10k

I just mapped out a training plan for an upcoming 10k that will be held in Nago on February 8. Working backwards, the start of this 8-week program just happened to start today, Monday, December 15, 2008. It caught me off guard, but it was good motivation. I put down the training calendar and did my first workout, a strength session using a pair dumbbells and my own body weight.

Tomorrow will be the interesting test – a 4.0 km run. I haven’t run in a while, months I’d say. Sure, I knocked out a half-marathon a few weeks ago, but in terms of getting regular mileage on my shoes, not much has been happening there.

I’m really excited! The motivation of friends and the support of fellow runners are great things to keep in mind when running around the beautiful village that I live in. I remember trying to get psyched up about running in Chicago. Don’t get me wrong; I loved the place with all its neighborhoods and city energy. But getting a good run in usually meant making it all the way out to the lakefront, or looping the park to the west of my apartment for sake of avoiding stoplights.

Here, in Higashi, if I ran north, I could run for hours (at my pace) before seeing a stoplight. The ocean, the quiet, and the lack of traffic – it’s perfect. So I’m looking forward to my first run tomorrow morning, whether before school or during the morning periods (I have no classes tomorrow). And my new running shoes have made it to the local distributor. All that’s left is to put them in my hands…erm, on my feet might be a better idea.

#3

Earthquake this afternoon, 2:35 pm or so. Woke me up from my nap at my desk. Guess I'll study now.



http://www.jma.go.jp/jp/quake/11143900391.html

Until Next Year

I wrote this post in Notepad last Friday (December 5, 2008) and forgot to post it. It's late, but still valid.

***

Today marked my last day at Higashi School until 2009. Sounds like a pretty heavy statement, huh? It is.

This week, in terms of class frequency, starting Monday and ending today, looked like a bell curve. One class on Monday, a few more on Tuesday, Wednesday was the most at four, then Thursday down again, Friday (today) with only one. It went really well.

So as I was wrapping up today's class, I told the kids I'd see them next year. Then I told them I'd see them next year, in Japanese. They flipped out! They had no idea, nor did I expect them too. As third graders, perhaps as with any kid before puberty, I'm not sure they've developed the long-term classification of time that many people use to mark how long they've lived since birth (and guess how long they have until death). I like that, not worrying about it.

Imagine living a life without a (self-constructed or otherwise imposed) sense of urgency, or worry. A day is just a day. Tomorrow is tomorrow and will come without holdup. Yesterday will be forgotten. Is there really anything wrong with this kind of rhythm?

From what I've seen in these past 15 months, kids don't worry too much about what's next. They're guided and instructed by their teachers and while I think this kind of instruction is necessary (I'm not proposing absolute ignorance - that's impractical), it need not be restricting.

Too many people seem to be living a life of "what's next?" Though they may have things very well, they want to make things better. Maybe they think that wanting something better is the only way to be happy? I used to think like that. Better is fine, but you don't have to be miserable trying to get there.

After a few years at the Fed, I started to wonder about my next career move. I could have stayed another year and gotten a nice pay raise over $60,000, plus 100% of my employers 401(k) contributions. Friends were also leaving for well-paying private sector jobs, and I thought, "It'd be nice to try something new and make a little more money." Finally, due to being inspired by my time on, and after, the Mongol Rally, I decided to put my cultural interest ahead of my financial one. And it has made me happiest so far.

You may be tempted to ask me, "Son of Higashi, what are you going to do next, after JET?" I don't have an answer for you now. But I'm not worried about it, about what's next.

ご安心下さいませ

Please, don't worry.

That's what it means.

I purchased a new laptop online Monday through the Dell Japan website. It was easy. The basics of computing seem to translate easily, even in Japanese (though a year of living here and getting used to the language sure helps a lot, too). I picked out a reasonably priced laptop, not top of the line, which would have run over 20man, or the equivalent of $2,000 US, but something that is an upgrade over what I'm currently using (Joe, if you're reading this, your Gateway has done well for the past year, but it's starting to go).

The hardest part of the process was determining how to pay. I could have put the full balance on my Citibank Japan credit card, but I don't like the revolving payment method. So I chose to make a bank transfer, which I could do that day. The other popular method, to pay at a convenience store, would have required me to wait for 1-2 days for receipt of paper instructions. There is no way a boy in want of a toy can wait longer than he has to.

So I hopped along to my bank and processed the 振り込み, or bank transfer, at the ATM. No cash changed hands; it was purely digital. And in Japanese. The only part I messed up was not including my order number in my name field. I called Dell Japan today and told them of the minor mistake I made. They checked up on the order for me, and when the lady called back and left a message, she said it there was no problem.

Cool. That's what I like to hear. Now the only problem is that I have to wait for them to make it, and ship it, and I'll have to be there to sign for it. It's due for delivery on 12/24. Perfect timing. Luckily, there's a neat habit of delivery services in Japan to ship to your place of work in case you happen to be 留守, or not at home.

I can't wait! Oh, and it's a cool olive green case, in case ( =] ) you're curious.

5 To Go

As I logged in to type this, I noticed that this will be the 95th published post. Which means I'm only a few away from 100. What's the big deal?

Really, there is none. I think we just like to look at round (or appealing) numbers. Some might say that 101st is more interesting, because of the vertical symmetry. Or maybe 33rd was better, because it's a double digit (and representative of my birthday).

"5 To Go" might also be indicative of how many days (if I'm lucky) it will take me to get over my newly acquired cold. Luckily, despite feeling less than great toward the end of school, my symptoms alleviated themselves for my last elementary class. I hope this fortune passes into tomorrow and everything clears up by Friday. I'm going to karate, sick or not. Perhaps that's a little excessive. But everyday I miss with Taira-sensei and the others is one less day I have, period.

Time in Okinawa and Japan is ticking away, everyday. I'm not going to miss it let it slip away.

EDIT: Dave's comment made me re-read that last statement, and it did sound like I said I wouldn't miss my time here. Totally not what I meant, woops.