My Timing is Off

First - I haven't checked my school email all weekend.  Susan sent me a note that my shabu-shabu link was to the clothing and not the dinner.  This is the correct link.  I guess I copy-pasted the wrong thing.

As I head into this last week, my schedule and timing have been thrown all over.  I'm trying to sort out the last few details, including souvenirs for people back home.  I talked with Jen about making hanko name stamps for the nieces and nephews.  Brooke let me know there is a machine at Donki that will do it.  To get all of them it is 11.  The first one I did was with Yuko's help, and that one took about 45 minutes to figure it all out.  I've done 9 of them so far, and it's down to about 20 minutes each.  This is my new best friend.

It's operated by a touch screen.

There is an English menu option, but if you pick that you are stuck using English characters.  At least as far as I can tell.  Fortunately by this point it's more or less muscle memory.  What you do is enter the characters you want.  Then you can adjust them on the face of the stamp - change size, change location, but not rotation as far as I can tell.  This was what took us so long the first time.  We couldn't figure out how to move or resize the characters and an important part was not on the stamp.  We had two workers trying to help us.  It was finally figured out.  The key thing is you can't slide your finger to drag.  You have to sort of roll the tip against the screen.  It's not easy, but it functions.  Then you make some selections about the size and color of the stamp and carrying case.  When you're all set, you put your money in and wait.

This is the screen where you can watch the "progress" of the stamp.  As near as I can tell, there's a tiny CNC milling machine with a half millimeter cutting tool.  The thing makes some very precise cuts on very tiny work.

If future exchange professors think this is a good idea for gifts back home, and truth be told, it probably is for younger relatives, I suggest starting earlier than the end of your second to last week.  Donki is not a quiet store.  The location of the machine is by the ATM and entrance to the parking garage.  It's also near the game arcade that is common in the malls.  Lots of traffic and lots of loud music.

Packing has begun.  My goal is to have most stuff in suitcases by tomorrow at bedtime.  As I use my clothing through the week I'll just pack it.  That way come Saturday morning all I have to do is get dressed and pack the last of my clothes and toiletries.  Easy peasy.  In principle.  As they say, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.