batteries

I'm not sure what it says about me that I was frantically searching for an AC adapter for my brand-new electronic dictionary until I realized that it runs on alkaline batteries and not a rechargable lithium-ion one. I even looked for a place for the adapter to plug into the dictionary and freaked out when all I saw was a usb slot because I'd read that their software wasn't mac compatible. I wanted to make sure my dictionary was charged so I could try it out tomorrow when I met up with some friends to study. I even tried to turn it on, thinking there might be some charge left in the battery from when it was packaged. I guess it's been a really long time I've owned an electronic device that hasn't needed to be charged.

And then when I found the stylus (next to the battery compartment cover...), my thumb automatically tried to extend it because that's what I do whenever I take out my stylus for my DS. I'd gotten an extendable stylus for it free with the kanji dictionary software, and I was just thinking of buying a refill pack because I ended up loving the extra length so much that I used it for everything, so it was getting a little worn out.

And then I looked for a place to attach a screen wiper thing, because I have them on my phone and my DS, and I had to grab my cellphone and use the wiper from it to get the fingerprints off the glossy black case of the dictionary (I want my brused metal and white plastic back, dangit). And then when I finally found it, I was disappointed that it was on the left side, because it's way more awkward to pull the wiper from the left side if you're right-handed, like me.

I think the last thing I had that ran on alkaline batteries was Jo's old Gameboy Color, and I only know this because I took it apart for my project last year... Now, where can I buy some batteries...

one year I feel so corporate right now. I got a Parker pen sent to me at work today with my name engraved on it for being "Teacher of the Month" along with a letter signed by Angela Aki's dad. She sang the theme song for Final Fantasy XII, which is the only thing that makes my boss even remotely interesting to me. It makes me laugh. I'm not really old enough to get an egraved pen, am I? I don't feel like I am, anyway. In other news, it's been a year (and three days) since I arrived in Japan for the first (and only) time. I should be finishing up my contract right about now, but since I extended for a month, I have some extra time. It doesn't seem like it's been that long, but at the same time, it feels like it's been forever. It's what everyone says, pretty much, but it's true. I hate moving, so I'm not looking forward to not being settled from the end of August until October, but part of that time will be at home, which will be nice. I need to go back and try all that neo-yogurt stuff that's popped up, apparently. In October, I will most likely be staying at the teacher's dormitory for the kindergarten run by my church, which is really far from everything except the biggest movie theater in Okayama City. So I'll probably be watching more movies. It's really less of a dorm and more of a house fitted with extra sinks and stoves so a lot of people can use them at the same time. It should be interesting living there with two people who don't really speak English at all (the landlady and a teacher at the kindergarten). And really far from pretty much everyone I know now except for one of our new part-time staff at the school now (who actually lives pretty close). The most annoying thing will be trying to get to and from the station, which is a 45 minute bus ride away with a transfer. Hopefully I can get people to drive me... I'll miss living in the city, I think. It's a small city, so pretty much everything else is countryside. I'll still be going into the city pretty much every day, but it'll be kind of limited without my bike. Still, if there's anything I really want, it wouldn't be that hard to get. Now, I'm planning the things I'll need for my new room. I still won't have a bed, which is sad, but since I'm not staying there that long (just six months, and I'll be home for the holidays again, so barely that long), there's really no point in getting one. I need a bookshelf and a table, I think. Hopefully, it won't be that hard to get internet set up, because if I can't get it to work at the house, I'll be depending on the local internet cafe, which will be annoying. I haven't figured out if they have free wireless there, yet... (I've heard a lot of them do, but I've never tried...) Now that things are finally starting to get settled for after my contract finishes, I'm getting more excited about what will come next. Even if I'm not excited about cleaning and moving and the actual settling in bit. But I'm kind of looking forward to a 30 minute bus ride to and from class every day. It's direct, and I don't really have to pay attention at all, so I can watch videos on my iPod or study or eat breakfast/lunch/dinner (depending on when my classes are... I don't know yet)... All the things I can't do on my 20 minute commute on my bike to and from work every day right now. I also can't wait to revert back to being a student and not wearing a suit every day. That'll show whoever decided to give me a gold-trimmed pen and make me feel old.

I feel so corporate right now. I got a Parker pen sent to me at work today with my name engraved on it for being "Teacher of the Month" along with a letter signed by Angela Aki's dad. She sang the theme song for Final Fantasy XII, which is the only thing that makes my boss even remotely interesting to me. It makes me laugh. I'm not really old enough to get an egraved pen, am I? I don't feel like I am, anyway.

In other news, it's been a year (and three days) since I arrived in Japan for the first (and only) time. I should be finishing up my contract right about now, but since I extended for a month, I have some extra time. It doesn't seem like it's been that long, but at the same time, it feels like it's been forever. It's what everyone says, pretty much, but it's true. I hate moving, so I'm not looking forward to not being settled from the end of August until October, but part of that time will be at home, which will be nice. I need to go back and try all that neo-yogurt stuff that's popped up, apparently.

In October, I will most likely be staying at the teacher's dormitory for the kindergarten run by my church, which is really far from everything except the biggest movie theater in Okayama City. So I'll probably be watching more movies. It's really less of a dorm and more of a house fitted with extra sinks and stoves so a lot of people can use them at the same time. It should be interesting living there with two people who don't really speak English at all (the landlady and a teacher at the kindergarten). And really far from pretty much everyone I know now except for one of our new part-time staff at the school now (who actually lives pretty close).

The most annoying thing will be trying to get to and from the station, which is a 45 minute bus ride away with a transfer. Hopefully I can get people to drive me... I'll miss living in the city, I think. It's a small city, so pretty much everything else is countryside. I'll still be going into the city pretty much every day, but it'll be kind of limited without my bike. Still, if there's anything I really want, it wouldn't be that hard to get.

Now, I'm planning the things I'll need for my new room. I still won't have a bed, which is sad, but since I'm not staying there that long (just six months, and I'll be home for the holidays again, so barely that long), there's really no point in getting one. I need a bookshelf and a table, I think. Hopefully, it won't be that hard to get internet set up, because if I can't get it to work at the house, I'll be depending on the local internet cafe, which will be annoying. I haven't figured out if they have free wireless there, yet... (I've heard a lot of them do, but I've never tried...)

Now that things are finally starting to get settled for after my contract finishes, I'm getting more excited about what will come next. Even if I'm not excited about cleaning and moving and the actual settling in bit. But I'm kind of looking forward to a 30 minute bus ride to and from class every day. It's direct, and I don't really have to pay attention at all, so I can watch videos on my iPod or study or eat breakfast/lunch/dinner (depending on when my classes are... I don't know yet)... All the things I can't do on my 20 minute commute on my bike to and from work every day right now.

I also can't wait to revert back to being a student and not wearing a suit every day. That'll show whoever decided to give me a gold-trimmed pen and make me feel old.