The "Spouse" - Rant #1

Life here in Tokyo for a " spouse", especially a "non-working dependent spouse", is an experience that takes getting used to; particularly in the area of banking. There is no such thing as a joint banking account here. Instead, the husband opens the account and gives access to his wife. Fine. OK. I get it. I am merely an appendage with no importance or ranking on my own. I accept this.

A couple of weeks ago, we went to the bank so husband-san could fill out the paperwork to grant me access to said account and and obtain a supplemental card, so his little "wife-san" could get money for extravagant things like food. Japan is primarily a cash society - places are just starting to take credit cards - and, a very safe one, so having substantial amounts of cash on you at all times is normal and necessary. Amazingly enough, the card was actually going to have my name on it (how lovely of them). They said they would mail it.

Two days ago, we get the letter in the mail saying the postman had tried to deliver it, but no one was home. You see, because it is a bank card, the person who the letter is addressed to must show I.D. and sign for it. Notice the name on the letter:

This is MY CARD, with MY NAME ON IT and they still addressed the letter to "husband-san". What does this mean? Are they giving him one more chance to come to his senses, change his mind and not give the silly little wife access to his hard earned money? Oh, did I mention that he had the option of restricting how much money I took out and how often? (Husband-san is a very smart man and pretended he didn't see that part)

Actually, I think it is a conspiracy to keep me so busy trying to get the letter back from the post office, I don't have time to spend the money because I CAN'T GET IT OUT OF THE BANK BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE DAMN CARD!!!!

You see, since husband-san now works 12 - 13 hours days, he is never home to take delivery of the envelope - to show his I.D. and sign his name. In fact, it took him about a week and a half to get his card and in that case, they ended up delivering it on a Saturday. So, I decided to go the post office yesterday to see if I could get said envelope with said bank card. There is a post office right around the corner and I figured it would be there. Oh no, the very kind and polite man told me, this letter was at the Azabu post office about ten minutes away by foot and the office that handles the mail for our home zip code.

So today I went to the Azabu post office, with husband-san's alien registration card as identification and yes, the letter was there, but no, they couldn't give it to me because I WAS THE WIFE. The man patiently and yes, politely, explained that he had to get it "in person" despite the fact I had his alien registration card. Perhaps they thought I took it out of his wallet while he was sleeping. I asked if they could deliver it to his office, since HE WORKS 14 HOURS A DAY. I called husband-san to get the address while the man is standing right there listening to me. After hanging up, the man went to the back and then returned saying VERY POLITELY that they would send it to the post office near husband-san's office (the first one I went to and the one that handles his office's zip code) because- everyone say it with me - HE NEEDS TO PICK IT UP IN PERSON!!!!!

So I smiled and said thank you very much (YOU SCHMUCK!!!!) - Michelle, did I spell that right?

I realize they were being very accommodating to send it to the other post office, the one closer to his office, and that would never happen in New York. And yes, it is very kind and polite of them to do this. And yes, I realize the man tried very hard to make sure I understood him, considering he was speaking Japanese and I was speaking English - But wouldn't it have been easier to just give me the damn envelope??

But, I have foiled their little plot because husband-san has given me his card - ha!!!