White Day
Today is White Day in Japan. You know Valentine’s Day? Well, in Japan it’s been perverted into a “girls send guys chocolate” mass orgy of consumerism, one which differentiates between “real feelings” chocolate gifts and “giri (duty) choco” where you send a male friend or colleague a 300yen box because, well, you’re obligated by status.
Of course, not satisfied with having set up the perfect system to sell 5 elephants’ worth of chocolate for one day, the powers-that-be decided that one month after would be just about right to set up a parallel reverse gift system. Guys that got chocolate should give something back. Not only does it serve to get rid of excess inventory, you can even tailor special packages of other gifts that signify how much you care for your givee.
It’s simply quite amazing. This is when you realize that Japan is one hell of a rich country. Over in Shanghai, the expats party it up but the locals live on $200 a month. Here, even kids and unemployed youths think nothing of blowing $50 on god knows what.
I shall be living on the equivalent of $2,500 a month. This is a somewhat unhappy situation. Luckily, I have managed, with unbelievable luck, to snag a place to stay from a friend who’s going to be based in Moscow (we talked on Saturday, I saw the place yesterday, she flies to Moscow today). At 38m sq it’s very big (for Japan), about a 30min or so walk from work (good because I don’t get no transport allowance), and rent is cheap because she’s leaving her stuff there and will be coming back every month or so. The best thing is that moving in and out is hassle-free. This give me time and flexibility to find a better place (or job?!) down the road.
So, I’m in. I have a job. I have a place. Now to get a visa.
Life is a’ rollin’ again.
BTW, Saturday was Hekiru’s birthday. Did I ever imagine I would see her to her 31st birthday? That’s kinda scary…
