Saturday, November 28, 2009

Nihongo

I've started to discover that learning Japanese is like playing Mad Gab (remember that game? Where you had to put together "A Stump How Hers" to figure out you were saying "Austin Powers" *Shout out to the Ruggs there*)

Anyway, let's see if you are any good at that game. Can you figure out the English equivalents of these Japanese words? (tip: think in a Japanese accent - change your V's to B's, L's to R's and add an U sound at the end of words that end in consonants)

1. Oosutoraria
2. konpyuutaa
3. toire
4. combini
5. hoteru
6. chizu
7. bokushingu
8. garufurendo
9. gorfu boru
10. remon

Figured them out?
Give up?

Ok, here are the answers:
1. Australia
2. computer
3. toilet
4. conveni(ence store) *ok that one was a little tougher*
5. hotel
6. cheese
7. boxing
8. girlfriend
9. golf ball
10. lemon

There we go, speaking Japanese isn't so bad after all. Now if I could only figure out that crazy writing....

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Recently (In Photos)


I love terrible translations in Japanese advertising. This was just an egg salad sandwich in a hot-dog bun. Note the catch phrase at the top.


I made these!


The commercial is just as funny here as it is in Canada

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

A Day Off!

Hello hello!

I've been working a lot of hours lately and today was my first day off in a while so I spent it a traditionally Japanese way.... shopping! (But seriously, almost everytime I ask a student what their hobbies are I get "shopping" as an answer)

It just so happened that today was probably the coldest day yet since I've been here - consistent gray skies with intermittent rain and a temperature that chills you to to the core. Shopping really was the only option for today :)

The good new is, I finally figured out how to use the heater in my room (please refer to the ridiculous remote control in the photo below) , so I won't have to sleep with a sweater on. Woo hoo!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

More Proof


Yes, this is me in a suit.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

A Photo for Proof

Yes, this is my supper, and yes, I made it (eggplant, chicken, cashews and all) ! I'm not so helpless in the kitchen after all.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

November Evenings

Oh Tokyo, I cannot count the ways I love thee.

Yes, that's right, it's a November evening and that building's flashing sign says 21 degrees Celsius!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

More Japanese Stuff


Even the ironing boards are made so that you sit on the floor to use them!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Illiteracy and Obesity

I've completed some highly scientific research that has revolutionized my perspective on obesity in North America:

I'm functionally illiterate right now (there are three different alphabets in the Japanese language!!) so as you can image, grocery shopping is functionally challenging. Since I cannot read what I'm buying, I generally have to stick to stuff that's in similar packaging to products at home or I have to go through the process of trial and error. The error part is not fun - last week I thought I was buying peanut butter, it turned out to be some sort of weird sweet peanut jelly. So, if one is out and about, and hungry (as one often is) stopping into a restaurant poses a problem. Either you need someone who can read Japanese with you, or you need a restaurant with pictures on the menu. Yes, the latter is common, but the menus with pictures are often only at the cash register so your lunch decisions are made after 1) already waiting in line 2) being faced with the pressure of ordering now and 3) not being able to politely back down if you all of a sudden realize "this place is WAY too expensive!". Therefore, from time to time, when one is just god-damn hungry your safest/only bet is to eat at the places you know and of course McDonald's is always just around the corner.

Therefore I now see the connection between stupidity/ignorance and obesity. Thank you McDonald's for your worldwide consistency.