The White Zone is for Loading and Unloading of Passengers Only

So, since I am starting this blog after my adventures already began, think of this as a flashback post. I don't plan to post about everything that happens here, just the more exciting or interesting stuff. And let me tell you, orientation was not one of those things.

However, I do feel like ranting about luggage! So, after a long and boring flight, it was time to board a bus to orientation and ship any extra luggage to our homes in our individual prefectures. I foolishly took the constant warnings of "Don't overpack" to mean I should underpack. Though later I realized though I was not missing anything I needed, I could have brought another 50lbs of free luggage instead of mailing it.

There I am, the only JET with one suitcase, one personal item thing, and one backpack. Everyone else is trugging (as an English teacher, I reserve the right to invent words) along the same things but with the addition of a whole 'nother suitcase. This apparently blows the minds of the people directing us to load our luggage. I try explaining over and over that I don't need to ship anything because I brought less than everyone. Everyone was supposed to ship their second suitcase, except they also had to pay for that shipping.

After fighting with the first guy for like ten minutes, they finally seemed to vaguely understand. To this day, I have not the slightest idea why it was so mindblowingly difficult for them to understand. I didn't get more than 20ft before the next person asked, "So what are you shipping?" After 10 minutes of arguing with them, I realized they must all be brain damaged and decided I might as well just ship my backpack since, presumably, nothing was in it.

You know - except all my money.

So I basically paid them to cause me problems because things like counting is beyond them. And not just one person, but two people could not figure out if I have no spare suitcase, I can't ship a spare suitcase.

Fortunately, the "you can't exchange money in Tokyo, there's no time" proved to be a lie (they exchange money in the hotel, and there was not even a line), but it was still very stressful, and it took a ton of effort and time to find an ATM that accepted my American card.

I finally got some money, I was able to eat and live long enough for my backpack to arrive.

Who gave these people college degrees?!