However, they only work in Japan, so don't get any ideas!!!! *Shakes fist*
We went with a company called SoftBank... Joe and Tiff use SoftBank, and it's free to text them all day and talk to them until 9 pm... And Emma and I can talk back and forth free... It's great...
How much does a cell phone plan cost a month you ask?
980 yen....
So basically about $8.50.... a month...
S'great...
I got the 810P in case you wanted to know.....
7.22.2007
I Have Officially Eaten the Grossest Thing in the History of the World
Easily...
No contest...
I have eaten natto.
Natto is fermented (read: really really really horrifically smelly) soybeans...
They take some fermented soybeans (natto) and put them in a bowl... Then they crack a raw egg into them, whisk it all together, and ask if you want to take a bite...
You take a bite to be nice, but soon wish that you had been a jerk...
Horrible.
No contest...
I have eaten natto.
Natto is fermented (read: really really really horrifically smelly) soybeans...
They take some fermented soybeans (natto) and put them in a bowl... Then they crack a raw egg into them, whisk it all together, and ask if you want to take a bite...
You take a bite to be nice, but soon wish that you had been a jerk...
Horrible.
Sweating is a Way of Life
And it is my new way of life... I now basically sweat from when I wake up until I go to bed swaeting... Then get up and repeat...
The temperatures here so far have been in the mid 70's to lower 80's, the humidity is about 765% all the time... Minnesota's got nothing on Japan when it comes to humidity... Just standing around outside at night not doing anything and sweating like I was running a marathon... Sweet lord...
Other than that we've had two full days of work now.... It's been going really well so far... Went to a farewell party last night for two NOVA teachers who we just met... Good time... Met two guys who play guitar, so I'm hoping that once I get the guitar I'm set on buying that we can jam out sometime... Would be fun.
The temperatures here so far have been in the mid 70's to lower 80's, the humidity is about 765% all the time... Minnesota's got nothing on Japan when it comes to humidity... Just standing around outside at night not doing anything and sweating like I was running a marathon... Sweet lord...
Other than that we've had two full days of work now.... It's been going really well so far... Went to a farewell party last night for two NOVA teachers who we just met... Good time... Met two guys who play guitar, so I'm hoping that once I get the guitar I'm set on buying that we can jam out sometime... Would be fun.
7.19.2007
Emma's B-day, First Days Off!
Well last night was our final day of OJT... We finished out training! I think it went well... I've got a handle on the structure of the lessons we teach, so now it's all about making sure to figure out new ways to keep it fresh...
We went out for a beer after our final training last night with our Trainer, Tim. He's from Canada (Yes, he likes Rush... Yes, that was the first question I asked him when I found out he was from Canada... Yes, everyone who isn't Canadian or me greatly dislikes Rush) and unfortunately is leaving in couple weeks. He and his wife are going back to Canada for a bit, and then he is going to the UK to go back to school... Emma and I were disappointed because he's a really cool guy... He likes Rush, likes to drink, and says the F-word a lot... What's not to like?
It's Emma's birthday today... I made her breakfast (Eggs, toast, and some semi-bacon-y efficient Japanese ham), and tonight we're going out for sushi... We also got a video rental membership today and we rented a couple movies...
We also tried to get a cell phone today in Akashi.... an hour long process that resulted with us cell phone-less at the end of it.... We're going to hopefully get one tomorrow in Himeji (where we've been training) because they have a couple English speaking workers at the cell phone store there...
Anyhoo... We are enjoying our time so far, we start work on Saturday for reals-ees...
Later
Open Apple Q
We went out for a beer after our final training last night with our Trainer, Tim. He's from Canada (Yes, he likes Rush... Yes, that was the first question I asked him when I found out he was from Canada... Yes, everyone who isn't Canadian or me greatly dislikes Rush) and unfortunately is leaving in couple weeks. He and his wife are going back to Canada for a bit, and then he is going to the UK to go back to school... Emma and I were disappointed because he's a really cool guy... He likes Rush, likes to drink, and says the F-word a lot... What's not to like?
It's Emma's birthday today... I made her breakfast (Eggs, toast, and some semi-bacon-y efficient Japanese ham), and tonight we're going out for sushi... We also got a video rental membership today and we rented a couple movies...
We also tried to get a cell phone today in Akashi.... an hour long process that resulted with us cell phone-less at the end of it.... We're going to hopefully get one tomorrow in Himeji (where we've been training) because they have a couple English speaking workers at the cell phone store there...
Anyhoo... We are enjoying our time so far, we start work on Saturday for reals-ees...
Later
Open Apple Q
7.17.2007
Last Day of OJT
Today is our last day of On-the-Job Training. We have been gradually scaffolding up the amount of teaching we've been doing... Yesterday we taught 2 lessons, and today we will teach 4, two sets of 2 back to back! I'm a bit nervous about it, but at the same time excited because it will make the day go by faster...
Yesterday and today we've been working the late shift, which means we work from 1:20 - 9:00 pm... Then after a 30 minute train ride and 8 minute bike ride, it gets to be about 10 pm before we get home! That's alright for me as I am more of a night person anyways...
Last night we were watching TV (Japanese TV) for a bit, and it took us a while to realize, but there was a period of about 30 minutes where it was solid commercials... What's funny is that the commercials are actually more interesting (to me at least) because they are for things I might need and don't know what it looks like... Like last night there was an add for Febreeze, so that was actually helpful because I've been wanting to get some...
Today we are hopefully going to get signed up for a cellular telephone device... I guess texting is big here, as opposed to actually calling someone... That's 100000000% fine by me as I hate talking on telephones...
It'll also help because you need a phone number to sign up for just about anything here.... Internet included! Which we desperately want so very badly come on just for a little bit oh sweet Jesus H Christ on cracker do we want the Internet for the love....
Later
Willard
Yesterday and today we've been working the late shift, which means we work from 1:20 - 9:00 pm... Then after a 30 minute train ride and 8 minute bike ride, it gets to be about 10 pm before we get home! That's alright for me as I am more of a night person anyways...
Last night we were watching TV (Japanese TV) for a bit, and it took us a while to realize, but there was a period of about 30 minutes where it was solid commercials... What's funny is that the commercials are actually more interesting (to me at least) because they are for things I might need and don't know what it looks like... Like last night there was an add for Febreeze, so that was actually helpful because I've been wanting to get some...
Today we are hopefully going to get signed up for a cellular telephone device... I guess texting is big here, as opposed to actually calling someone... That's 100000000% fine by me as I hate talking on telephones...
It'll also help because you need a phone number to sign up for just about anything here.... Internet included! Which we desperately want so very badly come on just for a little bit oh sweet Jesus H Christ on cracker do we want the Internet for the love....
Later
Willard
7.16.2007
No Earthquake
Apparently there was an earthquake in Japan in the past 24 hours... A couple of you have expressed concern for our safety... Thanks for lookin gout for us!
We first heard of the earthquake when we read people's emails about the earthquake! :P
Didn't feel anything, so it must have not been too bad or been close to us...
Wow... Here in Japan less than a week and already a Typhoon and an Earthquake!
Later
We first heard of the earthquake when we read people's emails about the earthquake! :P
Didn't feel anything, so it must have not been too bad or been close to us...
Wow... Here in Japan less than a week and already a Typhoon and an Earthquake!
Later
1st day on the Job!
Emma and I had our first day of ON the Job Training today... It went well!
I wore a shirt and tie NOT to a wedding for the first time in years...
My impression of what my main concern is going to be is making sure I don't run out of activities with the students... 40 minutes can be a while if you only have one student in your room who doesn't really feel like talking to you... Especially in English!
Other'n that, we luckily found a GOLDMINE of stuff to buy from a couple of NOVA teachers who are moving back to Canada... The usual stuff, shelves, sofa, dressers, wok etc... but also... A Yamaha solid top acoustic guitar! Nice! For a hundred bucks! Nice! The cheapest I saw them elsewhere was $300-350...
Anyways, we have 2 more days of training, then two days off (Thurs/Fri) then we start for real on Saturday!
Joe and Tiff are coming next Wednesday night (the 25th), so that will be very awesome!
It might be a while before we have internet at our house, so phone is out of commission until then.... Also, I do not want to begin to try and figure out how to load my photos onto this computer (not only a PC, but a Japanese PC with everything written in Japanese) so it might be a while before upload some... But trust me, we are taking them! :) Sweet pics of our sweet bikes and everything...
Later
Willard
Open Apple Q
I wore a shirt and tie NOT to a wedding for the first time in years...
My impression of what my main concern is going to be is making sure I don't run out of activities with the students... 40 minutes can be a while if you only have one student in your room who doesn't really feel like talking to you... Especially in English!
Other'n that, we luckily found a GOLDMINE of stuff to buy from a couple of NOVA teachers who are moving back to Canada... The usual stuff, shelves, sofa, dressers, wok etc... but also... A Yamaha solid top acoustic guitar! Nice! For a hundred bucks! Nice! The cheapest I saw them elsewhere was $300-350...
Anyways, we have 2 more days of training, then two days off (Thurs/Fri) then we start for real on Saturday!
Joe and Tiff are coming next Wednesday night (the 25th), so that will be very awesome!
It might be a while before we have internet at our house, so phone is out of commission until then.... Also, I do not want to begin to try and figure out how to load my photos onto this computer (not only a PC, but a Japanese PC with everything written in Japanese) so it might be a while before upload some... But trust me, we are taking them! :) Sweet pics of our sweet bikes and everything...
Later
Willard
Open Apple Q
7.15.2007
Blogging From Japan! Number 1!
Emma and I are sitting side by side in a small cramped Internet booth... The keyboard I am typing on has about 2729 extra buttons and labels on those buttons... Also, the web page is in Japanese, so I am hitting buttons and links from memory... So if the blog entry doesn't have the same witty and ironic feel to it, it's because I\m trying my darnedest just to spell things correctly...
As far as work goes, here's what we've found out... We're both doing training and orientation in Himeji, which is about 20-30 minutes West of us (Akashi) by train... Then after that, Emma will be working in Kakogawa, which is about 10-15 minutes West by train...I am working in Akashi at the Akashi branch... It is about 100 yards from the train station, and about a 20 minute walk or 8-10 minute bike ride from our house...
There is a supermarket about 4 blocks north of our house where we can buy the goodies we need... Have been having curry (Basically beef stew with curry powder in it... 1 Packet costs 90 cents or so) and rice basically every night for supper (cooking the rice in our nice new rice cooker) granola and coffee for breakfast, and then having lunch somewhere out and about on the town...
So far we've eaten some yakisoba (noodles fried with vegetables and meat) and a small burger... The slice of tomato was bigger than the patty...
Got our alien card registrations, got our bank accounts opened (we got to the bank as the guy was closing the door, about 2:59, lucked out otherwise we wouldn't have been able to get a bank account until Tuesday on account of some holiday on Monday... "National Willard's are Moving to Japan Day" I suspect...), have been buying little stuff for our house... NEED FURNITURE... but every furniture shop has little shelves that cost 120 dollars... We need to find a goodwill-esque type place... if they exist...
Our mailbox had a lock on it and there was no key in the apartment... so.... Gerber to the rescue... Bent the metal, remove locked lock, bend metal back, put own lock on...
Our luggage came, that was a fun time... Like Christmas, only you wrapped the presents yourself...
It's been raining basically the entire time we've been in Japan... Got umbrellas... Keep them on us 24/7 when we're ever out of the apartment... Was a typhoon yesterday... basically a lot of rain and wind...
Other then that, just been biking around, exploring... Chilling... Wishing we had Internet so we could more easily email, surf the web, download TV shows...
Oh! and I saw a Yamaha acoustic guitar for only $250... might be my first big purchase after the first paycheck.... or sometime...
Oh! You all can now commence sending us mail... Large bills only please... or boxes of Mac and Cheese... Whichever...
Later!
Willard
7.11.2007
7.09.2007
One More Thing...
Oh yeah, and I decided not to ship my guitar over to Japan...
So order of business #1 will be buying a cheap guitar...
Well, more like order of business #17.... But still....
So order of business #1 will be buying a cheap guitar...
Well, more like order of business #17.... But still....
Night Before D-Day
Or should that be VJ-Day? With me all kissing Emma in Kansai Airport... All streamers and confetti...
Well... We're packed up... We're checked into our flight... We got out bags by the door... I've charged my DS Lite and Shuffle (Greatest In-Flight Entertainment Combo EVER!)... Emma's got 7293 books to read...
We're ready to go... Packing-wise at least...
We had our "Last Supper" tonight... Can you get more American than hamburgers and corn-on-the-cob? Well, possibly by oppressing someone while eating it, but I was just talking about the food part...
Things I am looking forward to (I think): Sticky rice, fresh salmon sushi, politeness, exploring, meeting new people (not that all of you aren't great...), the unknown...
Things I am nervous about: Language barrier, getting lost, understanding simple signs and charts, the unknown...
I know I won't be able to sleep at all tonight... Especially because I am in the habit of staying up until all hours of the night (as all good teachers do in summer...).
Anyways... It might be a bit before the next entry, and our phone is disconnected for probably even longer... Enjoy!
Open Apple- Q
Well... We're packed up... We're checked into our flight... We got out bags by the door... I've charged my DS Lite and Shuffle (Greatest In-Flight Entertainment Combo EVER!)... Emma's got 7293 books to read...
We're ready to go... Packing-wise at least...
We had our "Last Supper" tonight... Can you get more American than hamburgers and corn-on-the-cob? Well, possibly by oppressing someone while eating it, but I was just talking about the food part...
Things I am looking forward to (I think): Sticky rice, fresh salmon sushi, politeness, exploring, meeting new people (not that all of you aren't great...), the unknown...
Things I am nervous about: Language barrier, getting lost, understanding simple signs and charts, the unknown...
I know I won't be able to sleep at all tonight... Especially because I am in the habit of staying up until all hours of the night (as all good teachers do in summer...).
Anyways... It might be a bit before the next entry, and our phone is disconnected for probably even longer... Enjoy!
Open Apple- Q
7.05.2007
Alice in Chains = Awesome
Sherbie and I are drinking, and we thought that it would be a good idea that you all listened to Alice in Chains.
“It will make you a better person,” says Sherbie. In particular, check out “Dirt” and “Jar of Flies”, they are QUALITY!!!! My personal favorite is “Don’t Follow”.... Enjoy!
“It will make you a better person,” says Sherbie. In particular, check out “Dirt” and “Jar of Flies”, they are QUALITY!!!! My personal favorite is “Don’t Follow”.... Enjoy!
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