Game on.Ý Yes I've lost all since of reality.Ý
I've also lost much of my english ability.Ý After being so careful
about typos in the last email I screwed up the subject "Epsiode"...oops
(that time it was on purpose).Ý The constant talking in easy, and
sometimes improper, english as really taken its toll.Ý I can't remember
big, college words.Ý At least the other JETS I've spoken to are saying
the same thing.Ý We are all getting a little stupid.Ý Now I know
why there is a 3yr limit with my program...by that time we are so bad
at english we don't do any good...but moving on. ÝÝÝ In this chapter a
little about the Wa, about Green Tea, about health, and about a bunch
of other things. ÝÝÝ ----The Wa is the term we Westerners would
call harmony.Ý In Japan to upset the Wa is a no-no.Ý As a result
I've never seen a Japanese really angry.Ý One of my elementary principals
said that "patience is very important in Japan".Ý Here patience is
more than a virtue...it is a necessity.Ý When you take into account
all the lengthy processes for everything, the narrow roads, and many
other items a Westerner can get very upset and thereby disturb the Wa.Ý
To disturb the Wa is very disgraceful.Ý I have read, and to a point
have observed, that Japanese think Westerners, when it comes to emotions,
are not very controlled.Ý I think that some even try to make a Westerner
lose his cool just for kicks...though it hasn't happened to me.Ý
So I use email to vent my frustration...haha.Ý Speaking of which
I found out that my air condition unit has multiple functions...it
is also a dehumidifier.Ý This I discovered when I asked my office
about it and they told me...and that it was on a video I watched...eventhough
that part was never seen because there was a gap between showings
and I thought the first showing was the only one...so anyway...a
dehumidifier...great huh?Ý Well the drawback is it blows cold air
when it is in that mode...so I use my kerosene heater to counteract
that...the heater is very tempermental and when it doesn't have fresh air
it turns off...so I have to open my sliding glass door for that which
brings in really cold air...so I have to turn up the heater...remember
nothing is simple in Japan... ------>The most popular beverage here
is "ocha" or "green tea"....what it is made from I really don't
know.Ý I drink about 3 cups of it a day...there is even an ice cream flavor
named for it.Ý I have been told it prevents many illnesses including
cancer, which is a good thing because Japanese smoke worse than chimneys.
------>You think smoking in America is bad.Ý When compared to Japan
it is smoke-free...and the Japanese will tell you that too.Ý I was
playing in a baseball game that my whole office created and it was
interesting to see a baserunner come in and then light up in the
dugout.Ý Then they all lit up.Ý Out of 12 guys on my team I was one of
two who didn't smoke the weed.Ý My small office isn't any better...sometimes
a few light up at the same time...did I mention my use of smoke signals?Ý
It is a good thing Japanese eat really healthy and drink green tea,
otherwise they would be dropping like flies. ÝÝÝ Most older Japanese have
false, no, or gold teeth.Ý This is because of the lack of fluoride
in the water and also the lack of dental hygiene back then.Ý Times
have changed now and there is almost an obsession with brushing.Ý
One thing I like to do after lunch is watch everyone, from teachers
to students, take their toothbrushes and their cups from their desks
and brush away.Ý One teacher at one of my schools brushes 6 or 7
times a day...I like to think of him as the Japanese Lady MacBeth.Ý
I have yet to cave into this past time...maybe I should. ------->I've
done my introduction for the last time finally...did it over 40 times...I
know myself pretty well by now.Ý In one class they didn't ask me
any questions so I thought I would tell them more about myself..."I
met Bush-san"...silence..." I met Clinton-san"....silence...explanation
to the teacher..."oh"...translation to the class...silence...."I
met Col. Sanders"...applause...laughs...and other assortments of
happy noises...this still cracks me up.Ý If you don't get this then
read chapter 9 Crash and Burn.... ÝÝÝ ----->Another popular thing
to do is take pictures.Ý Before coming here I thought that was only
for a McDonald's in America, but now I know that they are just crazy
about pictures.Ý Know that little booth in your local mall that can
take a little funny picture of you and a friend?Ý Well here that
is the biggest thing since slice bread...print club...or as they
say "printo clubu" (the reason for the way it is said I will explain
next time).Ý I am always getting these from my students and I've
been caught up in the fever and have taken a few with some of my
friends.Ý When taking a regular picture it is custom to give a copy
to the person who was included in it.Ý Once I even got a copy from some
guy I didn't know because I was in the very far background with only
a part of my head showing...though I think this was an extreme case.Ý
I have more photos of myself than I would ever want or need. I don't
take many photos of people...I take video...doubt they would want
a copy of that.Ý My friend Jason has a pretty big task though...he
took a group photo of 50 people...wouldn't want to see that developing
bill. ----->The roads here are nuts.Ý I think I mentioned that before,
but it deserves a little more attention.Ý Most turns, both when intersecting
a street and when a road curves, are so bad that they are supplied
with the same kind of mirror you see in convenient stores to stop
shoplifters.Ý The trick though is how to use these mirrors when you are
about to turn out into traffic.Ý Some places have 2 or 3 mirrors for
traffic coming both ways.Ý Don't get confused with which mirror is for
which way of traffic or you might end up only half a car...again video
of this will be forthcoming... ÝÝÝ Well I think that will do it on
this side of the world... Ý