October 30, 2008
October 29, 2008
Apartment Found!
I found the apartment I want. It smells of tatami mats and has a sink in the bathroom. I didn't see any bugs and my washing machine won't be outside. Now all I need to do is get my manager to sign the contract. Hopefully she will do that tomorrow and I can get out of here by this weekend. Of course, that means I will not have internet for a couple weeks probably, but that will give me more time to catch up on my reading and watching old movies about the USA killing Japs.
I hope my new neighbors aren't strange.
The old woman struck again! She left another not on her bike, but this time moved it next to the stairs. It was a couple pieces of paper stuck together talking about drugs. I am trying to get the boss to call the police for harassment, but since I am leaving, I guess it doesn't really matter.
Halloween week has started, here are some pictures...my students are shorter than I thought. I am Totoro.
And finally, I wish I could hold my camera steady.
I hope my new neighbors aren't strange.
The old woman struck again! She left another not on her bike, but this time moved it next to the stairs. It was a couple pieces of paper stuck together talking about drugs. I am trying to get the boss to call the police for harassment, but since I am leaving, I guess it doesn't really matter.
The note she left.
Halloween week has started, here are some pictures...my students are shorter than I thought. I am Totoro.
And finally, I wish I could hold my camera steady.
October 27, 2008
No end in sight
Looked at the apartment yesterday. First thing noticed was the cockroach running around. Second thing noticed was 1 square foot of counter space. Third thing noticed was the complete lack of a bathroom sink. Everything would have to be done at the kitchen sink with its one square foot of counter space.
Time to talk to the Dutchman.
I did play racquetball yesterday.
My costume is ready. Maybe pictures will follow later this week.
Time to talk to the Dutchman.
I miss The Barn
I did play racquetball yesterday.
My costume is ready. Maybe pictures will follow later this week.
October 25, 2008
I still do not have an apartment
My bosses are working hard at finding me a place, but they seem to want control everything. I have asked repeatedly for them to email me the link which shows all the advertised apartments. They have repeatedly ignored my request or only emailed me a link to specific apartments. It is quite annoying not having much control over where you will live. If I do change jobs next contract, I will be sure to make sure I can choose which apartment I will live in for the next year. I am going to see one tomorrow morning, right in the middle of the OSU/PSU game. It sucks not having control of things.
Above is the apartment I will look at. It has windows, that is important to me. The numbers mean how many tatami mats will fit in the room, the green room even shows the tatami on the floor. The small blue room says "to-i-ray" or "toilet". It is katikana, the Japanese alphabet for foreign words. Even though it is an English word, it still takes me a bit to understand what it really means. Below are the only two pictures included with the ad. Very helpful.
I was reading up on things when Jimmy Choo's son reminded me of something interesting. Many apartment owners do not want foreigners in their apartments so the agent needs to ask them if it is okay and usually do so right in front of you. I have also heard stories where agents have said horribly racist things to foreigners' girlfriends, just assuming that the foreigner has no grasp of Japanese.
Of course, the only adjectives I know are "cute" and "scary". So unless someone uses one of those I am at a loss. Speaking of cute and scary, Halloween week is upon us. I will have to dress up everyday. The previous teacher was a mushroom the last two years, so it will not be hard to improve on that.
Above is the apartment I will look at. It has windows, that is important to me. The numbers mean how many tatami mats will fit in the room, the green room even shows the tatami on the floor. The small blue room says "to-i-ray" or "toilet". It is katikana, the Japanese alphabet for foreign words. Even though it is an English word, it still takes me a bit to understand what it really means. Below are the only two pictures included with the ad. Very helpful.
I was reading up on things when Jimmy Choo's son reminded me of something interesting. Many apartment owners do not want foreigners in their apartments so the agent needs to ask them if it is okay and usually do so right in front of you. I have also heard stories where agents have said horribly racist things to foreigners' girlfriends, just assuming that the foreigner has no grasp of Japanese.
Of course, the only adjectives I know are "cute" and "scary". So unless someone uses one of those I am at a loss. Speaking of cute and scary, Halloween week is upon us. I will have to dress up everyday. The previous teacher was a mushroom the last two years, so it will not be hard to improve on that.
October 24, 2008
I want to cry.
The apartment I really want is pretty much a no go. Since I may be switching jobs soon I will just try to find something that will get me away from kusobaba (shit grandma) that is living above me.
After seeing that apartments with 2 actual rooms (not counting a tiny kitchen/halway) are reasonably priced, I am feeling good about getting out of this place. Hopefully I will no more by midweek.
This move is going to cost my employer a couple thousand dollars. You have to pay a fee to the agency that shows the apartment, a "gift" to the owner and then comes the deposit. Also, these leases last for 2 years. What the hell is that crap?
October 22, 2008
Slow going.
Found a great apartment, just need to get my boss to do something about it. I should be out of here by the end of the month if everything goes to plan. I haven't transferred the video to my computer yet, waiting on additional software to arrive. In the mean time I made a reenactment of my experiences with the neighbor.
October 20, 2008
drat
The apartment has been rented by someone else, looking at another one tomorrow that should be better and quieter still.
October 18, 2008
WWYD??
I need your help!!!
I can either stay in my apartment or move to a new one without having a crazy lady living above me accusing me of drug use and terrorism.
Pros of current apt:
Quiet, I hear nothing except the occasional kid going to school and the early morning school band practice.
I am already here, no moving.
Pizza Hut knows where to find me.
Giant patio door faces a private, quiet alley
Cons:
Bat-shit crazy neighbor.
A distance from school and train station.
Small one room apt.
No windows except my giant patio door that anyone can walk into.
Pros of new apartment:
Bigger, two rooms so I can actually have a sitting/eating room and a separate room for sleeping.
lots of windows!!
Bigger WC so I can actually close the door if needed be.
Bigger kitchen.
Right next to a drug store and a Chinese restaurant.
Can look out window and see hot moms wheeling their kids around.
Cons:
Kids. Lots were playing right next to my place and when I left they all wanted to try out their English "Hello!" Sorry!" "See you!" "Ching Chong Chow!!"
Have to move my stuff.
May be without Internet for awhile (maybe that is a good thing!)
Looks like a family lives next door.
Near a "busy" road.
If they had built the building facing the other way there would be no questions, I would be moving today.
So PLEASE leave a comment before Sunday night America time and let me know what you think!
On a side note, why does bat poo= crazy and chicken poo= afraid?
I can either stay in my apartment or move to a new one without having a crazy lady living above me accusing me of drug use and terrorism.
Pros of current apt:
Quiet, I hear nothing except the occasional kid going to school and the early morning school band practice.
I am already here, no moving.
Pizza Hut knows where to find me.
Giant patio door faces a private, quiet alley
Cons:
Bat-shit crazy neighbor.
A distance from school and train station.
Small one room apt.
No windows except my giant patio door that anyone can walk into.
Pros of new apartment:
Bigger, two rooms so I can actually have a sitting/eating room and a separate room for sleeping.
lots of windows!!
Bigger WC so I can actually close the door if needed be.
Bigger kitchen.
Right next to a drug store and a Chinese restaurant.
Can look out window and see hot moms wheeling their kids around.
Cons:
Kids. Lots were playing right next to my place and when I left they all wanted to try out their English "Hello!" Sorry!" "See you!" "Ching Chong Chow!!"
Have to move my stuff.
May be without Internet for awhile (maybe that is a good thing!)
Looks like a family lives next door.
Near a "busy" road.
If they had built the building facing the other way there would be no questions, I would be moving today.
So PLEASE leave a comment before Sunday night America time and let me know what you think!
On a side note, why does bat poo= crazy and chicken poo= afraid?
October 16, 2008
WTF?!!!!
Well, I guess leaving strange notes and causing your neighbor many a sleepless night counts for something in Japan. After being told that she would be out by the start of next week, I was told today that it would be me that is out. I am not kicked out, but they aren't kicking her out either. I am too tired of her shit so I am going to pack it in and find another place, hopefully one that is better.
I will go look at one on Saturday. It is not in a quiet area like I am in now, but it has 2 rooms as opposed to my single room, which is a huge leap up for me.
Keep you posted.
October 15, 2008
I am posting better pictures of the note as requested. Her bike is right out there when I open my door, so I guess she figured that would be a good place to put it. I found out that she scampered away after my boss brought up libel laws. Maybe that is why she was so quite last night.
The real estate office was closed today, so we will see what happens tomorrow.
The real estate office was closed today, so we will see what happens tomorrow.
October 14, 2008
Drug Smoking Terrorist!!!
I had a run in with the old lady upstairs tonight. She left a note in front of my door (she even weatherproofed it!!!) saying "DRAG" and a bunch of Kanji after it. Either she was trying to write "drugs" or thinks I am into some other interesting activities. She also called me a "terrorist". I video taped (hard drived???) a lot of it, so be sure to check in later for some of that.
"TERRORIST" she said waving a tape recorder in the cameraman's face.
Drag Note.
Drag Note.
October 13, 2008
October 11, 2008
Another weekend wasted with canceled plans.
The other week I sent in a photo for my family (minus Mom) to be zombiefied. Below is the original and the zombie pic.
I always try to joke with the students and their parents while at work. One parent just had a new baby whose hair is always standing straight up. I called him Koizumi chan and my co-worker immediately shouted "Bad joke! Bad joke!" He has done this numerous times, I wonder if I am breaking any Japanese taboos by joking with them. I wonder if my jokes really are bad?
I saw a guy sitting on the train in his pajamas and a hardhat talking to someone on his computer and using a webcam and little generator to plug his computer into. I am glad I am not the only one who thought he was strange, everyone was looking at him, and the prettiest girl in the car finally got up and changed cars.
For some reason my 5 year old students can play one game of Jenga for 15 minutes but my 10 year olds cannot make it past 3 moves before it comes tumbling down.
During the training day I had last week there was one presenter that was a walking cliche. He was as flaming as his red hair with his pink tie, shwishy manor and being able to reference Judy Garland in a talk about teaching with technology. The greatest moment was when he was giving a demonstration lesson and announced "Today we are going to learn all about fruits!" Great guy and gave the best presentation by far!
My goal for today is to go to the hundred yen store to bye surgical masks for my coughing students. It is getting to be sick season and I see them appearing on the trains more and more. The good thing here is that usually the sick people wear masks so as to not get others sick. I am going to start wearing them soon as well, I cannot afford to miss classes.
Earlier this week a Brit made national news by stripping naked and swimming in the moat surrounding the Emperor's Palace in the heart of Tokyo. He later tried to throw rocks and the police who were terrified of him and ran in all directions when he came near. Japanese news is great because what they usually focus on is pointless. They spent a week covering the mystery of who killed the flowers that were lining a street in some town. This was national news for a week!
The other week I sent in a photo for my family (minus Mom) to be zombiefied. Below is the original and the zombie pic.
Clockwise from top left-Dad, me, Chewy, Brother 2, Brother 1, Anakin
I always try to joke with the students and their parents while at work. One parent just had a new baby whose hair is always standing straight up. I called him Koizumi chan and my co-worker immediately shouted "Bad joke! Bad joke!" He has done this numerous times, I wonder if I am breaking any Japanese taboos by joking with them. I wonder if my jokes really are bad?
Koizumi
I saw a guy sitting on the train in his pajamas and a hardhat talking to someone on his computer and using a webcam and little generator to plug his computer into. I am glad I am not the only one who thought he was strange, everyone was looking at him, and the prettiest girl in the car finally got up and changed cars.
Chatting way without a care in the world.
The girl that he scared away.
The girl that he scared away.
For some reason my 5 year old students can play one game of Jenga for 15 minutes but my 10 year olds cannot make it past 3 moves before it comes tumbling down.
Asians playing Jenga
During the training day I had last week there was one presenter that was a walking cliche. He was as flaming as his red hair with his pink tie, shwishy manor and being able to reference Judy Garland in a talk about teaching with technology. The greatest moment was when he was giving a demonstration lesson and announced "Today we are going to learn all about fruits!" Great guy and gave the best presentation by far!
Front left guy is a fellow Baylor grad. I have a cute girl's head growing out of my shoulder.
My goal for today is to go to the hundred yen store to bye surgical masks for my coughing students. It is getting to be sick season and I see them appearing on the trains more and more. The good thing here is that usually the sick people wear masks so as to not get others sick. I am going to start wearing them soon as well, I cannot afford to miss classes.
Earlier this week a Brit made national news by stripping naked and swimming in the moat surrounding the Emperor's Palace in the heart of Tokyo. He later tried to throw rocks and the police who were terrified of him and ran in all directions when he came near. Japanese news is great because what they usually focus on is pointless. They spent a week covering the mystery of who killed the flowers that were lining a street in some town. This was national news for a week!
October 2, 2008
Lame
It was supposed to be an exciting day today, but following a teacher training day (talk about that later) every plan that I had was canceled. So I leave you with two sites I was directed to.
Lasers!
Sexy people (safe for work!!)
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