So I guess I have photos now... still a bit confusing to use, but FREE!! Nothing else is free in Japan, so I will take what I can get.

(Ok... more confusing than I thought. Anyone else out there using "Hello" that can give me pointers on posting non-photo blog entries? Just checking...)

Yes, Japan is expensive. In fact, according to the Economist from a couple of weeks back, Tokyo is now the most expensive city in the world. I can't remember which city was number two: it was either Paris or New York. Anyone who finds it online gets a ....mmm... wink! ;) I'm really feeling the pinch this week- rent and assorted bills are all due and that would usually be enough to stress me out. On top of that, one of my good friends is getting married in Osaka next month. It will be my very first authentic Japanese wedding so I'm really excited. I'm not as excited about the Japanese tradition that you give cash (boring!) and lots of it (almost $300) for a wedding gift. As a double (and triple) whammy, I will be taking the shinkansen there which costs about $120, spending the night in the hotel (who knows, but probably another $100), attending an "after party" party (just got the invite-$65ish for women/$70ish for guys... must be all you can eat), then still have to get home. I had originally planned to spend Saturday night in Osaka then shinkansen back to Tokyo on Sunday... but after my mental calculator started smoking, I have gotten more creative. I'm taking an overnight bus Saturday night for a third of the shinkansen fare and then also saving myself the second night of hotel fare. Whew! That's a lot of yen, and I'm not even a bridesmaid! :( (I will be doing a speech though... it seems the tradition continues...hehehe). I can't wait to post the pictures, it should be a terrific weekend.

On top of THAT... the school out in Misato just last week finally asked me to pay for my trip with the 3rd grade to Kyoto- over $400 for 3 days/2 nights by BUS, sharing a room with 10 women?!! It's much cheaper than the $700 they first quoted me (*after* I'd already agreed to go, of course), so I grudgingly paid that one this afternoon.

And finally, I would like to take another online course- probably Macroeconomics since I took Micro this spring and ought to do the full set. At least that is what my MBA boyfriend is telling me (and you too, D!). That's another $500 roughly- before buying textbooks.

I shouldn't complain though, I've got it good here even if I'm broke. I am really enjoying my apartment though I had a moment this weekend when pacing would have really helped my mental state- and that is unfortunately not too possible in my two tiny rooms. I got 28- yes *28* new CDs from my little brother in the mail this weekend for my birthday. That practically doubles the size and depth of my music collection!

Volunteering is going well- looks like I may get to help Second Harvest (Tokyo) start a focused food-rescue program- which is the area I worked with in Chicago. I don't have a lot of experience with an actual program (since I was at the national office) but I have tons of energy to make up for it. More later...

And (sigh), being a travel agent is sort of growing on me. "Sort of" because I'm pretty much forcing myself to make the best of it because its easier than finding something else. Does that mean I'm selling out? I don't know. Here's the situation- the people I work with are great. I'm not teaching English anymore. I am getting a reasonable paycheck (though I'd love more... who wouldn't!?), and my weekends off. I speak Japanese all day long and am *learning* more every day- a first in a long time, actually. I call some pretty crazy places- today it was all over China and London. Friday I was calling New London, CT and Barcelona, Spain. I also call airline offices in Tokyo- which means I have to speak my very best Japanese to people who don't know me... and understand what they're telling me- over the phone. Its really tricky but incredible experience for me, linguistically. It has already made a difference in my confidence regarding my Japanese- and that's regardless of what the person on the other side of the phone thought of my speaking!

The two things I don't like about my job are 1) that once I become a non-temp employee in November there is a HIGH probability that I will have to work one Saturday every three and more disheartening- will have to start working the awful hours everyone else does. My co-workers regularly stay until 10pm or later (we start before 9am) without taking a break for lunch. I just don't think I am capable of working that long. 2) I cannot figure out how to make it meaningful to me. My wise father keeps telling me this is a non-requirement for Work. Just a paycheck, just a paycheck... I keep trying to learn the mantra... but so far I still cringe as I rack up the hours spent for a cause as silly as helping rich men fly to London from Tokyo for no less than $8000.