Weird thing just happened. I ran out to the supermarket with my wife to pick up some things for our lunches tomorrow. As we stood in line waiting at the checkout, a small commotion began. The woman in front of us in line started speaking to my wife. I was confused. Asked my wife what was going on and she pointed to the front of the store (close to us).
There, close to the checkouts was a man, maybe in his 50's, wearning rubber boots and holding an owl by the wings. A real owl. A live owl. He stood there for about 10 minutes and then walked away. He apparently had found it somewhere close by (injured I assume) and was waiting for the police to come. I'm sure the local police would have no idea what to do with it either!
Of course, this was about the only time in 6 months that I didn't have my camera with me. Normally i put it in my pocket every time I leave the house. Tonight I thought, "Nope, I don't need it." I wish I had brought it.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Suntory whiskey and big boats
It's been a busy week. Valentine's Day and a trip he the Suntory Yamazaki Whiskey Distillery all on Saturday. Good stuff. The Yamazaki Distillery is a stones throw from Kyoto and was a great tour. Although in Japanese, I had an English translator device I could wear around my neck. I'm really not into whiskey too much, but it was cool to see how it's made and have a few drinks.
Earlier in the week we had a day off. Last Wednesday was National Foundation Day. Mai and I hung around in Sannomiya and then wandered to the waterfront in Kobe. There was a very cool tall ship called the Nippon Maru docked close to the Oriental Hotel. I love ships like this. Growing up in Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, we would often have tall ships come to our harbour during the summer. I often daydreamed about being a crew member on a ship like this.
Unless they let me wear a pirate hat, I don't think I'd be wiling to do it though!
Earlier in the week we had a day off. Last Wednesday was National Foundation Day. Mai and I hung around in Sannomiya and then wandered to the waterfront in Kobe. There was a very cool tall ship called the Nippon Maru docked close to the Oriental Hotel. I love ships like this. Growing up in Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, we would often have tall ships come to our harbour during the summer. I often daydreamed about being a crew member on a ship like this.
Unless they let me wear a pirate hat, I don't think I'd be wiling to do it though!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
1000 subscribers!
Yay! Just a short post today. It's National Foundation Day here in Japan which means it's another public holiday. I'm not complaining at all! I'm quite happy, especially since it falls directly in the middles of the week.
So, news in my little world. As of last night, I finally reached 1000 subscribers on my You Tube channel. Once upon a time I used to focus most of my energy on blogging, but the inner clown in me finds it likes to perform in front of the camera. I spend a lot of time making videos and have a lot of fun doing it. If you watch my channel, you'll know they're mostly about aspects of my life in Japan.
So, news in my little world. As of last night, I finally reached 1000 subscribers on my You Tube channel. Once upon a time I used to focus most of my energy on blogging, but the inner clown in me finds it likes to perform in front of the camera. I spend a lot of time making videos and have a lot of fun doing it. If you watch my channel, you'll know they're mostly about aspects of my life in Japan.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Do Monsters Like Poo?
Quick excerpt from a conversation yesterday between myself and one of my students:
Student: "Mr. O'Shea."
Me: "Yes."
Student: "Do monsters like poo?"
Me: "I don't know. I think some might, but most probably don't."
Student: "Do monsters drink poo?"
Me: "No, I don't think monsters do that."
Yep. It's too weird for even my creative brain to make up! Previous to this discussion, my class was watching the movie Monsters Inc. In one scene in the movie, a monster was drinking a cup of coffee. Some students argued that it was coffee, while others thought it was feces! Kids can have a warped way of looking at things sometimes!
On another note, I posted a video this morning on You Tube showing some of the problems I've faced over the years that I've been abroad when it comes to speaking on the telephone. It's amazing how much we rely on nonverbal cues when speaking to someone who doesn't use English.
Culture Shock: The Telephone
Here's the original.
Ah....tomorrow morning I'm running in the Kobe Valentine's Love Run. That's right!! I didn't make that name up either. That's the name of the race I'm entered in. I'll be running the half-marathon starting at 10:30am.
Student: "Mr. O'Shea."
Me: "Yes."
Student: "Do monsters like poo?"
Me: "I don't know. I think some might, but most probably don't."
Student: "Do monsters drink poo?"
Me: "No, I don't think monsters do that."
Yep. It's too weird for even my creative brain to make up! Previous to this discussion, my class was watching the movie Monsters Inc. In one scene in the movie, a monster was drinking a cup of coffee. Some students argued that it was coffee, while others thought it was feces! Kids can have a warped way of looking at things sometimes!
On another note, I posted a video this morning on You Tube showing some of the problems I've faced over the years that I've been abroad when it comes to speaking on the telephone. It's amazing how much we rely on nonverbal cues when speaking to someone who doesn't use English.
Culture Shock: The Telephone
Here's the original.
Ah....tomorrow morning I'm running in the Kobe Valentine's Love Run. That's right!! I didn't make that name up either. That's the name of the race I'm entered in. I'll be running the half-marathon starting at 10:30am.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Watch out for the Demons!
Today is Setsubun and it's almost over. I spent part of the morning being pelted with soy beans. Oh yeah; did I mention I was dressed as an "Oni", or a Japanese demon. Each class in my school took turns pelting the beans at me in order to "symbolically" drive away the evils of the year and welcome in good things.
One Japanese tradition is to eat soy beans after you've pelted them at the man dressed as the "Oni." You're supposed to eat one for every year you've been alive. I was apprehensive at first, but once I began chomping down on these little brown things, I instantly realized that they taste pretty awesome.
Another tradition for many Japanese people on Setsubun is to eat "Norimaki", which is a sushi roll. When I came home from work, my lovely wife had one for each of us as well as a special miso soup and a large sardine to eat. All traditional food for the day and it was pretty damn delicious!
This was one of my students' lunches today. Her mother had prepared this at home for her. I love the rice, in the image of an "Oni." Very cool dtuff indeed.
By the way, it was amazing how so many students were able to throw beans into the eye holes of my demon mask. Wow, some of them really stung!
One Japanese tradition is to eat soy beans after you've pelted them at the man dressed as the "Oni." You're supposed to eat one for every year you've been alive. I was apprehensive at first, but once I began chomping down on these little brown things, I instantly realized that they taste pretty awesome.
Another tradition for many Japanese people on Setsubun is to eat "Norimaki", which is a sushi roll. When I came home from work, my lovely wife had one for each of us as well as a special miso soup and a large sardine to eat. All traditional food for the day and it was pretty damn delicious!
This was one of my students' lunches today. Her mother had prepared this at home for her. I love the rice, in the image of an "Oni." Very cool dtuff indeed.
By the way, it was amazing how so many students were able to throw beans into the eye holes of my demon mask. Wow, some of them really stung!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Wow, it's Setsubun! 節分
It's been almost a week since my previous blog. Simply put, I'm damn busy. It's coming close to the end of the Japanese school year, I'm putting together final student assessments, student portfolios and making a graduation DVD. Also, I have my Japanese class and my running schedule to attempt to keep up with.
Today I went for a run and hunkered down for the afternoon to edit some videos for my You Tube channel as well as work on some collaboration videos. Hopefully, very soon, there will be some very cool things happening with my channel.
It's almost February, and it's almost time for Setsubun. Setsubun is another Japanese festival that has to do with ridding the world of evil and bringing in the new, so to speak.
In Japan, Setsubun (節分) is the day before the beginning of each season. The name literally means "seasonal division", but usually the term refers to the spring Setsubun, properly called Risshun (立春) celebrated yearly on February 3 as part of the Spring Festival (春祭, haru matsuri?). In its association with the Lunar New Year, Spring Setsubun can be thought of (and was previously thought of) as a sort of New Year's Eve, and so was accompanied by a special ritual to cleanse away all the evil of the former year and drive away disease-bringing evil spirits for the year to come. This special ritual is called mamemaki (豆撒き, lit. bean scattering). Wikipedia
Here's my video about my Setsubun preparations.
Wow, it's Setsubun! 節分
Here's the video I made about last week's 10km road race I ran on Rokko Island.
Is He Running Again?
Original here.
Today I went for a run and hunkered down for the afternoon to edit some videos for my You Tube channel as well as work on some collaboration videos. Hopefully, very soon, there will be some very cool things happening with my channel.
It's almost February, and it's almost time for Setsubun. Setsubun is another Japanese festival that has to do with ridding the world of evil and bringing in the new, so to speak.
In Japan, Setsubun (節分) is the day before the beginning of each season. The name literally means "seasonal division", but usually the term refers to the spring Setsubun, properly called Risshun (立春) celebrated yearly on February 3 as part of the Spring Festival (春祭, haru matsuri?). In its association with the Lunar New Year, Spring Setsubun can be thought of (and was previously thought of) as a sort of New Year's Eve, and so was accompanied by a special ritual to cleanse away all the evil of the former year and drive away disease-bringing evil spirits for the year to come. This special ritual is called mamemaki (豆撒き, lit. bean scattering). Wikipedia
Here's my video about my Setsubun preparations.
Wow, it's Setsubun! 節分
Here's the video I made about last week's 10km road race I ran on Rokko Island.
Is He Running Again?
Original here.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Kobe City Marathon and Snow!
Wow! We actually had snow today. Snow in Kobe, Japan! It was a surprise, but not much longer after it fell, it was all gone. Of course, I was thankful for that since I ran a 10k road race this morning. I ran the Kobe City Marathon. It was held on Rokko Island and turned out to be a sunny and beautiful day.
To be honest, I haven't really been training this month. between my bout with Norovirus, vacation and laziness, I haven't been running as much as usual. I figured that my time would be slow today. I was gunning for a 55 minute fish, but was pleased with my 52 minute time. Last month I ran a 10k in under 50 minutes.
Next run on the books is the Port Island Half Marathon. That one is on February 8th. The awesome thing about that one is the fact that the start line is about a 10 minute walk from my apartment!
Outside my apartment at about 8am this morning. the snow didn't last long.
Another view of the snow on Port Island. Within 2 hours, it was sunny and warm and there was no snow to be found.
To be honest, I haven't really been training this month. between my bout with Norovirus, vacation and laziness, I haven't been running as much as usual. I figured that my time would be slow today. I was gunning for a 55 minute fish, but was pleased with my 52 minute time. Last month I ran a 10k in under 50 minutes.
Next run on the books is the Port Island Half Marathon. That one is on February 8th. The awesome thing about that one is the fact that the start line is about a 10 minute walk from my apartment!
Outside my apartment at about 8am this morning. the snow didn't last long.
Another view of the snow on Port Island. Within 2 hours, it was sunny and warm and there was no snow to be found.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Learning English with Obama
Another weekend is upon us and things in Kobe just got a little chillier. No plans this weekend aside for tomorrow's race. I'm running in the Kobe Marathon. Actually, I'm not sure why the call it a "marathon" since the longest distance is 10km. I'll be running in the "Kobe 10km Road Race"...I think that's a more appropriate term. It's on Rokko Island, which is relatively close to me. No super early rise and shine in order to get to this run! Awesome.
So,I was just reading on Japan Today that Barack Obama's speeches are now the "in thing" in Japan for English language learners.
Japanese learn English using Obama speeches
Saturday 24th January, 06:29 AM JST
TOKYO —
Aspiring English speakers in Japan have made President Barack Obama’s book of speeches and accompanying CD a national best-seller.
In Aichi, central Japan, a Buddhist monk has reportedly been playing the president’s speeches during his temple service. And dozens of students in an English-language class in Tokyo have been memorizing his 2004 Democratic Convention speech to improve their understanding and pronunciation.
“Tonight is a particular honor for me because, let’s face it, my presence on this stage is pretty unlikely,” the students at Kaplan Japan school recited together Friday.
“The Speeches of Barack Obama” has sold 420,000 copies since its release on Nov 20—an “unprecedented huge hit” for an English-language text, according to publisher Asahi Press. Read More...
Once upon a time, in a Land far far away, I was an English teacher. Not one of those "unqualified" ones that Korean folks enjoy demonizing, but a "qualified" one. I also made a few videos on my You Tube channel about teaching ESL in Korea. To this very day, a few of them remain my most popular vid, even though the production quality bites and they're filled with vocal fillers....lots of "ums and ahs"!
I probably receive at least a dozen emails and twenty comments a week from people who are interested in moving to South Korea to be language teachers. Because of this continued interest in my ESL vids, I've decided to make a new advice series. These aren't about teaching though. They are about living in South Korea and I suppose they can also be applicable to living in Japan as well.
I am no longer a language teacher in Korea (I live in Japan) and am not a language teacher here either, so I really know little about the ESL market in Japan.
Here's my latest vid. It's all about the pitfalls of trying to get a haircut in Korea.
A haircut in Korea or Japan...
See original here.
Oh yeah....cheers to cheap beer!
Asahi says cheers to cheap beer
Saturday 24th January, 04:27 AM JST
TOKYO —
Asahi Breweries Ltd said Friday it expected a sharp rise in sales of low-malt beer as recession-hit consumers drown their sorrows with cheap suds.
Japan taxes beer based on malt content, meaning lower prices at the cash register for low-malt beer or beer-like drinks made of beans, corn or other produce. Read More...
This "low malt" beer is an "acquired" taste, but it does fit the pocket book more. I drink it myself from time to time. Tastes like a crappy lite beer. Expect Coors Lite when you open a can!
So,I was just reading on Japan Today that Barack Obama's speeches are now the "in thing" in Japan for English language learners.
Japanese learn English using Obama speeches
Saturday 24th January, 06:29 AM JST
TOKYO —
Aspiring English speakers in Japan have made President Barack Obama’s book of speeches and accompanying CD a national best-seller.
In Aichi, central Japan, a Buddhist monk has reportedly been playing the president’s speeches during his temple service. And dozens of students in an English-language class in Tokyo have been memorizing his 2004 Democratic Convention speech to improve their understanding and pronunciation.
“Tonight is a particular honor for me because, let’s face it, my presence on this stage is pretty unlikely,” the students at Kaplan Japan school recited together Friday.
“The Speeches of Barack Obama” has sold 420,000 copies since its release on Nov 20—an “unprecedented huge hit” for an English-language text, according to publisher Asahi Press. Read More...
Once upon a time, in a Land far far away, I was an English teacher. Not one of those "unqualified" ones that Korean folks enjoy demonizing, but a "qualified" one. I also made a few videos on my You Tube channel about teaching ESL in Korea. To this very day, a few of them remain my most popular vid, even though the production quality bites and they're filled with vocal fillers....lots of "ums and ahs"!
I probably receive at least a dozen emails and twenty comments a week from people who are interested in moving to South Korea to be language teachers. Because of this continued interest in my ESL vids, I've decided to make a new advice series. These aren't about teaching though. They are about living in South Korea and I suppose they can also be applicable to living in Japan as well.
I am no longer a language teacher in Korea (I live in Japan) and am not a language teacher here either, so I really know little about the ESL market in Japan.
Here's my latest vid. It's all about the pitfalls of trying to get a haircut in Korea.
A haircut in Korea or Japan...
See original here.
Oh yeah....cheers to cheap beer!
Asahi says cheers to cheap beer
Saturday 24th January, 04:27 AM JST
TOKYO —
Asahi Breweries Ltd said Friday it expected a sharp rise in sales of low-malt beer as recession-hit consumers drown their sorrows with cheap suds.
Japan taxes beer based on malt content, meaning lower prices at the cash register for low-malt beer or beer-like drinks made of beans, corn or other produce. Read More...
This "low malt" beer is an "acquired" taste, but it does fit the pocket book more. I drink it myself from time to time. Tastes like a crappy lite beer. Expect Coors Lite when you open a can!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Obama, Inaugurations and Sake
It's another week and it's a great day/evening. Barack Obama will be inaugurated in about 2 hours and will become the new President of the United States. I realize this has nothing to do with Kevin and life in Japan, but who cares, it's the most important news period. It begins at 12:30am Japan Standard Time. I just hope I'll still be awake when it begins. Man oh man, I'm a happy camper. I'm so happy to see him come into office.
I did go on that sake brewery tour I talked about. Here's a video I made of the occasion.
Sake Time
In this video, myself, my wife Mai and Patrick (aka, KansaiPJ) had an awsome time. See the original here.
I did go on that sake brewery tour I talked about. Here's a video I made of the occasion.
Sake Time
In this video, myself, my wife Mai and Patrick (aka, KansaiPJ) had an awsome time. See the original here.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Happy Sake Weekend
It's been a little while since I've written something. It was my first full wek back at work since my nasty stomach virus. I'm finally feeling better and ready for the weekend.
This is a weekend dedicated to all things sake! Mai and I are going to visit the Nada Sake Brewery district of Kobe. Kobe has a long history of producing some of the best sake (Nihonshu 日本酒)in Japan. In the Nada area of Kobe (also the area where I take my Japanese class), there are several functional sake breweries that offer free tours and samples. I realize that most will be in Japanese only and I'll probably understand little, but the free sake samples at the end of each tour will make everything better. The Hakutsuru Sake Brewery is supposed to have most of it's information in English so I'll be looking forward to that one maybe more than others. We'll also be meeting our good friend and my fellow You Tube vlogger KansaiPJ. I'm sure we'll generate a lot of great footage from this little adventure!
So, long story short; going to drink some sake tomorrow and will make several vlogs about it. Be sure to check things out here. I'll definitely post them right here.
This is a weekend dedicated to all things sake! Mai and I are going to visit the Nada Sake Brewery district of Kobe. Kobe has a long history of producing some of the best sake (Nihonshu 日本酒)in Japan. In the Nada area of Kobe (also the area where I take my Japanese class), there are several functional sake breweries that offer free tours and samples. I realize that most will be in Japanese only and I'll probably understand little, but the free sake samples at the end of each tour will make everything better. The Hakutsuru Sake Brewery is supposed to have most of it's information in English so I'll be looking forward to that one maybe more than others. We'll also be meeting our good friend and my fellow You Tube vlogger KansaiPJ. I'm sure we'll generate a lot of great footage from this little adventure!
So, long story short; going to drink some sake tomorrow and will make several vlogs about it. Be sure to check things out here. I'll definitely post them right here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
