THE PACKAGE CAMETH
Today was Christmas in rainy season! (By the by, rainy season hasn’t been so rainy so far! Just a bit cloudy.) A big old care package arrived from my mom on the same day that I got two “What’s new in Winkler” postcards from Nathan! Hooray!!
So, in light of this new holiday (which I guess comes on June 9th every year) I’m going to break my usual blog rules of simply telling you what happened in my life and reflect on what came to me today in the care package (and what that says about me). For any new JETs out there simply interested in what JETs DO in Japan, feel free to skip this entry.
Care package contents:
John Grisham’s “The Innocent Man”. Matt Braun’s “El Paso” and “The Wild Ones”. Michael Walzer’s “Just and Unjust Wars”. Seinfeld Season 9. Two new pairs of shoes. 5 T-shirts (special note for a brown and yellow “Corona Extra” shirt). Canadian omiyage for my students (including, pens, tatoos, hot chocolate mixes and balls). Kraft Dinner (15 boxes). 4 packages of Sidekicks. One big bag of fuzzy peaches. One bag of small boxes of Nerds (for my students…? Maybe I’ll eat ‘em!) A box of Chewy Dips, a box of fudge Wagon Wheels, a box of tissues, two packs of Uncle Ben’s Bistro Express, one bag of M&Ms (Indiana Jones version!), a big box of Rice Krispies, one note… and one milk bone apparently from Jak, the family dog.
Some of these items are of special note. First of all, I doubt very much that Jak would ever willingly give up a milk bone since I’ve seen how fast he eats anything put in front of him, but I appreciate the thought. I’ll have to find a dog to give it to here in Japan…
Those who know me well shouldn’t be surprised by the food found in the box. I essentially lived off of Kraft Dinner, Sidekicks and Bisto Expresses while in university (with a Chewy Dip bar everyday for breakfast!)
The books should say a lot about me, and they do. Matt Braun was a favorite author of my grandfather’s. Every word of this book will be a reminder of everything that my grandfather loved.
Grisham was my favorite author all through highschool. Another nostalgic book. Walzer’s “Just Wars” on the other hand, is a book I’ve read only in pieces for my third year English class and forever regretted not reading it in its entirety. It’s thick, juicy, non-fiction and all about political ethics. I will be literally sucking every intelligent word out of it and bothering my fellow ALTs with discussions on the topic. I should probably apologize to Will in advance.
One pair of the shoes are the exact same model that I had on my feet the day I left Winnipeg for Japan. Seeing them next to my old beat up ones (that have literally walked all over Japan and Australia) I don’t know what to think. I can’t bring myself to throw the old ones away. At least not yet. The old shoes have been unwearable for two months (and haven’t actually been worn in a month) but they make me think of those first two months in Japan when I walked EVERYWHERE and wore them out until my feet could touch the ground under the soles.
The other pair of shoes are slip ons. Never-endingly useful in this country!
A shirt with a beer brand on it (Corona). It’s true, I like beer and am more than willing to show it. Although, I still overheard two of my students debating weather I drink or not in Japanese today.
Seinfeld Season 9. I have waited so long for this day. My heart nearly exploded with joy when I finally saw it near the bottom of the box!
I guess the conclusion is that my mother knows me well. Thanks Mom!
I should also mention that a few important events have happened recently. My computer’s ram broke and has now been replaced, resulting in me discovering a fantastic computer shop in Toyama. Kaiten-sushi is now happening regularly once a week. And! AND! A new Japanese friend showed me a fantastic foreign liqueur store / bar where they have a different brew on tap every time (and dozens of interesting kinds of beer and wine to try!) AND THEY’RE ALL REALLY GOOD. This isn’t like that crappy import stuff I used to occasionally try from the local LC, every drop of every liquid (wine and beer) that I’ve had there has been amazing. I’m going back on the 20th for a wine tasting event. Hooray! The food? GERMAN! Sausages, cheeses and some real bread!. Oh yeah.
Thing I love most about Japan today: Kuguno’s foreign liqueur shop!
Thing I miss most about Canada: Fort Garry Dark Ale.
