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Ikitakuna~i.
Sep. 25th, 2004 03:51 amPacking this time around is an interesting exercise, since it was proven not so long ago that I can get along perfectly well for ten weeks with nothing what fits in two large suitcases. Of course, there are differences -- not all of my meals are provided for, my weekends will not be distracted by sightseeing and spending money, even my weekdays will be more free, and in general my range of activities will probably be much broader. And yet, many things will stay the same. I will still overestimate my leisure time, or rather, I will try too hard to anticipate all of the various activities that might strike my fancy when I'm bored or flicking, and I will severely overpack. When I came home, I think we had trouble fitting everything in the car. Not a lot of trouble, but it was starting to look pretty full. The almost obstructing the rearview mirror kind of full, not the sit crosslegged in the passenger seat and try to tie the rest to the roof kind of full, fortunately.
And I still have a bunch of boxes in storage, and a smattering of articles in the keeping of friends when I discovered at the last minute I didn't have space.
What's the culprit?
Clothes. I can't believe how many t-shirts I've accumulated. Stack shirts, Decompression shirts, and just random ones that catch my fancy. I should try to bring only the shirts I didn't pay for. Although I'd still have to narrow down with some other criterion afterwards. Aside from t-shirts, I also tend to bring too many "formal" outfits -- where the definition of "formal" is anything above a t-shirt -- considering that I don't like to dress up. [Ara, I forgot to mention that anywhere in the Japan Internship comments. They told us to bring something formal, like a suit for guys, and I haven't heard any of us actually benefiting from this suggestion. Admittedly, I would feel kind of uncomfortable if I hadn't brought it, in the chance that I would need it, but it was still annoying.] I tried to limit myself to two dress dinner type things this time. That's really about the max I have to look forward to.
Books. I cannot tell you how many books I always bring. Of course I can't survive if I don't have a copy of The Lord of the Rings with me. Honest. I missed them when I was in Japan. [Okay, so it was because I was reading the Japanese version of The Hobbit and wanted to reference translations that didn't quite make sense to me, but still.] And I'm rereading Hyperion right now, which makes four large volumes. There are also random tarot books, references (the big-ass yellow kanji dictionary and the smaller brown one), and a smattering of "when I feel like reading it" books such as a Wordsworth anthology.
Manga. Yeah, I think they take up enough space in their own right to deserve their own section. Or just that the previous paragraph was getting lengthy. I'm trying to cut down on the number of manga series I bring each time around, knowing full well that I'll be lucky if I finish one. [I think my best record was finishing Card Captor Sakura sometime freshman year.] I still can't resist, though. This time I'm bringing Hikaru no Go (21 volumes), Matantei Loki and Ragnarok (11 volumes), and Tokyo Babylon (6 volumes). My projection? I might possibly finish Matantei Loki and Ragnarok, but only because I read the first volume and a half of Ragnarok while in Japan. If I'm lazy and have a comfy computer chair, I'll finish Tokyo Babylon by following fan translations.
Food. At least it's relatively lightweight and in theory I don't have to bring it back with me. But combined with copious amounts of declining balance, it just becomes more encouragement to be lazy and get fat. [I must keep reminding myself. This year's solution to the declining balance problem is: eat breakfast. I suppose there's little hope of reclaiming my Japan schedule of sleeping at 10 and waking at 6:30, but I'll damn well try... for a while... maybe.] I just get so attached to things I can't really get at Caltech, like various types of instant noodles.
Technology. It's not as big an item as the four above, but it's one of the differences from packing for Japan. My laptop can travel by itself, but I much prefer it equipped with full keyboard, external harddrive, and speakers. Then there's my PS2 with its complement of games. Oh, don't forget the box of music CDs, and the binder of burned MP3s, and the rack of blanks for anime.
I guess now that I've detailed my packing list, I should go about getting it actually done. *sigh*
I think my family and I are all jaded with my coming and leaving now. I used to start making big piles of stuff to take with me a few days in advance, and everyone would solicit me to make sure I had everything I needed. This time, I initiated all of my shopping trips, and didn't think much about leaving until now, little more than twelve hours before the fact. [And even when I get to Tech, there will be less time than usual before classes start.] And while packing, I've already discovered four items I'm missing. Not essential ones, and things I can easily get, but it's still kind of frustrating.
These were four lovely weeks at home, though. In my little bubble of a world, lazing around and doing nothing. [And I did beat FF8! Without completing anything at all, granted -- aside from getting all the GFs, but that's not hard -- but I'm happy, and I actually like the game a lot now. Words to those who haven't beaten it: do get Shockwave Pulsar for Quistis, and do use Aura in the final battle. 0wnzage is fun.] I'm sad to think that I may never spend this long at home again without any pressures to get a job or be productive. Growing up is teh suck.
And I still have a bunch of boxes in storage, and a smattering of articles in the keeping of friends when I discovered at the last minute I didn't have space.
What's the culprit?
Clothes. I can't believe how many t-shirts I've accumulated. Stack shirts, Decompression shirts, and just random ones that catch my fancy. I should try to bring only the shirts I didn't pay for. Although I'd still have to narrow down with some other criterion afterwards. Aside from t-shirts, I also tend to bring too many "formal" outfits -- where the definition of "formal" is anything above a t-shirt -- considering that I don't like to dress up. [Ara, I forgot to mention that anywhere in the Japan Internship comments. They told us to bring something formal, like a suit for guys, and I haven't heard any of us actually benefiting from this suggestion. Admittedly, I would feel kind of uncomfortable if I hadn't brought it, in the chance that I would need it, but it was still annoying.] I tried to limit myself to two dress dinner type things this time. That's really about the max I have to look forward to.
Books. I cannot tell you how many books I always bring. Of course I can't survive if I don't have a copy of The Lord of the Rings with me. Honest. I missed them when I was in Japan. [Okay, so it was because I was reading the Japanese version of The Hobbit and wanted to reference translations that didn't quite make sense to me, but still.] And I'm rereading Hyperion right now, which makes four large volumes. There are also random tarot books, references (the big-ass yellow kanji dictionary and the smaller brown one), and a smattering of "when I feel like reading it" books such as a Wordsworth anthology.
Manga. Yeah, I think they take up enough space in their own right to deserve their own section. Or just that the previous paragraph was getting lengthy. I'm trying to cut down on the number of manga series I bring each time around, knowing full well that I'll be lucky if I finish one. [I think my best record was finishing Card Captor Sakura sometime freshman year.] I still can't resist, though. This time I'm bringing Hikaru no Go (21 volumes), Matantei Loki and Ragnarok (11 volumes), and Tokyo Babylon (6 volumes). My projection? I might possibly finish Matantei Loki and Ragnarok, but only because I read the first volume and a half of Ragnarok while in Japan. If I'm lazy and have a comfy computer chair, I'll finish Tokyo Babylon by following fan translations.
Food. At least it's relatively lightweight and in theory I don't have to bring it back with me. But combined with copious amounts of declining balance, it just becomes more encouragement to be lazy and get fat. [I must keep reminding myself. This year's solution to the declining balance problem is: eat breakfast. I suppose there's little hope of reclaiming my Japan schedule of sleeping at 10 and waking at 6:30, but I'll damn well try... for a while... maybe.] I just get so attached to things I can't really get at Caltech, like various types of instant noodles.
Technology. It's not as big an item as the four above, but it's one of the differences from packing for Japan. My laptop can travel by itself, but I much prefer it equipped with full keyboard, external harddrive, and speakers. Then there's my PS2 with its complement of games. Oh, don't forget the box of music CDs, and the binder of burned MP3s, and the rack of blanks for anime.
I guess now that I've detailed my packing list, I should go about getting it actually done. *sigh*
I think my family and I are all jaded with my coming and leaving now. I used to start making big piles of stuff to take with me a few days in advance, and everyone would solicit me to make sure I had everything I needed. This time, I initiated all of my shopping trips, and didn't think much about leaving until now, little more than twelve hours before the fact. [And even when I get to Tech, there will be less time than usual before classes start.] And while packing, I've already discovered four items I'm missing. Not essential ones, and things I can easily get, but it's still kind of frustrating.
These were four lovely weeks at home, though. In my little bubble of a world, lazing around and doing nothing. [And I did beat FF8! Without completing anything at all, granted -- aside from getting all the GFs, but that's not hard -- but I'm happy, and I actually like the game a lot now. Words to those who haven't beaten it: do get Shockwave Pulsar for Quistis, and do use Aura in the final battle. 0wnzage is fun.] I'm sad to think that I may never spend this long at home again without any pressures to get a job or be productive. Growing up is teh suck.
