September 26, 2004 – Digital Camera
Posted by Barniferous in Life in Japan on September 26, 2014
This is the 8 megapixel version of my new camera!
Today I finally went out and bought a digital camera! I went to the big Yodobashi Camera near Kawasaki NOVA and bought a Canon IXY 4 megapixel camera with a 256mb memory card. I was looking for something in the 4 megapixel range with optical zoom that was point and shoot. This camera met all of my requirements, and the price was pretty good too.
I managed to make the entire purchase using Japanese. Very simple Japanese, but I still felt pretty proud of myself. The salesperson was very polite and patient. Yodobashi Camera rules!
September 25, 2004 – Birth control
Posted by Barniferous in Teaching English on September 25, 2014
Teaching English to children is a very effective form of birth control. Some days they are HORRIBLE.
September 24, 2004 – Japaniversary!
Posted by Barniferous in Life in Japan, Teaching English on September 24, 2014
Today is my one year Japaniversary! I can’t believe I have been living in Japan for a year already!
Even more exciting, I got official notification of my transfer. As of November 1st, I will be living in Numazu and working at NOVA’s Mishima branch. Woo hoo! More information as I get it!
September 23, 2004 – Stand By Your Man
Posted by Barniferous in Friends and coworkers, Karaoke on September 23, 2014
Tonight was Thursday Night Karaoke in Yokohama with the usual crew. I try to challenge myself with a new song or two each time. Tonight I sang “Sex Type Thing” by Stone Temple Pilots, which turned out pretty well. Later on I was inspired by The Blues Brothers and tried to sing “Stand By Your Man”. Jem came in on the duet, and completely took over the song. Somehow her British accent was completely replaced by a perfect Tammy Wynette southern twang which left us all with our jaws on the floor. Serious talent!
September 21, 2004 – Washable technology
Posted by Barniferous in Life in Japan on September 21, 2014
Looking south from a pedestrian bridge near Mukogaokayuen station
Today I did some laundry, and to my horror I found that I had left my USB memory stick in the pockets of my pants. After a trip through the washing machine it still worked perfectly. Probably not recommended.
I still haven’t gotten used to cold water wash for laundry. In most parts of Canada, washing machines use warm or hot water to wash clothes. Cold water wash seems to get the clothes clean, but it’s harder to get stains out. There is a great dry cleaning place near Noborito station that I take my work clothes to occasionally. They not only get out any stains that the cold water wash misses, but they also press and fold my shirts afterwards. Most of the teachers in the area use this laundry, so they have compiled a big list of all of the foreigner names so they don’t have to ask people with limited Japanese skills the same questions every time (address, phone number, etc). Not every business takes the extra steps to make their business foreigner friendly, so if you find one please tell everybody and make sure to give them your business.
After laundry I worked on updating my blog and got a few new pictures added.
September 20, 2004 – Sleep and hockey
Posted by Barniferous in Friends and coworkers, Hello House on September 20, 2014
If I could sum up my entire day in 2 words, those words would be sleep and hockey. I am not exactly making the most of my time in Japan, but I am okay with that.
If I could add a few more words (and I can because it’s my blog), I also watched some CSI with Okonomi. After the demise of Twin Peaks night with Zoe and Lux, Okonomi and I have been hanging out and watching CSI often, usually over a few beverages.
September 19, 2004 – The destruction of Toronto
Posted by Barniferous in Life in Japan, Movies on September 19, 2014
After work, I went to see Resident Evil: Apocalypse in Shinyurigaoka with Lux. Apocalypse is the second movie based on the Resident Evil games. The movie was predictably awful, until we noticed that the movie was obviously filmed in Toronto. The movie’s climax is a huge fight scene in front of Toronto’s unique city hall building.
Lux is from Kitchener / Waterloo which is close to Toronto, but not part of the GTA. Telling her she is from Toronto is a great way to annoy her. Toronto is Canada’s largest city, and is the city that all other Canadians love to hate. Winnipeggers still laugh about the time that the crazy mayor called in the army when Toronto got a lot of snow.
Watching parts of Toronto explode on the big screen was worth the price of admission.
(2014 Update) Leafs suck!
September 18, 2004 – All night like an idiot
Posted by Barniferous in Teaching English on September 18, 2014
Last night I stayed up all night like an idiot playing NHL 2002 on Playstation 2. It did not help me deal with a busy day at work.
September 16, 2004 – NHL for Playstation!
Posted by Barniferous in Karaoke on September 16, 2014
EA Sports NHL 2002 – Japanese edition
One of the teachers I work with was shopping at a used game store, and found a Japanese copy of NHL 2002 for Playstation 2. The EA Sports NHL games did not get a large release in Japan, so this was a very rare find. Knowing it might not be around for long, he bought it for me and gave me the option of paying him for it, or having him return to the store. I had my wallet out in seconds, and resisted the urge to hug him.
After work I went to karaoke and rocked the MC Hammer classic “U Can’t Touch This”, among other songs.
Drinking in Japan 
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