Sunday, 25 April 2004

Catching Up!

Hiroko gave me a buzz today which was great. We didn't talk much. We really need to catch up in person.

Sunday, 18 April 2004

Tim

Cleaned up the apartement this morning before heading off to work (Tim's getting back today). Needed a vacuum and a quick tidy up of the garbage. Still no idea where to throw all the trash though.

Work went well though I freaked a bit when I saw that I had 10 minutes to prepare for four consecutive lessons. I handled it well though.

Got back home in time to buy some toilet paper, milk and washing powder (exciting I know). Tim had already been in while I was away, so I guess I missed him.

Friday, 16 April 2004

Let's Try This Again...

Alrighty....where was I....

Yeah, well I got on the plane okay, had my last Aussie meal (a meat pie courtesy of Dale), and after a lot of "What the Hell do I do now?" at customs (I think) I boarded the plane.

It was pretty cool and I wasn't anywhere near as nervous as I thought I would be. I checked out the seats, books in the back and the entertainment system which included over 30 movies to choose from, on air shopping and computer games.

I was very disapointed with the nintendo system. After seeing the tv commercial with a 3d Mario jumping out f the screen, I had assumed that the games would be next generation... instead we had Game Boy COLOUR games. Not even up to Game Boy Advance!

Anyway, since all the movies were playing at different points I found one that was just starting which was also one I'd thought of seeing a few months ago (can't remember the name of it now but it was about a reporter and starred Hayden Christensen (Darth Vader)) and the plane took off.

Breathtaking views as we flew through the clouds and over them.

After about 6 hours we landed in Singapore.

Wednesday, 14 April 2004

Vending Machine Discoveries #3

Thought I was trying out an ice coffee this morning but when I picked up the can it was HOT! I thought the machine must have been broken at first but tried it and it's actually the best coffee that I've had since I've been in Japan! The Nescape jar that I bought last night tastes like dirt. I'm going to have quite a collection of almost full instant coffee jars if this keeps up!

Piece of Cake
Headed into Omiya for the second day of training at 10am this morning. Meant to be 9am but I decided to do some ironing, loads of washing and the dishes. Training didn't start until 12:30 so I had heaps of time which I needed to buy a watch and check out what looked like a cool archade I saw yesterday.

Buying the watch turned out to be a pain in the arse. You'd think there'd be more than enough stores selling cheap arse watches but noooooo.... after about 2 hours (10 minutes before training) I found one for about AU$20. Not a bad buy either. It lights up greenish and has a joystick on it. Oooooo, shiny!

Today in training we got to teach 2 sessions by ourselves. I found it really easy, though I have to stop overexplaining things. Also a woman in the second class almost spoke no English. She didn't really know what we were doing half the time. Kind of prevented the other guy from learning much as I spent half the time explaining what we were doing. Still had a great time though. I think all of us are going to fly through these lessons! Can't wait to see my branch at Shin Koshigaya.

Wednesday, 7 April 2004

Packed and flying... flown!

Note: Pretend I'm writting this at Naria Airport, Japan, not a few days from now.

Well, my packing didn't go exactly as planned with a lot of my room still in disorder but most of it was packed in boxes. I was up until about 1am last night packing and fixing up websites simultaniously. Didn't really echieve much on either side. :
We left Pam's at around 12:30pm I think, about an hour after we planned. I had forgotten to update my payment method of my mobile phone so I had to ring them and organise to use direct debit. Turns out I can't do that over the phone so they're going to have to forward me the appropriate forms. The reason I'm staying on the plan is

1) Australian phones can't get international roaming in Japan (and USA as well). Think this may be because I'm with Optus.

2) To cancel would cost me AU$300. To stay on plan would cost me AU$370 and I'd have the phone when I got back.

So Roger's getting it.

Note: Screw this... this computer is stressing me out. They have disk drives in the computer so I'm going to write these at home on my laptop and save them to disk and copy and paste them when I come in again. See you a day or two!

Tuesday, 6 April 2004

Wouldn't you know it?

I finally get access to a computer ala work and it's

1) 10 years old,

2) Has a crappy mouse that doesn't work,

3) Keeps switching to Japanese text when I type so it makes writting this twice as long as usual,

4) All the keys are swapped around on the keyboard!

Anyway, the next few posts will be written in retrospect (today's the 10th). Enjoy and sorry I havn't written sooner!

Flying Out at 3:40pm

Stayed up until about 1am last night packing and organising things. Woke up at 7am for some reason wide awake (set my alarm for 8:30am) so it gives me a chance to type this and do some last minute uploading to my site.

I still have to tidy up my room a bit but I'm pretty much done!

Wish me luck on my flight! (This will be my first time on a plane!)

Monday, 5 April 2004

One day left...

Well, today's my last full day in Australia! Unfortunately I spent most of this morning transfering my websites to the new server and backing up some dvds for the trip. Everything's going well though and running according to plan.

Dale (my twin brother) came up from Canberra to see me off at the airport tomorrow (and catch a few races while he's in the city). I kind of dragged him around the CBD getting photos developed, buying shirts, underwear and a bag for my laptop that has room for one nights worth of clothes in it.

Getting a bit nervous about tomorrow. Still doesn't seem like I'm going anywhere.

Sunday, 4 April 2004

Bagged!

Got a travel bag for AU$25 in Paddy's Markets this arvo. Great value! Most bags like this are selling for AU$200!

I met up with Kit after I got the bag at Kinokunia Book Store cafe. We caught up and went a tad photo crazy down stairs. I'll get those photos (which include photos from the party) developed tomorrow.

I know this is a brief entry but I'm writting it in retrospect (really Tues morning) and have time for nothing!

First Day

Had my first day at my Nova in Shin Koshigaya this morning, after all the training I think I've pretty much got all the methods and buzz words down. Just need to practice a bit more. The staff and teachers are great and I can't wait to start training for teaching kids.

Remember that Seinfeld episode when they got lost in that carpark...

... well we spent 2 hours simply trying to find the carpark where the car was parked. Ironically it was only a five minute walk from QVB Yama... Special note to Adam: "If you're going to rely on North, South, etc for sensing direction instead of landmarks (like "right behind the Museum"), it's probably a good idea to use a compass."

I think me and Bec were on the verge of going postal on Adam after the first hour or so but once we found the car, well maybe half an hour after we found the car, all was forgiven. Thanks anyway for driving us back to my place Adam. Had a great night talking to you and Bec. It's a shame it rained this morning on the beach.

Farewell

Sticking with tradition almost everyone was running from 20 minutes to 2 hours late, though that didn't really matter at all as we all just chilled at the table, talking until more arrived. The food was amazing, very (I assume) authentic Japanese cuisine. Had a great laugh at us trying to figure out what to do with the soup entre. Was it for dipping food, sipping or were we supposed to eat the noodles in the soup, then drink it... I think we got it right (eat noodles then drink soup).

It was great to see everyone again. Special thanks to Alex, Melanie, Matt, Camilla, Bec, Donovan, Kathlene, Monique (good luck in the US!), Betty, Petina (and man) and Adam for assisting in covering the four bums (just kidding) that couldn't make it. It meant a lot.

Make sure to keep reading this page for more info, and I'll definitly be up for chatting and emailing any time you need!

Today's word is: yubinkyoku = post office

Saturday, 3 April 2004

Pre Party

Got my farewell party tonight at 7pm in the QVB Yama Japanese Resturant at the QVB. Expect 20 people exactly. I kind of wish they spoke better English as the sort of converstaion that goes like;

Me: "Hi, this is Brad Stephenson. I'm ringing to confirm my booking for 25 people tonight. Just an update that there'll be 20 instead of 25."

Lady: "Yes, and what time would you like this booking?"

Me: "No, I've already made the booking. I'm Brad Stephenson."

Lady: "We have a Step-Hen-Son."

Me: "That's me, "Stevenson".

Lady: "And how many would you like to book for?"

Me: "I already have."

Lady: "And what was your name again?"

It went on. And for some reason they keep insisting that it's for my birthday despite me saying it's a farewell.

Anyway, went up to Spit Junction this morning to by niblies for anyone crashing here tonight and two sets of blank dvds for my movie backing up. I'm making exact copies of my fave dvds for my trip. Don't want to risk taking the original disks and cases.

Had some time to finish packing up my room as well. Not only do I have to pack for the trip (that would only take a few minutes) but I have to pack up my whole room as this house will be rentable in a few months (maybe). I hope Roger likes hand me down clothes. Had no idea I had so many!

Today's word is: ten'in = shop assistant

Friday, 2 April 2004

What Do YOU Think?

Just added a great feature that allows you to add your own comments about each of my posts! Simply click on COMMENTS to post your thoughts!

P.S. Special thanks to Pam for picking up my VISA last week!

Today's word is: dare = who

Packing....

Been nonstop packing today! Taken me almost 4 hours to sort through my clothes cupboard. Roger'll be getting half of my clothes (whether he wants them or not) and Vinnies will get the rest.

I also unpacked my bag from Orange! Only took me 48+ hours!

After "taking a break" from packing I gave M8 a call about my mobile phone and after 10 mins of waiting for the woman to find "Japan" on the computer (she asked me "Is Japan called anything else?") she asked someone else and I can't get Global Roaming (use my phone overseas) in Japan. So I have to find someone else to have my phone or I can pay AU$300 to cancel the service (I get to keep the phone though. I wonder if I gave them the phone back they could deduct a bit off the price?)

Cancelling my internet service was much easier. In fact, the'll refund some of the money they might have charged me! Not AU$300 worth though.

Thursday, 1 April 2004

Still Lost in Translation

Had my dentist AND doctor's appointments this morning. Got a filling replaced and my final two immunisations (flue and Meningitis). I also picked up a sort of "travel pack" at the doctor's for Traveler's Daioreha (let's hope I never even have to open it!).

Headed into the city afterwards to do my last comic shop before I go to Japan and to have my last Gloria Jeans' Swiss Orange Mocha (can't reccomend it enough). Also took in Lost in Translation and saw it in it's entirety. Still love it.

Too busy today to play any April Fool's jokes on people. Wish I had the time as I'm still neglecting my Japanese study though I'm sort of in the train of thought that I'll pick it up magically because I'll be living in Japan (seems to be what people are telling me). ;)

On the way home I stopped by those cheap arse stores in Pitt St and bought an Aussie wallet made of real Aussie leather (kangaroo I guess) for AU$10. Also picked up an Aussie keyring to remind me of home. I already have a Canadian one given to me by "Welcoming Committee" (nickname).

While getting my wallet I decided to check out the prices of luggae bads and noticed one of the zips on one was broken. I joked to the salesman (typical elderly Asian salesman) that it was broken. He frantically zipped the zip back and forth for about 5 mins until it went "normal" to which he proclaimed "See! Not broken! FIXED! Not Broken!".

I told him I'd be back tomorrow.