Archive for category Life in Japan
December 19, 2005 – Hooray for warranty
Posted by Barniferous in Life in Japan, The Penpal on December 19, 2015
My newly purchased used computer monitor from Hard Off (giggle) died today after a week. The picture was really dark from the moment I bought it, even with brightness all the way up. Instead of trying to carry the heavy, bulky monitor back to the store, I asked The Penpal very nicely if she could drive me after she was done work. The 20 inch monitor looked huge in the back of her tiny car!
At the store she explained politely in Japanese that the monitor had stopped working. Fortunately there was an identical model in stock (not always common for used electronics stores), and I was able to make a hassle free exchange. My new monitor has a great picture!
Hooray for Hard Off customer service and their warranty on used electronics!
December 18, 2005 – Foreigner santa
Posted by Barniferous in Life in Japan, Uncategorized on December 18, 2015
Today was the day I got to be Santa at the Yamaha English school Christmas party!
In the morning The Penpal picked me up and drove me from Numazu to Izu Nagaoka, which is about a half hour south in Izu Peninsula. I met with the Yamaha English teachers and we all helped decorate the room. I was given a script, and took some time to rehearse. As I found out earlier in the week, I was going to be both a children’s entertainer and Santa.
The 5 year old and younger group was in the morning. The Yamaha teachers introduced me and then we all watched a puppet show. Afterwards there were some group activities which I tried to lead as enthusiastically as possible. At this point I told the kids I had to leave, and then I ran backstage to put on the discount store Santa costume that was provided. The costume was not good at all and didn’t have boots, but I did bring a pillow and some extra t-shirts to give myself a nice jolly Santa belly.
The Yamaha teachers had the kids start singing Christmas songs, and then I came out from the back, ho-ho-hoing as loudly as I could in a deep Santa voice. A bunch of the youngest kids cried, while some of the others looked like they were seeing the real Santa. I handed out presents and posed for pictures with the kids.
After the youngest kids cleared out, I got to take a lunch break with the teachers. I also sent The Penpal out to a nearby shoe store to buy black boots for my costume. If I was going to be Santa I was going to be the best Santa possible.
The afternoon show went a lot like the morning show, although a lot of the older kids started to figure out that the funny white guy they saw earlier might just be the guy in the Santa costume. The best part of my day came when one of the kids noticed that unlike every other Santa they had ever seen, I wasn’t Japanese. They said “Waa! Gaikoku no Santa da yo!” (Wow, it’s foreigner Santa!”).
I had a lot of fun being foreigner Santa for the kids. My only regret is not getting any pictures in my costume.
If anyone every asks you to be Santa, especially for young kids, say yes!
(2015 Update) Izu Nagaoka is now part of Izunokuni City.
December 15, 2005 – I want to go home
Posted by Barniferous in Life in Japan on December 15, 2015
I want to go home. I want to go home. I want to go home. I want to go home. I want to go home. I want to go home.
(2015 Update) For those who haven’t been following my blog, I originally posted this 10 years ago when I was teaching English in Japan. I was 10 days away from another Christmas away from family, and feeling depressed and homesick. I am happy to report that as of the time this is posted, I will be 10 days away from Christmas WITH family, which I am very much looking forward to.
December 14, 2005 – Santa planning
Posted by Barniferous in Life in Japan on December 14, 2015
Last month, I agreed to be Santa for an upcoming Yamaha English school Christmas party. After work today, I went to meet the organizer for Sunday’s Christmas party. Yamaha English school uses Japanese teachers and has a kids English program. The Penpal used to work there and still has some connections with her old coworkers.
My original idea about the party was that I was going to put on a Santa costume for about 20 kids and hand out presents. I learned that I was actually going to double as a children’s entertainer and then Santa twice in the same day. The first show was going to be 60 kids 5 years old and younger. The second show will be 30 kids aged 6 and up.
What have I gotten myself into??
December 13, 2005 – The Office UK Christmas Special
Posted by Barniferous in Life in Japan on December 13, 2015
I have been feeling a little depressed lately, mainly due to the fact that I am stuck in Japan for Christmas instead of spending time at home with my family.
To cheer myself up, I have been watching The Office (the UK version), which is one of the funniest TV shows I have ever seen. I recently learned that there was a Christmas special set one year after the show ended.
The Office is known for its awkward, uncomfortable humour that usually promises no happy endings at all (like real life). The Christmas special actually finished with a happy ending that had me smiling from ear to ear. I didn’t realize how much I needed something to make me smile.
December 11, 2005 – New monitor
Posted by Barniferous in Life in Japan on December 11, 2015
Today I went to Hard Off (giggle) and bought a HUGE computer monitor to upgrade my in room entertainment system. My new monitor is 20 inches and replaces my 14 inch monitor. It only cost 13,000 yen (about $130) and comes with a 3 month warranty. The warranty may come in handy as the monitor appears like it is ready to self destruct.
For those interested, my entertainment system consists of:
- A VCR (bought from another teacher in Hello House super cheap)
- Playstation 2 (purchased new in Kawasaki)
- My computer (purchased used in central Tokyo)
- The aforementioned 20″ computer monitor
- An upscan converter allowing me to connect all of those devices to my monitor
- A small stereo to handle all of the audio (my first major purchase in Japan)
Being able to stay at home with movies or games is a great way for me to save money and keep sane.
(2015 note) Flat screen monitors were still not common in 2005. My 20″ monitor was a big, heavy CRT model, and was large for a computer monitor at the time. Carrying it back from the store sucked.
December 9, 2005 – Christmas party aftermath
Posted by Barniferous in Drinking, Life in Japan on December 9, 2015
Everyone was hungover.
December 8, 2005 – NOVA Christmas party
Posted by Barniferous in Friends and coworkers, Life in Japan on December 8, 2015
Tonight was the Numazu Nova Christmas staff party!
Over the past few months there have been a lot of parties involving some combination of teachers, staff, or students. In almost every single one there has been some argument, complaint about work, complaint about other coworkers, or someone overindulging. Tonight was different – everyone went out and had a great time. It was one of the most fun and most positive outings in a long time.
Like every other party, we started out in an izakaya and ended up at karaoke. People left through the evening, but I am proud to say that I closed out the evening singing Christmas songs (poorly) with Vivian.
A great time was had by all!
November 25, 2005 – Expert bicycle repair
Posted by Barniferous in Life in Japan, The Penpal on November 25, 2015
Since I have been living in Numazu, the bicycle that I have been borrowing from The Penpal has become an important way for me to get around town. As with any form of transportation, bicycles need occasional maintenance. In the past week I have been battling with one leaky tire, and in the past few days my other tire went flat. It was time to get some help.
I didn’t know where to begin, so I called The Penpal. She did some research for me, and found a small bike repair shop within about a 15 minute walk from my apartment. She also helped me practice the Japanese I would need to ask for bicycle repair.
I carefully walked my bike with its two flat tires to a small store named Adachi. If I didn’t know what I was looking for, I could have easily passed right by. Adachi is run by a very friendly looking older man. I greeted him in Japanese and told him that both of my tires were flat, and asked if he could please fix them. He brought over a small wooden stool so I could sit, and then he went to work on my bicycle.
Watching him work was a treat. This was someone who had obviously spent many years working on bicycles and motorcycles. Every movement was careful and deliberate, with the expertise that only years of experience can bring. I was reminded of the scene in Toy Story 2 where the expert is called in to fix Woody.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GB9h6rqeU4
It turns out that there was a problem with a seal and / or the valve core (my language ability didn’t allow me to fully understand). After carefully replacing a few parts and inflating my tires everything looked as good as new. Not knowing what to expect for the repairs I had taken out quite a bit of cash, just to be safe. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that the repair cost was only 500 yen (about $5). I thanked the man as politely as I could, and rode away smiling. It’s great to be back on my wheels again!
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