I take everything positive I ever said about the Japanese post office back. It turns out that my passport was at the Osaki post office since February 13th, 3 days after my consular appointment. I still missed my flight on the 21st because we never got a notice in the mail, they didn't come back to redeliver, and when we called them numerous times to ask if it was there, they said no. No, no no. It's not here. There's no way we would have lost or misplaced it. Today, finally, I paid the embassy $20 to tell me the tracking number for the package, and when I looked it up online I found out it has been sitting at the post office for 10 days.
I had to buy a new plane ticket and am now on my way to Narita to catch a flight back to SF.
I just reread this post and I realize it doesn't make that much sense. But hey! I'm just glad I'm going home.
As my J-staff was always fond of telling me with a smile - 'this is Japan'. Have a safe trip :)
Posted by: Mike_R | February 23, 2009 at 12:27 AM
Is that your mom? Because if so, goodness gracious she is very pretty and you two look very alike.
Posted by: Risachan | February 23, 2009 at 12:29 AM
Oh no.. there seems to be a mistake! That's a passport from ИAЯAレ!
Make sure not to get caught.
Posted by: cortana | February 23, 2009 at 06:07 AM
Pretty gangsta of you posing with that hand sign.
Glad that you're finally going back home.
Posted by: MeaningOfLife | February 23, 2009 at 08:15 AM
The real question is how did you get your fingers in that unique position? haha So happy you get to go home, sounds like you went through a rough time!
Posted by: Heather | February 23, 2009 at 09:48 AM
What's not clear from your story is why your passport was being mailed around Japan in the first place. What started this bureaucratic adventure?
Posted by: Pallavicini | February 23, 2009 at 10:59 AM
When it works, it works great... When it doesn't? Well...in the end they are just another beaurocratic organization (-_-) I, at least, got to go pick up my Japanese passport at Chiba so I gladly took some time off from work to have it handed to me as opposed to mailed...
Good to hear you got it though and you can resume your travels.
Posted by: Nobita | February 23, 2009 at 02:29 PM
it looks like you're flashing a gang sign better watch your back for any passport related gangs!
Posted by: acbnnthwds | February 23, 2009 at 06:00 PM
Gang sign? I just have a thumb injury :)
I was getting my US visa processed, and the embassy mails it back to you when they're done. Silly system.
Posted by: Lisa | February 23, 2009 at 06:06 PM
Ah! The tell-tale reverse image indicative of the Macbook Photo!
Holla!
Posted by: Blaine | February 24, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Cool blog. Nice to hear you got your pp back and can get home. :)
Posted by: mhanagan | February 24, 2009 at 11:01 AM