So I was going to blog about something else, and got too carried away replying to emails and my mixi blog comments instead. Then I went to look for Kenshin music on youtube for no reason other than that it was playing in my iTunes, and this is how this post came about. Please enjoy.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
TO Trip Pictures (トロント旅行の写真）
このpostは私のmixi日記を読む友達のために書いた。日本語だけごめんね。時間がなかったから、日本語でだけ書いた。
This post is for my friends who read my mixi journal. I didn't want to post pictures on mixi, so I am posting them here instead. Sorry for no English in the descriptions, I wrote the descriptions on the plane and I don't have the time to add English right now.
誕生日の写真はともだちがとってくれた。家の写真はお父さんがとってくれた。ほかの写真は、こんな下手な写真がすみません。カメラが持っていませんから、iPhoneのカメラを使った。
これはセントレア空港のSky Deck。みんなさんは見たことがありますか？めっちゃきれいと思います。
めんせつに行って、荷物がいっぱい持ってきた。はかまとどうぎとか、おみやげとかもってきて、大学でgymのlockerにいれた。
これはBombardierで作った「GO Train」と言う電車。「GO Train」のいみはGovernment of Ontario Train（オンタリオ州の官有の電車）。べんりからあの電車が大好きです。でもね、世界の中にJRは一番と思う。
緑の電車はGO Trainだ。ほかの電車はVIA Trainだ。GO Trainなら、トロントのちかくだけ行くけど、VIA Trainはカナダの中にどこでも行く。
これはCAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health)と言う精神病院だ。大学のとなりだ。前に、精神医学者になりたかったからあの病院ではたらいたかった。ここはOntario州のゆうめいな病院だ。
これはトロントの図書館だ。
これは私の数学が好き友達のためにとった写真だ。みんなさんはFields Instituteがしていますか？あれはゆうめいな数学のresearch instituteだ。
ここはトロント大学の本屋さんだ。本が大好きから、ここによく来た。
あのまるくビルは私の大学（トロント大学）のInformation Technologyのビル。あそこにComputer Scienceと数学のじゅうぎょうがあった。中にきれいだし、新しいから、あそこによく勉強した。
これはConvocation Hallだ。そつぎょうしきがいつもあのところにある。中にきれいだ。
ここはトロント大学の工学部(is this right? I meant "engineering faculty")だ。雪がいっぱい降っていた。
ここはおいしいパンがうってるChina Townのパン屋さんだ。
ここもChina Townだ。
China TownのE-Panと言うところは剣道の友達とよく行く中国料理レストランだ。
ここはトロント大学のHart Houseだ。
ここもHart Houseだ。
ここもHart Houseだ。
ここはHart Houseの図書館だ。囲炉裏もあるだ。いいソファがあるから、みんなさんはよく寝る。私もあそこに寝たことがある。
ここもHart Houseの図書館だ。春で窓をあけて、花のかおりを図書館にはいる。(Can I say that? I mean, you can smell the flowers there in the summer). 冬に勉強しながら、雪を見ることができる。
ここはInformation Technologyの図書館だ。トロント大学はいっぱいりっぱな図書館がある。数学を勉強時にそんな本が読んだ。今は読まないけど、このところがなつかしい。
ここはUniversity Collegeと言うビルだ。めんせつはあそこにあった。
ここはトロントの中に一番楽なところと思う。このプールでこしかけがある。生徒さんはよくあそこに来て、勉強して、ランチを食べて、友達と会うとか。しけんの時間に落ち着けりたかったら、あそこにが一番。
これはねTim Hortonsと言うカナダでゆうめいなコーヒ屋さんのコーヒだ。あのコーヒがあますぎるけど、大好きだ
さいごは、友人からもらった誕生日ケーキだ！あのチョコがおおきだった！おいしかった！
あの友達はあって、うれしいかった！
これもケーキ！おいしかった！
家族だ！^ ^
トロントはね、さむかった！−７Cだった！でもね、T-shirtで写真をとった！:P
ここは両親のアパトのbalconyだ。雪が見えますか？雪がふたっていた。
This post is for my friends who read my mixi journal. I didn't want to post pictures on mixi, so I am posting them here instead. Sorry for no English in the descriptions, I wrote the descriptions on the plane and I don't have the time to add English right now.
誕生日の写真はともだちがとってくれた。家の写真はお父さんがとってくれた。ほかの写真は、こんな下手な写真がすみません。カメラが持っていませんから、iPhoneのカメラを使った。
これはセントレア空港のSky Deck。みんなさんは見たことがありますか？めっちゃきれいと思います。
めんせつに行って、荷物がいっぱい持ってきた。はかまとどうぎとか、おみやげとかもってきて、大学でgymのlockerにいれた。
これはBombardierで作った「GO Train」と言う電車。「GO Train」のいみはGovernment of Ontario Train（オンタリオ州の官有の電車）。べんりからあの電車が大好きです。でもね、世界の中にJRは一番と思う。
緑の電車はGO Trainだ。ほかの電車はVIA Trainだ。GO Trainなら、トロントのちかくだけ行くけど、VIA Trainはカナダの中にどこでも行く。
これはCAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health)と言う精神病院だ。大学のとなりだ。前に、精神医学者になりたかったからあの病院ではたらいたかった。ここはOntario州のゆうめいな病院だ。
これはトロントの図書館だ。
これは私の数学が好き友達のためにとった写真だ。みんなさんはFields Instituteがしていますか？あれはゆうめいな数学のresearch instituteだ。
ここはトロント大学の本屋さんだ。本が大好きから、ここによく来た。
あのまるくビルは私の大学（トロント大学）のInformation Technologyのビル。あそこにComputer Scienceと数学のじゅうぎょうがあった。中にきれいだし、新しいから、あそこによく勉強した。
これはConvocation Hallだ。そつぎょうしきがいつもあのところにある。中にきれいだ。
ここはトロント大学の工学部(is this right? I meant "engineering faculty")だ。雪がいっぱい降っていた。
ここはおいしいパンがうってるChina Townのパン屋さんだ。
ここもChina Townだ。
China TownのE-Panと言うところは剣道の友達とよく行く中国料理レストランだ。
ここはトロント大学のHart Houseだ。
ここもHart Houseだ。
ここもHart Houseだ。
ここはHart Houseの図書館だ。囲炉裏もあるだ。いいソファがあるから、みんなさんはよく寝る。私もあそこに寝たことがある。
ここもHart Houseの図書館だ。春で窓をあけて、花のかおりを図書館にはいる。(Can I say that? I mean, you can smell the flowers there in the summer). 冬に勉強しながら、雪を見ることができる。
ここはInformation Technologyの図書館だ。トロント大学はいっぱいりっぱな図書館がある。数学を勉強時にそんな本が読んだ。今は読まないけど、このところがなつかしい。
ここはUniversity Collegeと言うビルだ。めんせつはあそこにあった。
ここはトロントの中に一番楽なところと思う。このプールでこしかけがある。生徒さんはよくあそこに来て、勉強して、ランチを食べて、友達と会うとか。しけんの時間に落ち着けりたかったら、あそこにが一番。
これはねTim Hortonsと言うカナダでゆうめいなコーヒ屋さんのコーヒだ。あのコーヒがあますぎるけど、大好きだ
さいごは、友人からもらった誕生日ケーキだ！あのチョコがおおきだった！おいしかった！
あの友達はあって、うれしいかった！
これもケーキ！おいしかった！
家族だ！^ ^
トロントはね、さむかった！−７Cだった！でもね、T-shirtで写真をとった！:P
ここは両親のアパトのbalconyだ。雪が見えますか？雪がふたっていた。
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Nagoya Airport
Nagoya airport is beautiful. Definitely the best airport I've seen.
Boarding is starting, so off I go.
Boarding is starting, so off I go.
Airport Bus
I am on the airport bus and while I didn't sleep much the night before, I am not going to sleep now or on the short flight from Nagoya to Tokyo. This way I should be able to sleep during the Tokyo-Detroit flight. I should leave Tokyo around 2:30 P.M., which is 12:30 A.M. Toronto, so if I sleep well, I should be ok in terms of jet lag.
This airport bus is great, but man I miss my boots. For some reason they aren't really heating it much.
This airport bus is great, but man I miss my boots. For some reason they aren't really heating it much.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Drinks
While putting plastic for recycling into bags before taking it out, I realized that I have about 9 Mitsuya Cider bottles in my house (and probably more). Right now they are selling the white peach flavour, and that's pretty much what I've been drinking for the past few weeks, besides tea and coffee of course. It's awesome. Maybe I should bring some with me to give to parents :D.
By the way, Japanese soft drink and other food items producers have a very smart marketing strategy. They sell chocolates, candy, drinks, etc. in a special flavour for a limited period of time. So it's a pretty natural reaction I think that when you like the flavour, you'd want to buy a lot before they stop carrying that flavour.
By the way, Japanese soft drink and other food items producers have a very smart marketing strategy. They sell chocolates, candy, drinks, etc. in a special flavour for a limited period of time. So it's a pretty natural reaction I think that when you like the flavour, you'd want to buy a lot before they stop carrying that flavour.
Wind
Man, Toyohashi can get windy... just as bad as San Francisco. I love the weather here, but the wind is one thing I don't like. This morning I was stubborn enough to leave my house in a skirt (if you can wear a skirt 365 days a year here, then why not right?), and that was probably not the smartest idea. I gave up listening to the news on my iPhone because I needed all the concentration for steering my bike with one hand, and keeping my clothes in place with the other, hehe.
I looked in the mirror after I got home and my hair looked like it was subject to a malfunctioning blow-drier... Or like I've been fighting bears in the woods, hehe. While all I did was bike for 10 minutes to the bank/post office, and then back.
I guess the good thing about all the wind is that Toyohashi/Tahara (the neighbouring city) use it for energy, they have a bunch of windmills along the coast. I don't know how much energy is generated, and whether more windmills can be installed, but in any case it's good to see that all this wind is being used. Whenever I think, I wish I didn't have to endure all the wind (it has major clashes with fashion, haha), I keep telling myself that it's not so bad after all if it's being used for something good (wind energy). The air is really clean in this city too.
I looked in the mirror after I got home and my hair looked like it was subject to a malfunctioning blow-drier... Or like I've been fighting bears in the woods, hehe. While all I did was bike for 10 minutes to the bank/post office, and then back.
I guess the good thing about all the wind is that Toyohashi/Tahara (the neighbouring city) use it for energy, they have a bunch of windmills along the coast. I don't know how much energy is generated, and whether more windmills can be installed, but in any case it's good to see that all this wind is being used. Whenever I think, I wish I didn't have to endure all the wind (it has major clashes with fashion, haha), I keep telling myself that it's not so bad after all if it's being used for something good (wind energy). The air is really clean in this city too.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Karaoke: By the Way
By the way, you know whose songs I found in abundance in the karaoke book today? TaTu's! Seems that they had the Russian versions too :D. I almost picked one of them to sing, but decided that maybe not this time. Next time for sure though, hehe. Comes in handy knowing TaTu's songs sometimes when you feel the need to sing in Russian ;).
Um, Vacation?
No, not really a vacation, it's going to be a super busy week starting tomorrow, but somehow I feel really excited. I guess I am just happy to see my parents and my friends in Toronto :D, and also actually quite excited about the interview. I just hope they don't make me sing or do something equally crazy—I know they do that sometimes to see your cultural adjustment, etc. I also hope I don't get asked who is on the Canadian dollars (British people get it easy, they have Charles Darwin, you can't forget that!), or that I don't get tested on Canadian history, geography, and other trivia.
Anyways, I should go sleep now, I have to get up a bit early tomorrow, to go to the bank and to run some other errands.
Anyways, I should go sleep now, I have to get up a bit early tomorrow, to go to the bank and to run some other errands.
Today
I had so much fun today but I don't feel like blogging for some weird reason.
Just one thing I'll say though: I went karaokeing today (for the third time since I came here, I thought I'd go more often!) and I realized: I have improved in reading speed for hiragana, I could follow the slower songs more or less pretty ok. Fast songs are quite impossible still though, like this one:
(Fast-forward to 1:19 minutes).
So I have to study more... or, um, do mixi more? Haha :P. Mixi is the best thing for studying Japanese. I have a lot of motivation to study grammar, kanji, and vocabulary because I want to talk to my friends and understand what they are saying.
Just one thing I'll say though: I went karaokeing today (for the third time since I came here, I thought I'd go more often!) and I realized: I have improved in reading speed for hiragana, I could follow the slower songs more or less pretty ok. Fast songs are quite impossible still though, like this one:
(Fast-forward to 1:19 minutes).
So I have to study more... or, um, do mixi more? Haha :P. Mixi is the best thing for studying Japanese. I have a lot of motivation to study grammar, kanji, and vocabulary because I want to talk to my friends and understand what they are saying.
White Day
Apparently I provided some wrong information in the "Chocolate Day" post :P. It seems that on White Day girls get cookies and candy, not chocolates. I'd much rather chocolates. Haha, no, I'd much rather some steak :P. Jokes.
I wonder about one detail: if a boy likes a girl but didn't get chocolate from her, would he still give her a present on White Day? I don't know, and I forgot to ask my friends today.
I wonder about one detail: if a boy likes a girl but didn't get chocolate from her, would he still give her a present on White Day? I don't know, and I forgot to ask my friends today.
Narnia
Suddenly I have this urge to watch Narnia. I never really watched it properly. I used to be obsessed with Narnia back in the day, but I tried re-reading it again in university and realized it's meant to be read when you are 13.
I guess I wanted to watch the movie because I just listened to one of the songs from the Narnia movie soundtrack:
I guess I wanted to watch the movie because I just listened to one of the songs from the Narnia movie soundtrack:
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Kendo Practice Today
It was such a good practice today. First, I made a deal with myself. I didn't finish my errands and all of the lesson planning for tomorrow. So I kicked myself out of the house at 5:50 PM promising myself that if I practice properly, I can go home after the junior high school practice and kata are over (8:30 instead of 9:30, which is when jigeiko finishes). Very good thing too that I went, because only 3 JHS students showed up (it's now exam week), so it was like a private practice for just the 4 of us. Each one of us got a lot of feedback during the drills, not something that usually happens because normally there are more than 10 students. Also lately we've been doing a lot of non-bogu drills and it's been very useful for me, since I need to practice basics lots. We actually did extra non-bogu drills today.
Also I got to practice kata for the second time since coming to Toyohashi, and for the first time since I got a bokken. I was going to bring the one I have in Canada back, but then I thought I'd need to practice kata more before I go to Toronto, if I am planning to grade, so I got this bokken thinking I'd get to use it for the entire month before my trip to Toronto... Well... that didn't really work out though because I ended up not going to practice for three weeks in a row. I was sick for two, and then busy with work last Saturday.
Anyways, I am so glad I went. I got to finish my work at night too, after getting home, so I am really happy.
Oh, and I remembered what I need to add to my suitcase: a tenugui, since apparently there is practice during reading week after all.
Oh, oh, and I still haven't translated the thing my student wrote for me. During mokuso at the beginning of the practice all the JHS students and elementary school students say something along the lines "I will practice hard today, etc.", and one of my students who is in my dojo was sweet enough to write it in hiragana for me. I still haven't translated it, and neither have a I memorized it. さっすがばか姉ちゃんでしょう？ :P
Also I got to practice kata for the second time since coming to Toyohashi, and for the first time since I got a bokken. I was going to bring the one I have in Canada back, but then I thought I'd need to practice kata more before I go to Toronto, if I am planning to grade, so I got this bokken thinking I'd get to use it for the entire month before my trip to Toronto... Well... that didn't really work out though because I ended up not going to practice for three weeks in a row. I was sick for two, and then busy with work last Saturday.
Anyways, I am so glad I went. I got to finish my work at night too, after getting home, so I am really happy.
Oh, and I remembered what I need to add to my suitcase: a tenugui, since apparently there is practice during reading week after all.
Oh, oh, and I still haven't translated the thing my student wrote for me. During mokuso at the beginning of the practice all the JHS students and elementary school students say something along the lines "I will practice hard today, etc.", and one of my students who is in my dojo was sweet enough to write it in hiragana for me. I still haven't translated it, and neither have a I memorized it. さっすがばか姉ちゃんでしょう？ :P
Кофе с кефиром
Интересно получилось когда я добавила в кофе местного кефира. Вполне не плохо, но тайское кокосовое молоко с кофе вкуснее. Тут его, к сожалению, не найти в магазине. Только в Торонто такое продают. Но зато тут есть кефир, а родной кефир (хоть он тут и с сахаром) лучше чем кокосовое молоко!
This is a picture for Irina: if you want to try it while you are here, you can get it at convenience stores or grocery stores, just look for the katana name:
This is a picture for Irina: if you want to try it while you are here, you can get it at convenience stores or grocery stores, just look for the katana name:
Provinces and Territories
Do you know how many provinces and territories we have in Canada?
If my mom is reading this, she knows :D, but do all of you know?
Yeah well, last Monday we were talking about Canada with one of my junior high school students, and to my shame I forgot the exact numbers. I kind of guessed in the end and my guess was close enough, but I was off one territory. This is really sad, this is what happens when you only learn Canadian geography for the citizenship exam and the JET interview.
Of course after that incident I went on Wikipedia to check, and let's hope that from now on I'll remember that we have 10 provinces (which I can name, yay), and 3 territories (I have to make sure I never forget Nunavut when counting).
If my mom is reading this, she knows :D, but do all of you know?
Yeah well, last Monday we were talking about Canada with one of my junior high school students, and to my shame I forgot the exact numbers. I kind of guessed in the end and my guess was close enough, but I was off one territory. This is really sad, this is what happens when you only learn Canadian geography for the citizenship exam and the JET interview.
Of course after that incident I went on Wikipedia to check, and let's hope that from now on I'll remember that we have 10 provinces (which I can name, yay), and 3 territories (I have to make sure I never forget Nunavut when counting).
Lesson Planning
Sometimes I hate lesson planning. There is this one family who I have private lessons with, and they are paying me a lot of money. So I feel very pressured to perform.
*Goes back to searching for good lesson activities.*
*Goes back to searching for good lesson activities.*
Packing
So, half of my suitcase is empty, so I stuffed the empty space with all of my plastic bags that have accumulated in the past 6 months, so that stuff doesn't roll around the suitcase too much. Heh, I hope there are no raised brows at the customs... I can just picture the guys at the Canadian border going, "what is this miss?" and me going, "eee, well, bags?" :D. Let's hope I am not stopped at customs though, it's a pain in the neck. This time I'll make damn sure I fill out the customs declaration carefully and don't get stopped like on my return from London last summer.
Since I have clothes at home, the only thing I am bringing in my suitcase that's actually for myself is my suit. The rest is going to stay in Canada :D. I've been trying to think what else I need to pack besides the suit and my laptop in the carry-on, and I really can't think of anything. Talk about traveling light ;). If I weren't bringing anything back to give away, I wouldn't even need the suitcase.
Since I have clothes at home, the only thing I am bringing in my suitcase that's actually for myself is my suit. The rest is going to stay in Canada :D. I've been trying to think what else I need to pack besides the suit and my laptop in the carry-on, and I really can't think of anything. Talk about traveling light ;). If I weren't bringing anything back to give away, I wouldn't even need the suitcase.
Chocolate Day
Today is chocolate day, a day when boys (and girls too) get chocolate from people who like them, as well as from family, classmates, and co-workers. Even elementary school kids were telling me proudly yesterday during class how they got chocolates (yesterday being the Friday, so most kids gave chocolates that day). I still don't really understand how Valentine's Day works here in Japan, perhaps I'll ask my friends tomorrow, but it really does seem just as I read on the internet before coming here: girls give chocolates, and get their own chocolates in return on White Day (March 14th). Well, I hope I get to learn more about Valentine's Day here today and tomorrow because I've always been curious about this tradition, which seems reverse compared to the western V-Day.
I got chocolates too yesterday, from one of my students, Kanna. She is such a sweetheart :), she made it herself, and it was beautiful and very delicious. I wish I took a picture before eating it.
Now, after writing about V-Day I feel like eating chocolate... (O_o)
I got chocolates too yesterday, from one of my students, Kanna. She is such a sweetheart :), she made it herself, and it was beautiful and very delicious. I wish I took a picture before eating it.
Now, after writing about V-Day I feel like eating chocolate... (O_o)
Friday, February 13, 2009
Scrabble
I got my students to play scrabble yesterday and they all had such a blast. Today I have a lesson with my rowdy junior high school kids, I am going to try scrabble with them too, and see how it goes. I bet they'll love it.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Rules for Being an Evil Overlord
There is a great list of rules for anyone who wants to succeed as an evil overlord, and it seems there are new additions to the list, so check it out. I'd like to quote one of my favourites:
"109. I will see to it that plucky young lads/lasses in strange clothes and with the accent of an outlander shall REGULARLY climb some monument in the main square of my capital and denounce me, claim to know the secret of my power, rally the masses to rebellion, etc. That way, the citizens will be jaded in case the real thing ever comes along."
"109. I will see to it that plucky young lads/lasses in strange clothes and with the accent of an outlander shall REGULARLY climb some monument in the main square of my capital and denounce me, claim to know the secret of my power, rally the masses to rebellion, etc. That way, the citizens will be jaded in case the real thing ever comes along."
Plum Garden
I want to go to the Atami Plum Garden (baien) again. I can't remember if I blogged about it, but it's a city in Shizuoka where the plums bloom in January. JANUARY! :D Now too of course. It was a really nice and calming place, and while it's quite far away, I'd like to go again once I am back from Toronto.
You know, I still can not believe that Japan is in bloom all year round. It's now the middle of February, and supposedly the coldest season (ha, +7C outside), but the city is in bloom, and now the country side is all covered in yellow rape blossoms. I wonder if all of Japan besides Hokkaido is like this, or if Toyohashi is just especially warm. Judging by the weather forecasts though, it seems that these temperatures are pretty normal for most of the country, although it did snow in Nagoya this winter I hear, and it does snow in the neighbouring Gifu prefecture. Well, of course Hokkaido is cold, but I am sure it's not as bad as Toronto gets.
It's amazing: all I need to do to improve my mood if I am down is step outside of my house. Unless it's raining, being outside (except for August) really cheers me up, because it's so warm and there are so many flowers and interesting plants all over the city.
You know, I still can not believe that Japan is in bloom all year round. It's now the middle of February, and supposedly the coldest season (ha, +7C outside), but the city is in bloom, and now the country side is all covered in yellow rape blossoms. I wonder if all of Japan besides Hokkaido is like this, or if Toyohashi is just especially warm. Judging by the weather forecasts though, it seems that these temperatures are pretty normal for most of the country, although it did snow in Nagoya this winter I hear, and it does snow in the neighbouring Gifu prefecture. Well, of course Hokkaido is cold, but I am sure it's not as bad as Toronto gets.
It's amazing: all I need to do to improve my mood if I am down is step outside of my house. Unless it's raining, being outside (except for August) really cheers me up, because it's so warm and there are so many flowers and interesting plants all over the city.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Practice
Sigh. I have to go practice piano now, don't I?
やりたくない！でも、やらないといかん。
習ったことがぜんぜんおぼえへん。(- -); さっすがばか姉ちゃんでしょう。
よし、これから練習、練習。がんばらないといかん。
やりたくない！でも、やらないといかん。
習ったことがぜんぜんおぼえへん。(- -); さっすがばか姉ちゃんでしょう。
よし、これから練習、練習。がんばらないといかん。
Gintama OP and ED
I am waiting for my phone to synchronize with my computer, so I have a few minutes to blog.
On Sunday at the International Lounge (a group of people who want to practice English and have various fun events) I met someone who is a Gintama fan. I've loved Gintama myself ever since my 13-year old student, Josie, suggested I should check it out. It's a great show, really funny, and kind of silly. It makes fun of itself, Shonen Jump magazine (where the manga is published), and other Jump manga/anime like Bleach, not to mention lots of cultural jokes which I would not get if not for the fansubbers doing such a beautiful job at explaining stuff. When my students use some, um, classroom inappropriate language and I make a face and tell them to stop, they always get surprised that I know such vocabulary. So I tell them, I learned it from my other students (and truth be told, I have learned quite a few dirty words from the kids), but really, most of those words I learned from Gintama. Comes in handy when I am trying to control my class, now the students know they can't get away with saying whatever they want during the lesson, since I actually understand what they are saying.
Anyways, I am deviating. I just wanted to share some Gintama opening and ending music because I like it. Today on the way to work I think I will be listening to music instead of news podcasts.
On Sunday at the International Lounge (a group of people who want to practice English and have various fun events) I met someone who is a Gintama fan. I've loved Gintama myself ever since my 13-year old student, Josie, suggested I should check it out. It's a great show, really funny, and kind of silly. It makes fun of itself, Shonen Jump magazine (where the manga is published), and other Jump manga/anime like Bleach, not to mention lots of cultural jokes which I would not get if not for the fansubbers doing such a beautiful job at explaining stuff. When my students use some, um, classroom inappropriate language and I make a face and tell them to stop, they always get surprised that I know such vocabulary. So I tell them, I learned it from my other students (and truth be told, I have learned quite a few dirty words from the kids), but really, most of those words I learned from Gintama. Comes in handy when I am trying to control my class, now the students know they can't get away with saying whatever they want during the lesson, since I actually understand what they are saying.
Anyways, I am deviating. I just wanted to share some Gintama opening and ending music because I like it. Today on the way to work I think I will be listening to music instead of news podcasts.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Time: Part 2
Missing kendo again really sucks, but I finished most of the things on my to-do list, including answering some very overdue emails. If you are one of the people I haven't answered, I apologize.
I should really do something about my time next week though, and do make it to practice, especially since I will miss the practice two weeks from now due to my trip to TO.
Now I am really hyper. I shouldn't buy snacks at the dollar store next time, even if they are in small packages. Although maybe my hyperness is not due to the sugar, maybe I just want to explore some ideas more, and write too, but I should go to sleep, I know. If I don't, I'd be in big trouble during my private lesson tomorrow, and I'd be falling asleep at the event in the evening, which would not be good.
Ok, bed time!! :D I am so glad I got most of my work done today.
I should really do something about my time next week though, and do make it to practice, especially since I will miss the practice two weeks from now due to my trip to TO.
Now I am really hyper. I shouldn't buy snacks at the dollar store next time, even if they are in small packages. Although maybe my hyperness is not due to the sugar, maybe I just want to explore some ideas more, and write too, but I should go to sleep, I know. If I don't, I'd be in big trouble during my private lesson tomorrow, and I'd be falling asleep at the event in the evening, which would not be good.
Ok, bed time!! :D I am so glad I got most of my work done today.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Time
Waaaaahaaaaa, I feel so behind on the things I want to do. I didn't go to kendo today because I couldn't finish all the things I needed to do tonight, and I am still not done... (Blogging and emails are part of my to-do list by the way, I am not blogging to procrastinate.)
The more I listen to TED podcasts, the more I feel motivated to do my work, as a teacher, and as a global citizen (the link is to an excerpt from the talk given by the Dalai Lama in Ottawa in 2007 that I was very fortunate to attend). At the same time the more I listen the more I realize I need to manage my time very carefully, precisely because there is so much to do. I've been discovering how many hours I have in a day that I normally didn't account for, such as the time I spend doing house chores, or biking around—lately I've been trying to use this time carefully, listening to podcasts from BBC, TED, and other websites.
All right, and now, back to work. ^ ^
The more I listen to TED podcasts, the more I feel motivated to do my work, as a teacher, and as a global citizen (the link is to an excerpt from the talk given by the Dalai Lama in Ottawa in 2007 that I was very fortunate to attend). At the same time the more I listen the more I realize I need to manage my time very carefully, precisely because there is so much to do. I've been discovering how many hours I have in a day that I normally didn't account for, such as the time I spend doing house chores, or biking around—lately I've been trying to use this time carefully, listening to podcasts from BBC, TED, and other websites.
All right, and now, back to work. ^ ^
Books: a Sustainability Challenge
I've been thinking about this for a while now, but today after watching this video from the TED Talks website, I've decided to give up one of my most favourite but at the same time selfish pleasures for the sake of a personal challenge that will hopefully make my life more sustainable. Namely I have decided that whenever it is possible to obtain an electronic copy of a book (whether by downloading or buying an ebook), I am not going to buy a paper book from now on. Now holding books in my hands, and owning books, and smelling them, fresh off the press or old and dusty, is something I really love. I do understand though that since I own a beautiful piece of technology, a MacBook that is light enough to take with me pretty much anywhere, and now I also own an iPhone, which is even lighter, and still gives me access to data storage. And if I don't use this technology to minimize my footprint (in this case by not supporting the cutting down of trees), then I am simply being selfish and irresponsible. Now, we've had many debates and arguments with my dad in the past about this, and he has repeatedly told me that I should stop buying books and start reading them online, but he never brought up the sustainability argument. I don't know if he's thought of it in terms of sustainability, he mostly pointed out the convenience, but now that I have thought about the impact we, laptop owners, could make if we stop buying paper books, and I think that this is something I have to do, and this is something I will do my best to promote among the people who listen to what I have to say.
So it's this:
versus this:
Now, related to the personal challenge above is another idea I've had, a more global one, I suppose.
For a while now I've been thinking that for the novel I am writing I'd like to use more than just text to carry the message across. I wanted to use drawings (which is conventional for books), but I also wanted to work with musicians and have music added to the book as well. Of course I'd also like to have URLs in it too whenever I mention something that I think people should look up if they wanted to understand what I am talking about, and imagine putting URLs in a book. How many of us will actually get up from their couch and type the URL or the search query into google? Would you? I thought so. Now on top of that imagine how much that would cost if this kind of a book project were a physical entity. First, the printing costs would be quite high because it will have to be in color, and on good quality (preferably glossy) paper if I wanted to have the images. Then it will have to have a CD with the music, which is a whole new cost, plus a pain in the neck for the reader, since they will have to be near a CD player while reading a certain page. Now with an ebook, of course conventional PDF format won't do, but I think it's fairly simple with the technology available to make a book, once I have the text, audio, and graphics, that's simple for people to read, platform-independent of course. I can even make a trial version right now, and it will be cost-effective, with the only limitation that people who do not have access to a computer will not be able to read it. It's going to take me at while to finish writing though, so by that time I am hoping that most people in the developed English-speaking world in general, as well as maybe 99% of my target audience specifically, will have access to a computer with audio output. Also, imagine the possibilities. Let's say I wrote a brilliant book, and found a publisher willing to sign a contract with me, and they publish it. In Canada. If I want people outside of Canada or North America to read it, there's more negotiation, more arguing, and it will take quite some time for it to be published, say, in GB. What if I want English-speaking people in Asia to read it? It will take a tremendous amount of work, and I think I would prefer spending the time and efforts on promoting a website where you can download the book (or better yet make a deal with iTunes, for example), instead. Of course the best part of it is the sustainability of the project, but I think that financially it's reasonable as well. Obviously I will have to figure a way to promote the final product, and this is when a publishing house comes in to do the work—the write writes, and they do the marketing. I have failed so far in marketing, but I think this would be a very interesting project for other writers to explore, and I think if a technological platform is in place, then some authors would be interested in making books that are more than just text and pictures. We already have it with blogging, and websites of newspapers use this approach, more or less, having an HTML of the text, with pictures, video links and audio links. Reading in a browser though is not entirely convenient at times, and I was thinking of something more integrated, like a file you can play in iTunes (maybe not iTunes, but it's the closest program to what I want so far), or like a PDF with embedded audio and graphics (the latter easily done). But even a browser would do, and yet I have not seen any widely-available ebooks that use this idea of integrating audio or video.
Now I haven't yet had a chance to explore carefully if something like this has been done before for fiction. It's not popularized if it has been done.
A little aside: damn, I wonder why it is that I get all these creativity rushes on Saturdays, 2 hours before it's time to leave for my kendo practice, and have to decide if I should skip the practice again in favour of taking the time to explore my ideas. Anyways, back to the idea. I think I would like to investigate the possibilities with this idea, I think it would be a wonderful opportunity for writers. The online music industry has taken off well, and it seems that all three, the record companies, the musicians, and the listeners are happy with the convenience it provides. I don't see why this shouldn't work with books. We already have an ebook marker (although a small one compared to the paper book market), and electronic devices like cell-phones and iPods can help make this a reality.
I don't know if any of you reading this blog have as much interest in this idea as I do, but if you do have interest, and if you do have input, please tell me what you think. I would be very curious to see what you have to say, and I am looking forward to my weekly Skype call home to talk about this idea with my dad tonight. I am also going to tell my brother about this idea and see what he thinks—I am very curious.
If this idea turns out to be not as great as it sounds, and hard to implement, or rather, if this idea turns out to be a failure financially and logistically (which I don't think it will, look at the Google Book Project), then at the very least I will use my energy to promote the support for ebooks in favour of paper books, and public libraries in favour of bookstores.
P.S. This post is not a business plan, and I do realize that it's lacking details and cost break-downs, and other details on why this idea might be a success. If anyone were to criticize this idea, they would rightly point out that this post as such lacks specificity to make it a valid feasible idea. I realize that, my purpose was not to provide details but to share the general idea and to see the response. For anyone interested in discussing this idea with me more I can write a more detailed outline, just email. I am not entirely comfortable posting more details on a public blog until I am actually at the stage where I can make a proposal to publishers, or ebook companies, or Apple, or Google. This idea is at its infant stage right now and it will take time and research to implement it, or even to test its feasibility. The purpose this particular blog post is to share my thoughts and to ask for feedback.
P.P.S. I am really glad I came to Japan at this point of my life, living here really does make me more aware of how sustainable my own life is (please see my other posts here and here if you want to know why I say this).
So it's this:
versus this:
Now, related to the personal challenge above is another idea I've had, a more global one, I suppose.
For a while now I've been thinking that for the novel I am writing I'd like to use more than just text to carry the message across. I wanted to use drawings (which is conventional for books), but I also wanted to work with musicians and have music added to the book as well. Of course I'd also like to have URLs in it too whenever I mention something that I think people should look up if they wanted to understand what I am talking about, and imagine putting URLs in a book. How many of us will actually get up from their couch and type the URL or the search query into google? Would you? I thought so. Now on top of that imagine how much that would cost if this kind of a book project were a physical entity. First, the printing costs would be quite high because it will have to be in color, and on good quality (preferably glossy) paper if I wanted to have the images. Then it will have to have a CD with the music, which is a whole new cost, plus a pain in the neck for the reader, since they will have to be near a CD player while reading a certain page. Now with an ebook, of course conventional PDF format won't do, but I think it's fairly simple with the technology available to make a book, once I have the text, audio, and graphics, that's simple for people to read, platform-independent of course. I can even make a trial version right now, and it will be cost-effective, with the only limitation that people who do not have access to a computer will not be able to read it. It's going to take me at while to finish writing though, so by that time I am hoping that most people in the developed English-speaking world in general, as well as maybe 99% of my target audience specifically, will have access to a computer with audio output. Also, imagine the possibilities. Let's say I wrote a brilliant book, and found a publisher willing to sign a contract with me, and they publish it. In Canada. If I want people outside of Canada or North America to read it, there's more negotiation, more arguing, and it will take quite some time for it to be published, say, in GB. What if I want English-speaking people in Asia to read it? It will take a tremendous amount of work, and I think I would prefer spending the time and efforts on promoting a website where you can download the book (or better yet make a deal with iTunes, for example), instead. Of course the best part of it is the sustainability of the project, but I think that financially it's reasonable as well. Obviously I will have to figure a way to promote the final product, and this is when a publishing house comes in to do the work—the write writes, and they do the marketing. I have failed so far in marketing, but I think this would be a very interesting project for other writers to explore, and I think if a technological platform is in place, then some authors would be interested in making books that are more than just text and pictures. We already have it with blogging, and websites of newspapers use this approach, more or less, having an HTML of the text, with pictures, video links and audio links. Reading in a browser though is not entirely convenient at times, and I was thinking of something more integrated, like a file you can play in iTunes (maybe not iTunes, but it's the closest program to what I want so far), or like a PDF with embedded audio and graphics (the latter easily done). But even a browser would do, and yet I have not seen any widely-available ebooks that use this idea of integrating audio or video.
Now I haven't yet had a chance to explore carefully if something like this has been done before for fiction. It's not popularized if it has been done.
A little aside: damn, I wonder why it is that I get all these creativity rushes on Saturdays, 2 hours before it's time to leave for my kendo practice, and have to decide if I should skip the practice again in favour of taking the time to explore my ideas. Anyways, back to the idea. I think I would like to investigate the possibilities with this idea, I think it would be a wonderful opportunity for writers. The online music industry has taken off well, and it seems that all three, the record companies, the musicians, and the listeners are happy with the convenience it provides. I don't see why this shouldn't work with books. We already have an ebook marker (although a small one compared to the paper book market), and electronic devices like cell-phones and iPods can help make this a reality.
I don't know if any of you reading this blog have as much interest in this idea as I do, but if you do have interest, and if you do have input, please tell me what you think. I would be very curious to see what you have to say, and I am looking forward to my weekly Skype call home to talk about this idea with my dad tonight. I am also going to tell my brother about this idea and see what he thinks—I am very curious.
If this idea turns out to be not as great as it sounds, and hard to implement, or rather, if this idea turns out to be a failure financially and logistically (which I don't think it will, look at the Google Book Project), then at the very least I will use my energy to promote the support for ebooks in favour of paper books, and public libraries in favour of bookstores.
P.S. This post is not a business plan, and I do realize that it's lacking details and cost break-downs, and other details on why this idea might be a success. If anyone were to criticize this idea, they would rightly point out that this post as such lacks specificity to make it a valid feasible idea. I realize that, my purpose was not to provide details but to share the general idea and to see the response. For anyone interested in discussing this idea with me more I can write a more detailed outline, just email. I am not entirely comfortable posting more details on a public blog until I am actually at the stage where I can make a proposal to publishers, or ebook companies, or Apple, or Google. This idea is at its infant stage right now and it will take time and research to implement it, or even to test its feasibility. The purpose this particular blog post is to share my thoughts and to ask for feedback.
P.P.S. I am really glad I came to Japan at this point of my life, living here really does make me more aware of how sustainable my own life is (please see my other posts here and here if you want to know why I say this).
Friday, February 6, 2009
Snack
I am hungry. Talk about patience :P. Actually, I had a really nice dinner today, but I want a snack. I have some snacks in the fridge, so I am trying to fight off the temptation to go to a convenience store and buy a meat bun (nikuman). Those things are so good! I really shouldn't go to the convenience store now though, since I really do have food at home... and I should go to sleep soon anyway. Patience, patience :D. I'll look at a picture of a nikuman instead ^ ^.
(Picture taken from here.)
(Picture taken from here.)
Thursday, February 5, 2009
On Patience
I usually wake up too late on Thursdays to eat breakfast before my morning class, so I was starving today as I was biking to the train station around noon, on my way to my afternoon classes. I got some food on the way, but didn't eat it until I got to the station, and even then I felt a bit weird eating in a public place. This is because people don't eat on the streets much here, like they do in Canada. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen anyone eat while walking. People do eat sitting outside, or while waiting for the train though, and on the train too it's quite acceptable, except on local trains that have seats along the sides, like the TTC. I knew about this custom of not eating on the streets from reading, and it's nothing new for me because Ukraine is somewhat conservative that way too. I don't think people usually eat on the streets in Ukraine either. But of course it took getting used to.
Anyways, this is a small culture difference between Japan and Canada, but being exposed to it yet again, now when I am an adult as opposed to a teenager in Ukraine, allowed me to practice a very important skill that I sort of lost during my 8 years in Canada: patience. I thought about this today as I was biking to the station, with my lunch right in front of me but so unreachable. I think in many ways people are a lot more patient here. Of course, I might be generalizing, and I've only lived here for 6 months, but still. I actually like it that I have to be more patient, it makes me more aware of my surroundings, and more considerate towards other people. In Canada sometimes I caught myself doing things that I might not have done in Ukraine. My excuse was, it's ok, everyone in Toronto does it, so I can too, even if it doesn't feel right. Here I have no excuse, at least if I want to fit in, I have to be more polite, and more aware of my surroundings. And in some way, it has made my everyday interactions with people more meaningful. It feels that in terms of interactions between people, when it comes to courtesy the expectation level is much higher than in Toronto, and I like it better this way, especially since people extend the same courtesy to you. I can understand though why there is so much talk about the culture shock on all these blogs of English teachers coming to Japan. It takes conscious effort to remember to adhere to more tight social interaction rules, and if you haven't grown up following such rules, it's a lot harder to learn them as an adult. I was lucky that I grew up in a more conservative culture, so I just need to revert back to my behaviour patterns from Ukraine. Sometimes I actually feel more comfortable in this culture than I did in Canada, but then I am sure this is just the honeymoon stage of my life here in Japan, and soon enough I'd be more realistic and more critical of life here.
Speaking of being critical, the one thing I don't like here in terms of social rules is the lack of legislation similar to Ontario on smoking. Living in Ontario is quite a blessing for non-smokers, I have not appreciated it enough before coming here. Japan has a long way to go compared to Ontario. Every time I go out to places like bars, I have to wash all of my clothes after, because people smoke so much. I know some people will disagree, and I am usually not a fan of control of behaviour through legislation, but because smoking has such a direct impact on health, in this case I wholeheartedly support Ontario anti-smoke legislation and hope Japan and the rest of the world will have stricter by-laws on smoking soon.
Anyways, this is a small culture difference between Japan and Canada, but being exposed to it yet again, now when I am an adult as opposed to a teenager in Ukraine, allowed me to practice a very important skill that I sort of lost during my 8 years in Canada: patience. I thought about this today as I was biking to the station, with my lunch right in front of me but so unreachable. I think in many ways people are a lot more patient here. Of course, I might be generalizing, and I've only lived here for 6 months, but still. I actually like it that I have to be more patient, it makes me more aware of my surroundings, and more considerate towards other people. In Canada sometimes I caught myself doing things that I might not have done in Ukraine. My excuse was, it's ok, everyone in Toronto does it, so I can too, even if it doesn't feel right. Here I have no excuse, at least if I want to fit in, I have to be more polite, and more aware of my surroundings. And in some way, it has made my everyday interactions with people more meaningful. It feels that in terms of interactions between people, when it comes to courtesy the expectation level is much higher than in Toronto, and I like it better this way, especially since people extend the same courtesy to you. I can understand though why there is so much talk about the culture shock on all these blogs of English teachers coming to Japan. It takes conscious effort to remember to adhere to more tight social interaction rules, and if you haven't grown up following such rules, it's a lot harder to learn them as an adult. I was lucky that I grew up in a more conservative culture, so I just need to revert back to my behaviour patterns from Ukraine. Sometimes I actually feel more comfortable in this culture than I did in Canada, but then I am sure this is just the honeymoon stage of my life here in Japan, and soon enough I'd be more realistic and more critical of life here.
Speaking of being critical, the one thing I don't like here in terms of social rules is the lack of legislation similar to Ontario on smoking. Living in Ontario is quite a blessing for non-smokers, I have not appreciated it enough before coming here. Japan has a long way to go compared to Ontario. Every time I go out to places like bars, I have to wash all of my clothes after, because people smoke so much. I know some people will disagree, and I am usually not a fan of control of behaviour through legislation, but because smoking has such a direct impact on health, in this case I wholeheartedly support Ontario anti-smoke legislation and hope Japan and the rest of the world will have stricter by-laws on smoking soon.
The Prime Minister
I had an interesting conversation this morning with my adult students about the current prime minister of Japan, Taro Aso. They wanted to know my opinion on his policies, but instead I had to ask them for theirs, because, I told them, I do not know enough yet about his cabinet to form an opinion. All I know is that he is very much disliked by most people that I've asked about him, so I wanted to know why. Of course, on my side I am trying to find information online about his cabinet (so far I found this interesting blog). On Sunday I am going to see some of my new friends, and if I have a chance I'll also ask them what they think. I will probably hold off posting what exactly my students said until I have more knowledge on the subject myself and have some informed opinions.
Anyways, I am writing this post to say, if any of you reading this have any good resources you can recommend, on the Japanese government or the LDP, in English, please tell me. And in the meantime, I will just turn to google, as I always have in the past.
Anyways, I am writing this post to say, if any of you reading this have any good resources you can recommend, on the Japanese government or the LDP, in English, please tell me. And in the meantime, I will just turn to google, as I always have in the past.
Tax Rebate
やった！！I got a nice tax rebate from the Japanese government. So so so happy, especially given the exchange rate between the yen and the CAD.
^ ^
*is extra happy*
Speaking of tax rebates and returns, I need to do my Canadian taxes.
Oh, and I was laughing the other day while listening to the news. It's really sad to the point it's funny, in a bad way: the state of California apparently ran out of money to give the residents their tax rebates. (I haven't read the entire article by the way, I was trying to find a link to the audio file of the podcast about this, but I couldn't locate it.)
^ ^
*is extra happy*
Speaking of tax rebates and returns, I need to do my Canadian taxes.
Oh, and I was laughing the other day while listening to the news. It's really sad to the point it's funny, in a bad way: the state of California apparently ran out of money to give the residents their tax rebates. (I haven't read the entire article by the way, I was trying to find a link to the audio file of the podcast about this, but I couldn't locate it.)
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
"The Hour" Programme
For those of you in Toronto, have you ever listened to "The Hour" with George Stroumboulopoulos on CBC?
I had a very entertaining morning while setting up my materials at work, and listening to the programme.
Check it out, they have podcasts too (audio and video).
I had a very entertaining morning while setting up my materials at work, and listening to the programme.
Check it out, they have podcasts too (audio and video).
Snow in London
Ahahahahahaha, the last piece on BBC news this morning is about a snowstorm that took out the entire country, shutting down all of Heithrow runways, as well as the local transit system. They were full of humour though, saying [about London] "This is the city that was selected a couple of years as a capital of the world, taking everything from finance to culture into account, and yet here we are, in the supposed capital of the world, you get a sprinkling of snow, which any other Northern country could easily cope with, and I am afraid we are made to look rather foolish. But we'll get out of it, it will melt, and we'll forget all about it."
(The picture taken from here.)
I think anyone listening to this in Canada, especially in Ottawa, will have a good laugh too.
Although, I am sure the British would have a good laugh if they were to listen to our own CBC radio in the past couple of weeks, about the city of Ottawa having a similar "shut down", but due not to the weather but to the labour disputes. (The public transit operators were on strike there.)
You guys in Toronto, has the TTC gone on their annual strike yet?
I'd take the London transit shutdowns due to weather any day.
I wonder if they ever have public service workers going on strike due to labour disputes here in Japan. I should investigate. It seems unlikely to me, but who knows, maybe it happens here as well.
And speaking of strikes, thank goodness classes seem to have resumed in York University. I am surprised they have people apply to that school at all, given it's not the first time something like this has happened. I do realize people have the right to dispute their labour rights, but does it really have to be at the cost of people's education? Of course, I am not a teacher or a TA at York, so I do not understand the situation well enough to judge anyone, but to be honest, I have thought a lot about this, and I tried putting myself in their shoes and to think what I'd do in this situation, and I think striking is very irresponsible in this situation. Imagine what would happen if the doctors at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, for example, decide to walk off the job. If you talk about what's fair and what isn't, then why should university teachers go on strike and not doctors? Of course if the doctors did that, people would blame them for the worsening conditions or even deaths of patients. But then we know (or at least we hope) that doctors in Toronto would not do something so irresponsible as go on strike, because people's lives depend on them. Well, then I would like to ask those people in favour of the strike: how is education any different? Maybe people who went on strike in York don't realize how much they are affecting people's lives. If my professors and TAs in the University of Waterloo were to go on such a strike, I don't know where I would be today, if I would be the person I am now, because it is my relationship with my professors that allowed me to become the person I am now today. They had a tremendous impact on my life, so I can't even imagine what it must be like for York students to have such an experience.
So putting this into perspective. if my boss at my English school were to decide to cut down my pay starting tomorrow, because of the bad economy, I would not go on strike, even though that would probably be a reasonable thing to do. I would not do that because as a teacher I feel responsible before my students, so I would find other ways to protest, without involving the students.
(The picture taken from here.)
I think anyone listening to this in Canada, especially in Ottawa, will have a good laugh too.
Although, I am sure the British would have a good laugh if they were to listen to our own CBC radio in the past couple of weeks, about the city of Ottawa having a similar "shut down", but due not to the weather but to the labour disputes. (The public transit operators were on strike there.)
You guys in Toronto, has the TTC gone on their annual strike yet?
I'd take the London transit shutdowns due to weather any day.
I wonder if they ever have public service workers going on strike due to labour disputes here in Japan. I should investigate. It seems unlikely to me, but who knows, maybe it happens here as well.
And speaking of strikes, thank goodness classes seem to have resumed in York University. I am surprised they have people apply to that school at all, given it's not the first time something like this has happened. I do realize people have the right to dispute their labour rights, but does it really have to be at the cost of people's education? Of course, I am not a teacher or a TA at York, so I do not understand the situation well enough to judge anyone, but to be honest, I have thought a lot about this, and I tried putting myself in their shoes and to think what I'd do in this situation, and I think striking is very irresponsible in this situation. Imagine what would happen if the doctors at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, for example, decide to walk off the job. If you talk about what's fair and what isn't, then why should university teachers go on strike and not doctors? Of course if the doctors did that, people would blame them for the worsening conditions or even deaths of patients. But then we know (or at least we hope) that doctors in Toronto would not do something so irresponsible as go on strike, because people's lives depend on them. Well, then I would like to ask those people in favour of the strike: how is education any different? Maybe people who went on strike in York don't realize how much they are affecting people's lives. If my professors and TAs in the University of Waterloo were to go on such a strike, I don't know where I would be today, if I would be the person I am now, because it is my relationship with my professors that allowed me to become the person I am now today. They had a tremendous impact on my life, so I can't even imagine what it must be like for York students to have such an experience.
So putting this into perspective. if my boss at my English school were to decide to cut down my pay starting tomorrow, because of the bad economy, I would not go on strike, even though that would probably be a reasonable thing to do. I would not do that because as a teacher I feel responsible before my students, so I would find other ways to protest, without involving the students.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Music
I was asked the other day what music I like, and I realized it's a difficult question. The things I listen to are from very different genres, and range from serious to pure entertainment.
So I thought that since I have been relying on youtube for my playlist today, I'll give you a sample of the range of the things I listen to. Forgive me for repetitions, I might have posted some of this music before.
I would expect some of these videos will raise some eyebrows, but hey.
This is in no particular order, so forgive the strange mix, some of these songs don't belong together at all.
(this song always makes me smile)
...Maybe enough for one evening :P.
So I thought that since I have been relying on youtube for my playlist today, I'll give you a sample of the range of the things I listen to. Forgive me for repetitions, I might have posted some of this music before.
I would expect some of these videos will raise some eyebrows, but hey.
This is in no particular order, so forgive the strange mix, some of these songs don't belong together at all.
(this song always makes me smile)
...Maybe enough for one evening :P.
Рукки Вверх
なつかしい！Wow. I listened to these guys through high school. My brother played their music when he was a DJ at the school dances. This particular song used to be very popular, and when I went to stay at the seaside resorts they used to play this song at dances there too, and I have so many memories...
The song is very cheezy, music and lyrics, but it's all about the memories ;). I am sure you too have some warm summer night memories from the days you were 16 years old.
...I guess I used to listen to dance/techno back in the day. I forgot, it's been 10 years since then after all. Wow, I am turning 26 in three weeks... it feels like 20 years, not 10, since those days. So much happened. 10 years ago I never thought I'd be living abroad, especially in Japan of all places. I wonder where I'll be three weeks before I turn 36...
The song is very cheezy, music and lyrics, but it's all about the memories ;). I am sure you too have some warm summer night memories from the days you were 16 years old.
...I guess I used to listen to dance/techno back in the day. I forgot, it's been 10 years since then after all. Wow, I am turning 26 in three weeks... it feels like 20 years, not 10, since those days. So much happened. 10 years ago I never thought I'd be living abroad, especially in Japan of all places. I wonder where I'll be three weeks before I turn 36...
Mixi
By the way, if any of you guys use mixi but don't have me on your list, please email me (haha, assuming of course you want to add me). I think I have all of my friends on my mixi list, but just in case :D.
Notre Dame Musical and Rozenbaum
My mom shared this with me, and I laughed so much. Sorry, you have to understand Russian to be able to appreciate this hilarious song, because I am too lazy to translate.
My favourite line is, "Hо что за мода Квазимод сюда вести? Своих уродов мало что-ли на Руси?"
My favourite line is, "Hо что за мода Квазимод сюда вести? Своих уродов мало что-ли на Руси?"
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Frankensteined Scrabble
Now, for such an intriguing title, all this post is about is a new version of scrabble that I came up with for my junior high school students. I massacred the rules a bit, hence the title, but in any case, it seems that junior high school students who are not so great at English actually enjoy word games. We didn't have a scrabble board, and I simplified the rules (the main reason being that I don't actually know the rules well, haha), so they had to write words on a large white-board, and they could go up, down, left, right, or diagonal in any direction. Now usually two of the six kids are not really paying attention because the class is too difficult for them (I've been trying to simplify but still haven't managed to bring down the level sufficiently enough). When we were playing though, they were pretty excited and participated a lot. So I guess this means I really have to research and find more language games for this class.
I was really happy though, it seemed that all of my class really enjoyed themselves in these past few weeks, and they've actually used English more than they normally do. Of course I knew games were the way to go, but I've been having difficulty finding what kind of games they'd like until recently. Before a lot of the games I'd try to use were met with blank stares. So I am glad I found in which direction to go with these guys :D.
I was really happy though, it seemed that all of my class really enjoyed themselves in these past few weeks, and they've actually used English more than they normally do. Of course I knew games were the way to go, but I've been having difficulty finding what kind of games they'd like until recently. Before a lot of the games I'd try to use were met with blank stares. So I am glad I found in which direction to go with these guys :D.
...
...restless...
...hmm...
...maybe that's a result of a wish to procrastinate, instead of studying like I should be right now, and instead of practicing my scales and arpeggios...
...or maybe it's for a different reason...
Funny how I have gotten used to eventful weekends, despite the fact that they make me tired. So much so, that a quiet weekend at home makes me restless.
...hmm...
...maybe that's a result of a wish to procrastinate, instead of studying like I should be right now, and instead of practicing my scales and arpeggios...
...or maybe it's for a different reason...
Funny how I have gotten used to eventful weekends, despite the fact that they make me tired. So much so, that a quiet weekend at home makes me restless.
Meiji "Meltykiss" Chocolates
I have developed quite an addiction to "Meltykiss" chocolates made by a company called Meiji.
They taste like truffles, but are square in shape, and have many different flavours. My absolute favourite flavour is dark rum.
Good thing these chocolates are expensive so I don't buy them often, or I'd be in trouble :P.
(Picture taken from here, and apparently, according to the photographer, it's a new flavour for winter.)
They taste like truffles, but are square in shape, and have many different flavours. My absolute favourite flavour is dark rum.
Good thing these chocolates are expensive so I don't buy them often, or I'd be in trouble :P.
(Picture taken from here, and apparently, according to the photographer, it's a new flavour for winter.)
Latest Banana Curry
It's been a while since I made curry. Today I was a bit lazy, and very hungry, so instead of making my own spice mix I used curry roux, and only added a little of my own mix. I used baby bananas that you can get in grocery stores here, but I didn't use enough so the curry is not sweet at all. I am going to add some more bananas.
Here's a picture of my dinner:
This curry has bananas, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, ground pork, tofu, onions, coffee, and milk. Despite what it sounds it is quite delicious :P.
Here's a picture of my dinner:
This curry has bananas, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, ground pork, tofu, onions, coffee, and milk. Despite what it sounds it is quite delicious :P.
Japanese Telemarketers
I just got a phone call from a telemarketer from the phone company, NTT.
It's interesting, I was actually able to understand most of what he was saying, and also it had very good timing, because we were just talking with my manager about switching the internet service. I heard about this promotion from NTT before from other co-workers, and it looks like a pretty good deal, so very lucky for that telemarketer that I could understand what he was trying to say :P because I will probably actually switch, since the service is cheaper, and it won't take a whole month, just a few hours, to perform the switch. We'll see though what this telemarketer guy tells my manager on Tuesday—maybe his offer won't look so good to her as it did to me, then I won't switch.
Anyways, it's a very satisfying feeling to be able to communicate with someone over the phone in Japanese, even if it's a telemarketer.
It's interesting, I was actually able to understand most of what he was saying, and also it had very good timing, because we were just talking with my manager about switching the internet service. I heard about this promotion from NTT before from other co-workers, and it looks like a pretty good deal, so very lucky for that telemarketer that I could understand what he was trying to say :P because I will probably actually switch, since the service is cheaper, and it won't take a whole month, just a few hours, to perform the switch. We'll see though what this telemarketer guy tells my manager on Tuesday—maybe his offer won't look so good to her as it did to me, then I won't switch.
Anyways, it's a very satisfying feeling to be able to communicate with someone over the phone in Japanese, even if it's a telemarketer.
A Short Play
I came across this short play and found it quite amusing. If you have 10 minutes to spare, take a look.
Twitter vs. MSN
I have not been using MSN since coming to Toyohashi, and I think I won't use it much from now on either, because it takes up too much time. However, I've been using Twitter a little bit, and I wonder if any of you guys are using it too. So far I only have 3 people on my Twitter list, because I don't know who else uses it, so if you use it, tell me and I'll add you too.
It's pretty neat, you basically update your status, just like the MSN status or the facebook status, and you can upload pictures and GPS locations. Check it out!
It's pretty neat, you basically update your status, just like the MSN status or the facebook status, and you can upload pictures and GPS locations. Check it out!
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