Wednesday, September 26, 2012

In Other News...

In other news, a lot has happened in the past 2 weeks!  Yuta has officially been registered with the government to work (in the for of a SIN number), he has gotten a cell phone, found a job, and is really coming into his own in Canada!

We went to apply for a bank account a couple of weeks back, but they said he needed a sin number and some Canadian ID.  So off to city hall in downtown Windsor we went!  Getting the SIN number was a snap! Literally took us 10 minutes to complete all the paperwork, and he received it in the mail today!  We also decided not to switch over his driver's licence just yet, but instead went with a new standard photo ID card, which also came in the mail today!  After we applied for all of these things, about a week later we went back to the bank and tried to reapply for the account.  Which he now has.  Hooray for money in the bank!

The cell phone was a bit more difficult. Since at the time he didn't have a bank account, he's under my account.  But him having a cell phone has been a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.  I don't have to worry about him as much because I can always call him.

The job hunt was really easy actually.  We made him a resumè, and mom helped make him a cover letter, and away we went!  We handed resumès out at Kelsey's, Swiss Chalet, Starlight Diner in Belle River, and Mongolian Grill.  Our lucky break actually came at Mongolian.  He asked for a manager, introduced himself, handed her his resumè, and she took him for an interview right away.  He was gone for about 20 minutes.  When they came back, the manager, Jodi, asked if I was with him and told me that he would be starting off in the back kitchen, with opportunities, once he gains more confidence in his English, to bump out to the grill area and after that to waiting or bartending!

He's only on his second day of work now, but I can really see that he is happy to be working again.  He's no longer stuck within these 4 walls, watching tv or movies all day.  He can now go to work, meet some new friends, and talk with people who aren't me.  I'm so thankful to the manager there for giving him a chance!
Here's to a whole new future!

Mother Knows Best...

I've been really lucky in my life.  No, I've never won the lottery, my parents aren't swimming in money, and my car is pretty much on its last leg.  But I have some of the greatest parents in the world.  And that makes me luckier than most.

All through my life, I have made more than my fair share of mistakes and trouble making, but I knew that at the end of the day, I still had my parents support.  Like the time of my car accident.  They came practically running when I called each of them, and really just tried to reassure me that even though it was my fault, everyone involved was OK and that something a lot worse could have happened.

My dad is one of my greatest hero's. He can (most of the time) fix a car like nobody's business.  He has a real knack for handy work, and whenever I have a problem with our house or my car, he's the first one I call.  He's somebody that I have always looked up to, mostly because he is quite a tall man! While we are not very close in nature, I know that the father-daughter bond we have will always be there and I will always be his little girl.  I know he's gonna miss me when I move away again, but I really can't wait for him to come visit and show him all the reasons why I love being abroad. Even if he will never understands why, I know he will always support me in whatever way he can.

My mom on the other hand is just my best friend in the entire world.  I got REALLY lucky in the mom department.  She's one of those mom's who was always a little more lenient, but put her foot down when the time came.  She was the one that struck fear into our hearts as children, probably because she was more prone to yelling and spanking! Haha! At my house, it was never "wait until your father gets home!", it was always "wait until your mother gets home!"

But my mom has been great, especially over the last couple of years.  When I went away to Japan and came home engaged, she was a little shell shocked, but I remember her telling me that long distance relationships aren't easy, and that I had better be prepared for the work that went into one.  She has always been really good at giving advice, even if I didn't always follow it.  She knows that sometimes, I have to make my own mistakes.

I still to this day to go her for advice on things like work, my relationship, and even fashion advice, because I know she will tell me straight like it is.  After all, Mother Knows Best.


Friday, September 14, 2012

Who Knew?

So as you know, Yuta and I have been living together for 2 weeks now.  It's been quite an experience so far! Although I do feel quite bad that I couldn't get more time off of work to spend with him in his first few days, the bills don't pay themselves.

During these past 2 weeks, we've been rediscovering everything about each other.  From the fact that Yuta is a LOT neater than I am and probably all around better person, to the fact that I love having him here. I thought that living together would be such a difficult thing! And while I understand that we are still in the "Love Bubble", I honestly can't see it changing that much in the future!  I'm trying to remember to do things that will make him happy (such as picking up after my lazy ass more), and I know he's doing the same.

Another tidbit is that he has been offered a job by my dad's friend, Hank, cutting grass a couple of days a week, hopefully starting soon.  This job is only temporary until we can find him something a little less seasonal, but it's money in the bank and that is all that matters right now.  Money doesn't grow on trees, and it's so easy to spend! We are now in for a couple of nights at home, making meals, taking walks, and watching movies that I already own.  Payday for me seems so far away! Sad face.......Money goes through your fingers even faster when paying for 2 people......Who knew?


Saturday, September 8, 2012

Welcome to the real world

This has been one eventful week I say! So let's start at the beginning....
It all began 3 years ago, when I went to Japan for a 1 year working Holiday.  While I was there, I happened to meet someone who is just amazing.  I fell in Love with him in no time at all.  Love is blind, and I was doing really well without that sense!  He ended up proposing before I left, and we are still together today!

Over the next 2 years, we did the long-distance relationship, and let me tell you, it was hard.  The not seeing each other for more than 2 weeks at a time (and months in between), the miscommunication that led to misunderstandings, which led to a whole whack load of fighting, and so many more things that happened that I just don't have time to tell everyone......But we made the time for each other and always worked out whatever problem we were having.  As clichè as it is, communication really is the key.  And that is what has saved our relationship.

Last year, he decided he was going to come to Canada to work on his English and be with me.  I was so thrilled! It's been a long time coming and he finally made it here on Tuesday, September 4th 2012.

I went to the airport to pick him up, with a whole herd of butterflies in my stomach.  What if he missed his flight?  What if he doesn't have all the proper paperwork with him for getting his visa?  What if, What if, What if.....Until I saw him come through the arrival gate.  The butterflies were still there, but the what if's vanished into thin air.  All I could think was "Finally".  He said he had no troubles going through immigration, and that they just asked a bunch of questions.  Relief flooded through my veins, warming my whole body.

These last few days have been....a nice surprise and a small adventure all wrapped into one.  He's slowly adjusting to the time difference, and I'm slowly adjusting to sharing my living space with the one I love again.

But after these last few days, I feel more reassured that I have picked the right man for me.  Someone who is kind, caring, funny, sarcastic, and a little bit crazy.  And his name is Yuta. I can't wait to grow old and disgusting with him. I've never imagined more than I have these past days about our future, and what I think our life will be like once married and with some kids...He's going to be a great dad while I hope to compare even slightly to my own mother.  We will raise beautiful children, and maybe even start a buisness together.....

And while I know all my hopes and dreams might not come true, I still cling to them and the person I share them with.  The real world can go suck a rainbow.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Time to pull up your big girl panties.....

Some people say that days drag on, and whatever they are anticipating can't come fast enough.  But for me, it's actually quite the opposite.  Where has the time gone?  I left Japan nearly 2 years ago, brokenhearted over 2 things.  The actual leaving of Japan, a country I came to love so very much, and the leaving of my fiancèe, Yuta.  Over the past couple of years, we have visited each other on and off, taking turns going to the other's country of residence (Canada and Japan).

But now the time has come for us to be reunited (hopefully forever!).  He will be moving here on a 1 year Working Holiday Visa, and our life together will be beginning again, as we get to know each other all over, and on a whole new level.  Being apart for such a long period of time, and only having short visits of 2 weeks or less, has always put us on our best behaviour when seeing each other.  Now that we will be living together, I feel like this new experience for us will really open our eyes to each other.  We will get to see how it REALLY is to live with somebody who is a polar opposite of you (I'm really messy, while Yuta is kind of a neat freak).

I can't say I'm not scared that living together might make or break us.  It's one of the scariest things I've ever done.  But I do feel like, with enough communication, we might actually be able to pull this off!  

So here's to a year (and possibly lifetime) of fighting, making up, traveling, new experiences, and love.
がんばります!
Love Always,
Lauren