ただいま！
By electra | August 16, 2009
We’re back in Sapporo! Good morning to all. Back to work.
Topics: Electra, Japan, Japanese Schools, Roy, Sapporo, holiday, living | No Comments »
Visiting Home: an updating schedule
By electra | July 27, 2009
Roy and Electra are coming home to the PacNW area from July 21 to Aug 14 this year! Here is their schedule:
Note: There was a mistake in days between July 29 and Aug 7. We have corrected it. Please double check!
| Date | Day | Location | Host | Plans |
| 7-21 | Tue | Sapporo → Taipei → Olympia/Tacoma | Eva Flight BR 26 → Mary-mom | BR115 CTS→TPE 4hr10min flight, 出発@16:00-到着@19:10 BR26 TPE→SEA 11hr flight, 出発@23:00 到着@19:00, customs, sleep |
| 7-22 | Wed | Oly/Tac→Portland | Mary-mom or Nicodemus? → Brian | transfer to Portland (warning: Jetlagged!) |
| 7-23 | Thu | Portland | Brian | Visit Hawthorne/Belmont/Sunnyside area; 5:45-7PM Tea-tasting w/ Dan |
| 7-24 | Fri | Portland | Brian | midday: visit Freegeek to donate computer; …Plans? |
| 7-25 | Sat | Portland | Brian | Plans? |
| 7-26 | Sun | Portland | Brian | … E: 4-7 Dance classes |
| 7-27 | Mon | Portland | Brian | Hang out with Brian a lot; |
| 7-28 | Tue | Portland | Brian | R: clothes shopping; R: gaming with guys; E: 7-8PM Dance |
| 7-29 | Wed | Portland → Ashland | Brian → Connie | ROAD TRIP with Nicodemus! enjoy I5 corridor & Ashland touristy-ness |
| 7-30 | Thu | Ashland → Portland | Connie → Brian | Plans; E: 6-7PM Dance Class |
| 7-31 | Fri | Portland → Yakima, WA | Brian → Cali | ROAD TRIP! Caravan w/ Kat & Hans, Nicodemus; Ride Along for E & R & Kat w/ Cali & Officer Walker |
| 8-1 | Sat | Yakima | Kat n Hans & Nicodemus & Cali | K&H buy El Camino; Nicodemus does Ride Along; E & R & Hans enjoy Yakima downtown, joined by Nicodemus |
| 8-2 | Sun | Yakima | Kat n Hans & Cali → Cali | BBQ @ Cali & Jared, Kat & Hans & Nicodemus go home, |
| 8-3 | Mon | Yakima, WA → Portland | Cali → Brian & Lena | Get back to Portland; E: 6-8:30PM Dance class |
| 8-4 | Tue | Portland | B&L | dinner w/ K&H & neighbors; |
| 8-5 | Wed | Portland → Depoe Bay, OR | Brian → Allison & Sam | get p/u by A&S, enjoy the OR coast |
| 8-6 | Thu | Depoe Bay | A&S | enjoy the OR coast… whale watching! BBQ hamburgers! |
| 8-7 | Fri | Depoe Bay → Portland | A&S →Jesse | enjoy the OR coast, drive back, dinner with Jesse & B&L, R: drinks etc. with A&S |
| 8-8 | Sat | Portland | Jesse | R: Marin(sp?) and Tom wedding; E: explore NW Portland, rest |
| 8-9 | Sun | Portland | Jesse | further discussing Thailand w K&H… or SNDC?; E: 4:30-8PM Dance Class; R: D&D game @ B&L |
| 8-10 | Mon | Portland | Jesse | Plans…; E: 11:30am private dance lesson, tea w/ Nicole, 6-8:30PM Dance class; R: ? |
| 8-11 | Tue | Portland | Jesse | Plans? |
| 8-12 | Wed | Portland → Oly/Tac | Jesse → Anna & BradXander (transportation?) | Tarry Anne? Olympia life? Colin & G&R? |
| 8-13 | Thu | Oly/Tac | Anna | Spend time with Mom… Colin & G&R?… other plans? |
| 8-14 | Fri | Oly/Tac → airport@midnight | Anna → SEA-TAC | Mom… Anna & BradXander… last minute preparations & visits |
| 8-15 | Sat | SEA → TPE | Eva Air flight BR 25 | Make our way to Sapporo, losing a day |
| 8-16 | Sun | Taipei→Sapporo | Eva Air flight BR 116 → our apt | arrive home in Sapporo |
Topics: Electra, Roy, United States of America, living, married life | 1 Comment »
Dreams Can Come True
By electra | May 15, 2009
I know this is silly, but I love green and my whole life I’ve wanted green clothing. Wait, let me qualify that. I’ve wanted affordable green clothing.
Thanks to UniQlo, I can finally clothe myself entirely in green!
And there was much rejoicing!
Topics: Electra, Japan, living, perqs | No Comments »
Cheese
By electra | May 1, 2009
Having gotten used to affordable delicious imported cheese from stores like Trader Joes or local producers’ products like Tillamook and various California cheeses, it was surprisingly and subtly hard to come to Japan, where good cheese can only be imported. I heard somewhere (I think it was said by a brewer) that there are strict fermentation laws in Japan, such that cheese and alcohol and other things requiring fermentation are not allowed to be aged more than, say, 6 months. (Heresay, mind you. I can’t remember for certain.)
As a result, Japan doesn’t make things like aged scotch, nor does it sell cheese other than simple, white, soft melting cheese. Think, two varieties: bland white cheddar and Camembert, and that’s all. Maybe, just maybe, mozzarella is okay too. Cream cheese is available but it’s expensive and boring.
As a result, we slowly become inured to these bland cheeses, enjoying them whenever we put them on toast or into our eggs, quietly longing for more interesting flavors.
Finally, as a treat, we paid a ridiculous amount for imported Gruyere. It was as if I had forgotten what good cheese tastes like, and was instantly transported to paradise with each bite!
Oh, how I miss Trader Joes!!!
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Teriyaki sauce, and Portland
By electra | March 13, 2009
照り焼き sauce. Roy and I (Electra) finally looked it up. The “teri” in teriyaki means “shiny” or “shining.” The “yaki” means “cook/grill/heat over flame in some fashion.” I think this is because the sugar in teriyaki sauce will caramelize, making the meat etc. glisten. Of course, 照る the verb actually means shine as in give off light.
How interesting!
Another note: When we first got here, we searched the grocery stores for teriyaki sauce. We couldn’t find it anywhere. No one offered it. Much later I realized that it’s because it is made from a simple combination of 2 parts soy sauce, 2 parts mirin (rice cooking wine) and 1 part sugar. When Japanese people arrive in America and see teriyaki sauce for sale at a grocery store, they probably think “why the heck would I pay money for teriyaki sauce?!”
Incidentally, Roy and I are planning to be in Portland this summer. We are flying into Seattle on either July 22nd or 23rd, and flying out of Seattle on August 15th or 16th. We’re on a waitlist right now, which is why we don’t know the exact dates.
Thought you should know!
Topics: Electra, Japan, Roy, United States of America, food, living | No Comments »
2級 不合格 した
By electra | February 17, 2009
Roy and I have both received our results for the 日本語能力試験2級 (otherwise known as the JLPT 2) and we both failed. Roy did not pass by 7 points (233 out of 300), and I did not pass by 9 points (231 out out of 300). Passing requires 60% correct, or 240 points. There are two chances to take the test per year, so we will try again next July. Surely we will pass that time, by sheer fact of being here and continuing to read signs on the subway.
Someone needs to tell that group that it is quite depressing to have the largest text on your notification card say 不合格 FAILED
Topics: Electra, Japan, Roy, language, living | 3 Comments »
Congratulations!
By electra | February 17, 2009
By the way, Roy and Electra are both very happy to hear the news that our friends Brian and Lena have decided to get married!
Hurray!
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Presidential Inauguration
By electra | January 20, 2009
Electra says,
We are at our friends’ Jonna Lynn and Andy’s apartment in the building over, along with another friend, and we are watching the inauguration streaming live on the Senate page of the appropriate committee.
It’s 1:11am. The four of us (Jonna Lynn went to bed) are mostly planning to call in sick tomorrow. (Not Roy. He took a nap in preparation.) The pomp and pageantry, which is probably fairly engaging for those who are following it in the background, but for those of us who are barely awake…
Needless to say, there are some potentially impolite jokes being thrown about.
So many people are coming out and being announced, but we really don’t care. Ah well.
Oooh, wait! Here they come! (1:28 am by now.)
Right now we’re thinking, “I’m Michelle Obama. I’m a graduate of Harvard Law. I don’t need to look like curtains!” We think this because the pattern of her dress and coat combo looks very much like our standard-issue Projects curtains. Poor First Ladies.
We saw him! He’s walking forward! I desperately hope that nothing violent happens. Our friend Dan is chanting “Please don’t get shot! Please don’t get shot!” (1:41am)
Closed caption: [Herald Trumpet Fanfare] Dan: and now, Barack Obama will joust George Bush for the presidency. (1:45am)
Jonna Lynn woke up for the ceremony. Speeches are happening. Good times.
The invocation was cool but it was pretty damn Christian. That is a bit jarring when we live in a non-Christian country.
Closed caption: [Four Ruffles and Flourishes on Herald Trumpet] (2:00) Oo, Yo Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman. I like how happy they look.
“They better fuckin’ say Hussein,” says everyone here. And then, “Woo!” They did! Ruffles and Flourishes! Cannons!
44th president! (2:08am) He is so composed.
Damn! That was a bad-ass speech. I am so getting the transcript tomorrow and reading it again when my attention is not interrupted by prayers for safety.
Poem: not so bad ass. In fact, I hope that Barack Obama enjoyed it, because I didn’t, but if he did then its all good. I think Mr. Obama or someone of his oratory skill level probably should have read it, but then reading your own poetry in front of millions of people must be hard, and and Mr. Obama’s first speech as President is a tough act to follow.
Benediction: also bad-ass.
It doesn’t suck quite so hard to be a US citizen/American. Time for bed. 2:52am.
Roy says, “Yaaay, I agree.”
Kuma says, “mⁿræɑʌ˥˩” which means 花鰹欲しい!
Topics: United States of America, community, holiday, living, momentous | 1 Comment »
in Japan for another 1.5 years.
By electra | December 22, 2008
written by Electra
So, the rumor mill may be flying, perhaps accurately. I thought we should tell people here.
Roy and I, after talking to our friends here (some of whom are from Portland) and our friends and family back home, and watching the economic situation, and using financial calculators and payment plans, and comparing our work environments and situations and general feelings of satisfaction, etc., etc., etc….
After giving it a lot of thought and research, we have decided to re-contract and work in Japan for another year after our current contract. That puts our estimated date of return at late July 2010. We’ve signed the paperwork and everything.
You know what that means?!
That means you have until July 2010 to visit Japan or meet us somewhere in SE Asia! Wooo! How exciting!
You know, barring American economic collapse and whatnot.
P.S. The photo is from Roy’s birthday party in a fine pub called “Beer Hall” or rather 「ビアホール」. It is a small brewery, and they learned their technique in British Columbia, so the beer served is fine Pacific NW artisan style. It’s Roy’s small piece of heaven.
Topics: Electra, JET, Japan, Roy, Sapporo, community, living | 2 Comments »
日本語能力試験二級を受けた。
By electra | December 7, 2008
written by Electra
ふぅっ！受けた！
日本語能力試験二級を終わりました。合格したかどうか2月まで知られません。これから、心配するまいと思います。
Phew! Took it!
We finished the Japanese Language Proficiency Exam 2nd Level. We won’t be told whether or not we passed until February. Henceforth, we don’t intend to worry about it.
We spent a lot of time these past few weeks worrying and studying hard. The test is quite challenging.
For example, Roy started studying Japanese in August 2007, and took a test to see if he knew about as much (official) Japanese as a Middle School 2nd Grader in December 2008. I think he passed. His literacy is amazing! His devotion to learning kanji is very impressive. I have a head start on Roy, but I haven’t studied kanji as stoically as he has, so my literacy is a bit weak. This came up a lot in the 読解 section. There were several reading excerpts in which I didn’t know the kanji for the main ideas. Therefore, I didn’t really understand the entire thing. (T.T)
But anyway, we’ll find out in February whether or not we’ll be retaking it in July.
As for now, we’re off to read Manga!
Topics: Electra, Japan, language | No Comments »