Sunday, September 30, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
Mt Gozai-sho, and Vending Machine Beer
Hello everyone,
It's been awhile since we've posted words, but then again, we've been quite busy earning our late paychecks. For those who don't know what's going on, there are Nova employees still waiting for their August paychecks. For now, Jill and I are living on ramen noodles and gravy packets. As the Simpson's say, we have enough MSG in us to protect us from a nuclear bomb.
Today, we ventured out to Mt. Gozai-sho, home to a gondola which rises 1500 meters. For those on the standard system, that's "like a mile or something."
This was our first official trip that didn't involve a shopping mall, super-market, or Nova office, so we were suitably excited. We even were struck with luck. As we waited for our bus to arrive, a Japanese man shuffled over (they don't walk, they shuffle) and said, "you get in taxi with me. I buy." So, we "got in taxi" with him, and "he buy" our ride. No particular reason, just a kind man. We thanked him in Japanese, so as not to seem ethnocentrically rude.
And now, Jill will write the rest of the story.
While we may have been helped by a kind Japanese man at the beginning of our trip, it was not long before stares and open mouths soon followed our every move. I guess we can't blame anyone for staring, we ourselves have begun to stare at other white people- we are so rare over here! However, we do not go as far as to shout out "Guy-gin" (Jake's spelling, not mine) as one child proclaimed at the first glimpse of the two of us. Guy-Jin is Japanese for foreigner, and is mostly used in a deragatory way. We gave the kid the benefit of the doubt, and did not punch him, but smiled sweetly instead.
The highlight of our trip...gondola rides, beautiful views, exploring new territory, a dose of fresh air? Of course not. All are trivial when compared to the first sighting, and use of, a beer vending machine. Who can resists a cold Asahi Super Dry Beer right from a machine? Certainly not Jake or myself. Sipping on a refreshing beer really is the only way to go down a mountain in a gondola. I can't imagine it any other way.
Pictures are forthcoming. The Internet cannot handle them at this point...
It's been awhile since we've posted words, but then again, we've been quite busy earning our late paychecks. For those who don't know what's going on, there are Nova employees still waiting for their August paychecks. For now, Jill and I are living on ramen noodles and gravy packets. As the Simpson's say, we have enough MSG in us to protect us from a nuclear bomb.
Today, we ventured out to Mt. Gozai-sho, home to a gondola which rises 1500 meters. For those on the standard system, that's "like a mile or something."
This was our first official trip that didn't involve a shopping mall, super-market, or Nova office, so we were suitably excited. We even were struck with luck. As we waited for our bus to arrive, a Japanese man shuffled over (they don't walk, they shuffle) and said, "you get in taxi with me. I buy." So, we "got in taxi" with him, and "he buy" our ride. No particular reason, just a kind man. We thanked him in Japanese, so as not to seem ethnocentrically rude.
And now, Jill will write the rest of the story.
While we may have been helped by a kind Japanese man at the beginning of our trip, it was not long before stares and open mouths soon followed our every move. I guess we can't blame anyone for staring, we ourselves have begun to stare at other white people- we are so rare over here! However, we do not go as far as to shout out "Guy-gin" (Jake's spelling, not mine) as one child proclaimed at the first glimpse of the two of us. Guy-Jin is Japanese for foreigner, and is mostly used in a deragatory way. We gave the kid the benefit of the doubt, and did not punch him, but smiled sweetly instead.
The highlight of our trip...gondola rides, beautiful views, exploring new territory, a dose of fresh air? Of course not. All are trivial when compared to the first sighting, and use of, a beer vending machine. Who can resists a cold Asahi Super Dry Beer right from a machine? Certainly not Jake or myself. Sipping on a refreshing beer really is the only way to go down a mountain in a gondola. I can't imagine it any other way.
Pictures are forthcoming. The Internet cannot handle them at this point...
Friday, September 21, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Friday, September 14, 2007
Work, Work, Work
Hey, Hey!
Jake and I have completed our second week of work and thought it might be time to clue many of your in on what exactly we are doing over here in Japan.
We are working for a company called NOVA, which has been nicknamed by many employees as NOVAction. Seeing as how this is the first job that Jake and I have had that gives you paid vacation time, we can’t really join in on that particular complaint. I doubt that any of the recent NOVA news has made it to the US, but our company has been under the spotlight over here for quite sometime. They apparently have had a few too many problems with ripping off their students and have expanded so quickly that money is now very tight. Rumors are flying around like crazy insinuating we will never see our October paychecks and will be out of a job in a few weeks. We surely hope that is not the case!
On the brighter side, we love our jobs. We teach a variety of students from very, very beginning English speakers to students who can carry on English conversations with only minor errors. Each lesson lasts 40 minutes and has no more than 4 students. In one lesson we might be teaching how to politely criticize, and in our next lesson we might be teaching something as basic as naming foods (“It’s a hamburger”). We also teach Voice Lessons where students come just to practice their English skills. Any skill level can come and as many students that fit into the room are welcome. It’s our job to come up with up a topic for them to discuss for 40 minutes. Voice lessons are nice break from our normal lessons as we can essentially BS with the students for the entire lesson- a skill Jake and I both share.
The craziest part of our job is definitely our Kids’ Classes. There are four levels classes- Chibiko (2-3 years), Kinders (4-6 years), Juniors (6-9 years) and Seniors (9-12 years). We essentially fend for ourselves for 40 minutes while up to eight Japanese children hurl themselves off furniture and run circles around us. Apparently while they do this we are suppose to be teaching them English, but that hasn’t quite happened yet. Contrary to what many people told us before we arrived in Japan, Japanese children do not respect their teachers more than American children. Schooling does not become serious for them until they are 12 years old so before that age, they are evidently free to cause ruckus. Wahoo, lucky us. J
I hope that answers some of your questions about what we do all day. This is definitely going to be quite the experience for us both.
Love ya guys!
Jake and I have completed our second week of work and thought it might be time to clue many of your in on what exactly we are doing over here in Japan.
We are working for a company called NOVA, which has been nicknamed by many employees as NOVAction. Seeing as how this is the first job that Jake and I have had that gives you paid vacation time, we can’t really join in on that particular complaint. I doubt that any of the recent NOVA news has made it to the US, but our company has been under the spotlight over here for quite sometime. They apparently have had a few too many problems with ripping off their students and have expanded so quickly that money is now very tight. Rumors are flying around like crazy insinuating we will never see our October paychecks and will be out of a job in a few weeks. We surely hope that is not the case!
On the brighter side, we love our jobs. We teach a variety of students from very, very beginning English speakers to students who can carry on English conversations with only minor errors. Each lesson lasts 40 minutes and has no more than 4 students. In one lesson we might be teaching how to politely criticize, and in our next lesson we might be teaching something as basic as naming foods (“It’s a hamburger”). We also teach Voice Lessons where students come just to practice their English skills. Any skill level can come and as many students that fit into the room are welcome. It’s our job to come up with up a topic for them to discuss for 40 minutes. Voice lessons are nice break from our normal lessons as we can essentially BS with the students for the entire lesson- a skill Jake and I both share.
The craziest part of our job is definitely our Kids’ Classes. There are four levels classes- Chibiko (2-3 years), Kinders (4-6 years), Juniors (6-9 years) and Seniors (9-12 years). We essentially fend for ourselves for 40 minutes while up to eight Japanese children hurl themselves off furniture and run circles around us. Apparently while they do this we are suppose to be teaching them English, but that hasn’t quite happened yet. Contrary to what many people told us before we arrived in Japan, Japanese children do not respect their teachers more than American children. Schooling does not become serious for them until they are 12 years old so before that age, they are evidently free to cause ruckus. Wahoo, lucky us. J
I hope that answers some of your questions about what we do all day. This is definitely going to be quite the experience for us both.
Love ya guys!
Sunday, September 9, 2007
UO Arrogance and Stupid MPAA
Oregon beat Michigan 39-7, a win that only slightly makes me want to cry; Oregon will not get the BCS quality win it would have if Michigan wouldn't have tumbled from the rankings last Saturday.
Here's my analogy: Oregon is like the guy who kicks a recently bloodied bully while he lays on the ground in a pool of his own fluids after being beaten by the engineer geek.
and Stupid MPAA: If the MPAA hasn't been obtuse enough with its ratings explanations, a movie was recently rated PG for "incidental smoking." What, is a parent going to think, "Okay, I'll let my kid see the movie only if there's second-hand smoke inhalation, not if there's a real drag from a butt."
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