Address and other Mailing Information

I imagine most people who want to contact me will avail themselves of the immediacy and ease of electronic conversation, and small blame! Email is so convenient, and while I won't have internet in my apartment for the first month or so, I will have fairly frequent access to the web in one way or another. While I intend to write scores of emails and update this blog quite often, there's still nothing like getting real mail. So, in the hopes of receiving some letters, and so that those who also favor pen and ink can find my address at need, I am posting my address below:

206 Shiei Suzumigawa Jutaku
Kanagawa 180-7, Kanada
Shikokuchuo City
799-0123

Sorry it's so long! For those who want to see the Japanese, please look below:

テ７９９－０１２３

愛媛県四国中央市金田町金川１８０番７

涼川住宅２０６号

I'm sure the local postmasters will be appreciative if you choose to write the address in Japanese, but the US Postal Service requires all mail items to have the address written in English (well, in roman characters), so make sure you write in both languages! For those of you who don't write Japanese, the English address will work just fine.

A few notes about mailing packages or boxes:

1. Japan is extremely hot and humid in the summer. Please don't send perishable items or anything that will melt. Luckily, there's plenty of chocolate in Japan :-)

2. International shipping costs are very high, so please don't send heavy items. Even if you are more than happy to pay for it or can ship it from work, I may have trouble carrying it or bringing it home. Please use your discretion well!

3. Japan has extremely strict laws against marijuana. I highly doubt anyone is planning to send me any, but just to be safe, DO NOT SEND any loose tea or herbs or anything remotely resembling marijuana or any other drug. I know this sounds ridiculous, but I have heard horror stories about people being in jail for years because someone back home decided to send them some pot for fun. There's plenty of perfectly legal fun in Japan, and I don't need exotic herbs that badly!

If you have any questions about mailing stuff, please feel free to ask me!

In other news, I depart for Tokyo on Saturday. I'm rather nervous and a little flustered with all the stuff I still have to do, but I'm attacking my list with gusto. Well, perhaps not gusto, but determination. Until then, I will still be answering my phone for the vast majority of the times it rings. Feel free to call and say hi!