Enjoying Local Trains

Do you enjoy watching the countryside flash by from the Shinkansen? Well, just imagine how much longer and more intimately you could enjoy it by spending much extra time heading to your destination on local trains~! I visited Tokyo, and money was tight, so I chose this route. One way on shinkansen runs about 105 dollars from where I live. Round trip for one person on local trains ran about 120 dollars or so. So I had a great savings of about a couple hundred dollars. Bus takes about the same amount of time and there' no transferring involved. Huh. Oh well it's a good experience. Enjoy this video I just compiled.

I'm no professional, just warning you.

Vlog Day #2

These videos probably aren't going to have a lot to do with teaching. The teaching is going to be much more basic... I'm still working on my online lesson (well, still need to get to it) and work starts on... this Saturday! I got my schedule. It's like high school all over again, except I'm the teacher. And I don't have to control 40 student classes, I think the max is 4 or so. Most are doubles or privates. So its more like my college tutoring gig except I get to make lesson plans from the books and incorporate my own topics into them.

Well, for now, enjoy Vlog Day #2. I'm still getting used to this Vlog thing.

Around my New Home: Japanese Apartment Tour!

I really apologize for the fidgeting. I don't know how to do video editing (so more than one take is out of the question). But in the future I hope to learn those things. I have a feeling there are going to be too many things going on for that though.

Japan Living: Caring for Tatami

Caring for your Washitsu

A tatami-floored washitsu with a tokonoma (the recessed area with traditional item display) visible in the background.

Source: http://litlotrs.blogspot.com/2007/01/mans-home-is-his-shiro.html

If your accommodation in Japan has a Japanese style room, then it is worth it to know how to properly care for these reed and rice straw mats, for your health and for the health of those who will be living in the same residence once you have left.

Caring for Japanese Tatami, published on the Iwate JET website:

http://iwatejet.com/node/177

The site offers some helpful tips about ow to keep your tatami room clean and healthy so you can enjoy the relaxing scent of this traditional Japanese flooring.

Most important (Summary) :

-Futons should be folded and removed from the mats during the day, and if possible, dried outside, since futons themselves can mold just as easily as tatami (and beaten from time to time)

-They can be vacuumed, wiped with a damp cloth. This should be done following the grain of the matting to prevent damage. This should be done regularly since dirt and dust aren't good for the tatami or for you