T-7 Days

Worked my last Swiss shift last night and it must have been the longest, most painful one ever.  Time would just not go fast enough!  But I got through without major complications, had drinks and boggle'd with friends from work afterwards.  It was good.  I really got to know some people that I didn't really get to know while I worked there which was awesome.  Wrote a big sappy goodbye note and pinned it to the board; hopefully people remember me fondly and don't think I'm being overly dramatic.  LOL. 

I've started packing in earnest now...  I'm doing a test run with my suitcases to make sure I can fit all my clothes and stuff I want to bring without being overweight.  If ever, this is the time to be honest with my own body weight otherwise things won't be measured accurately.  :(  What a slap in the face that is.  So far, I've got the bulk of my clothes, books and DVD's packed in my big green monster, and if I am estimating properly it weights 50-55lbs.  United's maximum weight is 50lbs so I might need to do some rearranging and put more soft things in that one since the case itself weighs about 10lbs!  Kind of a rip off since 1/5 of your weight allowance is taken up by the fucking case itself, but it's hardshell so things are protected.  It's a trade off I guess.

I'm debating about winter clothes and if I should even bother packing my winter coat.  I am just taking my pea coat with me since it'll be more professional but after reading about Tokyo winters, which are only 0-10C, I'm wondering if I should even bother with that.  I have a couple other lighter "fall" jackets I want to bring and can always layer.  If worse comes to worst, I could always go hunt and buy a coat if it really is that cold.  I could save myself on lots of room and weight if I didn't bring a coat with me... I've polled Yvonne and Andrew to see what they suggest.  I'm feeling pretty positive about this packing experience since I've got most of my stuff put away and have a whole empty suitcase to fill.  But I won't make the mistake I did after first year when I packed all my stuff and sent it off to Auntie Linda's house and ended up with too much to fit into my bags to take back to Brampton for the summer.  I want to make sure everything will fit (maybe with room to spare) and then pack everything else to send back. 

Back to packing then.  Best get this done and sorted out before going out to dinner.  Shabusen with my boys!

Edit: Andrew tells me its exactly the same as Vancouver winters so I will do without any winter jackets if I don't have the room.  At least I don't have to worry about that!