Yesterday was another adventure into the city, but this time for something fun, Les Misérables World Tour Spectacular, and it was spectacular!
The day started early, the concert was from 12 o'clock, and of course, getting to the venue meant trains and buses, navigating schedules and busy stations, with me in pain from Thursday. I could walk, but not far and not fast!
We got the first bus of the day at 8am! Just a few minutes from Hannah's apartment. That got us to the train station with just 10 minutes to buy my ticket and get to the platform. Hannah ran ahead to buy my ticket. I tried to keep up, but it was kind of impossible. I wasn't too far behind. I got to the gate just as she got my ticket. Of course, the platform was up a load of stairs, I can manage going up stairs alright, but going down is another matter altogether! We had to change trains, which was okay; we had a good few minutes, and the station wasn't that big.
When we got to the city, it was already very busy! In Japan, a lot of places don't open until 10am. We were there at 9:30, but the station was crowded. I forgot it was Saturday, so of course, people were out shopping, going to different events in the city, or just hanging out!
We decided to get something to eat before going to the venue. Neither of us had been to Starbucks, and Hannah had a 1000yen coupon, so that's where we headed to!
We got a drink, I had a Macha Latte, and Hannah had a Starbucks Latte. We both had a sausage, egg muffin. Very good taste. I was rather surprised at the quality!
Starbucks snack!
Then it was the hunt for the bus stop. So many buses, so many stops, all of them the wrong ones. Of course, ours had to be on the other side of a very busy road! And of course, Hannah spotted the advertisements for Phantom of the Opera.
Phantom of the Opera advert, can you spot it?
We managed to get on the bus, which was absolutely packed! We got the last seats, but there were a lot of people standing! The bus ride was about 20 minutes! Not too bad, at least there was air conditioning! That was another thing that made this trip hard; it was so humid, not too hot, but the humidity made me sweat a lot!
We got to the venue about 30 minutes before the start of the show!
The venue, a massive hotel, conference center, and theater complex on the harbor
There were lines for everything! We wanted to get a photo with the big poster; there was a line for that! The people in front of us asked us to take a photo for them, which Hannah did, they then returned the favor!
Hannah looks cute, but I look all frazzled
We found our seats, near the front and middle! Very good seats!
The stage from the entrance
Live orchestra
From our seats
The show was absolutely brilliant. From the opening notes to the end, it scored on all levels. The orchestra, the singers, the soloists, and the ensemble were all amazing. I cried, Hannah cried, the people around us cried! Even though it was 3 hours long, it didn't feel like it! The children playing Cosette and Gavroche were very good. The actress playing the young Cosette was a Japanese girl. The song she sings has the line "Crying is not allowed," but she pronounced crying as "Clying". Even though that could be seen as a mistake, it somehow added to the vulnerability of the character, making her seem younger and more sympathetic! I honestly didn't want it to end!
At the curtain call, you could take a video or photos. I tried, not great, but you can get an idea of the atmosphere of the theater!
Plus a photo
Jean Valjean and Javar
We left the theater on a cloud, but I was already exhausted, and we had to get back!
The bus back to the station was even more crowded than on the way there! Standing room only, it got to the point that the driver didn't stop at a few stops to pick up people.
At the station, we found a free gospel concert going on. So, of course, we stopped to watch for a bit.
Very good. It was nice to hear gospel music, something I miss!
After that, we had a little walk around, Hannah wanted to check out an accessory shop. The problem was I was so hot and in pain that I really couldn't do much more! We got a drink at another coffee shop. I wasn't hungry but very thirsty, so I got an iced tea. Hannah got this interesting caramel drink. I had a taste, but it was far too sweet for me!
Hannah's very sweet drink
I like the artwork on the wall.
We decided to get the train back after that!
That was an adventure in itself!
The station that we had to change trains at had an accident with its signals. We aren't sure what happened, but all the trains were either canceled or delayed. We wanted to get the rapid train that only stops at a few stations, but it never turned up. We had to get a local train, which takes almost an hour to get to where we had to change trains. On the way, we noticed a lot of people wearing T-shirts for the local soccer team, so not only were the trains delayed, but they were extra busy as there was a local soccer match!
We finally got to the station where we had to change, only to find all the trains going in the same direction as we were delayed by up to an hour; a couple of trains were almost two hours behind schedule. We didn't have to wait too long and managed to get seats!
Once we got back, the first call was to a supermarket for dinner. Neither of us felt up to cooking! We got some sushi and pizza! Interesting combination!
Dinner
I'm glad I got to see Les Misérables in English, maybe the only chance I'll ever have!
One thing I've learnt from the past two trips to the city is that I really do have to lose weight and regain my strength and ability to walk more. Yesterday I did 8000 steps, but it nearly killed me. If I want to travel, I need to be able to do two or three times that much! So that's my determination!
Yesterday I spent most of the day at the hospital with Hannah!
The day started at 4:30 am!! There are only 3 epilepsy specialists in the whole of northern Kyushu! Hannah managed to get an appointment with the nearest one, but that was still about an hour and a half from where we live! I asked Hannah to check the times of the trains and the bus. She said the best would be to get the express train that leaves at 6:24, which would get us into the city just after 7, so we would have about 20 minutes to find the bus stop.
From our house, in the middle of nowhere, to the station is about 40 minutes. Also, there has been a lot of road works and we weren't sure how busy the roads would be, so an early start was a good idea.
We got to the station just after 6am. I'm looking at the board for the 6:24 train, but it's not listed. There's one at 6:40! I asked Hannah. She's looking at her phone, then at the board. She grins at me and says that she was looking at the wrong station. The 6:24 train was from the station near her apartment! Never mind!!
We got to the city, then got lost looking for the bus stop. Hannah had Google Maps on her phone, which is great, but the train station and bus station are large buildings, with things on different floors that don't really show up on the map! Took about 10 minutes to find the bus stop. We just got to the stop when the bus pulled up, good timing.
I found the bus ride to be very interesting; it went through parts of the city I hadn't seen before, lots of places I would like to go back to! Also, the passengers were interesting, lots of people going to work, kids going to school. I enjoy watching people and wondering what their lives are like!
The bus stopped right outside the hospital! I was really amazed at the hospital's reception area. More like a hotel than a hospital, there was even a grand piano there! Lovely, comfortable chairs that helped you relax, nice music playing. We went to the receptionist's desk, Hannah gave her name and appointment time, and she was asked to fill out a basic form. I noticed on the form that you ask for help with languages, English and Chinese were offered! We were directed to the second floor. At the elevator, I saw the listings for the floors. From the basement to the 3rd floor were the diagnostic areas, outpatient departments, and doctor offices. On the 4th floor, there is the administration office and a hall. The 5th floor has a restaurant and an indoor pool. The 6th floor is preventive medicine, then the 7th to 10th floors are for inpatients!
downstairs waiting area
The lights for the downstairs lobby area
We had to wait a while, but it was very comfortable, so no problem.
The doctor really took time to take a detailed history from Hannah, he also had the MRI from her last doctor and the notes from the doctor. He asked a lot of questions. Hannah had to have an EEG, which took about 50 minutes!
The conclusion is that she has epilepsy. According to the doctor, she was born with it! He showed us on the MRI an area of her brain that is a lighter color than it should be and not connected to another area! I asked why she didn't have seizures as a child or teenager. The doctor explained that her seizures are triggered by extreme fatigue. Her seizures started because her life became so tiring and stressful, which is normal for a young adult! When we talked later about this, we realized that each seizure came after a particularly hard time in her life, exams, teacher training, and the heat in the summer were all factors in each seizure! Hannah was prescribed some medication; she'll have to take them for the rest of her life!
The visit was long. I'm glad that she has this sorted. She knows what's wrong and has medicine to help her. She is looking into some lifestyle changes, learning how to relax, and also thinking about dietary changes that might help!
After we finished with the hospital, we went back to the train station to get a late lunch!
We found Burger King! There aren't that many in Japan, so it's a nice change. I'm not sure what Hannah ordered, but I got a burger with avocado on and iced Earl Grey tea! Very nice!
Lunch
After that, I was totally exhausted. I was so hot and ached in every part of my lower body!
I would have loved to look around the shops, but felt like I was going to collapse! So we got the train back. Mikey picked us up and drove us back to Hannah's apartment. I'm staying here for a few days!
Tomorrow we have tickets to see Les Misérables! I can't wait!
Today is a national holiday, Respect For The Aged Day, Kerio No Hi（敬老の日). This is more than just another holiday; it's a day to reflect on the importance of ageing, family, and gratitude.
This holiday started in a small town in Hyogo Prefecture in 1947. The town declared September 15th as Old Folks Day. This idea quickly became popular, and in 1966 it was made an official national holiday. In 2003, the holiday was shifted to the third Monday in September as part of the "Happy Monday" system, which aims to give workers more 3-day holidays!
Japan has one of the longest life spans. Life expectancy for men is 81 years, and for women, 87 years old! As of September 1st, 100,000 people were 100 or more years old! That is rather amazing!
Part of this day is to pause and honor what the elderly have done for the younger generations. I love listening to older people talk about their lives, and trying to imagine what it would have been like in Japan after the war, during the recovery time! One of my students told me about her neighbor, a lady in her 90s. This old lady had married during the war, and after a couple of weeks of married life, her husband was called up. They spent the next few years writing to each other. Just before the end of the war, he was killed in action. This lady never remarried; the letters from her husband comforted her throughout her life! I was so moved by this story.
The community center where we teach is having a special celebration today for the elderly in the local area. They will have some kind of games and give out prizes. The elderly gentleman who runs the community center was an army helicopter pilot. He is in his 70s but still full of energy! He was talking about how he and the other volunteers were organizing this event, talking about the old people. I was listening to him and thinking, "But you are old!". I know I don't think of myself as old, so maybe he is the same!
If we are lucky enough to grow old, I hope we can do it with some grace and gratitude for our lives. Everyone has their own path, their own struggles, but at the end of the day, if we can say, we have loved and been loved, I think it's enough. I know I moan a lot on here, but I am trying to change my headspace and see the good things in my life. I know I have experienced love, the love from my parents and brothers, the love of my husband and children, and the love of good friends.
I'm also trying to slow down and appreciate the beauty of the nature that surrounds me here (I still don't like the bugs though!). The other day we had a small rainbow!
Haven't been anywhere except my bed for the past few days! Lousy head cold on top of allergies.
Feeling a bit better, but I want to take it easy for the next couple of days, as next week is going to be very busy!
Tuesday and Wednesday are my classes in the other city, plus Wednesday morning is the volunteer class that Mikey and I do!
Thursday is an early morning train ride to the big city for Hannah's appointment with an epilepsy specialist. After that, we will go to Hannah's, spend the night there, so she can work on Friday. Friday evening, come back here, Saturday back to the city to watch Les Misérables!
Just writing that has made me tired!
One good thing is that Mikey has a new car! New to him, looks nice, haven't ridden in it yet, but it will make things a lot easier!
Mikey's car
The weather has been rather crazy, a lot of rain and thunderstorms. One nice thing is the sunsets, some are very dramatic!
The colors don't show up very well in the photos, but you get the idea.
There has been a lot of turbulent weather this summer.
Almost every week, there have been rainstorms or thunderstorms.
We are lucky, typhoon 15 didn't come anywhere near here, but some areas got hit very hard! In one area, a tornado hit, causing a lot of damage. Houses and other buildings lost roofs, cars were thrown about, and power lines were brought down.
The heat in parts of the country has been relentless, even though it is the middle of September, it's still in the low 30s centigrade. I know I complained about this house being too cold when we moved in, but I really want cooler weather! Not cold, but comfortable!
The other night, Tuesday night, Wednesday morning, we had an awful thunderstorm. Driving back from the other city, we could see lightning, but it looked far away! When I went to bed, at about 11pm, the storm got really bad, no rain until 2am, but lightning and distant thunder. Hannah said that a city near here had 3 lightning strikes!
This is a short video of that storm; it went on for most of the night!
Not fun at all. We are under a thunderstorm advisory at the moment. I really hope we don't have another one like that!
Since the events of Friday, Hannah and I have been taking things easy.
Hannah has been sleeping a lot. I think these seizures are brought on by her being over tired, stressed, and a bit run down.
Last night, I didn't really sleep. Every time I was falling asleep, one of the cats would start scratching at my door or fighting. It was nonstop all night. I managed to sleep from about 4 a.m., but woke up at 7 a.m. with a raging headache. My headache was made worse by a very bad thunderstorm that rumbled on for about an hour. I spent most of the day in bed. I really hate days like this. I want to do things. I feel time is passing so quickly, and every day needs to be used as wisely as possible!
So this evening I decided to go for a walk with Hannah. Just to get some fresh air and a bit of exercise.
I asked Hannah to take a video.
Enjoy!
It was nice, not too hot! Very noisy, between the birds and different insects! The air felt wonderful, and there was the smell of cut grass around!
Just a few photos from the area!
We came back, and Hannah wanted a shower, but there was a massive centipede in the bathroom! It was balancing on a plastic basket, so I managed to pick up the basket, open the window, and put the centipede outside! These things are awful. They bite, which can be rather nasty. I usually get someone else to deal with them! Hannah said I was brave to get rid of it. I wasn't feeling very brave, my heart was racing, and my hands were shaking!
All started at 5am, I hadn't really slept. I'd fall asleep, have weird dreams that would wake me up, try to sleep again, only to have the cats fighting! At 5am, I was wondering if I should just give up, get up and do a few things, but it started to rain. I gave up, as I had planned to do outside, and actually managed to sleep until just after 6am. Hannah sent me a photo of her breakfast! She had teacher training last week, so an early start. We have this little ritual, she would send a photo of her breakfast, and I would send photos of the cats!
I had my breakfast, thought about doing some chores, but I was so tired that I went back to bed for an hour, which turned into 2!
At 10:30, my phone rang. It was Hannah. Cue panic attack. As I said, she is doing teacher training, so her phone is off between 8am and 4:30 pm, so why was she calling?
She'd had another seizure!
I yelled for Mikey to get ready, I packed a few things because I didn't know what she would want to do. If she wanted me to stay with her for a few days or come back here for a while.
Hannah sent the address of the hospital she was taken to. It took an hour to get there, a very long hour!
When Hannah had called me, she had just come round and was in the ambulance; she wasn't very clear about what had happened and why she was in the ambulance.
We got to the hospital, Hannah had had some tests and an MRI. I went in to see the doctor with her. The consultation was long and detailed. He thinks she might have epilepsy, especially since this is the third one in a year. Even though the doctor is a neurologist, he said he could diagnose her with epilepsy because that isn't his field. He suggested a few hospitals that have specialists, none of them near here. The nearest is about an hour away.
After the hospital, we went to Hannah's apartment, she packed her stuff, I cleaned her dishes, and she is staying here for a week. She's tired, stressed, and has cuts on her lips!
Even though this was really scary for Hannah, she was really worried about the kids that she was observing. It was a junior high school, 3rd-grade class, so the kids were about 15 years old. She was worried that they might have been scared or traumatized by seeing someone have a seizure. She wrote to the class teacher, apologizing for having the seizure and asking if the kids were okay. The teacher said that the kids were fine and asking after Hannah!
So my day of cleaning the garden, cleaning the house, completely changed! I still have to do all that. I did a bit today, but I need to do a lot more tomorrow. Having Hannah here means she can help as well!
One good thing, I didn't turn to sweets to get me through yesterday. I didn't eat very healthily, but didn't buy any sweet breads or ice cream, which is what I usually do!
The cats reminded me not to ignore them by eating through a loaf of bread!
My poor bread!
This is what greeted me when I got back last night!
Hannah has an appointment for the 18th. I really hope she can get this sorted out. We are looking into diet and lifestyle changes to help.
If anyone has any ideas, please leave a comment!
Please be kind if you do comment; this is stressful and scary for us!
