Dartboard

[I wrote this, but fell asleep and forgot to post it. Here it is now, anyway.]

I worked for 10 days straight, and now I really need a day off. I have a caught a bug and have a sore throat, but luckily have none of the accompanying head cold symptoms. Today the students are practicing for Sports Day, which is being held on Sunday, so I am resting at home. I slept for a long time, but now I’m up and trying to drink lots of water.

I just saw the end of a U.S. TV program called “Disaster’s Masters” which was about a company that “intervenes” into homes with families who collect junk, shop obsessive-compulsively and/or never clean. There were lots of shots of homes full of crap and disgustingly dirty, then the “after” shot when it’s been sorted and cleaned by the Disaster Masters. Then the families come back (because they are pack rats they can’t stand to watch their stuff being donated or thrown out) and are surprised and excited about the chance to start over.

I imagine many of the people who live like this must have a mental disability of some kind. One woman, who was showing the TV crew around her kitchen, refused to let them open her microwave. She’d only opened it once since she bought it and “it was empty inside.” Her kitchen cupboards were full of shampoo and conditioner she found on sale and dishes had been sitting around for years because she was afraid to turn on the water. I feel sad they were exploiting her neurosis for television. While the company probably does a good thing for many people—allows them the chance to break free of old habits and start over—why does it have to be exploited on TV? I suppose because it gets good ratings, but I wonder what kind of image this gives Japanese people. Many of the real life TV shows that reach other countries are embarrassing like this one. Blaine told me he just saw a special “Fat Camp for Obese Kids in New York.” America’s always had her problems, but it’s weird and unfortunate to see them on TV in Japan. This was like Jerry Springer being presented as a news story.

I finally did my taxes yesterday. Although I had an extension for living abroad, and I was required to wait until I’d been in Japan a full 330 days before I could file, it feels weird to be doing taxes this late in the year. I loved being able to claim Foreign Earned Income Exclusion! If anyone doesn’t know about my sweet little deal—I don’t have to pay Japanese or American tax on my income earned in Japan. My tax for the 2004 year reached the grand total of $4 (for my part time catering job last spring) and yet I’ve earned more this year than ever before. Even though I know I’m not breaking any laws, I feel like it must be illegal.