I’ve been reading a lot of about “groupism” and “the follow the leader syndrome” in Japan and it’s all sort of mind -boggling. I was reading, for example, that this ice cream company in Tokyo actually hired people to form lines in front of their stores. And even though it was in the middle of… Read More Follow the Crowd
My dear Japan, You are one Hell of a crazy country…and I love you for it. You provide a never-ending supply of funny photo opportunities and for that alone, I’m eternally grateful. I hope that you continue to rock your unselfconsciously tacky, cheeseball style, because it’s inspiring. Really. Happy Thanksgiving! Love from your biggest fan,… Read More Today I Give Thanks to Japan…
Two months ago, a mentally-unstable man that I met on the train in Saitama, took one look at me and announced in a loud, prophetic voice: “You are too young to be in Japan.” Once I got over the shock of being addressed in this manner (in English!) I laughed it off, saying “Buddy, I’m… Read More She’s a Super Freak
I’m often the token American in a group of friends, which means I frequently field questions about the inner thoughts and motivations of the “typical American”. This is tough because one, I’m not a typical American, (the fact that I’m writing this from Japan is proof of that) and two, I don’t know what… Read More Are Americans ‘Bad Friends’?
Citizen Ice Skating Rink in Tokyo Today I relived the seventh grade and went ice skating at a skating rink in Shinjuku. This was ironic in that I was told by a friend that there were no ice skating rinks in Tokyo…and in a way, that was true. As an American, when I think ‘ice… Read More Middle School Revisited
“Lisa, if you don’t like your job you don’t strike. You just go in every day, and do it really half-assed. That’s the American way.” – Homer Simpson Last Thursday, dressed like Minnie Mouse and sick with the flu, I sang the Hokey Pokey song to a classroom full of gawking parents and students. As… Read More The Lazy Teacher’s Guide to Teaching English
The last two weeks I’ve been on Halloween overload. I threw no less than seven Halloween parties for my students (dressed like Minnie Mouse) and then this girl I met a few months ago in Yoyogi park invited me to a Halloween Party she threw at a bar in Shibuya. It’s more common in Japan… Read More Maid in Tokyo
The mother’s of my students aren’t very friendly towards me. I don’t mean that in a negative “they hate me” way. It’s just a fact. Except for ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ they don’t talk to me and I don’t blame them. Like most language schools in Japan, the company I work for has an ‘English Only’… Read More No Japanese! English Only Please…
My mom came to visit me a couple of weekends ago and it was really nice seeing her again. She brought me an entire suitcase filled with snacks from home as well as English language magazines and books. My fridge is now jam packed with a three month supply of everything needed to make Mexican… Read More Mickey Mouse, A Giant Buddha and My Mom
Some of my students don’t talk. At all. At first I thought they were just extremely shy and I tried to be patient with them. I figured they only needed a little time to warm up to me. So each week, I’d spend the 50-minute class having a conversation with myself as my five junior… Read More Are Japanese Children "Just Shy" Or Is It Something Else?