Glass Cuts Through Tendons

(Doctor's Visit Numero Uno)
   
So just to recap, November 18, 2013 a piece of glass cut through my leg. It severed my Achilles tendon and three other tendons, which left my leg with a decent size cut/scar. I want to document all my major points during my recovery so I can look back on this experience and remember everything I went through.  Also, who knows, maybe someone else could relate to my experience and take away something positive from what I have to say. So here it goes....

    My first visit to my orthopedic surgeon was quite stressful to say the least.  I had not seen my cut since the night of the accident and I constantly wondered what it was going to look like.  I wondered if it had made my leg look deformed, if I was going to be able to walk normal again, if I would be able to feel my foot again, because at this point I couldn't feel my toes all that well, which frightened me more than I thought it would.  Plus on top of all this worrying I was in so much pain you can't even imagine.  The cut itself didn't hurt, unless you directly put pressure on the area. Or maybe it didn't seem to hurt because it was so overshadowed by the relentless firing of my nerve endings trying to find each other. The constant firing of my nerve endings was almost unbearable. The only way I can describe it is imagine your foot had been asleep for a very long time and you were trying to wake it up. You know, the pens and needles type of feeling that's really uncomfortable, but thankfully it passes quickly.  However, imagine that feeling just 1,000 times more intense, unyielding, and on top of that like someone was lighting a small match at random points all over you foot at the same time. Needless to say I didn't sleep well for MONTHS. Okay, getting back on track... Finally after a little over two weeks with all the new sensations and thoughts I got to see the doctor and hear what news he had for me.

     The doctor walks into the room with my father and stepmother there. He sighs and starts asking me questions about how it was feeling and we exchange meaningless chit chat.  Then it comes down to the real part, taking off the splint and bandages for the first time since surgery.  I was so anxious my heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest. After what felt like forever he finally got everything off and this is what I saw.....

     I was speechless once I saw it.  All that registered was the scary look of the staples in my leg and my calf muscle, which was already starting to atrophy.  I just turned away and put my head in the corner not able to speak.  I honestly just wanted to be left alone, but the doctor was busy talking about how well it looked, which I thought was all lies. I mean look at the picture. It looks freaking crazy with all the staples in it and the skin bunched up.  Then the nurse came in and removed all the stitches and staples. I still continued to feel overwhelmed and just laid their with my face towards the wall silently crying. The thought of, "this is really where I am at this point in my life", was extremely depressing.

    The nurse then led us into a different room where she attempted to re-position my foot and cast it.  They had put my foot into a pointed position so it would make the healing process easier on the tendons.  However, this made bringing my foot back to a normal position extremely difficult.  It took her and the doctor to pull my foot even slightly toward a neutral position, which felt insane for me. It felt like they were going to rip my tendons apart and my leg was going to snap.  That was one of the most frightening parts of recovery. Sometimes though looking at my doctor gave me a bit of relief, well comic relief. I say that because he looks a lot like the dentist from "The Hangover" haha.

     Anyways after they put my leg in a light blue cast I left and my sensations became even worse. I can only assume it was because of the new tension put on my tendons and muscles. However, it felt better for my ankle to be out of such a pointed position. This visit was by far the most intense and the most anxious I felt out of all the visits.  Thinking about it now even makes me feel a bit anxious. PTSD I've unfortunately learned is a real thing.

And with that, I'm out.
--Butters--
 

   

Traumatic Injury

     So I know that is the most bland title in existence, but it really does accurately describe my experience.  I wanted to write about it just to keep things in perspective for myself, as well as to let other people know (and see) what happened.  It is not your typical injury and I was definitely one of those people who didn't think something like this could happen to me.  So, this is what happened on the night of my birthday... Yay -_-

     On the night of November 18th I decided to turn in a bit earlier then I wanted because I had school the next day and my T/TH classes were really intense.  So after I had been with my friends for a casual birthday hangout at the house I called it a night and went to bed.  Around what I think was about 2AM I woke up and had to use the bathroom.  So I got up... worst mistake of my life.  I should have just held it!  I took one step out of bed and hit a picture frame with my shoulder that was hanging on the wall, but lets back track for a second.

     On my side of the bed there is not much room between the wall and the bed. I kind of have to shuffle sideways if I actually want to walk alongside the bed and this picture frame in particular was in the worst spot.  Prior to the accident I had knocked it over numerous times.  I would just leave it on the floor for a while until my boyfriend or I would hang it up again.  Just wanted to clear that up for those of you who think it was a drunken spoof or whatever else you wanted to come up with. Alright, back to the story.

     Upon hitting this infamous picture frame for the last time I can only imagine what had actually happened because it was in the dark, but based on the cut and the picture frame afterwards I came up with this...  So the frame fell when I hit it with my shoulder and broke, but when I tried to step again the glass had separated from the frame and when I stepped it was just at the perfect angle to kick my butt. Well I guess "kick my leg" would be more appropriate, but that doesn't sound right O_O.  I somehow then managed to fall forward and slam into my boyfriend's drum set and land back on the bed.  Somewhat startled I thought I felt something ON my leg and so I reached down with one hand and it felt weird.  So I used the other hand to feel as well. I felt something wet, then pain and panic started to set in.  Since it was dark in the room I had no idea what to expect.  After I started screaming my boyfriend's name and he turned on the lights I got to see.

     I saw what you only see on the internet, but this was real and it was happening to me.  Once I saw it I immediately looked away.  It was almost as if to say to myself, "this did not really happen" or "it isn't that bad", which unfortunately neither of these circumstances were true.  Then what happened over the next hour or so, I remember happening in minutes.  I looked away from my cut for some mental relief only to lift up my hands to see them and my arms covered in blood.  It almost felt like a scene from a horror movie.  I didn't pass out or go into shock, but my whole body was shaking like you can't even imagine.

     After about an hour and a half I arrived at the hospital.  The people in the ER were all gathered around trying to clean my wound and decide what to do.  Whereupon I got the glorious title "Worst Injury of November" and they wanted to take pictures because they said, "medically speaking, this is awesome".  So after the paramedics and security guard officially freaked me out with how I almost died, I ended up not getting taken care of in the ER and had to go to a private room and wait for over twelve hours to get surgery.

     Once surgery was finished I was told that the glass cut through my Achilles tendon and three other tendons. During the surgery they were able to put everything back together.  I was also told that two pieces of glass (one big and one small) had been embedded into my leg and those were removed as well.

     So for those who are interested, that is what happened.  It should be around six months before I don't walk with some form of a "gangsta limp" and around nine months to a year before I am able to function properly in my normal athletic routine.  I have tried countless times to tell people a fake story for a good laugh that was so ridiculous they would know I was not telling the truth, but to be honest I can never do it.  I just seem to regurgitate the real story over and over.  So for those of you who are curious as to what happened or just wanted to see a picture there it is.  But I do caution you, it is a graphic picture.




YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!

And with that, I'm out.

--Butterzz--

Red Light District in Japan

Hey everyone! I uploaded a video I made about the red light district here in Hiroshima, Japan. I hope you find it interesting and enjoy the footage!  The district is called "Nagarekawa" for those of you who want to know.

Here is the youtube link of the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J1ipuknOPc

WHAT YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT WHEN YOU TRAVEL TO MIYAJIMA

WHAT YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT WHEN YOU TRAVEL TO MIYAJIMA: (FOR FOREIGNERS) 

So Miyajimi Island is probably the most beautiful place I have been to... as of now. It has a lot of traditional Japanese culture that it has kept despite the fact that it is a constantly sought out tourist destination. There are lots of hidden places on the island that deserve to be checked out. While you could spend all day just near the port of the island, there is lots on the little island of Miyajima. So here is what you should check out when you travel to Miyajima. Also I will include a few things you should expect when you travel to Miyajima.

1) Deer:
So from the moment you step out of the ferry terminal you will most likely see deer. Yes, they are cute. Yes, I know you are going to want to pet them. However, just so you know, they WILL EAT ANYTHING you are carrying. If you are carrying food they will most def go after that, but I have seen them eat things like maps or even napkins. So be weary! They are cute, but will eat ANYTHING you have on you. (See pics below) ^_^

Here are some pictures I took of just a few Miyajima deer in their "natural" Miyajima habitat...

See... they look so cute.

BUT... they try to get into restaurants.

AND... they try to eat your food!

AND... They try to eat your children! (Just kidding, but kinda believable because of the picture, right? ^_^)

Lastly, the infamous paper that apparently tastes really good to them. 

2) Various Activities:
So there are lots of fun things to do on the island that aren't super advertised if you don't do your "travel researchy stuff" before you go.  So be sure to check out their website for all the activities that are available. So here you go... (Of course some of these must be scheduled).

• Fun activities to do on Miyajima Island:

1) Miyajima Aquarium (don't need to schedule)
- It costs money to get in, about 1400円 (roughly about $16) for adults... The prices vary depending on age.
- It is not a super huge aquarium. So don't expect to spend the whole day there.
- If you want to know more, the embedded link called "Miyajima Auqarium" below can tell you all about it:
Miyajima Aquarium

2) Learn about the making of rice scoops or as the Japanese call it, shakushi.  (Must schedule before hand)
- It costs about 300円 (roughly about $4) to learn how to make your own Shakushi.
- Also Miyajima has the world's largest shakushi. Be sure to check it out!
- If you want to know more click the embedded link titled "Shakushi Info" below:
Shakushi Info

*** 3) Make Momiji Manju in Miyajima  紅葉饅頭  (Must schedule before hand)
- It costs about 300円 (roughly about $4) to participate, which isn't much considering you get to keep the ones you make and they give you a souvenir that includes more Momiji manju.
- Now there are various places to make Momiji manju so you must do a little research before choosing because some are more expensive.
-Momiji manju is a small maple leaf-shaped cake that contain various fillings. The most famous being mashed sweet bean paste. If you have never tried it... You must! Momiji manju is really famous in Japan, especially in Hiroshima, and anyone who visits Hiroshima should try it.  Now the sweet bean paste can have different consistencies. My personal favorite one is the Koshian (smooth anko) which means the sweet bean paste is mashed to a really smooth consistency.
- There is lots of information about them on the web, but here is a short and to the point article talking more about momiji manju and its' history. So if you want to know more just click the embedded link below called "Blog About Momiji Manju":
Blog About Momiji Manju

(This is what the standard Momiji Manju looks like)

3) Ankoagemomiji:　餡子揚げ紅葉
Now since I didn't talk about Momiji enough here are more things you should know about Momiji on Miyajima Island. So the only place in the world you can get Agemomiji 揚げ紅葉 is on Miyajima. What is Agemomiji exactly? Well, besides being one of the most delicious things I have ever put in my mouth!. Just kidding... but no, really... it is seriously so delicious you can't even imagine! Okay, Agemomiji is fried momiji manju. It comes in only 3 flavors, which include: anko (sweet bean paste), cream, and cheese. Every single one of them is delicious, but my favorite is of course the Ankoagemomiji 餡子揚げ紅葉.  If you ever go to Miyajima you must try this. You can find it is various shops on the island, but mainly they are located on the big/narrow strip of souvenir shops and restaurants. I believe they cost about 200円 (roughly about $3).

4) Rope-way:
Now the rope-way is an optional, but a very scenic route to take to the top of the Mountain.  It is a good chance to take lots of pictures of the trees and the view is awesome. At the very tippidy top there is also a castle. I did not get a chance to make it to the castle because it is a bit of a walk from where you exit the rope-way and the wind was horrible the day I went.  So hopefully I can make another trip there soon to see the castle.
-The rope way costs about 1600円 (roughly about $18) for both ways.
- One way costs about 1000円 (roughly about $12) for one way.
- If you don't want to pay at all there are trails you can follow to the top.
- Also there are multiple trails with varying degrees of difficulty.

Here are some pictures I took while riding the rope-way:

5) Itsukushima Shrine:  厳島神社
Now I feel like I shouldn't have to say much about Itsukushima Shrine  厳島神社.  It is one of the most famous shrines in all of Japan.  It is beautiful and an absolute must see if you travel to Miyajima. It does have an admission fee, but it is well worth the money. It costs about 300円 (roughly about $4) to enter. If you are a foreign student and have the "HIC" card then it is free! Whoop whoop for being an exchange student! Upon entering the shrine you will get to take part in the traditional purification process, where you use the wooden ladle and cleanse your hands and mouth.

Here are a few pictures I took while at the Itsukushima Shrine  厳島神社:

6) Torii gate:
Now one of the most famous Torii gates in all of Japan is the one on Miyajima.  This is the torii gate you see in many pictures. It is the one that looks like it is floating on the water during high tide. You can see this as you make your way towards Itsukushima Shrine  厳島神社.

Here are a few pictures I took of the torii gate. The pictures are from different trips so they may look slightly different.

Here is a picture of me in front of the shrine. Not the best lighting for me, but the color of the water and the shrine looks cool. Also the boat full of people is a nice touch.

Far off shot of the torii gate. I took it while I was riding the ferry. This is a good picture because you can see just how big the torii gate actually is... 

8) Traditional Japanese Style Wedding:
Now when I went to Miyajima the first time there was a traditional Japanese-style wedding that was taking place that day. I have heard from many people that during the months that there is good weather many times there will be a wedding that takes place. So hopefully you will be as lucky as I was when I went.

Here are some pictures I managed to get of the wedding:

The picture above I thought was really funny. All of her friends were standing off to the side and I managed to snap the picture right when she stuck out her tongue. Haha perfect.

7) Daishou-In: 大聖院
 (Buddhist Temple)
This has to be one of my most favorite spots on all of Miyajima Island. Now I only went here during my mid-November trip. So I didn't get a chance to see it earlier on. However during the fall this is one of the most beautiful spots in all of Japan, I swear! It looks deceivingly plain from the outside, but once you enter and you start to walk up the long staircase to the top it is amazing. I can't stress enough how much I loved it there. It is located near the exit of the Itsukushima Shrine, so it is not hard to find. There is no admission fee.

Lastly, here are some beautiful shots I managed to capture while visiting Daishou-In 大聖院...

For more information about "touristy things" on Miyajima or just simply the history, visit the website called "japan-guide". That site is always good to use when researching tourist information about Japan. They can also hook you up with Japanese pen pals and other fun stuff. Or you can just click the embedded link below titled "More About Miyajima" to find out about additional goodies on Miyajima.
More About Miyajima


I hope that all of this information was helpful! All of the suggestions in this blog post are my own personal opinions. So please take this information with a grain of salt. It may not be super consistent with others' opinions on the internet, but I have been there a few times now and this is just simply what I recommend.  Hope you enjoy!

And with that, I'm out.
--Butterzz--

What You Should Know About Traveling Around in Tokyo, Japan

What to Expect When You Go to Tokyo (FOR FOREIGNERS)

So before I left for Japan some people who had been to Japan told me it was super easy to get around Tokyo even if you didn't know Japanese. Well I have been studying Japanese for a while now and boy where they wrong.

1) The Trains:
The most difficult part was the trains. They were confusing as hell! Now once you were inside the train station it was all good, there was English everywhere. However, before getting inside the train station you had to pick a place to go in order to select your train ticket. Now this is the hard part, everything is in Kanji. There was no English anywhere on that map which made it insanely difficult to figure out which ticket to purchase. So be sure to map out where you are going and figure out the corresponding Kanji so you can save yourself the hassle.

2) Katakana:
Now another thing that may not be so easy, but is sure helpful, is to know a little Japanese. A good portion of menu items, name of places/people and other random things are written in katakana. Now hiragana and katakana is much much much easier to learn since you have less than 100 symbols for each particular syllabary. Whereas learning Kanji will take years and years of practice since there are thousands of them and many different readings for each one.  Ughhh, 漢字はめんどうくさいな！(For those of you who don't know Japanese, that says "Kanji is a pain in the ass!")

3) Credit Cards:
Make sure to inform your credit card companies that you are traveling outside the U.S. to Japan so you don't get stuck over there with no money, because we all know that would be unfortunate haha. Anyways, also know this... Japan is a cash society. Most transactions are done in cash. So if at all possible just make it to the nearest ATM and pull out a lot of cash right when you get to Japan because you don't want a ton of withdrawal fees or just credit card fees for constantly using your card.

4) Lack of Internet:
Now another pretty vital thing to know is that you most likely won't be able to find wifi anywhere. I mean yes you can find it, but it is a serious pain in the ass to get. Also once you find a place that has wifi, most likely it isn't free. So be prepared if you are trying to meet people to try and make plans to meet them at the airport right when you get there or make up a place ahead of time.  Also give yourself ample time to figure out where you are going and what not if you set up a time to meet.

Lastly, here are some pictures I took of a few random things when I was in Tokyo.

And with that, I'm out.

--Butterzz--

The Most Beautiful Place on Earth... Butters's Experience on Miyajima Island in Japan

Now this was my second trip to Miyajima. My first being soon after I arrived in Japan, it must have been some time in late September. However, this second trip I took about mid-November, and it was much prettier than the time before.  The trees had just starting changing colors and there were a lot less people. Unfortunately the weather was terrible! Yes it was starting to get pretty cold in Japan, but the wind... oh that god damn wind. Anyways, the pictures turned out amazing and I have so many I want to share, but there is no way I can upload that many to this blog post haha. So I hope you enjoy the few that you do get to see. ^_^

I really hope to take a trip back there in the Spring so that I can get pictures of all the cherry blossoms and what not. If you have ever debated going to Miyajima you should just go, it is by far one of the most beautiful places on earth. It has yet to disappoint anyone I know.

P.S.- Oh and Miyajima has bomb-ass food. Just sayin....

And with that, I'm out.
--Butterzz--