Archive: 2003-06
Internal Memo
Along with my payslip, I received a particularly laughable memo, from which I quote:
Epicanthic Fold Glue
I was delighted by a particular anthropological phenomenon that I observed this morning. In nearly two years of daily life in Japan, it was the first time I’d encountered it.
Parasols
Quite a number of Japanese women carry parasols, a habit that I usually find rather quaint. But on a day like today, when it’s overcast, I find it inexplicable. Especially in the case of cyclists. And yet, I saw two examples of this puzzling behaviour on my five-minute journey to the supermarket and back.
Reentry Permit
I’ve got a day off today, which is always nice. The school at which I work on Thursdays has a holiday for the “Foundation Memorial Day.” Basically, the day it was founded, or built, or something like that. Unfortunately, I don’t get paid. Well, nothing’s perfect. Time off is nice.
More on ECC
Well, thanks to a bit of web searching, I was able to find the offending ECC advertisement I mentioned previously online.
Offensive Stereotyping
I’ve seen what I think must be the most offensive advertisement ever.
Not Too Bad
The previous entry, if you hadn’t noticed, was meant to be a haiku.
Oversleep
I slept well last night.
Woke up; Oh shit! Eight o’clock!
I was late for work.My Neighbourhood
One of the interesting things about Japan is the complete absence of any kind of zoning or other apparent restrictions on development. I may be wrong, but my impression is that, if you’ve got the land, it’s more or less yours to do with as you wish.
Style Notes
I’ve had a few favourable comments on my new design so far. I though that I should give credit to Gothamist for a not inconsiderable share of inspiration, especially for the spaced-out title lettering (I didn’t even know you could do that before) and giving me the idea of asymmetrical border weighting. I combined those ideas with elements from my previous design, and I was really pleased with what came out of it. I don’t think this is too much of a rip-off, but if you disagree, do let me know!
Koi
Public Transport
It seems like something always happens on my journey to and from work, and Friday was no exception. I walked from school to the station with one of the pupils, who was also heading that way to catch a train to go to “juku” (sometimes translated as “cram school,” it’s a kind of extra school that some children attend a couple of times a week to study more. Personally, I think it’s a bad idea and the hallmark of excessively pushy parents’ vicarious ambitions. As if school wasn’t hard enough already! I’m sure that those pupils work harder than I do).
Designer Religion
There’s a company here in Japan that sells designer Buddhist altars and equipment (the small bowls, incense holders, and so on) and who advertise this fact very widely.
Pizza
I just found a couple of pizza flyers in my entrance hall (hall? it’s only 0.5m 2!). Identical ones; I suppose they thought that would be more persuasive, or that there might be so many people living in my one room apartment that a single flyer wouldn’t suffice! They usually dump them in the letterbox downstairs; walking up two flights to put them through my door shows a certain dedication.
Stupid Boy
OK, I obviously can’t perform simple mental arithmetic. Not that it comes as any surprise to me, of course. 1h15m each way twice a day is 2h30m, multiplied by five days each week makes 12h30m. So I spend twelve and a half hours travelling to or from work each week. It’s still far too long.
Morning Schedule
I haven’t updated in a week, for the simple reason that little of interest has happened to me. It’s been a particularly uneventful cycle of the daily grind.
