WTF, Japan Part 7

Well, I'm packed, my room is barren once again like a hospital suite, and I am ready (?) to head out of Japan tomorrow for the first time in 8 months.

It doesn't really help that I got a gorgeous new flatscreen and new firm mattress two days ago. Seriously, E-Village, couldn't you have just waited till we were all gone and not teased us.

And furthermore, wouldn't that have been easier for you guys to do it when E-Village is at half-capacity instead of full? And people moving out? WTF?

Yeah... I think it might be another one of those posts. I mean, we needed one more before I left Japan, right?

I went to the Japanese bank today to close out my account, and you'd be amazed at how smoothly it went. I walked into a bank in a foreign country, they spoke English, they printed out traveller's checks in US Dollars, gave me my Japanese yen balance, set up a wire transfer to a US Bank, and then closed all my accounts.

In 45 minutes.

With a smile and a bow.

Yet, when I attempt to do a routine online transfer with my US Bank, I'm forced to wait 24 hours while the system never resets itself, call the 1-800 number 4 times, navigate those damn automated menus, speak to 3 different people, discover I'm being charged ridiculous inactive fees although I've explained my current situation REPEATEDLY, get the 3 dollar fee to do the transfer on the phone waived only to find out my account is dormant and frozen, and that I must go into a branch in person to sort this all out.

While I'm in Japan and all I wanna do is transfer MY money that I'm apparently paying them 15 dollars a month to hold hostage.

WTF, Compass Bank, WTF?

And furthermore, when I asked for the address to which I should send my ATM receipts after I return home in a few weeks, I was told that my "Free Checking Account" no longer held that privilege, and in the 3 months the nice hick lady had been with the company, "nobody ever had that privilege with a free checking account".

Exactly, Arkansas-backwoods-no-brain-barbie. I've been with this bank for 5 years, which apparently means I know more about its operations than its employees! The whole reason I signed up for the account in the first place was its ATM rebate fees. And I certainly never got a notification that that service was ending.

Or that I was being charged to let them keep my money and invest it poorly.

Or that they can hold my money hostage and make me appear in person when I've been LIVING OUT OF THE COUNTRY for 8 months.

Seriously, What the fudge?

But I'll survive, even if I'm flying to Taiwan tomorrow with no real idea of what I'll find.

I just gotta keep on trucking and let the wind tell me where I'm going.

Moving

I don't have much to say... except this:

Moving sucks. Packing sucks. And I'm deep in a two-day stretch of it.

But all will be well when it is finished tomorrow.

And I won another game of darts tonight... That's 4 games of 501 I have yet to lose.

I'm a rockstar.

Off to bed, travels await!

Preparations for Fuji-san

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009.

7:00 P.M.: My final performance of "Mickey and Minnie's American Music Journey" at the Disney Ambassador Hotel begins.

8:37 P.M.: During the final kickline in the New York scene, despite laughing with everyone beforehand that I would not cry, I find myself tearing up with joy at the fact that I was blessed to have the amazing Summer Party experience. I mean, heck, I'm in Tokyo in a Tux singing in Japanese whilst doing a kickline with Chip, Dale, Donald, Goofy, Minnie and Mickey. How many people can say that? Meanwhile, let's clarify. I did not cry, I teared up.

9:15 P.M.: Walk then shuttle over to parade building to join BBB rehearsal and finally learn Chattanooga/Tuxedo Junction. Including the dance break. With the lift. In about 30 seconds.

10:30 P.M.: As rehearsal (and my 12- hour day that was preceded by a 14-hour day) gets out, I remind everyone to keep it on the DL that we are climbing Fuji. Confirm with Blair that Drew and Sina will be joining us, and that I will make the hut reservation during the day tomorrow.

Thursday, August 20th, 2009. Payday!

11:00 AM: Wake up and make a reservation for 4 at the Fuji-san hotel without meals, per Shiloh's recommendation.

3:00 PM: Finally get off the computer and out of bed after sleeping off/recovering from the 2 previous long days.

3:30 PM: Visit the sports store in the Ito to buy a headlamp and ankle braces since I didn't bring hiking boots with me to Japam.

4:15 PM: Blair brings me one of the headlamps floating around the complex. Promptly realize I have run out of time for the day and am clearly procrastinating packing. I also then find myself indecisive as t0 what and how much of it to pack.

6:00 PM: Leave for rehearsal. Return the previously purchased headlamp and pick up some snacks for the trip. Stop at the ATM to get funds for the trip and to pay Blair back for the bus tickets.

7:30 PM: Arrive early for our 8 PM sound check rehearsal. Typical. Hang out with Eddie, one of the awesome singers who is leaving, and have a delicious donut.

8 PM: Sound check rehearsal turns out to be full-on rehearsal onstage with singers and band and Ai-san fresh from her trip to the States. Instantly realize I am unprepared and have no idea what half the blocking to the show is since I either did it once 2 weeks ago, learned it in 1 minute the day before, or have missed the rehearsals (due to Summer Party) when it was taught. Uh-oh.

10:15 PM: Finally finish Chattanooga one hour later than scheduled and instantly go into a bad mood since I want to be done at midnight as scheduled. Since I have to get up at 6 the next day. And that doesn't look promising.

11:00 PM: Girls released. I am jealous of Blair and her extra time to sleep and prepare. Turns out sound check has a second part on Wednesday (unbeknownst to us) and despite being behind, we should finish on time. I am tired anyway.

11:15 PM: The other boys sing "All of Me" first. They sound amazing. I am unprepared and do not want to go.

11:30 PM: I somehow get through the band intros and "All of Me" and instantly get asked if I am tired by Ai-san. Because I suck. Let's see... 3 show days with additional 4 hours of rehearsal in a row? Which means only 6 hours of sleep a night? Yup. I'm tired. Also, a bit sad and emotional since I had to say goodbye to that show I loved so much. Also, I haven't ever rehearsed All of Me except the one time I sang it the first day of vocal rehearsal. And was told the blocking once. And my second time rehearsing it was onstage with mic and full band. Wasn't really thinking it was gonna be great.

Oh. And I'm climbing Fuji tomorrow but I can't tell anyone that because you all jumped down Blair's throat when it got out about our plans to do it last weekend. Awesome. And you think I'd get sick anyway.

So yes. I'm tired. I wanna go home. And I don't wanna do "All of Me" when I haven't had any direction or rehearsal or sleep. At which point I get told that that wasn't good, but they won't give me notes since I'm a little tired, and that was just more like a "sound check" for me.

Which is what the schedule said.

11:50 PM: I do the first half of "Don't Mean a Thing" as our final rehearsal for the night, go first, and do it full-out without marking the blocking first. Despite having not done it on its feet since the one rehearsal two weeks ago. I thought I did pretty darn well. Instead, I get told I won't be given any notes since I've already confessed I'm tired and I clearly suck.

Because that's helpful. When someone sucks and is behind, NOT giving them notes is DEFINITELY the best way to help them get better.

12:15 AM: Released from rehearsal. Good, cuz I'm getting grumpy. Sleep on the shuttle bus home.

12:45 AM: Finally get around to packing and fearing that I have no idea what we have gotten ourselves into.

1:30 AM: Finally asleep.

Friday, August 21st, 2009. Climbing Day.

6:45 AM: Wake up call. Wishing I felt more rested and had slept better, but ready to start the journey. And here we go!