The Asian Van Wilder

Early spring days...

2009-03-26T12:19:45Z

Again, it's been a while. I regret my lax attendance on this, but I've been regrettably busy of late...
Which brings me to my question...
Why is everyone getting married? I suppose spring is the season for it, but still, can't people realise that it gets me depressed?
Well, that was quite self-centered. But I suppose that'll happen after drinking a bit. To be honest, I'm quite happy for them all. I hope that all of the people I know that are either married or getting married will have a wonderful life together. It also makes me want to join that club. Unfortunately, (or some people might say fortunately), I haven't any plans on the horizon to be married, or even for a girlfriend. So, this is the time for all of you out there that secretly desire me in one way or another to make your intentions known.(Though I seriously doubt anyone is actually out there...)
But that being said, single life is good. I finally found out that I get to keep my school in the yearly round-robin of Japanese school teacher rotations. Good news for me, because I really don't want to move. I hate cleaning out my desk. It makes things feel so final. Even when I move from place to place, that's the last thing I ever do.
However, some of the really cool teachers are leaving this year, which makes me quite sad. But, it means that new teachers are coming, so I'll get to be senpai, finally. At least, now people will pour me beer instead of the other way round. And the teachers vacation is tomorrow, so I'll be able to enjoy beer and fugu. As long as i don't die from the fugu, everything will be peachy.
Otherwise, it's spring here in Japan, and quite beautiful. I would never live it down if my students ever found out, but I really enjoy walks by myself. There is one place above the city I usually go to, and you can see everything for tens of miles. Surrounded by cherry and plum trees. Quite nice and especially beautiful at night, to the point of tears. (I only share that here because I think most of you already know I have a soft side... My students and co-workers should never hear of this, thank you very much.)
Well, that's all for today. I have to wake up early tomorrow, and since it's already almost 9:30 PM, I should head to bed. Yes, I tend to sleep early nowadays...
Please say hi if you're around! I rely on feeling like I'm included in everything, you know, and hearing from people is quite calming...

Anger management, of a sort.

2009-02-25T01:49:15Z

I managed to lose just about 30000 yen (about $300) yesterday due to what is most likely my own stupidity. See, I have this tendency to not put money in my wallet, but to just fold it and put it in my pocket. Normally, this is no problem, because I don't put anything else in that pocket. However, it sometimes means I forget that I have money and find it later. Or, on really horrible occasions where my mind is adrift (which is usually), I put something else in the pocket. Now, this is what pockets are for, I know. So really, I can't blame myself for the action. However, I can blame myself for the fact that when I take the thing out, money tends to come with it. And falls to the ground. And I don't notice. And I go away.

Anyways, to make a long story short, I'm pissed at myself for not having any money this month for anything. And just a week after payday too. Pity.

And so my form of anger management is to play Rome: Total War and soundly thump the Gauls. And the Carthaginians. The Macedonians still give me a bit of trouble, though...

So that is the story of my life. Any questions?
(Unrelated questions are welcome too, as I'm well and truly bored.)

Ramen and movies

2009-02-01T12:39:41Z

Hmm, I remember saying I was going to update more frequently. I suppose that that didn't work out as I'd planned. But then, school will do that to you. Specially if you're the teacher...

Anyways, "shaken" is next month. I do hate shaken. Especially since it means I have to spend 80000 yen (about 800 bucks) just to keep on driving my car. Well, that's life in Japan I suppose. Now, what to do about the money?

Other than that, no big news. Went to Thailand for Winter Break. Saw my parents new house there, and I must say I'm happy with it. Granted, with the apartment I have here, anything more than two rooms would have made me happy.

Taught elementary school kids last week on my once a term loan-visit. They always make me feel good and wanted. Now if only they'd stop reaching for my private parts...

And finally, I'm watching "The Gods Must Be Crazy". So far, a really interesting film, and I'm surprised it took me this long to see it. Would be good for an Anthropology class, I think.

Anyways, just wanted to say hello. And also see who out there is still interested. And yes, I'm not dead yet!

GTO

2008-11-26T01:16:08Z

So, I promised an entry about me and where I have been since my last real post almost two years ago. I suppose I should do that now, eh?

Well, in the time since I quit from under that horrible boss at that English school I was teaching at, I've done quite a bit. First, I was a bartender at a place here in Okazaki. That lasted all of a year. It was quite fun, but it really wasn't what I was cut out for. That and I would rather be mixing drinks for close friends than people I don`t know.
So I finally (quit/got fired) and found a job that I really do enjoy. I got very lucky and am now a junior high school teacher. It`s been almost a year, and I`m still not even close to being tired with this new job. It`s quite fun, my students are great, and I even get to do a bit of coaching.
Perhaps not what everyone was expecting of me, but I`m actually quite happy. No girlfriend, though, which puts a bit of a damper on things, but then, I don`t really have time for it with the time I put in at school.

In other news, I sold my old motorcycle. Then I bought a car. Then I bought a brand new motorcycle. Yes, I am crazy. And, using my Japanese name, I can call myself GTO. Great Teacher Oujirou. End statement.

So, hopefully there are some people out there who notice that I`m still around. Love to hear from anyone that is reading, if it`s alright with you guys...

Whoops...

2008-11-22T03:58:25Z

I just remember I have this livejournal thingamabob. Hmm, I could have been writing soo many things, but I just plain forgot. Weird... Maybe more will come?

Boss troubles.

2006-09-14T18:42:13Z

I would like to thank thefeifei for this post. It is because of her that I remembered I have an LJ thingy... I really need to keep up better. And I now have internet. So that's a double plus. Internet + nudge = feel special.

However, on the flip side of that, my boss is cheating me out of 500 dollars a month. To be more exact 50000 yen. About the same, though. I will be quitting this job as soon as I get the chance. It doesn't really matter, but since he is paying me less than the minimum for foreign workers in Japan, I figure that voids the contract I signed saying I get 250000 a month. Not 200000. 250000. The bastard.

I apologise for the use of foul language. It just makes me that frustrated. Especially since because he has connections, I can't do anything about it. Except quit, that is.

All for, please say "aye". All against, please say "nay". I accept advice. I now know I don't know what I am doing anymore.

Help!

The future is hazy

2006-08-01T05:27:24Z

Hello everybody. I have been negligent again, and I shall pay for my sins. But this isn`t the reason for this post. I need help of a guiding sort. I would say of a divine sort, but I`ve become a bit less facetious living in Japan, and because nothing divine has ever touched this country. So if you would be so kind to help me out, please continue reading.

So...

I have been offered a job as the bar manager at a place that earns about $15000 a week profit purely on drink sales. Now here is the place I need help with.

Should I take this job? Or should I hold out for something better?

The job pays about 250000 yen a month, plus free food and drinks during hours and bonuses for good sales. Hours are 5 to closing, whenever that may be, working out to about 200 hours a month.

My current teaching job is the same pay, plus transportation, though no bonuses, and no food and drinks. I work 115 hours a month. Food and drinks in one month come out to about 50000 or so yen for me to live comfy.

Or, I could wait and find a technical editing job for Ishida Taiseisha, Inc. They would pay me about 350000 a month in yen. But I highly doubt transport and food costs are included, though I bet there are bonuses. The reason I say wait and find and am still so specific is because I have a friend that works for them that says the posit is opening up. It`d be your regular Japanese 9 AM to 7 PM or so, plus the commute.

I need some help because as all you know already, I can`t make decisions on my own and am swayed by an ant running in a fortuitous direction. That and I`m quite passive, though not so much as many in Japan, to my relief. Although it isn`t much relief, really...

Help me?!?

asianvanwilder @ 2006-07-24T20:51:00

2006-07-24T11:52:22Z

On account of bad coding, I have changed this post. It had a quizzy thing. Now it does not. Sorry for the inconvenience.

In other news...

I need a new job. Teaching kids is not for me. Perhaps I can become a salaryman...?

asianvanwilder @ 2006-06-22T01:03:00

2006-06-22T06:04:56Z

So I got my work visa... which means I'm now gonna be in this country for far too long. I've become an English teacher and a freelance translator/editor/designer/journalist. You may be wondering how I managed to string that together, but it does work. Somehow. Yeah, more updates later, I have to go to work now.

And so...

2006-06-10T07:41:03Z

I bought this today, and it felt good...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42086083@N00/164061026/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42086083@N00/164061023/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42086083@N00/164061032/
I suppose I'm a little crazy, no?
But it rides like a dream.
That is all for now.

And I'm back again.

2006-05-28T21:08:56Z

Within a week. Isn't it amazing.

My catalog is finished. I made it. All 136 pages of it. In color too. I'd put it up here, but its 136 pages, and pretty boring for the most part. But my first (independent) publication! Unfortunately, not what I had in mind as a first, but good enough. So yeah.

Now that I don't have to spend 8 hours a day after 6 hours of classes working on this thing... I have no idea what to do. Any suggestions? I've got one thing I'm doing, but it's talking in English to some bankers at Toyota Bank's International Department (for a 100 bucks an hour, I'll sacrifice some dignity and converse for show... everyone has their price...), but it's only an hour a week.

I need something to entertain me. Something to thrill me. Something to keep me sane. Suggestions are good. Visits are better. If you can make it all the way to Japan, that is.

Oh, and I got an XBox 360... It's not as nice as my (navy blue) DS Lite, but eh, what can I do. I live a mile from the PS2 factory, the area is kinda biased. But as it's Japan, Nintendo still gets better placement. Got the XBox for cheap, though. $150, only a week after the release date.

As a sidenote, I am gonna be running a bar this week. Like, a realer one.

Boo.

2006-05-24T17:37:48Z

So I watched all of Firefly and then Serenity in a sitting and a half (I say sitting and a half because a day of class and work was in the middle, but they don't really count, because I went from watching to class to work and then back to watching). I have come to the conclusion that in the next five years, I have to makes lots and lots of money and help it out a bit. I started off by buying a airsoft revolver. But then, that's just because I'm crazy. I suppose it's also crazy to sit on a bed for 10 or so hours and watch the entirety of the Firefly stuff, but then, I qualify this as well by saying I am me.

So yes, point of the story is: I recommend Firefly. Go buy it. Now. Or at least rent it. That works too.

Oh, and I fell off my motorbike. It was quite fun. There was flying involved, and a truck. Luckily, the truck stopped and I kept my aviating to a somewhat safe minimum. Tore my nice coat up though. The tearing of the coat fazes me... At least it's not winter anymore.

Oh, by the way, I'm alive and well. I don't think I even got a bruise... oh, wait, there is....one.

And yes, in all other senses, I am still alive and around. If somewhat absent minded and in absentia. Such is the way of things.

asianvanwilder @ 2006-04-05T09:24:00

2006-04-05T14:24:47Z

Just cause everyone else seems to be, and for the fact I haven't updated in a really long time.

1. You can only say YES or NO!
2. You are NOT ALLOWED to explain ANYTHING unless someone comments to the entry and asks.

Taken a picture naked? Yes
Made out with a member of the same sex? No
Danced in front of your mirror? Yes
Told a lie? Yes
Gotten in a car with people you just met? Yes
Been in a fist fight? Yes
Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back? Yes
Been arrested? No
Left your house without telling your parents? Yes
Ditched school to do something more fun? Yes
Slept in a bed with a member of the same sex? Yes
Seen someone die? Yes
Kissed a picture? Yes
Slept in until 3? Yes
Laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by? Yes
Played dress up? Yes
Fallen asleep at work/school? Yes
Felt an earthquake? Yes
Touched a snake? Yes
Ran a red light? Yes
Been in a car accident? Yes
Pole danced? Yes
Been lost? Yes
Sang karaoke? Yes
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? Yes
Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? Yes
Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yes
Kissed in the rain? Yes
Sang in the shower? Yes
Got your tongue stuck to a pole? No
Ever gone to school partially naked? No
Sat on a roof top? Yes
Played chicken? Yes
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? Yes
Been told you're hot by a complete stranger? Yes
Broken a bone? No
Mooned/flashed someone? Yes
Forgotten someone's name? Yes
Slept naked? Yes
Blacked out from drinking? No, surprisingly.
Played a prank on someone? Yes
Felt like killing someone? Yes
Made a parent cry? Yes
Cried over someone? Yes
Had sex more than 5 times in one day? No
Had/Have a dog? No
Been in a band? Yes
Drank 25 sodas in a day? Yes
Shot a gun? Yes
Ate something without knowing what it was beforehand? Yes

But then, I suppose everyone knew all that already.

asianvanwilder @ 2005-11-29T12:26:00

2005-11-29T18:35:36Z

They asked me to create a German language application for the Institute...
I don't even know German.
How...worrying.

In other news...

There was an earthwuake. I think a shotglass that was on the edge of my table fell off. Or I could have done that myself... Yeah. not a strong one...
I called Knox. Twice. And no one was on the other end. At least the recs are done, or so they say...
I am rewatching LOTR. The extended ones. Bad idea for a national test week...
I got paid...
The JLPT test is Sunday. Sunday! Why on earth have a test on Sunday? That's my day off... Maybe I'll pass it...?
I like cheese. A lot. And crackers too. With a fine wine. (And by fine wine I mean rum.)

I think America would be nice to go to. Go back to. That kind of thing. Yeah. If the grad thing works... No doubt. Unless I am told no. By the school, or parents or other relations. Yeah, it happens with me.

asianvanwilder @ 2005-11-24T04:31:00

2005-11-24T10:43:55Z

This post is mainly me griping about Christmastime in Japan. Mainly, that when you ask someone in Japan what Christmas is, they say "Oh, it's about shopping. Oh, and going out to dinner with your bf/gf. And Santa Claus too." But that's not the really big bit. It's the Santa Claus in the mall starting from October 1st... That and the music that you can't get away from, no matter where you are.

No don't get me wrong, I like Christmas. Just not here.

They even have a restaurant not too far away from where I live. It's called Christmas Eve. And of course, the theme is Christmas. The commercial kind. It's actually not a bad place. But when the whole country is doing it...

Anyway. It's a nice time of year. Too bad it's degenerated into only a shopping time of year for most places.

asianvanwilder @ 2005-11-24T02:15:00

2005-11-24T08:21:36Z

Professor Schneider is nowhere to be found.... There goes one of my application recs if he can't be found soon... And so, we go to Dr. Claiborne Skinner, if he's willing and able. Let's hope so...

In other news, I am eating Ritz Crackers... Very strange. I didn't know they had them here.

I skipped class today. It's Thanksgiving, right?

Watching fat men dance. Ah...Sumo.

Minna Daisuki Katamari is one weird game...

Work sucks, cause it's long.

Except at Subway.
Where they have Turkey!!!

asianvanwilder @ 2005-11-16T10:12:00

2005-11-16T16:31:15Z

As a officemonkeyextroadinaire, you get lots of free time on a computer. As such, I think that I will, at least for as long as I remember to, keep up this daily entry thing. I find it keeps me just sane enough to function relatively normally while waiting for this grad school stuff, which I still haven't fully decided on yet anyway... But, I think if I get it, I'll go. Anyway, back to the point I was trying to make... So, yes, I am going insane. I see all of forty minutes of daylight a day. That consists of my bike ride to school, and then from the school building to the International Office of the school I work at, which happens to be in another building a few hundred yards away. I then ride home at 8 PMish, turn on my TV, and what do I find? I find an infomercial about winter gloves with heaters that you use by plugging into your USB port. The had massaging things too... Back to the point... I then sit at my own computer for the next four or five hourse, and then go to sleep. A rather dull life. In actuality, e-mail and livejournal and constantly checking my online application files to see if my recommenders have submitted their recommendations is the high point in my life right now. I play this online game occasionally, but since it's free, and quite boring anyway, I don't do that much. Occasionally, some people I know here challenge me to fight the battles in Rome: Total War the way the real generals did...drunk. I usually do not take them up on this, unless it's a weekend. And then I usually don't, cause playing a computer game while everyone is watching seems kind of....boring. Especially for the other people. Once in a while, I eat a meal, too. Generally, it consists of the convenience store chicken nuggets. Yes, I eat nutritionally... When I eat enough to have it count as a meal.

Waiting for the wait to end. I want to know what UIUC thinks of me... Hoping it's good...

asianvanwilder @ 2005-11-15T06:46:00

2005-11-15T13:02:13Z

Went to work today. Boss was not in again. Oh well. Got more work done. Rode around on my motorbike for a while, avoiding the bosozoku. I get off work when they come out in force. And they aren't really friendly to people on bikes and not with them. I generally get lucky, even went to a bar with some of them once. Not that I drink much at all. Not anymore. No time. I think I had a glass of wine at dinner once a week ago. This is a good development, I think. As is the fact i have little time to eat. So I don't eat much. Losing weight is good. As is exercise. Which I do every morning. I have to, otherwise I can't stay awake.

Two weeks until the JLPT test. I should study in my free time. HAHAHA! FREE TIME?!?

asianvanwilder @ 2005-11-14T18:11:00

2005-11-14T09:33:06Z

I am sitting at my desk, in my office. It is 6:20 PM, JST. I`ve been waiting for my boss to come in for upwards of three hours. He was supposed to be here a while ago. No problems on my end, though. It let me catch up on some backwork I hadn`t gotten around to.

I like my desk. It currently has on it a G4 with OS 9.2 on it, and a Tower o` Power (I named it that myself) with dual 1.6 Ghz processors for the really hard stuff. They bought it for me. It is now my baby. It`s the computer I am using now.

Regardless, I find that I am not cut out for office life. I need to read everything, I go over my work painstakingly. Mainly because it`s grunt work, and I have said Tower o` Power to do much more. At least my boss knows what he`s doing. I`ve heard horror stories on that accord from others.

As such, I have completed that application I talked about earlier. May the application Gods look kindly on it. In this sense, it would be the faculty of the Department of EALC. I hope my recommendations get in on time. Everything else will. I know so, because I shelled out the money to send everything that needed sending. Which, for a surprise, didn`t include the actual application. The Internet is a wonderful thing, in some cases. Now, as long as I didn`t make any stupid mistakes like I always do, I think my application turned out well. My profs seemed to enjoy my personal statement. Lets hope that turns into something good on paper on their part...

So now, I wait. Wait to see where the application goes. Wait to see if I get in. Wait for the time when I might have to make a decision to leave Japan and go back...an hour from my parents....funny how life works out.

And this has been installment two. More to come. Feel free to leave notes, comments, suggestions, whatnot. It:s the reason I write here. I mean, I don`t write for myself, much. That would be pointless self-flagellation. And we all know where that leads...

asianvanwilder @ 2005-11-12T12:02:00

2005-11-12T18:06:28Z

Grad school. Thinking of applying for Fall 2006. Should I go through with it? Where should I go. I am applying to UIUC at the moment. I think it may be a good choice.

East Asian Languages and Cultures - Asian Studies MA with a focus on Japanese Studies

Thoughts? Comments? Concerns? Undying hatred? Sheep?
(I tend to have an undying hatred of sheep, myself. This may be because it's 3 AM and I've been working on this application since noon.)

And yes, I know I have not updated in, what, 3 months or more? Maybe 6...
Well, I'm busy. New job and all that jazz. And school too. I can deal, you can too. Poker, Texas Hold'Em, please...

Supercallifragilisticexpialidocious

2005-06-27T22:03:12Z

In America until Sunday. That is all.

asianvanwilder @ 2005-05-29T12:50:00

2005-05-29T17:50:43Z

For your viewing pleasure. And because Kyle did it and he's the President...

You are Colin Powell! You're the odd duck of
the Bush White House - the reasonable diplomat.
Every administration's got one!

Which member of the Bush Administration are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

asianvanwilder @ 2005-05-12T04:06:00

2005-05-12T09:23:25Z

Again, interesting.

Your Political Profile

Overall: 55% Conservative, 45% Liberal

Social Issues: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal

Ethics: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

How Liberal / Conservative Are You?

And now, for probably, a final dose of "Common situations for gaijin in Japan." It's just getting difficult coming up with more of these each time.

Gerry's coworker mentions it might rain that evening. What should be inferred from this statement?

Answer : The Yokohama Bay Stars beat the Hiroshima Carp

Mr. Kawasaki, the president of a major company, announces at the monthly meeting that sales have been slower than expected, but the company is still on stable financial ground. What can Victor assume?

Answer : The president of the company is Mr. Kawasaki.

Attending his first karate lesson, Andy is surprised when the instructor asks him to wax a car, paint a fence, paint a house and sand a floor, instead of introducing him to basic manuevers. Why would the instructor do this?

Answer : The instructor understands that karate comes from here [the mind] and here [the heart], not here [the hands].

Roy and Judy are American tourists visiting Japan for the first time. After entering one of the small restaurants along the street, some little fellow comes up and begins jabbering away at them. What is the little fellow trying to say?

Answer : Who the hell knows? This never would have happened is they had gone to Hawaii, like Roy suggested, where at least people can speak English, for Christ's sake.

asianvanwilder @ 2005-05-09T01:09:00

2005-05-09T06:15:11Z

Time for an update. A real one. Haha, real...

So last week was Golden Week. It's a big weeklong holiday to celebrate something I'm not quite clear on. I did lots of fun stuff. Lots of day trips. It was fabulouso. Very relaxing, since I've been doing the whole 'work harder than college' thing. And I never had any time at Knox. Hehe, it's a life. Other than that, I've gotten settled, started a bike trade, an airsoft league, a baseball team, a poker night, and a bar. Also, I think I have three jobs. I'm not quite clear. It involves kids, though, so it's fun. They all think I'm Ainu...

Well, enough about me. How about you guys? You have to answer, cause I'm asking and I'm in Japan, and it wouldn't be polite to not say something. Ah, the double negative. Very Japanese.

So leave some repsonses of some kind for me, eh?

And now, for part two of the "Common situations for Gaijin in Japan..." Enjoy.

Rebecca asks the sales clerk at the department store if a larger size of her particular dress is available. The clerk tells her that she isn't sure, but she will check in the back. What does the clerk mean to say?

Answer : The clerk is not the clerk at all. Rebecca had mistaken another customer for an employee of the department store.

Jennifer, an English teacher, is invited to a small party by some of her students. At the party, she is told she looks very different in casual clothes. What are the students suggesting?

Answer : The students are on to the fact that Jennifer lied about having a master's degree when she applied to the English school.

Quincy is looking for a new apartment. He finds an ad for an apartment locating service, and calls for more information. The real estate agent tells him that finding an apartment in his price range will be difficult. What's the real message?

Answer: The real estate agent is saying she is pregnant. Three months pregnant to be exact.

asianvanwilder @ 2005-05-08T10:17:00

2005-05-08T15:22:30Z

Common situations for Gaijin in Japan...1st installment...

Jim is a 30-year old American working for a Japanese trading company in Ginza. One day, his boss tells him that the new color copier is not working out as well as everyone had expected. What does his boss mean by this?

Answer : Jim's request for vacation time during the busy holiday season has been turned down. Also, he is fired.

Norm and Setsuko have been dating for ten months. One night, over dinner, Setsuko tells Norm that she forgot to return the videos that they had rented a week before. What is she really saying?

Answer : Setsuko is indicating that she is three months pregnant.

More to come, after these messages.