Monthly Archives: September 2011
A Tip for Working Your Stupid, Crazy Gaijin Image
My friend Kelly from China who’s lived in Japan for many years gave me a trick for when I want to seem like a really stupid foreigner, to get rid of unwanted attention. Instead of saying “Nihongo wakarimasen 日本語分かりません…I don’t … Continue reading
Where We Live
Where we live, the streets are almost empty of people. There are signs of people everywhere–clothes hanging on the balcony, children’s bicycles in the bike parking area, cars that appear in and disappear from the parking lot, the sounds of … Continue reading
Did Degas Paint the Sky Today?
Not all colors in Osaka are pastel. The leaves and grass are a deep, rich green, and tonight the still almost full moon was a deep burnt orange as it hung low over the monorail station. But the light feels … Continue reading
Hagaki, Hagaki, Hagaki
To pay for anything, you have to fill out a hagaki. Hagaki means “postcard,” but we are not talking about a pretty scene of palm trees and an aquamarine ocean with a short sentence on the back dashing off “Wish … Continue reading
Good-Bye, Okusan Days
Before I started work on September 1, I had ten days of setting up house. For ten days, I was “Okusan” (“the Mrs.”), or called so by movers with towels around their necks, electricity and gas guys in helmets and … Continue reading
Finally, the Osaka Moon
In a previous post, I promised quaintcal (kalyanichakatta.blogspot.com) that I’d report on the Osaka moon, since I was so sad to leave behind the sharp, bigger than life, brighter than diamonds moon of Silicon Valley. Until tonight, though, I hadn’t … Continue reading
Rock On, Omoware
Last night a typhoon hit Japan, crossing the Honshu island west of Osaka. Two people died and many lost their homes. Today, in Osaka at least, the wind has died down and we’re left with a steady gray rain. But … Continue reading
Who’s That Lady in the Bathroom?
The new water heater talks to us. She’s a little scary. The old one was broken when we moved in, and when I called the landlord, a series of phone calls and visits began. Mostly, they were calls telling me … Continue reading
Gimme One of Those Happy e Time Plans
“Can’t I just say, ‘please turn on the power,’ pay some money, and be done with it?” I wailed at the screen. I was setting up my electricity online for my Osaka apartment with Kepco (Kansai Electric Power Co., not … Continue reading
