quotation marks and merry go rounds

She said..."we have no mailing system here."

Right.

I wanted to know when we find out who the next ALT is. (I can hear her talking about the new ALT or me because I keep hearing her say ALT and August to the other teachers.) She says, "On Friday we will know, today." (Today is Monday). Ooo-kay.

"So, then we find out today?" I ask.

"We have no mailing system here." Was her response. "So and So was going to send the form to the City Building today, but because we have no mail system we have to wait until someone has mail."

"What?" (I am trying to stay polite and smile but lately I am just aggetated and restrained).

"We cannot find out who it is until we have the form and it is at the city building, we are too busy to go and get the form so when we have mail we can get the form from the city building." She "explains".

"Ah. So, where is the city building?" I ask, imagining perhaps this explainable delay is due to distance....

"Adogawa."

"Oh" I spit out trying to cover up tones and expressions of annoyance. Adogawa is one town away. Perhaps a 7 minute drive, certainly a 10 minute train ride.

I realize this is why it took them so long to tell me where I was going when I came to Japan. Perhaps they don't realize that the person who is getting ready to leave their home in America and travel to Japan is just waiting to find out this information. Perhaps this information will bring them comfort and ease while they are in the midst of saying goodbye to people they love and will not be seeing, some for a year or more. But, the city building is a town away and they don't have a "mailing system".

I was "reassured" that they can check mail on the internet but until they have the actual form they won't know. I find that interesting and slightly less reassuring, considering this information is coming from someone who - after telling me they would email my predecessor to ask for assistance in a matter regarding my home - a week later told me, they were glad I handled the situation on my own because they don't know how to use email.

So, round and round this ALT goes, sitting atop her trusty souless stead, going through the motions and yet going nowhere but in a circle. And all the while, I do this for fun :)