The Japanese do not wear outdoor shoes inside their homes; to do so is viewed as rude and dirty. Stacks of cloth slippers are piled at front doors for home owners and guests alike. Sodden outdoor shoes are slipped off and replaced. Cue soft padding around, curry rice dinners, variety shows, Japanese pops on the […]
Japan
Why You Cryin’? I said, “Why You Cryin’?”!
We’re making a puzzle: Edvard Munch’s Scream, currently in construction on the same plot of cardboard that houses our marble game. The puzzle company’s box insert:
Hmph
To the men in the train station who come to me and, even though I’m wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase (i.e., obviously not a clueless tourist), ask if I need help working the self-explanatory ticket machine … where the heck are you when I need help getting my ADSL switched from one address […]
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Fake Out
If we assume that the random, middle-aged man I asked for directions to my new ward office last week was just confused when he told me to go in the opposite direction, adding an hour to my journey, then we may pardon him, for it was an honest mistake. If we assume that said random, […]
I’m So Rejected
My suspicion was correct – I did not get the textbook proofreading job I interviewed for. I know this because a hand-addressed letter came to my apartment, two days after the interview. Enclosed, a very gentle note: “Dear Ms. E, Thank you very much for sparing your time for the interview for the proofreader position. […]
If I May …
… for a moment be a tad less cynical: from Reisuke, Kazuyuki and Ren. Adorable Reisuke was my most zealous 4-year old depantser, the one who so uncannily reminded me of my brother at that age that I often had to keep myself from patting his bowl-cut. As the year has gone on he […]
Like Ships Passing Through the Night
It’s the last week of classes for this school year, which means we are in the midst of a company-wide schedule shuffle. In many cases, this means we will no longer be teaching at certain schools, which, in turn, means that farewells are in order for both staff and students. Teaching three days a week […]
Grand
There are a proliferation of train track-side noodle stands – guarded by a ticket machine, shrouded by thin curtains and peopled by frantically slurping customers planted at rows of counters without any kind of chair for an extra quick dining experience. Suddenly, like bento, they are extremely appealing to me and I lately make it […]
Pillow Fight
Sumo matches, defined by spastic bouts of extremely girly slapping and shoving, are usually over as soon as they start. If you’re with friends, distracted by questions about where to find the nearest conbini for a beer and bento run, you might miss one all together. This happened continually to Bob, who arrived at Thursday’s […]
Changes
The train doors always open to intense blasts of yaki nikku-perfumed air in Kankokumura Station; the rich, spicy aroma of charred Korean barbecue that used to delight and taunt me as I rode my bike through Kankokumura on the way to work is now the delicious smell of home. If my pocketbook is on the […]