Written by hand over the course of the day

Today is one of the days when Japanese hurts my brain. It's no so bad really, but it's frustrating trying to write out what you are going to say to a Japanese doctor when you left your dictionary at home. It's just frustrating. I wanted to write out what I think I'll need to know. I Want to be able to do this myself, without having to ask someone to go with me. Although, I just realized a happy thing. Pizza is tonight. I don't have to cook. Sqwee. And I should get some exercise, as I've been walking there and back to justify the pizza eating. Yay.

So, after writing from before, I asked the office ladies at the iinkai where I should go to get my Rx and they, after much debate and calling a pharmacy, sent me to a private doctor. Or told me to go to one and I'll go after work.

During my conversation with them, Kugai (my boss) came and saw me ("Genki?" "Hai, okagesama de." "Oh! So good!" I love that I know some of the rituals :) ) And he told me to stop by his office for a chat, when I was done with whatever I was doing, which I did. We had a nice chat, half English, half Japanese about my family coming, sending money home, education in America, it was really nice.

After about 40 minutes I went back t my desk (all hyped up on the caffine, because I could only refuse the coffee once before it actually came and then I didn't want to be rude) to study Japanese for a bit. I'm starting with Japanese for Jets, quickly reading through stuff I know, writing down words that I didn't know or didn't remember.

After about 30 minutes of this, I was told to go ahead and go to the doctor, even though I still had another hour of work. THEY said there was really no point in me just sitting htere with no work to do, if I needed to go to the doctor, just go. So I did.

(I'd like to point out I agree with this mentality completely. Let me teach or give me the day off. No point in going in for three hours to sit at a desk with no internet.)

I went to the doctor and we discussed my 2 meds that I needed. Advair he found right away, but only the 250 dose (I'm on the 100), so I'm to take it just at night. Apparently Japan doesn't' have the other doses.

Requip was harder. After much searching we found out that Japan doesn't really believe that Restless Leg Syndrome exists (although they have a name for it: muzu muzu ashi, cute sounding, eh?), so it's still in trial. They have the medication for it, because it's also the drug for Parkinson's disease, just a much lighter dose. And because it's still in trial for RSL, insurance doesn't cover it. But I checked the price for without insurance, and it's 50 of my doses (it comes in .25 and I take .5mg) on a sheet for 6000yen. When 30 doses sent from America, without insurance, would be $125. I told them yes please. I get to pick it up on Tuesday.

So after that I went home. Talked to Rosie a bit, messed around on the internet, until I went to meet up with Kiyoko.

Kiyoko is this really cool lady. She's from Miyako, but moved to LA for a bit (and her husband's still there right now). She has three boys that speak English and Japanese and belong to Amy's school. She runs a beachwear shop called La Playa. I walked in there yesterday and got to talking to her and stopped by again today because I wanted a rashguard (the longsleeve surf shirts) for snorkeling and she got a new shipment in last night. What I bought is not exactly a rashguard. But it's similar material and it should be good for my purposes. And it's this really nice red.

After I walked (did I mention I walked the 4 blocks to La Playa?) down the street to Sea Dancer and paid waaaaay too much for a pair of women's surf shorts (for the playing of volley ball, and the snorkeling), but they're cute. No, not cute, but they fit and are functional and match the rest of my swimsuits.

Then I walked to the post office and Finally sent off some postcards to a bunch of people. Sorry they're so late. You should get them within 2 weeks. In theory. The lady said they'd go out today.

Then I stopped by one of the souvenir shops and bought some more post cards, as they make excellent birthday cards. Now if I could only get the timing right for mailing them :P

Then home, where I'm currently listening to the new Dethklok album. Yay, metal.

Now shower and then to pizza!

(Oh, did I mention I have just about all of the Eyeshield 21 manga now? I'm on volume 8, currently. Soooo, fun.)