What a Month

Hello again. Here is a picture of me canyoning. This is when we were lowered down a waterfall halfway then released to plunge into the pool below. It was amazing! I loved it so much. That was back in August, so now, back to October.

October has been a different month. I have started Christmas shopping...and have not been as successful as I have wanted to be. Alyssa and Shaun's shopping has come along pretty good, but everyone else....eeeeeee. I will work some magic, no worries. This month I also have had my allergies act up. That was fun, and I caught a little flu or cold for a couple of days.

I also had a medical check up. AEON allows us to have one medical check up a year. One would think that there would be English interpreters to help out. HAHA.....no. I had no such luck. First, the place was near impossible to find. I had to travel about an hour away from Kumagaya by train and bus. Then a nice little walk followed where Hidemi, the head teacher at my school, and I had to ask for directions a couple of times. The map AEON gave us to the medical center was all sorts of messed up. So anyways, we get there. And after about 10 minutes of figuring out what is going on and how to sign in, we find out no interpreter. So my head teacher has to act as my interpreter. YAY for me! I mean, what if I had a problem and I didn't want him to know about it, there goes that. I don't have a problem, but still, what if! Isn't there any privacy here? I don't want my colleagues to know everything about me! Well, I am rambling, so back to the story. The medical center was set up very station like...you go here get an x-ray of your chest, you go here and pee in a cup, go here for height, go here for eyes, blood pressure....etc. At the end of the exam the doctor says I am overweight. But I think the doctor is comparing me to Japanese standards where the men are sticks. So compared to them, yes, I am fat, but I am normal in America. Anyways, the whole thing was basically an odd experience. It wasn't very well organized and the medical center looked like the Bates Motel.

So, tomorrow, I am thinking about going to Asakusa. Hopefully I will find some pretty good Japanesey Christmas gifts for everyone. Have a great one in the USA...

Oh yeah....congrats to Penn State and Uncle Bill and Aunt Pat for their win against OSU....just luck if you ask me....from what I have read at least! Don't worry....we will get you next year!