Birthday celebrations in Osaka! I felt that an Osaka Birthday for my 24th sounded kind of special. Off I went on a Saturday afternoon, with no clear plan in mind, and only knowing that a friend from Kyoto was going to meet up with me somewhere, at some time, and his friend was coming too. I wasn't dressed in my finest, but I wasn't too shabby, dressed in humble jeans, black top and a headscarf. This would not have made me feel out of place in Kyoto, but hanging around Umeda station in Osaka, or walking to the HEP building (not a hepatitis building but an Entertainment Plaza, I believe) , everywhere I looked there were glamorous people. Men women, you name it, ALL FASHIONABLE. Japanese people are so COOL, they need a new word for ... read more

A glance at my Junk Mail Inbox is enough to convince me that ESL teachers everywhere are slacking off! With suggestions to “Grow Bigger in her Eye!”, advice for “Male Enhance”, information on “Blue pilules” that supposedly have an “excelent improving effect” and “good potence” and advice about “8 thmgs evry woman makes in her intimate life” clogging the web waves, I'm surprised that any of us manage to find a job! What hope for us is there when the prevalence of “Engrish” in our lives (my life) is overwhelming?! Email, billboards, fashion, TV, movie subtitles…I mean, there's going to be a day when people just give up and decide that using their own language is better than butchering someone else’s…..or those who speak the butchered language will get sick of reading t-shirts that say ‘have ... read more

I read somewhere that the perfect Japanese bow is one where you emulate a ‘rice stalk, bending in the wind’ I took a detour on the way home the other day, and managed to get a few pictures of my surroundings. You will see rice fields - plenty of those in the area - and also some of the hazards associated with driving in Japan. I am talking about the one way- oops I meant 2 way streets, the impromptu train crossings you have to remember exist, and the ‘this is a sharp corner so we’ll just put a mirror up shall we?’ safety measures. As much as I grumble it is fun to drive here. The maximum speed in my area is 50km per hour, people nod and let you go first, or do a ... read more

An amazing facet of traditional Japanese culture. I have moved the full account of the tea ceremony from Golden Week 1 and have tweaked it a bit. There are also new photos for your perusing pleasure. I still feel that I was privileged to attend, and aside from the numb legs and ensuing pins and needles (from kneeling for a prolonged period of time) it was a fabulous experience. *** Saturday Tea for 20? I went to a tea ceremony on the Saturday afternoon which marked the beginning of Golden Week. and then was invited to have dinner with my helper's family at her house that night, so I didn't go to Kyoto until Sunday morning. The tea ceremony was lovely. I was invited as F-san's husband was co-ordinator of the event. (Lucky!) It took place ... read more