Well, I'm slowly starting to accomplish all of the things I need to to get ready to go to Utsunomiya. I leave in just under two months. Let's look at what I've done and what I need to do, shall we? You can skip this entry if you want as it is only a list and not a very interesting one at that.
What I've accomplished:
-A home for the cat - pending Christi's approval
-Boxed up all books
-Set aside books I'm shipping over to Japan
-Got bookshelf and various and sundry items to sister and sister's husband's house
-Bought a plane ticket (one way to Tokyo)
-Bought one of three suits - black Kenneth Cole, three button, with pick stitching and those retro vents in the back
-Bought 1 pair square toed black dress shoes
-Wrote and sent a letter of introduction to the school I'm going to along with a "Happy Fall" card
-Started moving some boxes home to folk's place
-Bought the following pharmacy items: 6 sticks deodorant (I was told by many that Japanese stuff isn't as good), a big bottle of ibuprofen, a bottle of acid reducer pills
-Acquired a garment bag in which to put my suits
-Bought a case to put my DVDs in, then packed away cases
Still to do;
-Buy more clothes in after Christmas sale:
-Navy suit and tan or grey suit
-Black waterproof trench coat with liner
-Brown dress shoes
-Pack off season clothes and sweaters to ship ahead in December
-Pack books I'm sending over as well as CDs and DVDs
-Ship said clothes, books, CDs and DVDs to Japan
-Find a small gift - a food item of some sort - to bring to my school
-Buy some regional, inexpensive trinkets that I can give to people as small gifts - any ideas? Key chains? Buttons?
-Travel to Chicago when my Visa arrives and have it stamped at the Japanese consulate - this will probably occur within days of my leaving
-Get the rest of my apartment dismantled
-Get money in traveller's checks and some in Yen
-Get some stuff to bring to my brother and his family as well as pipe tobacco and a new pipe for my buddy Pat
Miles to go before I sleep, but I'm getting there.
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10 comments:
--Let Jean go shopping with you to purchase the necessary clothing items
For your school - MN wild rice? You could make them soup!
Liz
Jean: I agree. Let's do the after Christmas sales
Liz: An excellent idea, my friend.
You forgot:
-Buy guide to Japanese brothels (just in case).
-Whoopie cushion for classroom hijinks
-Box cutter to put in carry-on for flight
-Lots of lube
speaking of lube... If you're going to "turn Japanese" youre going to need it...
...look up what "turning Japanese" means...
I'm stumped - or not web savvy enough. What does it mean?
Oops. Just looked it up on a site on meanings behind eighties songs.
Yes, it all makes sense now.
Try and get a lightweight suit... the summers get pretty stupid hot out here with the humidity.... and as for trinkets to give as gifts, go right ahead but I haven't really found much use for them... they're sitting in my dresser drawer right now... lol
As for the gift for the school, the Japanese folks here are nuts for sweets, I'm not quite sure what St-Paul is "famous" for but that'd be what to bring. I brought Maple candies and Maple fudge.
Aaaaannnnd, as for the "turning Japanese" thing... that's news to me too!
Come on, guys. I'm like ten years younger than you and I knew the whole Turning Japanese thing...
I've got a picture
I've got a picture
I've got a picture here of me and you
blah blah...
I see you staring and there's nothing else to do.
Right then
Matt,
From my experience with AEON and living in Japan, it's footwear that you'll need to stock up on while in the U.S. When I was there, it was a bit difficult to find shoes in my size . . . and I'm not a big guy. You may want to find a pair of dress shoes that you can slip out of easily. At your school you'll be able to wear shoes, but you'll be visiting izakaya and other traditional Japanese establishments, where you'll need to remove your shoes.
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