In Japan, you never wear shoes inside.
In Japan, they have a prime minister, not a president.
In Japan, High School students have an English class everyday!
In Japan, there are no fat people.
This is how you exit in Japan.
2.13.2010
EXIT
In Japan, they drive on the left.
In Japan, you never wear shoes inside.
In Japan, they have a prime minister, not a president.
In Japan, High School students have an English class everyday!
In Japan, there are no fat people.
This is how you exit in Japan.
In Japan, you never wear shoes inside.
In Japan, they have a prime minister, not a president.
In Japan, High School students have an English class everyday!
In Japan, there are no fat people.
This is how you exit in Japan.
2.10.2010
iPad
On January 27th Apple released its latest product the iPad, not to be confused with iPod. Now most of you devoted apple lovers, such as myself, have probably already seen or heard about this, but for those that haven't (mom and dad) then you want to click on the following links.
So if any of you are thinking about a "WELCOME BACK TO AMERICA" gift for me, this is it:
http://www.apple.com/ipad/#video
and a review from my favorite tech person:
http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/27/the-apple-ipad-first-impressions/#more-1857
The ipad may be Apple's greatest innovation to date, but no one will truly know for at least one year. Much like the iphone, you only interact with the product by touching its surface directly with your fingers; and also like the iphone, designers will start creating apps specifically for this product. What does all this mean? Well, we are probably looking at a new "genre" of technology. You can't compare this to a laptop, or a phone, or a netbook - because it's not any of those things. It's just simple and beautiful - a trademark of Apple and Steve Jobs, the company founder and CEO.
In fact, Fortune magazine named Steve Jobs the CEO of the decade. Why might you ask? Well, he started Apple, then was fired, then created Pixar (the movie animation company responsible for Toy Story, Monsters Inc., Cars, and the lastest movie UP), then when Apple started to tank in the 90's he was rehired, and has since sent the company soaring to forefront of design, technology, and profit all in the worst economical time our country has seen. Side note* Job's sold Pixar to Disney this decade for 7 Billion dollars making himself the single largest shareholder of Disney stock!!! Not to mention the fact that he has reinvented the computer industry many times as well as the movie, music, and telecommunications industries. Think about that for a minute. . . . . who else has forever changed FOUR entire separate business markets?
So if any of you are thinking about a "WELCOME BACK TO AMERICA" gift for me, this is it:
http://www.apple.com/ipad/#video
and a review from my favorite tech person:
http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/27/the-apple-ipad-first-impressions/#more-1857
Be well all.
2.08.2010
KARAOKE
All right boys and girls, long and eventful day today. Here it is:
It began by heading to check out the mall in Nagoya. Here is Michikazu (left) and Kyotaka (right) playing with the GPS.
We stopped for some authentic ramen noodles and fried rice on the way. Absolutely oishi (delicious)!
All in all, the Japanese mall is not very different from our malls in America, surprisingly. All the parking decks and store names are in English. Even the food court has a big sign above it that literately says, "FOOD COURT." I laughed at the irony of it all. Also, the guys treated me to some really, really tasty Japanese deserts (I haven't been able to exchange my dollars for Japanese yen, yet). It was a welcomed slip back into American "snacking". I only brought a few boxes of hot tamales to Japan and left all other snacks and goodies behind - it has been tough Aunt Diane, but I know I am healthier for it!
So once we arrived back to the church I finished up some design work before dinner. And then after dinner, Kyotaka comes in and says, "O.K., time for Karaoke!" Ha, of course I had to go! Now, for those of you that don't know, Karaoke is a huge past time in Japan. I don't know why - it just is. And trust me when I say, "Your truly haven't experienced karaoke, until you have done it with the Japanese! They are professionals"
We headed down to the karoke bar "Voice Cats" (also written in English) at about 8:00 pm tonight. Man it was a blast. You pay for a certain amount of time, you get your own private room to sing complete with flatscreen tv, song book, a booth for six people, telephone to call your waitress when you need something, and any beverage and food item you want! Aaaaannnd... they serve you microphones on a tray. They mean business.
And yes Jake, I sang Michael Jackson's "Don't stop till you get enough" from the movie Rush Hour 2. Everyone was clapping.
Here we are!
It began by heading to check out the mall in Nagoya. Here is Michikazu (left) and Kyotaka (right) playing with the GPS.
We stopped for some authentic ramen noodles and fried rice on the way. Absolutely oishi (delicious)!
All in all, the Japanese mall is not very different from our malls in America, surprisingly. All the parking decks and store names are in English. Even the food court has a big sign above it that literately says, "FOOD COURT." I laughed at the irony of it all. Also, the guys treated me to some really, really tasty Japanese deserts (I haven't been able to exchange my dollars for Japanese yen, yet). It was a welcomed slip back into American "snacking". I only brought a few boxes of hot tamales to Japan and left all other snacks and goodies behind - it has been tough Aunt Diane, but I know I am healthier for it!
So once we arrived back to the church I finished up some design work before dinner. And then after dinner, Kyotaka comes in and says, "O.K., time for Karaoke!" Ha, of course I had to go! Now, for those of you that don't know, Karaoke is a huge past time in Japan. I don't know why - it just is. And trust me when I say, "Your truly haven't experienced karaoke, until you have done it with the Japanese! They are professionals"
We headed down to the karoke bar "Voice Cats" (also written in English) at about 8:00 pm tonight. Man it was a blast. You pay for a certain amount of time, you get your own private room to sing complete with flatscreen tv, song book, a booth for six people, telephone to call your waitress when you need something, and any beverage and food item you want! Aaaaannnd... they serve you microphones on a tray. They mean business.
And yes Jake, I sang Michael Jackson's "Don't stop till you get enough" from the movie Rush Hour 2. Everyone was clapping.
Here we are!
2.06.2010
SICK
Well, I've come down with some type of bug. Not sure what it is though. Right now, just a sore throat - hopefully it won't become any worse. Please don't worry Mom. Right now I'm secluded in my room trying to refrain from spreading it to anyone else. I actually wear a small paper surgeons mask when in public. Sounds funny right? Well, people wear them in Japan because here they are worried about everyone else (over the sake of appearance) and don't want to spread their germs. I think this might be the defining concept that separates our two cultures.
2.05.2010
SNOW
Well, as you can tell it snowed last night. Right now the temperature is up to 3 C in the middle of the afternoon - still very pretty though. We were outside cleaning in preparation for a big festival that is coming up. You can see the blizzard in the second picture. YIKES! Lunch was a welcomed break from the cold. The menu: curry with white rice and Japanese noodles in a warm broth. Very, very oishi (delicious). I was trying to think if I have ever had curry before and nothing rings a bell so I believe this is my first time. One thing that has surprised me is that we haven't eaten all Japanese food all the time. We have had Chinese, Korean, and Indian as well. I suppose it makes a lot of sense. Just like we enjoy a lot of different Mexican food (since that is what is near to the US), they are sampling their surrounding cuisine. It is all about geography. Kinda funny how that works.
Happy Birthday Brettster!!!
2.02.2010
Well, it's a bit chilly here right now. About 6 degrees Celsius. I worked outside today to help paint and I was wearing almost everything I brought: short socks, long socks, dress socks; shorts, track pants, sweats; t-shirt, long shirt, hoodie, fleece, 2nd fleece; stocking hat, scarf, two pairs of gloves... it was tough but I made it. Just finished cleaning the church and now I have some down time until dinner and rehearsal.
On an unrelated note, I was informed today that a referendum did not pass for the middle school were I teach percussion lessons. This means these kids have just lost ALL of their extra-curricular activities, which includes band and choir class, and several people have lost their jobs. This weighs heavy on my heart and I'm not sure what do to with this news. I'm sure it will be on my mind for some time to come.
Here is a picture from the cold rainy day.
On an unrelated note, I was informed today that a referendum did not pass for the middle school were I teach percussion lessons. This means these kids have just lost ALL of their extra-curricular activities, which includes band and choir class, and several people have lost their jobs. This weighs heavy on my heart and I'm not sure what do to with this news. I'm sure it will be on my mind for some time to come.
Here is a picture from the cold rainy day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)