Construction and TIUA Predeparture

My Saturdays for the past three weeks have been consumed by construction and that makes me sad.

December 1st (aka my first free Saturday since October): Fire alarm man came to my apartment to install fire alarms. He then proceeded to go into a 5 minute long explanation of how to work the fire alarm in Japanese. The only thing I understood was that I should change the battery every 10 years. Eventually he noticed my blank look and asked if I understood. I shook my head no, explained my situation, and he said "pii pii pii botan poosh" which I directly translate as "beep beep beep button push." About an hour later another guy came to do something with the pipes. After about an hour of loud noise and general construction stuff, he said he would come back to finish next week (he had simply put holes in my walls and stuffed them with newspaper). Pipe man also requested that I move my cabinet, refrigerator, and cupboard out of the way and take everything out from under the sink and the bathroom.

Fastforward one week to December 8. I move everything I have been instructed to move. The info sheet said they would come between 8:30 and 4:30. I wait. I wait longer. I wait longer. Finally, 5pm rolls around and no one has shown up. Sadness. I check the sheet of paper they gave me. "17 12 16" (aka December 16). (Apparently he said "saraishu"(next next week) instead of "raishu" (next week).

Fastforward one week to December 16. My apartment is in general disarray. I wake up at exactly 8:30 to the sound of my doorbell. Pipe man hath arrived. Commence with frantic moving of furniture. My water is shut off. I have not yet showered, brushed my teeth, etc. He leaves at 4 after asking me if my children like my Christmas tree. After my answer in the negative, he asked if I would put my husband's present under the tree. At least he helped me move my furniture back.

On the bright side, construction is over. My water now tastes different and it foams with bubbles if I turn it on high power.

Meanwhile, Wayne and others from the TIUA staff came over from Oregon for the predeparture meeting from the 4th through the 8th. It was a long week of enkais and reunions and okonomiyaki.

Friday night was Bollywood night at an English Pub in Omiya. It was generally an odd night, but I got to catch up with my friends who will be off in Thailand until next year.

Last night was a huge TIUA 2006 reunion party. It was awesome.

Which brings us to now. I'm sick. I leave for Hawaii on Saturday. I have almost zero shopping done. My apartment is a mess. However, construction is over, I'll be on or near a beach in a week, and it's holiday season.