Power Adapter Stress

Weeks of getting ready and finishing homework and projects have finally come to an end. Turned in my presentation about Anti-Nuclear Demonstrations that are held weekly in Japan (well they were, and now they may not be...we'll find out if we run into a demonstration a week from tomorrow!), turned in questions and comments for Mr. Komatsu of Komatsu Energy and took my final exam for one of the most aggrevating classes I have taken yet (well....maybe not as aggrevating as Finance but it sure was close!). Feeling good with a trip to WalMart done to buy random stuff as well...yes...I felt good about going to one of the single most stressful places in the area.

However, with all the big projects to get done who knew that the one thing that would relieve my stress more than anything would be seeing two power adapters that my dad had found out in his shop. Power in Japan is different from here and from Europe (which most people seem to have adapters for, my cell phone even had adapters for anywhere but Japan).  In the US we have 120V, in Europe it is mainly 220V, in Japan it's a mere 100V. After many days of googling adapters and looking at Amazon.com and various home improvement stores with no luck finding the illusive non-grounded, non-polarized adapter (wow...that seems real safe) I finally gave up and decided there have got to be plenty of Americans who go to Japan and have to pay buku-bucks for an adapter and I will join the club.

And then I learn about the holy grail that is currently residing in my mom's carry-on at my house...two adapters that take safely grounded and polarized plugs and turns them into dangerous two prong plugs (well maybe not that dangerous but it sounds good and dramatic). I instantly felt apprehension disappear and feel a lot better about being able to be able to plug my computer in to keep this blog going...well that and do some homework as well while in Japan.

So hooray for my dad and hooray for him taking the time to look through one of his many sheds at home to find these two sweet treasures!!

"I hope they work" - Mom

Yes...I then went to test them. They work. Whew! Don't worry, I have double checked and see now that many outlets in Japan are now polarized but it is possible to run into the non-polarized type...that would be my luck had my dad not find these little antique treasures.

Countdown to travel....less than 36 hours. I will enjoy the rest a single Tylenol PM is bringing me for tonight.