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watashi wa gaijin desu

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-eight years and a million words

Today I applied for my very first gaijin card. It was a surprisingly hassle-free episode.

I merely had to wander through the maze of Naka-Meguro and find the ward office. Then it was simply a matter of filling in the usual paperwork and a modest wait. I walked out with my passport full of even more stapled-in paperwork, and a sense of immense relief. Wouldn't want to get booted from the country over not having the damn thing straightened out.

Amusingly, I woke up with a touch of a cold this morning, so I wasn't at my best when I had my requisite photos taken. In fact, with the slightly damp hair from the mist of rain coming down, I looked pretty ghastly. I showed Shan my pic, and she said, "It looks like a different person!" I had a closer look, and added, "I guess I could have at least made sure my glasses were on straight."