So Long, and Thanks for All the Point Cards (vudeja.com)

So Long, and Thanks for All the Point Cards

Posted on July 11, 2005

Tomorrow afternoon we'll be on our way to Narita airport. Hard to believe the ride is over, and what a ride it's been. As I've said before the time has come to move on to hopefully bigger and better things. In the six year and two months in Japan I've;

held my first full-time job

got married

quit smoking (twice)

learned how to cook

forgotten how to drive

quit the gym (twice)

taken up photography

witnessed the miracle of birth

fallen asleep on the last train home and ended up a 12,000 yen taxi ride away from home

eaten at McDonald's more time than I choose to remember

pierced my nipple

taught kindergarten

learned kendo

traveled India and Thailand

worked the night shift

moved (twice)

scared away the NHK guy (twice)

started a small business

witnessed the rise and fall of Morning Musume

and emptied my wallet countless times of pointless point cards

I’m sure we'll be back in Tokyo some day, but this time on a lucrative ex-pat deal, sitting in the big office with a comfortable leather chair that provides full lumbar support. That’s a joke, but not the part about lumbar support –- that’s important in this age of computer-related repetitive stress injuries. As you can understand I've got to get packing, and if I'm not back online in a week, just wait longer.

Leave a comment.

Oh my gosh..i love your photos.
I someday hope to go to Japan, and maybe to live. I am still i high school student, but your photos have really instired me to work harder toward what i want.
They are beautiful. And you should continue taking them...
I am resently inrolled into web design classes, and i hope to do more in the computer field.
I love the Asian culture, Japanese mostly, and I love learning about it, and see pictures of it. I'm trying to teach myself Japanese (i have a few "easy to learn" books.) And it's proven hard than most think.
I'd love to hear about how it was to live and work in Japan. And about the culture differences. I am into anime, mangas, horror moive, and video games, which has lean me into the Asian culture, which i have come to love.
This site is really cool..i found it by mistake, and saw your photos, which caught my eye. And just started to look around.
Sorry, I'm starting to ramble...

::posted by: Devon at July 22, 2005 09:49 AM

Bye Bye, where you off to now?

::posted by: Uncover Japan at July 27, 2005 08:44 PM

that post amazes me. i forget how i even ended up at this site.

but. it's amazing to me

you went and now truly you have life started up, popped in, fullened. as i was reading the list i was happy for you. you started your first fulltime job

then i read you got married (going down the list)

you have a kid, with more to come

i don't even know how i got here but that post really struck me. maybe i've just been sappy lately

I WISH YOU THE BEST

::posted by: I am Dali at August 4, 2005 01:12 PM

It's always a bit sad to read a "leaving Japan" post, but your short list really struck me. When I left Japan, I think my list was very similar! :) Especially the McDonald's and Point Cards bullets. I think I might still have a Yodobashi card from 10 years ago... Good luck to you in the move, and I look forward to reading about the next part of your life! :)

::posted by: barron at August 11, 2005 05:29 AM

Take it easy Mark, and keep in touch.
Gary, Megumi and Angelie

::posted by: Gary at August 13, 2005 03:31 PM

How do you go about scaring off the NHK man? He hasn't come to my apartment yet but I want to be ready... :)

::posted by: jenn at August 18, 2005 08:17 PM

Jenn, NHK: Little Clip board Mafia. Good luck.

::posted by: mhegge at August 27, 2005 07:52 PM

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