Oh, What's in a Day? Part One

Since it so often drives me from my computer, and squelches my efforts to communicate to my family and friends that are so far away, perhaps we shall take a look at my schedule, hmm? Let's go!

6:25

Before I got used to the time difference, I would wake to the sounds of early morning Osaka at about 5:00 and not be able to fall back asleep. Now I use the alarm setting on my ipod. It always startles me, and I panic trying to turn it off, convinced it's waking the entire neighborhood, even though Mama-san tells me she's never heard it once.

I put on my seifuku, my school uniform. First is my shirt. I have both long and short sleeves, pink and white. I like wearing the long-sleeved white one best. I roll the sleeves up to my elbows, as it hasn't gotten to cold yet (in fact, it's still a California summer-worthy heat here).

Next is the skirt. I tuck my shirt into my skirt, so that the bottom won't poke out blow my vest. The skirt is worn at the natural waist, and comes down to about knee length. A lot of girls roll theirs up, so that they're shorter, but I'm fine with how mine is. Rolling is strictly against the rules, anyway.

Once my shirt and skirt are properly arranged, I put on my vest. Now that the fall uniform season is upon us, it's required, but I wore it earlier anyway. I like how it looks.

I grab my socks and soccer shorts, then sit down on the bed to pull them on. The socks are knee length, and sometimes itchy by the end of the day. There are school monograms on the sides; I make sure they're on straight. The shorts aren't part of the uniform, but you can't see them under the skirt, so they're not a dress code violation either. Some times it's windy, or you'll be walking up a really tall flight of stairs, or your bag will catch on your skirt. Hence the shorts.

Being now dressed, I turn to my hair. I always put it in low pigtails, that being the least time consuming style that looks good that I have thus far discovered.

I'll check my class schedule, and make sure I have all the necessary textbooks and notebooks in my bag, if they aren't already at school. I also put in a pack of tissues (I have way too many. They give them out at the station, and I can never refuse them), a fresh washcloth (A must. Almost all restrooms in Japan have no way to dry hands, a hold over from the depression. Sometimes they don't have toilet paper. That's one place the tissues come in handy), my locker keys (I never actually lock them, but the locks might shut on accident, so I keep them around just in case), my wallet and my commuter pass (I keep one inside the other. Once I forgot my wallet and didn't realize until I was at the station. I had to run home and get it. I missed homeroom and most of first period as a result).

6:40

All being in order, I head downstairs to eat breakfast. A usual one consists of toast with jam, fruit, gelatin, milk and, of course, tea.

Riho, Papa-san and I all need to use the sink, so I wait until it's free so I can brush my teeth. I also wash my hands, having made sure to use the bathroom. My next chance to do so will be at school, and I won't be getting there for over an hour.

I pack the bento and thermos of tea that Mama-san prepared for me, making sure that the thermos is positioned so that it won't leak in my bag.

7:10

Mama-san and I head downstairs together (Yes, again. The house is tall and narrow). She gets the mail while I put on my shoes. They're the same ones that virtually every high school girl uniform in Japan seems to call for, so I take care that I'm putting on mine and not Riho's. They're very proper looking, and slightly uncomfortable.

I say "ittekimasu," to Mama-san, who replies "itterasshai". I Japan, this exchange is always made when someone leaves the house. Roughly translated, it means "I'll go and come back," and "Please go and come back."

Now, off into the wild Japanese yonder! To be continued....!