I often joke about how the Japanese people are basically automatons, who mindlessly shuffle through their days, responding to stimuli much like one of Pavlov’s dogs, predictably and without spontaneity. Well, this actually isn’t a joke in most circumstances. Each morning I arrive at my desk around 7:45. I do this primarily so the vice […]
I don’t respond to Japanese children (or adults) who say “hello” to me on the street. My reasons are varied: #1 By responding, you are reinforcing the widely held view that all foreigners of Western distinction speak English decently. Japanese children need to become more aware that this is not the case. #2 I don’t […]
One of the most annoying aspects of the Trump presidency, beside having that asshole as the talking head for my birth nation, is the fact that in Japan playing cards (A234…JQK) are called Trump (トランプ). So, even though political discourse never makes it way into my lessons, I do occationally use playing cards as a […]
Here in good old Nippon, where much of the burden of caring for the elderly is placed on sons and daughters, the realities of such dynamics are clearly evident in the workplace. And even though it is seen as an honorable thing to care for one’s family, missing a day of work can easily wipe […]
No other Western holiday, transferred to the shores of Asia, annoys me more than Halloween. Here in Japan, though your occasional kindergarten might hold Halloween events, the holiday seems to be reserved for 20 something Japanese pseudo-eccentrics and patisseries looking to make a buck. There are Halloween themed nomikais (drinking parties), and Halloween hook ups […]
It’s September, 2001, two weeks after 9/11, and myself and a friend are off on a 3 month+ trip through Hawaii, Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand. After a couple nights hosteling in Waikiki we flew to The Big Island then headed off via rental car for South Point, prepared to use the tents and sleeping […]
A school year is winding down. The snow is getting slushy. The muddy days of spring await. It’s time to recharge, finish some projects, start some new ones, and find ways to improve upon some latent hobbies. So what have I been up to? As Whitman once wrote, “I contain multitudes”. Visual Media: Continuing on […]
This might hit some of you pretty hard, but it’s time I give some of you the lowdown on living in Japan as an English language teacher and how that relates to maintaining financial security. These words might hold true for most types of expats in Japan, but especially for those navigating the unlucrative ESL […]
1. Floss twice a day 2. Talk less / Blog more 3. Snowshoe / Snowtrek often 4. Use social media more 5. Learn Python and make some contribution to an open source project 6. Read one book at a time 7. Hoard money / discard that which doesn’t “spark joy” 8. Beat Super Mario Bros. […]
It’s been more than two years since I made the move north to Sapporo. Though much has changed, the climate and size of the population in particular, Japan is still a place prone to miniaturization. Apartments will always be small so space needs to be optimized. My Micro Man Cave had to be relocated from […]