Archive for September, 2013
September 16, 2003 – Shopping for ties
Posted by Barniferous in Before Japan on September 16, 2013
One week until I leave!! Today I bought some new dress shirts, pants, and ties for work. Also some new clothes so I will look extra studly out of the office as well.
2013 Note 1 – Before this shopping trip I only owned one shirt and tie.
2013 Note 2 – I love shopping at Moores! I went in, found a sales guy and told him that I needed shirts and ties for a job. He took measurements and lined up a selection of pants and shirts. I picked out the ones I liked and he brought over ties that matched. The whole process took less than 30 minutes and was the easiest clothes shopping I have ever done.
2013 Note 3 – Blogging about how your new clothes make you look “studly” does not go over well with the girlfriend you are leaving behind.
September 15, 2003 – Destination: Kawasaki
Posted by Barniferous in Before Japan, Greater Tokyo Area on September 15, 2013
Today I found out I will be living in Kawasaki, Japan. I will be in a guest house called “Hello House” where I get my own room but share bathrooms, showers, kitchen and a common area. It will be exactly like rez, but with less classes. Things I still need to do before I leave:
– Transfer all my stuff to my sister’s laptop (which I will be taking)
– Transfer all of her stuff to my computer (which stays here)
– Buy luggage
– Pack everything
2013 Note 1 – “Rez” is common slang for a University residence or dormitory.
2013 Note 2 – Deporning a computer is important before your sister takes it over.
2013 Note 3 – My sister’s computer sucked. It was an underpowered old IBM laptop that weighed about 8kg and only functioned when plugged in (this detail will be important later – trust me). Since it was old and crappy, I could only bring along classic computer games.
September 9, 2003 – Trip to Edmonton
Posted by Barniferous in Before Japan, The Ex on September 9, 2013
I got back from Edmonton yesterday. Very quick trip, but still fun. All went well with the consulate. Casualties of the trip: one pillow (left in hotel), one towel (stolen from waterpark), one skunk (run over on highway). Can’t complain!
2013 note 1 – The Ex and I drove to Edmonton to visit the consulate. This was a bit awkward knowing that I was going away for a year and that our relationship was going to become more challenging. Winnipeg to Edmonton is approximately a 14 hour drive. Driving through Saskatchewan is BORING. Hitting the skunk was the most exciting thing that happened on the way to Edmonton, but unfortunately the outside of the car smelled like skunk for the rest of the trip.
At the consulate I filled out the forms for a working holiday visa. I had to answer questions about where I was going to travel and what I was planning to do for work. You are not supposed to get a working holiday visa if you already have a job in Japan. NOVA warned me that telling the consulate that I had a job lined up could disqualify me from the working holiday visa. Technically I wouldn’t have a job until I landed at Narita airport and signed my employment contract, so I wasn’t really lying.
While I was waiting, a blonde woman came into the consulate and started filling out forms. She asked me if I was applying for a working holiday too. I answered yes. She asked me if I had a job waiting. I answered no. She made some small talk and asked me again if I had a teaching job waiting. I still answered no. To this day I think she was working for the consulate and trying to trip me up on my visa application.
2013 note 2 – The only other exciting thing that happened in Edmonton was that I got a call from one of my close female friends. She had just learned that she was pregnant from her boyfriend. The pregnancy was unplanned. I got this phone call about 30 minutes before The Ex and I were going to be back in the hotel having some… um… alone time. Learning about a friend’s unplanned pregnancy is a serious mood killer. Thanks for that friend!!
Overall, the Edmonton trip was successful and I returned to Winnipeg with less than a month to go before moving!
Drinking in Japan 
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