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…
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…
posted by Neil at 5/19/2005 01:30:00 AM
2 Comments:
Gosh you've just inspired me.
Instead of taking one's dates to something horribly ordinary like the movies (unless its starring Viggo Mortensen) or dinner. Take them to ... a post office! Damn I'm a genius.
Where's your friggen profile?? You're misleading everyone with all those dashing pictures. It could create a false impression! :)
ensign out
That was one amusing story. You DEFINITELY should write a book. You have had more adventures that 99.9% of the world population. Write it down and get published.
Signed,
The Advice Giver
Post a Comment
<< Home