Did I mention...? (I am a man)
Ok, so I should probably explain the situation regarding my being regarded as a man by the authorities of Kyoto city.
Upon arrival, gaijin working in Japan require an alien registration card to prove their residency. This is necessary for things such as booking flights, getting a phone, opening a bank account, getting a library card... you get the idea. I discovered there was a fault with my registration when I attempted to apply for a keitai, and my Japanese friend halted me as I passed over my ID. 'M?' he asked quizzically, 'Why M?'. I followed his eyes to my form and sure enough, there it was in blaring print: a neatly circled 'M' juxtaposed with the kanji for 'man'. Somehow the registration clerk at the town office had declared me a man. Even though I was standing two feet in front of her at the time. In a skirt.
The alien registration card usually takes 2 weeks to acquire. 2 Months in Japan later, and I finally received my card, owing to the tremendous efforts required to make me a woman again. In the meantime, my nickname at the Board of Education was changed from 'Amy-chan' to 'Amy-o' (the suffix -chan denotes 'little' in an affectionate sense, while the suffix -o implies that the subject is male). Furthermore, when I eventually received some ID in the form of my insurance card, it had to be immediately returned as my name had been mispelled. Up until 3 days ago, I was still carrying my passport around like a tourist, because Kyoto has some major silent grudge against me and refuses to give me any respectable ID. I know they just want me to get arrested, I know it.
When I asked a simple question like 'can I get my bank card soon?' I'd still be getting told it would take a little time. 'Eto...' (O-san would stutter apologetically) '...sumimasen... because you are man...'
Upon arrival, gaijin working in Japan require an alien registration card to prove their residency. This is necessary for things such as booking flights, getting a phone, opening a bank account, getting a library card... you get the idea. I discovered there was a fault with my registration when I attempted to apply for a keitai, and my Japanese friend halted me as I passed over my ID. 'M?' he asked quizzically, 'Why M?'. I followed his eyes to my form and sure enough, there it was in blaring print: a neatly circled 'M' juxtaposed with the kanji for 'man'. Somehow the registration clerk at the town office had declared me a man. Even though I was standing two feet in front of her at the time. In a skirt.
The alien registration card usually takes 2 weeks to acquire. 2 Months in Japan later, and I finally received my card, owing to the tremendous efforts required to make me a woman again. In the meantime, my nickname at the Board of Education was changed from 'Amy-chan' to 'Amy-o' (the suffix -chan denotes 'little' in an affectionate sense, while the suffix -o implies that the subject is male). Furthermore, when I eventually received some ID in the form of my insurance card, it had to be immediately returned as my name had been mispelled. Up until 3 days ago, I was still carrying my passport around like a tourist, because Kyoto has some major silent grudge against me and refuses to give me any respectable ID. I know they just want me to get arrested, I know it.
When I asked a simple question like 'can I get my bank card soon?' I'd still be getting told it would take a little time. 'Eto...' (O-san would stutter apologetically) '...sumimasen... because you are man...'
Poor a-chan, at least you are now woman so everyone can hear you roar XD
I just don't understand why it takes 3 months for them to clear up a very simple clerical mistake, boggles the mind how inflexible they can be in these simple situations. Why do keitai and phone companies need to know whether you are male or female anyway? seems a bit sexist but that's Japan for ya.
Now that you are legally a woman again, please gaijin smash your way towards more awesomeness stuffs like cool mobile phones and Bank bling X3
Posted by Sly of the magical brow land | 6:27 AM