The original intent of this blog was to repost all of the posts from my original Japan travel blog that I wrote in 2003-2006. I have had a lot of fun writing and ended up with some posts outside of their original chronological order. This page will contain a quick link to all posts ordered by date. Please note: this is a work in progress and will be complete shortly!
Before Japan
Some background about the time leading up to my move to Japan.
- About me in 2003
- The Ex
- Why Japan?
- The Penpal
- The Jet Programme
- The To-Do List
- Turn your head and… never mind
- September 9, 2003 – Trip to Edmonton
- September 15, 2003 – Destination: Kawasaki
- September 16, 2003 – Shopping for Ties
- September 17, 2003 – The Visa Arrives
- September 18, 2003 – The Farewell Party
- September 19, 2003 – The Farewell Party (aftermath)
- September 22, 2003 – The Day Before
- September 23, 2003 – Departure
Japan Round One
My first stay in Japan from 2003 – 2004. Includes my time in Kawasaki up to the summer of visitors.
- September 24, 2003 – Episode 1 – Arrival
- September 25, 2003 – Hz is important for alarm clocks
- September 26, 2003 – Where is the f**king ward office?
- September 27, 2003 – Less than a week in Japan and I am eating burgers
- September 29, 2003 – Orientation Day
- October 3, 2003 – Enter The Penpal
- October 5, 2003 – Kamakura with The Penpal
- October 8, 2003 – Le Kiosk
- October 10, 2003 – Manual HTML Editing
- October 13, 2003 – Canadian Thanksgiving in Japan
- October 15, 2003 part 1 – First Earthquake
- October 15, 2003 part 2 – Beware Roppongi
- October 18, 2003 – The blind leading the blind
- October 19, 2003 – Bob Sapp Time
- October 20, 2003 – Hockey Finally
- October 23, 2003 – When you’re this bad, they call you Mister?
- October 26, 2003 – The John Lennon Museum
- October 27, 2003 – Izakaya
- October 30, 2003 – Kill Bill is NOT a good date movie
- October 31, 2003 – Team Canada
- November 1, 2003 – Keikyu Kawasaki NOVA
- November 2, 2003 – First visit to Numazu
- November 3, 2003 – My suica has been smashed
- November 4, 2003 – Porno (the book not the porn)
- November 6, 2003 – Gay Tokyo
- November 8, 2003 – Lazy teacher
- November 9, 2003 – Tongue Twisters
- November 10, 2003 – On Cloud 9
- November 11, 2003 – Spaghetti Dona
- November 12, 2003 – I didn’t travel half way around the world to watch Beverly Hills 90210
- November 13, 2003 – First all-nighter in Tokyo
- November 15, 2003 – Stupid day
- November 16, 2003 – Double date
- November 17, 2003 – Kids training
- November 19, 2003 – Easy day
- November 20, 2003 – Crappy day
- November 22, 2003 – The University Educated Tissue Guy
- November 26, 2003 – The Universal Language of Beer
- November 27, 2003 – Cosmo Clock
- November 30, 2003 – Christmas Tree
- December 5, 2003 – First group kids class
- December 6, 2003 – The Last Samurai
- December 7, 2003 – Tsumaranai Sensei
- December 8, 2003 – High pressure sales in Shibuya
- December 16, 2003 – Comparisons
- December 17, 2003 – The Canadian Ambassador has Arrived
- December 18, 2003 – Robocop 3 is terrible
- December 19, 2003 – Depresso: The most depressed kid in Japan
- December 20, 2003 – Half price sashimi isn’t always a great idea
- December 22, 2003 – Rumble in the Bronx
- December 23, 2003 – Light Steel Blue
- December 24, 2003 – Christmas Eve
- December 25, 2003 – Christmas chicken for all!
- December 26, 2003 – The out group
- December 28, 2003 – Yokohama redemption
- December 29, 2003 – Robocop (the good one)
- December 31, 2003 – New Year’s Karaoke
- January 1, 2004 – Happy New Year!
- January 2, 2004 – Mishima Taisha, Evangelicals, and Fathers
- January 5, 2004 – Kinokuniya is the best!
- January 8, 2004 – The All-Canadian Dream
- January 9, 2004 – Cold, but not “Canada” cold
- January 11, 2004 – Revenge of Channel Kitano
- January 12, 2004 – Coming of Age Day
- January 16, 2004 – Should have stayed in bed
- January 17, 2004 – Pandas speak Chinese, not English
- January 18, 2004 – Walking around Yokohama
- January 20, 2004 – Well worth a pen
- January 21, 2004 – Avoiding the teacher
- January 22, 2004 – The dozo table
- January 24, 2004 – Four months in Japan
- January 25, 2004 – A romantic dinner at Wendy’s
- January 26, 2004 – Bad music day at the internet cafe
- January 27, 2004 – Interesting students
- January 28, 2004 – Free travel advice
- January 29, 2004 – 10 degrees and sunny
- January 31, 2004 – I need a beers
- February 1, 2004 – Cheap movie day
- February 2, 2004 – Yay blond hair!
- February 3, 2004 – The Urinating Talk Show
- February 4, 2004 – The Worst Case Survival Guide
- February 6, 2004 – The drunkest self email ever
- February 7, 2004 – Working with a hangover
- February 10, 2004 – Revenge of the elbows
- February 12, 2004 – The night I fell on the train tracks
- February 13, 2004 – Recovery
- February 14, 2004 – Japanese Valentine’s Day
- February 15, 2004 – Train Simulator
- February 16, 2004 – Interesting train people
- February 18, 2004 – Haircut in a foreign language
- February 19, 2004 – Learning English hurts your head
- February 20, 2004 – Parklife
- February 21, 2004 – Pixies in Winnipeg? Are you kidding me?
- February 22, 2004 – Lord of the Rings finally
- February 23, 2004 – Classic games on a crap computer
- March 9, 2004 – Access restored!
- March 12, 2004 – (not the cat)
- March 13, 2004 – The Great Sasuke is not always a great topic
- March 14, 2004 – Too many foreigners in Japan!?
- March 15, 2004 – Vanilla Ice wants to talk to the manager NOW
- March 16, 2004 – Where the f**k is the immigration office
- March 17, 2004 – St. Patrick’s Day at the immigration office
- March 18, 2004 – Renting a movie is challenging
- March 19, 2004 – Australian English is just wrong
- March 20, 2004 – Time flies
- March 21, 2004 – First trip to Izu
- March 22, 2004 – It was a day
- March 23, 2004 – Trapped in the internet cafe
- March 24, 2004 – Six months in Japan
- 6 months in Japan – State of the Union
- March 26, 2004 – LOTR Extended version
- March 27, 2004 – Falling asleep a the controller
- March 30, 2004 – Catching a cold
- March 31, 2004 – Daytime cold medicine rules!
- April 1, 2004 – Sleep, movies, games, sleep, and sleep
- April 2, 2004 – Back from the dead
- April 3, 2004 – How to call in sick
- April 4, 2004 – Happy birthday to my sister
- April 5, 2004 – Walking to Yokohama
- April 6, 2004 – Too much walking hurts
- April 8, 2004 – Sprinting in a suit
- April 9, 2004 – The Numbers Game
- April 12, 2004 – Drinking in Japan
- April 14, 2004 – Meh
- April 15, 2004 – Karaoke U-Drunk
- April 16, 2004 – Classroom English; what could possibly go wrong?
- April 17, 2004 – Izu vacation day 1
- April 18, 2004 – Izu vacation day 2
- April 19, 2004 – DU invasion confirmed
- April 20, 2004 – 420 and Koala tennis
- April 21, 2004 – My alarm clock is a screaming man
- April 22, 2004 – Beef vs fish
- April 23, 2003 – Whatever it takes to get English
- April 23, 2004 – Maria’s first day
- April 25, 2004 – Don’t machine wash a tie
- April 26, 2004 – Friends marathon
- April 27, 2004 – 30 Seconds to Fame
- April 28, 2004 – Did nobody bring a watch to Japan?
- April 29, 2004 – VIP at Velfarre
- May 1, 2004 – Request forms
- May 2, 2004 – Fantaisie Impromptu
- May 3, 2004 – Movie date?
- May 4, 2004 – First time in Don Quijote
- May 5, 2004 – Pixies rule!
- May 6, 2004 – Thursday night karaoke
- May 7, 2004 – Accommodations confirmed
- May 8, 2004 – Atlanta!? Seriously!?
- May 9, 2004 – Hiyoshi NOVA
- May 10, 2004 – The Passion of the Bootleg
- May 12, 2004 – Discount beef jerky
- May 14, 2004 – The worst word I know
- Sakura 2014
- May 15, 2004 – Free lesson
- May 16, 2004 – Free games
- May 17, 2004 – Working Visa!
- May 19, 2004 – Good Kids Class
- Life in Noborito – Daiei Department Store
- Life in Noborito – The Stoop
- Life in Noborito – Hello House
Team Awesomesauce Presents
My friends from Canada visit Japan. Shenanigans ensue.
- Intro
- May 21, 2004 part 1 – Narita Airport
- May 21, 2004 part 2 – My friend is Canada
- May 22, 2004 part 1 – Chocolate Love Stick
- May 22, 2004 part 2 – Game Centres and Kabukicho
- May 23, 2004 part 1 – Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park
- May 23, 2004 part 2 – Shakey’s Pizza
- May 23, 2004 part 3 – Everything is Jumbo in Canada
- May 24, 2004 part 1 – Don’t touch that!!
- May 24, 2004 part 2 – Personal security guard
- May 24, 2004 part 3 – Burgers and games
- May 25, 2004 – Bad ideas at family restaurants
- May 26, 2004 part 1 – Odaiba
- May 26, 2004 part 2 – Toyota Megaweb
- May 27, 2004 part 1 – Exploring Yokohama
- May 27, 2004 part 2 – Karaoke adventure
- May 28, 2004 – Watching the Stanley Cup finals in Tokyo
- May 29, 2004 – A night out in Roppongi
- May 30, 2004 – I just told her it was small, didn’t I?
- May 31, 2004 part 1 – Banks and Temples
- May 31, 2004 part 2 – Games and porn?
- June 1, 2004 part 1 – Mexican pandas and fighting monkeys
- June 1, 2004 part 2 – I don’t understand medal games
- June 2, 2004 part 1 – Nikko
- June 2, 2004 part 2 – Walking and waterfalls
- June 3, 2004 part 1 – The 20 Frosty Challenge
- June 3, 2004 part 2 – “All you can drink” is NOT a challenge
- June 4, 2004 – It’s like leapfrog but nobody’s jumping
- June 5, 2004 – The strip club
- June 6, 2004 part 1 – Kamakura in the rain
- June 6, 2004 part 2 – Lost plane tickets
- June 7, 2004 – Departure
- Team Awesome Sauce Epilogue
In between visitors
The short time between when my rowdy friends left and my family came to visit.
- June 8, 2004 – Back to work
- June 10, 2004 – Setting up the month of pain
- June 11, 2004 – Avoid 50% off sashimi at all costs
- June 12, 2004 – Kiosk!
- June 13, 2004 – Music and movies with The Penpal
My family visits Japan
Stories about my parents and my sister visiting Japan.
- June 27, 2004 – My family arrives in Japan
- June 28, 2004 – Beer at the movies
- June 29, 2004 – Ueno Park, Homelessness, and Museums
- June 30, 2004 – Yokohama
- July 1, 2004 – Hungry Translator
- July 2, 2004 part 1 – The long road to Hiroshima
- July 2, 2004 part 2 – Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
- July 2, 2004 part 3 – Where is the f**king hotel?
- July 3, 2004 part 1 – Wabi Sabi Kyoto style
- July 3, 2004 part 2 – Pulling rank
- July 3, 2004 part 3 – Kaiten zushi
- July 4, 2004 – The Meeting of the Families
- July 5, 2004 part 1 – We can’t go to Daiei anymore
- July 5, 2004 part 2 – Pachinko and passports
- July 6, 2004 – Ginza and Sensoji in the heat
- July 7, 2004 part 1 – Final adventures
- July 7, 2004 part 2 – Gyukaku!
- July 8, 2004 – The family leaves
Japan Round One (continued)
Covers the second half of 2004 until my first return to Canada
- July 9, 2004 – New Voice Co-ordinator
- July 10, 2004 – Pachinko shopping cart
- July 11, 2004 – Returnee student
- July 12, 2004 – Only day off
- July 14, 2004 – How big is Uranus?
- July 15, 2004 – Return to karaoke
- July 16, 2004 – Return to Gyukaku
- July 17, 2004 – Too many kids
- July 18, 2004 – Tired
- July 19, 2004 – Six days and nine gates
- July 20, 2004 – Seventh consecutive workday
- July 21 – 23, 2004 – The saga of the new computer
- July 25, 2004 – Tokyo with The Penpal
- July 26, 2004 – Early shift
- July 28, 2004 – Schedule change
- July 29, 2004 – Happy birthday to me!
- July 30, 2004 – Birthday aftermath
- July 31, 2004 – Rugby
- August 1, 2004 – Yet more work
- August 4, 2004 – An unpleasant conversation with my boss
- August 9, 2004 – Day off!?
- August 11, 2004 – Return of the good kids class
- August 13, 2004 – Friday the 13th
- August 14, 2004 – Adventures at the lost and found
- August 15, 2004 – The Lockup
- August 18, 2004 – Schedule uncorrected
- You are not alone
- August 22, 2004 – Cleaning?
- August 23, 2004 – Naussica and American Pie
- August 24, 2004 – Yakiniku and Twin Peaks
- August 25, 2004 – First USB memory stick
- August 26, 2004 – More Twin Peaks
- August 27, 2004 – Transfer in jeopardy?
- August 28, 2004 part 1 – New religions
- August 28, 2004 part 2 – Private bath at Ryokan Ooya
- August 29, 2004 – Love Call Bell
- August 30, 2004 – Who are you, brutha?
- August 31, 2004 – Gyukaku and Homestar Runner
- September 1, 2004 – Too many cameras
- September 2, 2004 – The September Rush
- September 3, 2004 – More September Rush
- September 4, 2004 – Too Many Andrews from Canada
- September 5, 2004 – The Insanity Continues
- September 6, 2004 – Touring Noborito
- September 7, 2004 – The early end of Twin Peaks night
- September 8, 2004 – No News
- September 10, 2004 – CAT Training
- September 11, 2004 – Early Saturday
- September 12, 2004 – Karaoke!
- September 13, 2004 – Tiger Mask
- September 14, 2004 – The Blue Parrot
- September 15, 2004 – Drunk Teachers
- September 16, 2004 – NHL for Playstation
- September 18, 2004 – All night like an idiot
- September 19, 2004 – The destruction of Toronto
- September 20, 2004 – Sleep and hockey
- September 21, 2004 – Washable technology
- September 23, 2004 – Stand by your man
- September 24, 2004 – Japanniversary
- September 25, 2004 – Birth control
- September 26, 2004 – Digital camera
- September 27, 2004 – VCR Clue
- September 29, 2004 – New teaching method
- October 1, 2004 – New textbook
- October 3, 2004 – Mick Foley debates
- October 4, 2004 – The heater is on
- October 5, 2004 – A bomb with skull and crossbones
- October 6, 2004 – Last good kids class
- October 8, 2004 – Researching bad resumes
- October 9, 2004 – Sideways rain
- October 10, 2004 – First look at my new apartment
- October 11, 2004 – Hiking in Enoshima
- October 12, 2004 – Short shift
- October 14, 2004 – Phoala’s farewell part one
- October 15, 2004 – 4am Russian hostess bar
- October 16, 2004 – Catching cold
- October 17, 2004 – No voice = no work
- October 18, 2004 – Daytime cold medicine to the rescue
- The English teaching community is a small world
- October 20, 2004 – Mover details
- October 21, 2004 – Halloween Voice
- October 23, 2004 – Massive Earthquake
- October 24, 2004 – Singing Tupac for free drinks
- October 25, 2004 – My farewell party
- October 26, 2004 – Packing
- October 27, 2004 – One last night with the good kids
- October 28, 2004 – Farewell Karaoke
- October 29, 2004 – Demo Lessons
- October 31, 2004 – Packing all night on Halloween
- A day in the life of an English teacher
- November 1, 2004 – Moving Day
- November 2, 2004 – This karaoke looks familiar
- November 3, 2004 – First day at Mishima NOVA
- November 5, 2004 – Japanese Lesson after work
- November 7, 2004 – BBQ in the park
- November 8, 2004 – Earthquakes and Zombies
- November 9, 2004 – Hard-Off
- November 10, 2004 – Ryoba
- November 12, 2004 – So much rain!
- November 13, 2004 part 1 – Plane ticket purchased
- November 13, 2004 part 2 – First student party
- November 14, 2004 – Hurting
- November 15, 2004 – I have a bike!
- November 16, 2004 – Nothing
- November 17, 2004 – Shopping in Kawasaki
- November 19, 2004 – Halo 2
- November 20, 2004 – Raspy
- November 21, 2004 – A surprised donkey
- November 23, 2004 – Visiting Hello House
- November 24, 2004 – Christmas Shopping in Asakusa
- November 26, 2004 – America F**K Yeah!
- December 1, 2004 – Realization
- December 4, 2004 – Biking in the rain
- December 3, 2004 – Restaurant in the hills
- December 5, 2004 – Passing Typhoon
- December 6, 2004 – Engrish Christmas messages
- December 8, 2004 – One Year (and a bit) in Japan
- December 11, 2004 – Medical Emergency
- December 13, 2004 – (Not so) wonderful kids
- December 14, 2004 – Sleep Debt
- December 15, 2004 – Immigration office master
- December 16, 2004 – Refusing to catch a cold
- December 17, 2004 – Harry Potter 3 (again)
- December 19, 2004 – Last work day of 2004
First Return to Canada
My first return to Canada for Christmas and New Year.
- December 20, 2004 part 1 – Leaving Japan
- December 20, 2004 part 2 – Back in North America
- December 21, 2004 – Breakfast Canadian Style
- December 22, 2004 – Poutine and Hockey
- December 23, 2004 – Extreme Tactics and Extreme Chair Destruction
- December 24, 2004 – Strangers in a foreign land
- December 25, 2004 – Merry Christmas!
- December 26, 2004 – Boxing Day
- December 27, 2004 – I miss Japanese customer service
- December 28, 2004 – Carlos and Murphy’s
- December 29, 2004 – An awkward meeting and an awkward movie
- December 30, 2004 – Non alcohol karaoke!?
- December 31, 2004 – Epic New Year’s Bongo Battle
- Request for a name change
- January 1, 2005 – New Year’s Hangover
- January 2, 2005 – House of 1000 Corpses
- January 3, 2005 – Greyhound Bus
- January 4, 2005 – Last night in Canada (again)
- January 5, 2005 part 1 – Too cold to take off
- January 5, 2005 part 2 – Catwoman is simply awful
Japan Round Two
My second stay in Japan in 2005.
- January 6, 2004 – Back in Japan
- January 7, 2005 – First day back at work
- January 8, 2005 – New Izakaya! 100 yen beer!
- January 9, 2005 – Poor choices
- January 11, 2005 – Grilled mochi
- January 14, 2005 – Good food
- January 16, 2005 – MGS3 in Japanese
- January 17, 2005 – Izakaya
- January 18, 2005 – Computer upgrades
- January 22, 2005 – First busy day
- January 23, 2005 – Everyone has colds
- January 25, 2005 – Exploring Numazu
- January 31, 2005 – Fugu restaurant sign
- February 1, 2005 – What makes a lady “foxy”?
- February 2, 2005 – Royal Rumble
- February 3, 2005 – Setsubun
- February 4, 2005 – Oni wa soto
- February 14, 2005 – Valentine’s Day
- February 15, 2005 – Shift swap payback
- February 16, 2005 – More computer upgrades
- February 18, 2005 – Sick day
- February 19, 2005 – New nickname
- February 20, 2005 – The least erotic dance ever
- February 21, 2005 – This kid is messing with me
- February 23, 2005 – Me? Cooking!?
- March 1, 2005 – Happy birthday to The Penpal
- March 2, 2005 – Lazy
- March 4, 2005 – Surprise English!
- March 7, 2005 – Mid shift
- March 8, 2005 – Room setup never ends
- March 9, 2005 – Epic bike ride
- Japanese Buses are f**king confusing
- March 10, 2005 – Massage?
- March 11, 2005 – Fuji school
- March 12, 2005 – Bad kids
- March 14, 2005 – White day
- March 15, 2005 – Sake DOES give hangovers
- March 16, 2005 – Lazy days off
- March 17, 2005 – St. Patrick’s Day
- March 18, 2005 – More games, less teaching
- March 19, 2005 – Mountain climbing and movies
- March 20, 2005 – Trying to stay awake
- March 24, 2005 – 4 Empty Lessons!
- March 25, 2005 – The empty lesson King
- March 28, 2005 – These movies are just wrong
- March 29, 2005 – Sun to Moon
- March 30, 2005 – A cluster of Canucks
- April 4, 2005 – Happy birthday to my sister!
- April 6, 2005 – Welcoming the new guy
- April 7, 2005 – Flu or bad pub food? Also, Wrestlemania
- April 10, 2005 – Pick it up
- April 11, 2005 – Rain on my day off
- April 12, 2005 – Raising kids in Japan
- April 13, 2005 – A good kids class!?!?
- April 14, 2005 – Expanded responsibilities
- April 15, 2005 – Three days in a row
- April 16, 2005 – 4 days in a row!
- April 17, 2005 – The streak is over
- April 18, 2005 – No deportation for me (yet)
- April 21, 2005 – Aussie Rules and Don Cherry
- April 22, 2005 – Invasion of the Obasans
- April 23, 2005 – Beer and karaoke
- April 24, 2005 – Singing Celine Dion for beer
- April 25, 2005 – Office Space
- April 30, 2005 – Happy Birthday Mom!
- May 1, 2005 part 1 – Communists and carp banners
- May 1, 2005 part 2 – Egawa-tei
- May 2, 2005 – Visiting Yokohama
- May 4, 2005 – Wednesdays in Fuji
- May 6, 2005 – Spending money
- May 7, 2005 – Yet more karaoke
- May 8, 2005 – Another farewell party
- May 9, 2005 – Sleeping is good
- May 11, 2005 – Return to Fuji city
- May 13, 2005 – Around the World in 80 Days
- May 14, 2005 – Too much karaoke?
- May 15, 2005 – The worst
- June 1, 2005 – Breaking up fights
- June 2, 2005 – Who quits by fax?
- June 5, 2005 – Problem Child (not the movie)
- June 7, 2005 – Million Dollar Baby in Yokohama
- June 8, 2005 – Gaijin!!
- June 9, 2005 – Early shift rules!
- June 10, 2005 – Entertaining the kids with no glasses
- June 11, 2005 – Human paper shredder
- June 12, 2005 – Sick day
- June 14, 2005 – Come and knock on our door
- June 15, 2005 – Breaking up fights: round 2
- June 16, 2005 – Farewell party for Kasparov
- June 17, 2005 – Making out in the park
- June 19, 2005 – Team teach
- June 20, 2005 – Shift swap scrooges
- June 21, 2005 – Pizza and Super Mario Brothers
- June 22, 2005 – Dangerous new deals at the izakaya
- June 23, 2005 – Missing: The good kid
- June 24, 2005 – My weight in beef
- June 26, 2005 – Birthday karaoke (not mine)
- July 1, 2005 – Feeling old on Canada Day
Mid year vacation
My personal vacation from work
- July 4, 2005 – Vacation begins!
- July 5, 2005 part 1 – Himeji Castle
- July 5, 2005 part 2 – Missing hotels and glass escalators
- July 5, 2005 part 3 – How to eat an egg
- July 6, 2005 part 1 – Osaka Aquarium
- July 6, 2005 part 2 – Too much walking!
- July 7, 2005 – Eastside Hockey Manager
- July 8, 2005 – Rainy day in Odaiba
- July 9, 2005 – The best food show ever
Japan Round Two (continued)
My second stay in Japan in 2005 (continued)
- July 14, 2005 – Back to work, schedule changes
- July 16, 2005 – Atami Summer Festival
- July 17, 2005 – BBQ in the Park
- July 19, 2005 – No hands handstand
- July 20, 2005 – Good sleep
- July 21, 2005 – 8th day in a row
- July 24, 2005 – Celebrating 11 days in a row
- July 25, 2005 – Unsurprising hangover
- July 26, 2005 – Guitar Wolf
- July 27, 2005 – RIP Bass Wolf
- July 28, 2005 – Repaying a shift swap
- July 29, 2005 – Birthday eel
- July 30, 2005 – Numazu Summer Festival
- July 31, 2005 – Raw horse
- August 1, 2005 – First day at my new school
- August 3, 2005 – Apartment hunting
- August 4, 2005 – Honeycomb
- August 5, 2005 – Late Friday
- August 6, 2005 – Pretending to be asleep on the train
- August 7, 2005 – Pianos and parties
- August 8, 2005 – AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE
- August 9, 2005 – Fireworks in Kamakura
- August 10, 2005 – Movies all day
- August 11, 2005 – Way too hot
- August 12, 2005 – Sick sister
- August 13, 2005 – Too f**king hot
- August 14, 2005 – Obon
- August 15, 2005 – Star Wars Episode 3
- August 16, 2005 – Massive earthquake
- NOVA Apartments
- Life in Japan – Laundry
- Life in Japan – Garbage Day
Second Return to Canada
My sudden trip home in 2005
- August 19, 2005 – Planning an emergency trip home
- August 20, 2005 part 1 – Getting there is not half the fun
- August 20, 2005 part 2 – Am I dreaming?
- August 21, 2005 – Day pass and Summerslam
- August 23, 2005 – Out of the hospital
- August 25, 2005 – Premier Championship Wrestling
- August 26, 2005 – Being a helpful brother
- August 27, 2005 – Prank backfired
- August 28, 2005 – Food with friends
- August 29, 2005 – So many channels, nothing to watch
- August 30, 2005 – Amy!
- August 31, 2005 – Steak
- September 2, 2005 – Back to Japan
Japan Round Three
My third stay in Japan from 2005-2006. Includes another round of visitors.
- September 3, 2005 – Farewell party 9,085 km away
- September 4, 2005 – Get out of my room!
- September 5, 2005 – Jetlag day
- September 18, 2005 – Aichi Expo
- September 22, 2005 – Wrong restaurant!
- September 24, 2005 – Second Japanniversary
- September 25, 2005 – The world’s funniest burger
- September 29, 2005 – Free show
- September 30, 2005 – Bad news from home
- October 1, 2005 – Don’t push the “push” button
- October 6, 2005 – Welcome wagon
- October 8, 2005 – Wedding in Yokohama
- October 9, 2005 – A day in Yokohama
- October 10, 2005 – Part of a group
- October 11, 2005 – Three schools in three days
- October 12, 2005 – Monkey love
- October 13, 2005 – Emergency beer
- October 15, 2005 – Only NOVA teachers can badmouth NOVA
- October 16, 2005 – Speech contest
- October 18, 2005 – Bad influence
- October 20, 2005 – First Canadian Christmas?
- October 21, 2005 – Garlic
- October 22, 2005 – Never drinking again
- October 23, 2005 – Geek day
- October 24, 2005 – Productive day off!
- October 25, 2005 – Yes, we understand the word gaijin
- October 27, 2005 – Return to Fujinomiya
- October 28, 2005 – Nihongo benkyou shimasho
- October 30, 2005 – Missed a good party
- November 1, 2005 – Homework?
- November 2, 2005 – Santa in training
- November 3, 2005 – National Holiday
- November 4, 2005 – Feeling like crap
- November 5, 2005 – Open lesson
- November 8, 2005 – Productive not fun
- November 10, 2005 – A remedy for stress
- November 11, 2005 – Remembrance Day
- November 12, 2005 – 1000 yen coffee
- November 25, 2005 – Expert bicycle repair
- November 26, 2005 – 3:30am
- November 2005 – Vivian gets a cell phone
- December 1, 2005 – December already!?
- December 2, 2005 – Dolphin Squeaks
- December 3, 2005 – Vitamin drinks
- December 8, 2005 – NOVA Christmas party
- December 9, 2005 – Christmas party aftermath
- December 11, 2005 – New monitor
- December 12, 2005 – Best class ever!
- December 13, 2005 – The Office UK Christmas Special
- December 14, 2005 – Santa Planning
- December 15, 2005 – I want to go home
- December 16, 2005 – Manos: The Hands of Fate
- December 18, 2005 – Foreigner Santa
- December 19, 2005 – Hooray for warranty
- December 24, 2005 – Christmas songs at the izakaya
- December 25, 2005 part 1 – Apartment Christmas party
- December 25, 2005 part 2 – Drunk Christmas Skype
- December 29, 2005 – View-O
- December 30, 2005 – A night out in Noborito
- December 31, 2005 part 1 – Hostess bar job interview
- December 31, 2005 part 2 – Hungover computer teacher
- January 1, 2006 – Part of the family
- January 2, 2006 part 1 – Karaoke without beer!?
- January 2, 2006 part 2 – Japan in a wheelchair
- January 3, 2006 – Learning about Uzbekistan
- January 4, 2006 – Last day of holidays
- January 5, 2006 – Short day back at work
Another visitor
My friend UPS visits from Canada. Shenanigans ensue. UPS is a nickname and is not in any way related to the parcel delivery company.
- January 6, 2006 – Forgot about the International Date Line
- January 7, 2006 – Welcome UPS!
- January 8, 2006 part 1 – Adventures in Shinjuku
- January 8, 2006 part 2 – Meiji Shrine
- January 8, 2006 part 3 – Rap Attack in Yoyogi Park!!
- January 8, 2006 part 4 – Hanging out in Harajuku
- January 9, 2006 part 1 – Second hand fraternity shirts and pachinko
- January 9, 2006 part 2 – A new bad habit
- January 9, 2006 part 3 – Bubble tea
- January 9, 2006 part 4 – Karaoke makeouts
- January 10, 2006 part 1 – Respectable sightseeing
- January 10, 2006 part 2 – Tuesday night in Roppongi
- January 11, 2006 part 1 – Finding Capsule Land
- January 11, 2006 part 2 – How not to use a sento
- January 11, 2006 part 3 – Akihabara and Farewells
Japan Round Three (continued)
In between visitors in early 2006 featuring life changing decisions.
- January 2006 – Multiple girlfriends (not mine)
- January / February 2006 – Saved by Ringer Hut
- January 30, 2006 – Planning for the future
- February 6, 2006 part 1 – A modest proposal
- February 6, 2006 part 2 – Proposal aftermath
- February 7, 2006 – Custom Japanese lesson
- February 9, 2006 – Never leave your beer unattended
- February 13, 2006 – The waiting game
- February 15, 2006 – The classiest place I have ever gotten drunk
- February 16, 2006 – Blue light
- February 19, 2006 – An early farewell to a roommate
- February 21, 2006 – Give an octopus
- February 26, 2006 – Rain delay
- February 27, 2006 – I hate garbage day
- February 28, 2006 – Hypnotize
- March 1, 2006 – Keeping cake out of the rain
- March 2, 2006 – Bananaphone
- March 3, 2006 – The endless bounties of Don Quijote
- March 4, 2006 – Too many stairs
- The story of the knee injury
- How to get the most out of your time in Japan
- Late Saturday shift at the Eikaiwa
- March 17, 2006 – Green Beer
- March 18, 2006 – The Wrath of St. Patrick
- March 19, 2006 – Apartment cleaning begins
- March 20, 2006 – Kabi Killer
- March 23, 2006 – Info on the new roommate
- March 24, 2006 – Clean enough
Parents return to Japan
My parents second visit to Japan
- March 25, 2006 part 1 – My parents return to Japan
- March 25, 2006 part 2 – Press this button in case of muggers
- March 26, 2006 part 1 – Canadian parents on the loose in Japan
- March 26, 2006 part 2 – Exploring Numazu
- March 27, 2006 part 1 – Himeji Castle (again)
- March 27, 2006 part 2 – Middle aged Korean women
- March 28, 2006 part 1 – Osaka Castle with my parents
- March 28, 2006 part 2 – Osaka Aquarium with my parents
- March 29, 2006 part 1 – Very old buildings in Nara
- March 29, 2006 part 2 – Rampaging Hordes of Deer
- March 29, 2006 part 3 – Translating for my dad
- March 30, 2006 part 1 – Kiyomizu Dera with my parents
- March 30, 2006 part 2 – Izakaya with my dad
- April 1, 2006 part 1 – Dolphin meat at the supermarket
- April 1, 2006 part 2 – Sightseeing with the family
- April 1, 2006 part 3 – Movie and drinks
- April 2, 2006 – Kabuki in Ginza
- April 3, 2006 part 1 – Ring shopping with my mom
- April 3, 2006 part 2 – Fuji viewing
- April 4, 2006 part 1 – Family Ryokan experience
- April 4, 2006 part 2 – No bathing suits in the onsen!?
- April 5, 2006 – Pottery Lessons and free upgrades
- April 6, 2006 – Farewell to my parents
Japan Round Three (continued again)
The remainder of my time in Japan from April – November 2006.
- April – May 2006 Posting dead zone
- April 7, 2006 – Stupid Windows 98
- April 2006 – The benefits of drinking with students
- April 2006 – The perils of not wearing a watch
- April 2006 – Don’t start a fight with someone twice your size
- April 20, 2006 – Trailer Park Boys
- April 21, 2006 – Good day
- April 22, 2006 – Zenbu wakatta yo
- April 30, 2006 – Ring shopping
- May 2006 – Jenny doesn’t like me anymore
- May 17, 2006 – Stadium Arcadium
- May 18, 2006 – Guys night in
- May 19, 2006 – So much rain!
- May 21, 2006 – Farmer Tan
- May 2006 – Door to door sales
- June 9, 2006 – World Cup is BORING
- June 10, 2006 – New house
- June 14, 2006 – Wrestling vs. World Cup
- June 15, 2006 – Ethical dilemmas and Price of Space
- June 16, 2006 – Last day before holiday
- June 17, 2006 – A ticket home
- Train legs
- June 18, 2006 – Ninja Museum
- June 19, 2006 part 1 – Interesting people in Osaka
- June 19, 2006 part 2 – A night out in Osaka
- June 20, 2006 – The hungover guide to Kyoto
- June 21, 2006 – Paid to sit on my ass
- June 2006 – What’s the Japanese word for “pink eye”
- July 1, 2006 – Canada Day already!?
- July 2006 – Busted (not me)
- July 13, 2006 – Fun was had by all
- July 14, 2006 – Teamwork (the bad kind)
- July 15, 2006 – Mystery throat spray
- July 16, 2006 – Atami Summer Festival again!
- July 18, 2006 – Blargh
- July 19, 2006 – So tired
- July 20, 2006 – Multimedia lessons
- July 22, 2006 – Teacher shortage
- July 23, 2006 – Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell
- July 24, 2006 – Unbearable
- July 26, 2006 – Yukata shopping
- July 29, 2006 – Walking in a yukata is HARD
- July 30, 2006 – Double birthday party at Numazu festival
- July 31, 2006 – Happy to have the day off
- August 2, 2006 – Pizza!
- August 2, 2006 – Friends
- August 5, 2006 – Broken remote karaoke
- August 6, 2006 – Moonlighting as a children’s entertainer
- August 7, 2006 – HOT HUMID
- August 8, 2006 – Typhoons are not helpful for drying clothes
- August 9, 2006 – Final Fantasy 3 (or 6)
- August 12, 2006 – Fishmarket Tap Room
- August 15-19, 2006 – I’m becoming boring
- August 20, 2006 – Like part of the family
- August 21, 2006 – Working overtime
- August 24, 2006 – Swords, sandals, and suckitude
- August 25, 2006 – Plane ticket home – for real this time
- August 26, 2006 – Cool biz where are you?
- August 27, 2006 – State of the Union
- August 28, 2006 – Bad form
- August 29, 2006 – Bike ride in humidity
- September 4, 2006 – Procrastination FTW
- September 8, 2008 – Fuel surcharge?
- September 10, 2006 – Children’s Entertainer (again)
- September 17, 2006 – Piano Recital year 3
- September 29, 2006 – Please don’t spit on the teacher
- October 1, 2006 – Speech contest
- October 3, 2006 – Sad Cows Song
- October 7, 2006 – Renovations during lessons
- October 9, 2006 – Shinto Shrine Bingo!
- October 10, 2006 – Overtime day
- October 11, 2006 – Married with Children
- October 12, 2006 – Common sense 1, Bureaucracy 0
- October 14, 2006 – Stuff
- October 22, 2006 – Communication breakthrough
- October 23, 2006 – Fuji 5 Lakes
- October 24, 2006 – Dollhouse Kimura (coming soon)
- My first time using a Japanese Toilet
The Farewell Tour
From my last day of work to my return to Canada
- October 28, 2006 – Last day of work for NOVA
- October 29, 2006 – Ikebana and Murder
- October 30, 2006 – Official Farewell Party
- October 31, 2006 – 90% of the time it makes me sick every time
- November 1, 2006 – Preparing to leave
- November 2, 2006 – Facial Hair
- November 3, 2006 – Dinner with my private student
- November 4, 2006 – Goodbye Tokyo
- November 5, 2006 – Goodbye Kawasaki
- November 6, 2006 – Goodbye Pizza and Friends
- November 7, 2006 – Goodbye Gotenba Kogen Brewery
- November 8, 2006 – Goodbye Trailer Park Boys marathons
- November 9, 2006 – Goodbye Koalako’s apartment
- November 10, 2006 – Unofficial farewell party (coming soon)
- November 11, 2006 – Packing, blah (coming soon)
- Love Hotels > Regular Hotels (coming soon)
- November 13, 2006 – Goodbye boxes (coming soon)
- November 14, 2006 – Goodbye Playstation (coming soon)
- November 15, 2006 part 1 – Goodbye Electronics and Roommates (coming soon)
- November 15, 2006 part 2 – Goodbye Japan
Memorable Students
Some memories of memorable students.
- Mr. Three Times Marriage
- The Twins
- The Thesaurus – intro, origins, showdown
- Feeling good
- The Slapper
After Japan
Life after returning to Canada in late 2006.
- Return to Japan 2013
- July 5, 2013 – Preparation
- July 6, 2013 – Departure
- July 7, 2013 – Arrival
- July 8, 2013 – Driver license offices are slow everywhere
- July 9, 2013 – Getting Naked with Strangers
- July 10, 2013 – Cooking in Tokyo
- July 11, 2013 – Shopping and “Shopping”
- July 12, 2013 – The Best Game You Can Name
- July 13, 2013 – Budda Zoom
- July 14, 2013 – Drinking in the Danger Zone
- July 15, 2013 part 1 – A well deserved hangover
- July 15, 2013 part 2 – Atami Summer Festival
- July 16, 2013 – The World’s Smallest Hotel Room
- July 17, 2013 – The Highs and Lows of Akihabara
- July 19, 2013 – Beef and 4D ZOMBIES!
- July 21, 2013 – Leaving Japan
- December 12, 2016 – Good memories
- December 28, 2016 – Happy 70th to my Dad
- January 2, 2017 – Happy New Year 2017
- June 14, 2017 – En route to Japan 2017
- June 15, 2017 part 1 – Ready to leave
- June 15, 2017 part 2 – So much purple
- June 15, 2017 part 3 – Quest for pants
- June 16, 2017 part 1 – Long ass flight
- June 16, 2017 part 2 – Don’t bring a car seat on a plane
- June 17, 2017 part 1 – Jetlag sucks, especially for kids
- June 17, 2017 part 2 – Seiyu is WAY different now
- June 18, 2017 – Rakujuen
- June 19, 2017 part 1 – Aquors? In My Sea Paradise?
- June 19, 2017 part 2 – Not Tokyo
- June 20, 2017 part 1 – Mosquitoes
- June 20, 2017 part 2 – Purarail
- June 21, 2017 – A Canadian walks into an Indian Restaurant in Japan
- June 22, 2017 part 1 – Kaiten sushi with a kid
- June 22, 2017 part 2 – Visiting family in Izu
- June 23, 2017 – Karaoke!
- June 24, 2017 – BooFooWoo
- June 25, 2017 – Adventures in Yokohama
- June 26, 2017 part 1 – My kid is addicted to medal games
- June 26, 2017 part 2 – Crisis averted
- June 27, 2017 – Looks better than it tastes
- June 28, 2017 part 1 – Nagoya Aquarium
- June 28, 2017 part 2 – The poo-splosion
- June 28, 2017 part 3 – Vacation is very different as a parent
- June 29, 2017 – Legoland Japan!!
- June 30, 2017 – Random thoughts about Coin laundry
- July 1, 2017 part 1 – Daddy, why is there a foreigner at the playground?
- July 1, 2017 part 2 – Beer and TV
- July 2, 2017 – A very long day
Incoming Baby
How I became an overtired parent in 2014!
- Part 1 – I Failed the Test
- Part 2 – Wooshy
- Part 3 – Early Labour
- Part 4 – BIRTH!
- Part 5 – Coming Home
Other
Other posts that popped up on my blog
- “The Happy Warrior” Roxanne Modafferi
- The Tragically Hip
- Steins;Gate The Game – a review
- Trailer Park Boys: Cultural Ambassadors
- 40 Beers in 40 Days
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