During my time teaching in Japan, I have managed to learn a lot about my the English language. My students here are fond of using and combining letters in ways that would have never crossed my mind as a native speaker. Unfortunately, due to the way English classes function here in Fukui (and
How Vacation Time (年休 Nenkyu) Works In Japan
I used to think the United States had problems with vacation time from work ("I still do, but I used to too" -MH). Now that I have been able to experience Japan's take on vacation time, or 年休 (nenkyu), I have realized that things could be far worse in the States of United America. Now before
15 Things I’ve Learned About Japanese School Children
Since relocating to Japan, I have learned a lot about the country's customs, culture, and children (but mostly about konbinis). And since the children are our future, I think I have a pretty good grasp on the direction this place is heading (you can count on enjoy many soccer, much boy bands, and
Surviving Day One Of Work In Japan
6:50 AM and my alarm goes off. I'm not outdoors in my sleeping bag meaning I am not okay being woken up this early. Snooze for the next half hour. Roll out of bed. Put on shirt. Put on pants. Brush teeth. No breakfast. Out the door in ten minutes. Regretting this already. Apparently it's
Student-Teacher Love Making In Brazil
In the United States students tend to keep relationships with their professors strictly professional (although, as we know, sometimes things get out of hand). However, Brazil has once again afforded me the opportunity to experience things in a new light. Once the workday is over my professors
Brazilian Inefficiency At Its Finest
It is rare that I find myself looking at a CRT in the States. The awkward shape of it, the bevel of the screen, the unruly center of balance, the lack of high-definition inputs - these things are ugly, and I hate them. Why even bring these dinosaurs up? Well for one my eyes are currently
My Brazilian Lunch Lady
Growing up I envied the lunch lady. She brought (and still brings) happiness to the crushed spirits of elementary, middle, and high school students (and she, yes she, because if said lunch lady was a he, the title would instead be "lunch gentleman"). Brazil has carried on the tradition of
Step 1: Learning The Portuguese At PUC-Rio
8:30am. This is the time intensive Portuguese class begins. Intensive Portuguese class is every day. Intensive Portuguese class lasts until 13:00. Intensive Portuguese class is intensive. Every day I need to take a van (or bus, taxi, horse, walk...or just sleep in) to a campus approximately
