Mr. Clean

Back in Crotchester after 12 days, and here's the pre-holiday packing state I left my room in...

     Eventually all that crap - and the crap stuffed under the bed and in the closet - will be sorted out, and some of it will make the cut and travel 6,500 miles with me in a large duffel, a garment bag, and a backpack.  The rest will be burned.  Much will be plowed to the walls in the meantime, as my brother lands in Rochester tonight and needs a bed...let alone a path to it...and clean sheets...

     Back to my beer over last minute preparations.  I just wanted to share that picture and do some before/during/after action.

     Thanks to Macs, I can type in one phonetic Japanese alphabet using what little phrasing I know.  Good night!   お休みなさい  (oyasumi nasai)

Prepare Yourself!

            Toronto, CA:  My Rochester room is in pandemonium, though its relatively contained.  Don’t open the closet, desk drawers, and definitely don’t look under the bed.  Considering I’ve been traveling since the 17^th, leave the Roc on the 7^th and will have just about 7 days to manage all mischief, its all a little overwhelming. 

What am I supposed to do about filing USA taxes again?  How exactly will I activate my HSBC bank account over there?  What gifts should I bring for co-workers and my bosses to score cultural points?  How prepared should I be with clothing options?  Should I bring my longboard?  Do I have enough homesick/anxiety coping mechanisms in order?  Why is Cait still with me? – oh right, the ring!

Other than these pre-departure qualms, my only worries lie in figuring out how to navigate the transportation system in Tokyo.  Family and friends?  Well this blog is one coping mechanism, along with reviving the use of snail mail, skype, vids, emails, and both visiting and receiving visitors; it's a round trip ticket too.

In the meantime, back to basking in the bond of family with sisters, brothers, parents, nieces, nephew, and my soon-to-be-ditched-for-15-months fiancé, Cait.