No, Really, I Am an American

I got the feeling that if I didn’t get out of the house today I would go insane. I had some motivation, though, so that definitely helped. I had made arrangements with this chap Clint to take him to Costco this morning, just as Robin had done for me during the first few months I arrived.

I admit, however, that every fiber of my happy, sleepy being protested this decision as I was completely, contentedly, and sufficiently burrowed under my covers this morning. The house has this tendency to be really cold, this is either due to spirits or lack of proper insulation. It has yet to be determined, but is it a bad thing if you can see your breath in your room and worse in the bathroom? Needless to say, I have taken to bundling up and I was thus quite reluctant to leave my futon.

Sheer will power, or maybe it was the need to use the bathroom, eventually won out. I abandoned my happy cocoon and prepared to go into Namba.

I was but two minutes off the train and walking up the stairs when I got a text from Clint letting me know he’d be about an hour late. I was briefly miffed, but then I realized that this would give me a chance to get properly caffeinated. I figured since I had the time, I would get a TALL mocha instead of my usual short. It was moments like this that reminded me why if I can help it, I don’t travel without a book.

I spent about an hour in Rome with Robert Langdon in search of the elusive Church of Illuminati when I got another text from Clint telling me that it would probably be best to just abandon him. He had quite the hangover it seemed.

I wasn’t overly put off as there isn’t an abundance of things I need from Costco presently. I took this opportunity to pick up a Kansai Flea Market and headed home. I spent a little time with John, chatting with my sister and Vicki of Wau-con-da, debating about the purchase of an iPod and ascertaining an estimated time of arrival for my book box (respectively) when I decided I had errands to run. I’d been putting a lot of them off in favor of hanging out in Star’s Hollow, but it was high time I did something about them.

First, I collected all the left over change Jacob left and went to UFJ before they closed. This time around it was a deposit of about 7500 yen ($75 give or take). Next, I headed into Namba; the bottom of my backpack managed to tear and was no longer suitable to use. My first venture ended up being fruitless so I decided to try DenDen Town.

On my way there, I realized that I hadn’t really eaten a proper meal all day. Since I was close to Namba Parks, I flirted with the idea of getting a burger. I decided against it, though. I remembered that one Firefly Sunday, Masumi tried to take us to this Italian place right next to the burger joint called “To the Herbs”; at the time, there was a wedding party there so we were unable to sample the fare. Apparently, the courage I gained when I first arrived in this country was with me once again as I decided to go it alone. I had never been one for eating alone in the States (only the odd occasion did I do so), but ever since coming here I feel less self-conscious about that fact. (Perhaps the only thing I feel less spastic about.)

The host spoke a little English, so that worked out rather well for me. I selected a table by the window and looked over the menu. I was happy to notice that underneath the katakana, there were English translations. I opted for the lasagna with “bolognaise” (as they spell it), garlic bread, and a cola.

I pulled out my spiral and started this entry. While I was writing, the waiter came by to ask me where I was from. I smiled and told him; he asked me if I lived in Japan and I told him I have now for about a year. He seemed satisfied with this answer and moved on. It was also around this time that I once again felt a fool. I’ve been here for how long and I still have trouble ordering in a restaurant? I only recently got the “to go” thing down. I have really got to find a class again.

Lasagna in this country is as amusing as a lot of their other portions. Pretty much it’s like one layer of your average lasagna brick, and it comes in a tiny casserole dish. Maybe that’s why it was only something like 500 yen, which is cheap in this country. I was feeling, I don’t know…crazy maybe, but I decided to get dessert, too. I ordered something called “The Baron” and declined the coffee, much to my own surprise.

The Baron was pretty tasty. I don’t know if it’s a common dessert — this was the first I’d ever heard of it — but it’s like two silver dollar pancakes folded over custard and fresh cream with two tiny scoops of ice cream on the side, sprinkled with cocoa powder. It’s definitely on my list of happy desserts!

The meal cost me about Y1700. Not to bad if you ask me.

It was still relatively early, so I once again set off on my quest for a new backpack. I didn’t have to go very far ‘cuz as I neared the entrance I usually utilize, one of the stalls that was set up was selling backpacks for the same price I bought my last two. How sad is it that I’ve gone through two backpacks since moving here? Then again, what can I expect for Y1050? Earlier, I thought about maybe investing in a proper one, but I’m saving up for an iPod Nano, and I’m insane about spending money so I just went ahead and bought another Y1050 one. On average, they’ve all lasted about five months.

Happy that I got everything done that I wanted to, I went home. I’ve also decided that I’m gonna try and hit up Kyoto tomorrow. Then it’s dinner with Mike and Anna with a possibility of Wii activity.

I crunched some numbers again, and I think I can save up to about Y1,000,000 (give or take) by the summer. Of course, I didn’t factor Hokkaido into that, but I think I’ll be doing okay with money for a while, even with living in the house alone. If we’re all serious about renting a house/cabin type this summer, let me know so I can factor that into my budget. Provided, of course, that I can first get the time off and second book a decent flight. There was talk among my cousins of maybe going to the Philippines in July as well. Regardless, I think I can spend some money of such things finally.

I think the first thing I’m gonna buy is an iPod. My CD player is functional and all, but it doesn’t have shock resistance. It’s been bugging me something awful lately.

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Today’s listening pleasure brought to you by Allison Meredith Martin. Quite the mix, my friend!