Long Time Expat In Japan
Living in Japan, since 2006, is not nearly as tough as the time I lived here in the 90s. Back then it was hard to keep in touch, both with friends and with culture. I was happy when Amazon came along and made it easier to buy books. I used to have to go to … Continue reading Archive
Today is kind of a lonely day. It is the beginning of the rainy season. The skies are a uniform grey. The temperature is just a little too warm. It’s wet, because of the constant misting that starts just after Golden Week. It transports me, reminds me of the first time I lived here and … Continue reading What’s Making Me Nostalgic
I've been living in Japan, this time, since 2006. A time of change to say the least. I say "this time" because there was another time (duh), in the 1990's. But that’s another story. Being outside your home country means you miss a lot of things. In both senses of the word. I miss home. … Continue reading Late to the Party
里とほき八声の鳥の初声に花の香送る春の山風 satohotoki, yagoeno torino, hatsukoe ni, hananoka okuru, haruno yamakaze In my home town, everywhere you can hear, the first calls of birds, the fragrance of flowers, carried on the mountain winds. The imagery of this one hit me on the heartstrings. I don't live in mountains, admittedly. But I do, or did, live in … Continue reading carried on the mountain winds
Hello kitty is the epitome of marketing. As far as I can tell, Hello kitty has never been a comic book character, a TV show, a movie, or anything. It only exists as a marketing vehicle. According to wikipedia, "she is a perpetual 3rd-grade student who lives outside of London," has a twin sister, Mimi, … Continue reading Japan is Awesome – Hello Kitty
I went to Meiji shrine the other day, taking a guest from out of town. I paid some yen to pray. You choose how much to throw, like tossing coins into fountains. They say that it's better to throw a 5 yen coin because it’s better luck. So 5 yen is better than 1, 50 … Continue reading Japan is Awesome – Fortunes
It was in my second year of college that I learned the meaning of the word sophomoric, conceited and overconfident of knowledge but poorly informed and immature. It kind of hit hard. And it was kind of true. It was a time when I learned enough to know I didn’t really know anything. The below … Continue reading 3rd-Dan
... to have a highball or two at the end of a long day at work. It’s my grandfather’s drink, but I don’t mind; I’m self actualized. It’s usually just one. Maybe two. Just a night cap till “once more into the breach.” Tonight was different, I bought a canned highball, labelled “strong.” And so … Continue reading It’s My habit
A little background. I got a new job (same company, new place). I needed a small apartment for M-F because it’s so far away. For my move I asked for the service where they pack and unpack your stuff. Mostly it’s just the dishes I didn’t want to wrap, and the books I didn’t want … Continue reading On Why I’m a Jerk
I’m not usually one to crow. I learned humility well and early, often with good reason. Tooting your own horn is unseemly. I am from a different age, I suppose. But I am disproportionately proud of this one bit of calligraphy that I did for a level up test recently. So enamored of it, in … Continue reading Proud – and a Little Ashamed of Being So
B.S. Donovan 