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Published: October 25th 2007
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In an attempt to not make this blog entry too long and annoying. I am going to recap the past week and a half in a two part mini series. It'll be great, but if you want you can enjoy in it all in one sitting on save the delicious second half for another evenings read.
There are two things that I really feel I should get out of the way before you get bored or glaze off at my beautiful pictures/face. The first being that I have done laundry since the last time that I posted and everything went smoothly. I apparently someone put this plastic thing in the drain that caught debris or something and it ended up working too well and caught most of the water so that it backed up onto my floor, but on a good note I took it out and disposed of it properly. Who am I kidding. I didn't throw it out. I'm going to put it back in there when I leave for the next sucker who comes to Japan and doesn't know a thing about laundry and drains.
Secondly, I have a confession. I bought some tuna at the
Tress with some sorta of orange Fruit
This may sound weird but these tress smell amazing grocery store and I didn't tell you guys about it. And you may be asking yourself, why do I care whether or not you tell me if you bought tuna. Well, thats a good questions. There isn't a lot of easy to use meat here in Japan (ie cold cuts or packaged meats) so tuna is pretty essential. The only problem is that I can't read Japanese and the cans of tuna, well all of them, look like they could also be cans of cat food. I speak because I have two cats and I have seen tuna cat food before and it looks pretty realistic. The reason I tell you this now and not before is because it is not merely a question of whether or not I should eat the "tuna" or not, but that I have... and it was good. I don't know if it is cat food, but I will continue to buy this "tuna" until I unintentionally find out the Japanese word for cat food and discover I have been eating it. I have decided not to pursue this consciously because I enjoy the taste too much. Do not judge me. I am only human.
On Train going to work
Apparently I'm not getting any better at this whole taking a picture of yourself... actually it looks like i"m getting worse at it. I have been teaching classes for a while now and everything is going great. All of my classes are awesome and I think I'm going to be able to manage this teaching thing. The kids love me and well not that I like to rustle my own feathers but I have a class of high school students (3 girls) and they write diary's. this week they commented about how amazing or awesome the new English teacher is. They also asked me how old I was and did the hand of mouth stereotypical Japanese girl laugh of excitement when I told them I was 22. However, there is one class that I know I am already starting to fear. My last class on Saturdays (I work Tuesday to Saturdays) there is a very aggressive kid in class. He decided that he thought it would be funny, to punch me in the groin. Luckily for me his feeble arms did not have enough strength to do any significant damage. Either way, I'm not looking forward to that. Its just not the way I pictured starting my weekends from now on. If this continues I may have to file a sexual harassment
Geoff on the Train
I decided it would be better to take pictures of the scenery when the train was not moving. It worked out better case.
Another phenomenon in Japan is their ability to play monopoly. The kids like to play games, so we get them to answer a questions, when they get it right they get to have their turn. The rules for monopoly are exactly the same here in japan, but for some strange reason, they feel that it is not always smart to buy property. I actually saw one kid turn down boardwalk because it was too expensive. Apparently, the Japanese are a lot more conservative than I thought. Is it any wonder there economy is stuck in a lull?
I feel I've bashed on the Japanese culture a lot, but I would like to say that everything here is not so bad. They make a mean noodles, they are amazingly space efficient and have managed to solve one of life's most dire inefficiencies. I'm not sure if you've ever noticed, but when brushing your teeth you only use one arm, so what do you do with the other arm. This has frustrated me for many years. I have tried to solve this inefficiency myself on many occasions. However, trying to undress or get dressed while brushing your teeth does
The Isawa Branch where I work two days a week
I really dont' know what to say... I work here... not work out so well. The closest I came and those of you that know me well, know that I do do this, is taht I brush my teeth in front of my computer so that I can try to use it while I'm preoccupied with cleaning my teeth. However, I am right handed, I can't brush with my left hand and it is difficult for my to use my left hand to control the mouse. The Japanese, in their infinite wisdom, if we're cleaning out teeth we might as well use the other hand to clean as well. So they started brushing their teeth in the shower. HOW INGENIOUS! I have taken to this habit and I must say it is rejuvenating and has saved me at least 9 minutes every week. I strongly suggest that everyone starts this habit. It only makes sense.
On another note, the guy that told me about this, found this out because he used to have share showers with Japanese people, I guess they had a communal shower at his last place (hes an American English teacher) and well. He told me in his own words, that he would just watch these
My lovely Branch Manager Takami
Shes amazing and she can speak English as well. I don't know if she does any other tricks, but I will have to ask her. maybe she juggles. hhmmm.. maybe she can teach me to juggle... do Japanese women like men who can juggle? old guys shower and brush their teeth. It was kind of an awkward conversation and to say the least I don't think I'll ever go into a communal shower with this guy. But thats just me.
On a quick note, no one has invited me to karaoke yet. I am very sad. I mentioned to one of the Japanese teachers (they all speak English), she merely said that she hadn't been out in a month and gave no sign that she was interested in singing karaoke with me. She didn't even offer to take me the distance future let alone soon. Again, I was sad. Another crazy thing about Japan is that I need a phone number to get a bank account here and a bank account to get a cell phone and I don't have a hard line in my apartment. Very frustrating, but I'm sure I'll figure something out.
I have also discovered that I have become that guy. Yes, that guy who walks on the wrong side of the sidewalk and makes other people move. Apparently because they drive on the other side of the road. i'm supposed to know that you should walk on
the other side of the sidewalk. Go figure. Anyways, I've been walking on the wrong side and giving people polite, but dirty looks for walking on "my side" of the sidewalk. How foolish do i feel. Thanks a lot for reading and I hope this gives you an idea of what I'm up to. Part 2 to come tomorrow night and it that episode I visit I go out drinking, visit a castle and a temple. Cheers
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Jessie L
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Show that kid who's boss
The next time he tries to punch you in the nuts, you kick him in the head. That'll show em. Also, I have my brother looking into the Tuna thing for you.