Originally published on 15 July 2006. This post is part of a series of “e-mails to home” about my summer living and working abroad in Japan!
Well hello. I hope everyone’s weekend is off to a great start!
Just thought I’d update you a little. Work went well enough this past week, up until Friday, my “last” day of work. As it turns out, I have to go back and work at least 2 more days (and change the my plans that Yuri already knew about). I was infuriated, probably more than I should have been, but I held my tongue pretty well. It’s just the way it happened that makes me so completely livid. I asked if I could get a picture of everyone in their uniforms at school before I left, and Yuri said, “You’ll come back.” I said, “But I won’t be in my uniform, don’t I have to give it back?” She said, “You’ll wear it again,” and kind of looked away.
This made me curious, but I didn’t say anything. What could I say? I wanted to ask about it, but she’d just beat around the bush and look hurt that I’d even consider asking anything. She makes me feel guilty and so stupid.
Essentially, I have to work Saturday the 22nd, when I’d planned to go to Nagoya and have tea at the castle. I can still go the 27th, as far as I know, but I’d wanted to reserve that day for packing since I thought I’d be staying with the Kodas my last two days.
Wrong again. Mr. Koda will be out of town the 25-30, so those plans have apparently changed. How might I be getting to the airport at 4:30 the morning of the 30th, when Yuri told me I had to change my plane ticket at my expense? Well, I don’t know. They’re supposed to tell me tonight. If I have to, I’ll use that ticket to Nagoya on the 29, spend the day there, and stay at the airport that night so I can make the plane in the morning, since no trains run from Ise to Nagoya before 6:54 am. Hopefully it won’t come to that, but I’m glad I have that extra ticket if I need it.
Oh, and I can’t turn in my paper for Yuri until the 28th or 29th. I’d planned on turning it in Tuesday. I don’t want a paper hanging over me on the rest of my time here (since I was not supposed to be working anymore!). I have to write one for school already, and that one actually matters as it is 100% of my grade for those credit hours. I’m supposed to be finished now! Oh, and Yuri said (which I don’t believe) Mrs. Koda told her that I can come back and work any time in the next two weeks if I want to. Yeah right. Sorry, that’s the wrong attitude on my part. But there is no way I’m working under Yuri any more than I have to.
Needless to say, I’m majorly ticked off, and I’m kind of hurt, too. They really have been deceiving this whole time, beginning from the e-mails before I came. I feel betrayed and hurt and so, so mad. How long has Yuri known about this stuff? Why did she tell me verbatim that the 14th would be my last day when it’s not? She said Saturday is our busiest day and they need help with the reception, but what’ll they do when I’m gone? I’m supposed to be expendable. I’m extra. If she’d only been honest with me from the start instead of waiting until the last minute to tell me she needed me an extra day, I would have no problem. As it is, it’s a problem.
I know that there’s nothing I can do about it, and it’ll most likely work out better this way, whatever works out. God is in control. I will get home, and I still plan to enjoy my last two weeks here. Something might happen to the train on the 22nd, or I could get lost or something, so it’s better for me to be at school than off exploring. Or maybe something really fantastic will happen at school that day. Who knows? There’s a reason for everything. It’s just the way it all came about. If I hadn’t asked about the picture, when did she plan on telling me about all this? I’m just praying for patience and that I can hold my tongue like a good Christian girl. I just can’t believe she’d make a deal with me and take it back like that. In such a polite, proper, perfectionist culture, how can that possibly be right? She wouldn’t act this way with another Japanese person, but since I’m an American she thinks she can be rude to me (and the same with Anna).
I talked to Mom and Dad about it today, and vented to Anna when it was just the two of us in the office yesterday. I’ve prayed about it, and I know I can handle it well because God won’t give me more than I can handle. And I will say this: I’m finding myself praying and leaning on God more and more in my moments of weakness. That’s good and yet embarrassing to admit at the same time. I’ve thanked God for the situation, but I should have been talking to Him more all along. Live and learn. I’ve sure learned a great deal about a lot of things this summer, and I’ve still got two weeks to go. I’m glad God’s in charge and not me. Now if I can just control my temper and my tongue, which are my responsibility!
I do intend to enjoy the fireworks and take lots of pictures tonight at Hanebi (the fireworks festival for the Miyagawa River). Thanks for the thoughts and prayers. I love y’all.
Whit