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    Web and graphic design in Kobe, Japan since 1999
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My wife started her new job at 7-Eleven (iHoldings) on the Kobe University campus. She just came to me with a paper to sign saying I would be her guarantor. That’s interesting. So I asked her what would happen if I didn’t sign it. She said she would have to find someone to sign it.

This is becoming more and more common to me. Guarantors are used for renting apartments, getting a loan, buying a house, and now getting a job. Hmmm. I’m seeing a trend. But why? Don’t Japanese trust people? Why must they be sure that my wife is not going run off with the cash register after her shift? It’s not like she’s going make away with very much. And besides, don’t they have insurance in Japan? Ah right, insurance is used for savings…I see.

It’s like this country is in a bottle being run by the drips who come back from a conference overseas with an idea that benefits a small group which eventually trickles down to the masses.


I’m a foreigner. I’m like the guy who washes cars and sells oranges on the street. The only difference here is that I work fewer hours and make more money but I don’t end up with the same income after 40 years. Who cares. ……um….

News
Gas prices
Gas killing
Chinese Olympics

Weather
Nice. Anyone say BBQ?

Current Events
What happened to open air three day raves in Japan?

Food and Drink
My review of Hobgoblin in Kobe

Main Topic

Trying to make it as a loud mouth foreigner is never going to work. Confidence brings misery. But just how am I going to be able to use the talents I have to do the kind of work I deserve to do without having to go back to America and compete the rest of my life. Or have things changed in America?

Side note…I have to explain to my students one day why it’s OK to use conjunctions in the beginning of a sentence.

 
icon for podpress  Episode #85 (27.6MB 28:46): Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

BEWARE. THE SITE MIGHT EXPLODE. I’M GONNA TRY TO UPGRADE IT.

UPDATE: Got it. Done! I haven’t wanted to upgrade the site because it was working just fine. I learned a valuable lesson at least three or four times, IF IT AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX IT. But I ‘m a designer at hear and just couldn’t take it anymore. Luckily, everything has worked out so far. Back to bloggin’

Now where was I, OH…it’s Thursday night. Tomorrow and Saturday I’m off. Now, if I can talk my wife into making yakiniku tonight then I will REALLY be happy.

Otsukare sama deshita!

KANPAIIII!


OK. So I’m working at bringing first, second, and third year undergrads into the digital age of learning English while balancing the opportunities given to me by those who can change my life by hiring me. This means I have to produce, or else. So far things are very well given how many setbacks I’ve had to deal with. I did hear yesterday though that I may have to work part-time one more year before I can get hired full-time. That sucks.

On a side note about money, I’m in the dog house. The other night I was going to meet Freakshow in the park for a couple cans of beer. Well, that turned into $250.00 by the end of the night. Yikes. The power of a credit card and alcohol. Luckily, I picked up another proofreading job to cover it. :-)


The life and times of a gaijin trying to get a real job…or die trying. I’ve embarked on a journey that will either make me realize I will be a part-time seven day a week grunt forever or get me an office, a bunch of computers, and a secure job that would afford me the ability to actually take a vacation outside of this country.

News
Various readings from the left sidebar of the site.

Weather
Monsoon season is not coming till June but it feels like it is coming now. Rain. Bring a flanel.

Current Events
Hanami is over and the country is gearing up for one of their two vacations a year.

Food and Drink
BBQ! Yakitori and the greates third category beer in Japan: Suntory Jokki.

Main Topic
Life is busy and the attitude I have to take in order to get the right opportunities.
Don’t talk too much.
Be humble.
Be patient.
Be respectful of your elders.
And for God sake…learn Japanese.

 
icon for podpress  Episode #84 (29MB 30:15): Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

April is the time for beginning new things; new jobs, school, moving to new houses, and taking English lessons. That means planning, organizing, adjusting and injesting enough caffeine to get you through till bedtime. After such a nice break off, oh one year or so, I’m getting back into the 20 hour work week. It’s tough. hehe.

You might think 20 hours sounds like an easy life. Well, that’s only if I show up to work and teach; no preperation and know ingenuity in my lessons…or weddings. LOL. So just how many hours do I actually work for the 20 hours I spend in the classrooms and chapels? Probably about 40. The rest of the time I spend studying for my Masters in Education and Technology.

Now can you understand why I haven’t been around much these days. You’d think it would be easier to just record a podcast, but that takes a few hours. Can’t they make all of this easier?