Not a lucky charm

PO 

Fun at the Post Office

I just finished arranging a bank transfer at the local post office. I’ve never had to do this before and to say the least, it was not pleasant.

11:30 I take a number and am waiting
11:35 I begin to get bored
11:37 I start roaming around the post office
11:40 I see a door open to a back room, and decide to investigate
11:41 The room is some kind of museum of inkans and nengajos
11:42 An old man leaps out of the shadows and starts explaining the meaning of each display to me in rapid Japanese.
11:44 I am puzzled at his complete lack of surprise (or even recognition) that I am conversing with him in fluent Japanese.
11:54 He has reached the section regarding Okinawin stone carvings, and is going into minute detail as to the subtle difference between them and those of mainland Japan. “Okinawa people are the same as the Chinese” he proclaims.
11:55 I am bored.
12:10 I must escape.
12:20 I make a dash for the door only to be stopped by an old lady
12:25 I finish signing the guest book, receiving sembei, giving blood etc..
12:30 I get back to the counter just in time to see the number after mine come up. I timidly ask if I can go next. Take another number I’m told.
2:30 I finally finish the paperwork.

Apparently if you make even the slightest mistake you must rewrite the entire page. I had this worried 30 something year old munchkin of a woman (strangely cute, cute in a strange way, as in LOTR) standing over me trying to be helpful, sighing in dismay as I wrote ASU instead of USA. I ended up rewriting the damn thing 3 times. Really.

In my defense I think the sembeis were spiked. When I finally finished I felt more than a little relived. Now if they can just figure out how to send the money…

From Russia with love

I am off to a foul start. I’ve spent over a month trying to work out a Russian visa. I swear, they must think the cold war is still on (is it?) Be that as it may, my faithful Russian travel agent just contacted me with the bill for my visa etc… 2000$ Right… I wonder what mom will think when she gets her credit bill…

However, I take some consolation in the irony that this fee will be paid(in part) by my Russian coworker. You see, I’m selling her my furniture. When she asked me to lower the price, I promptly replied, ”You wouldn’t want to take money from the fatherland now would you?” This whole situation has me somewhat tickled. I’m quite literally ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’(or Putin as the case might be.)

Exchanged for a Russian visa?

My livingroom 

Finally a decision!

Today we finally decided to go thru Russia, via the trans-siberian. I can’t say I’m altogether pleased with this prospect. I am however, glad that we finally came to a decision. I just hope we have time to pull it off.(visas, tickets, etc…) Gulag here I come!

At work

profie2 

In the begining...

Well I finally decided to start a page to document my travels. My premise is to try to do, see, and learn as much as I can in one year, or until my yen runs out.