wow... Lots of ranting about ideals. Nothing is ever ideal, so why do I bother? I guess I just like to dream.
I still have a few things to rearrange yet, but when I'm done, I'm going to take pictures. This is how proud I am of my new ergonomic atmosphere. XD