October 24, 2014

The Narrow Roads of Japan

To paraphrase Forest Gump, driving in Japan is like a box of chocolates. There’s a lot of awesomeness awaiting you as you first head out onto the road in our new little car and realize that there’s a whole world of beautiful and captivating sights and places to visit. But there is also the sudden realization that to balance all this awesomeness there is a lot of downsides to driving in Japan.

October 20, 2014

The Return of Agent Cooper

It’s hard to believe that a show such as Twin Peaks is now a quarter of a century old when it feels like just the other day that I was enthralled in the lives of the show’s characters and the underlying mystery of the town of Twin Peaks itself.

October 16, 2014

Seeing Japan Anew

It’s been a whirlwind two weeks for me recently, with my parents and two friends coming through to Japan. I’ve had to try and organize hotels, itineraries and transport for them as well as helping them navigate the many subtle things that make Japan so Japan.

September 19, 2014

Thoughts on iOS 8

With September and October each year comes the arrival of the latest and greatest phone/s from Apple, and of course that also means that there will be a new version of iOS for those of us who will be sticking with our old iPhones and iPads.

September 16, 2014

On Being Sick in Japan

One of the main drawbacks with working in schools here in Japan is that you’ll be exposed to a multitude of germs and viruses that almost every kid seems intent on spreading on to you.

September 9, 2014

Full Throttle

After a long and hard 3 years of trying, I can finally join the ranks of the driving elite here in Japan after successfully having passed my driver’s license test to transfer my South African license to a Japanese one.

August 19, 2014

The End of Summer

With the end of August in sight, it means that in the next few weeks classes will start up, and the summer holidays will be a thing of the past.

August 12, 2014

Giant Robots & Japan

One of the first things that students learn when I introduce myself to them is that I’m a fan of the Japanese animation series, Neon Genesis Evangelion.

August 6, 2014

In the Heat of Summer

I’m just about all set up in my new ALT position after a few busy weeks of paperwork, moving and what feels like a thousand other things that are all part and parcel of moving work & home in Japan.

August 4, 2014

Back in Black

Well hello there! It’s been almost an age since I’ve last had a chance to grace this site with any sort of update. You can’t say I didn’t warn you though!