by AJ/Skald
Sitting at Mihara Shinkansen station, munching on a piece of bread. Im tired from a very long day of teaching. My mind is blank as I gnaw on a slice of whole wheat. I feel a slight vibration in my chest.....
Suddenly a rolling shotgun blast pounds my chest. A bullet train (shinkansen) rockets through the station. I gag as the thunder hits my ears full on. The train is a blur, I can't make out individual windows. I nearly drop the bread.
And then its gone. "Holy shit" I say aloud.
I'd ridden a shinkansen from Hiroshima to Mihara that morning. But sitting inside, I had no feel for the speed and awesome power of the thing. You feel like you're on a normal train... countryside slides by, the ride is smooth. In fact, I was disappointed. I'd heard of Japan's famous bullet trains, but the morning commute felt mundane.
Seeing one from the outside, about 15 yards away as it blasted past, is another story. Truth be told, it scared the shit out of me. Those things MOVE.
Chalk it up to an elementary lesson in relativity. If you want to experience this marvel of Japanese technology,... do so from closeup, on the OUTSIDE.
Soon my shinkansen arrived. I settled into a well-padded chair next to the window and watched the mountains roll by. Once again I lost perspective. I knew we were moving FAST, but it didnt feel like it.
The trip from Mihara to Hiroshima took under 30 minutes. By normal local train, its over 90 minutes. By car/bus, two hours. My mind wandered and I imagined a shinkansen network in Georgia. What if such a train connected Athens, Atlanta, Gainesville, Savannah, and Augusta? Athens to Atlanta in 20 minutes!
Of course, its a pipe dream. I realized that these issues are connected... the bicycle paths, the wide sidewalks, the extensive train network, the streetcar system, the buses, the monorail, and the shinkansen. These things weren't slapped down in a haphazard manner. They form a very complete public transportation system.
Therein lies the problem with Athens, Atlanta, and Georgia as a whole. Athens, for example, may or may not put down a few bike paths and paint on a few bike lanes. But even if they do, it will be nothing but a patchwork.... a lane on Milledge Ave, the Greenway.... here a little, there a little,...
Not surprisingly, these additions will do little to alter the transportation habits of most Athenians... because the system as a whole will remain the same. And that system is designed for a car monopoly. A real bike system would require a total rethinking of the city's transportation network. It would require paths, widened sidewalks, underpasses, bridges, bike parking decks, etc., etc. A complete SYSTEM would change habits... dramatically. But its not bloody likely. The big money is in road construction, slash and burn development, and sprawl.
But its nice to be here and know that another way is possible. Listen to the Georgia good old boys and you'd think a good bike/train/bus system was impossible. They pull their hair and cry "impossible".
But really, its quite easy. Logistically, its much easier than the current mess of auto roadways. The scales are smaller and cheaper and simpler. What's missing are the will, integrity, and imagination.
Of course, politician-businessmen are not known for the latter two.
..........
.........
Thursday, April 14, 2005
The Journey
by AJ/Skald
Process, not product, is what ecstasy is all about. Business wants to sell us products. They are product obsessed: End results....The bottom line.
But in life its process, the flow, that engages us. Thats why art, music, sports, sex, games, parties, and dancing are so damn fun. And why a focus on results kills the enjoyment (think of those hyper-competitive assholes who must always win to be happy; they are instant killjoys).
In play the results dont fucking matter. Dancing is fun just for the sake of dancing. Shooting a video is a blast, even if the end product is of terrible quality. Whitewater rafting is great fun while you're doing it; getting to the end is a let down.
Its the ride that matters. Not "winning" or "losing". Winning & losing are goals that only emotional retards focus on.
This is the fundamental flaw of business and businessmen. Its why they are, as a general rule, so intellectually stunted, so cold, so heartless, and so lacking in joy and imagination.
This is what drives me nuts about business. They don't give a damn about what they are doing. Nothing is done for its own sake-- always for something else... always for some diabolical goal or concept (namely, money). Your average businessman cant imagine doing something for its own sake, regardless of its profit potential. Suggest that they do so and they go berserk... start frothing at the mouth and gibbering about "the market". How do people become so far removed from their humanity?
Hobopoets recognize that the journey is THE thing-- the ONLY thing. There is, in fact, no end. Even death is but a journey: the biggest and most mysterious of all.
Thoreau recognized this. He wrote that travel is the fundamental archetype of our lives-- for what is life but a process of going from, to. Ever onward.
When a zen master was asked for the meaning of life and enlightenment, he responded,
"Walk on".
"A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent upon arriving" --Lao Tzu
.....
Process, not product, is what ecstasy is all about. Business wants to sell us products. They are product obsessed: End results....The bottom line.
But in life its process, the flow, that engages us. Thats why art, music, sports, sex, games, parties, and dancing are so damn fun. And why a focus on results kills the enjoyment (think of those hyper-competitive assholes who must always win to be happy; they are instant killjoys).
In play the results dont fucking matter. Dancing is fun just for the sake of dancing. Shooting a video is a blast, even if the end product is of terrible quality. Whitewater rafting is great fun while you're doing it; getting to the end is a let down.
Its the ride that matters. Not "winning" or "losing". Winning & losing are goals that only emotional retards focus on.
This is the fundamental flaw of business and businessmen. Its why they are, as a general rule, so intellectually stunted, so cold, so heartless, and so lacking in joy and imagination.
This is what drives me nuts about business. They don't give a damn about what they are doing. Nothing is done for its own sake-- always for something else... always for some diabolical goal or concept (namely, money). Your average businessman cant imagine doing something for its own sake, regardless of its profit potential. Suggest that they do so and they go berserk... start frothing at the mouth and gibbering about "the market". How do people become so far removed from their humanity?
Hobopoets recognize that the journey is THE thing-- the ONLY thing. There is, in fact, no end. Even death is but a journey: the biggest and most mysterious of all.
Thoreau recognized this. He wrote that travel is the fundamental archetype of our lives-- for what is life but a process of going from, to. Ever onward.
When a zen master was asked for the meaning of life and enlightenment, he responded,
"Walk on".
"A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent upon arriving" --Lao Tzu
.....
Tom Peters On Free Agency
by AJ/Skald
Below is an excerpt of an old Tom Peters article. I've skipped over some of the corporate jargon but this still gives a good idea of his ideas on the "free agent" economy.
I think they are excellent ideas, but I see free agency only as an intermediary step. What we are all gunning for is freelancing.... total freedom from bosses and accursed "jobs". Still, speaking from experience I can say that free agency is a helluva lot more fun than traditional wage slavery.
Below is an excerpt of an old Tom Peters article. I've skipped over some of the corporate jargon but this still gives a good idea of his ideas on the "free agent" economy.
I think they are excellent ideas, but I see free agency only as an intermediary step. What we are all gunning for is freelancing.... total freedom from bosses and accursed "jobs". Still, speaking from experience I can say that free agency is a helluva lot more fun than traditional wage slavery.
Your next step is to cast aside all the usual descriptors that employees and workers depend on to locate themselves in the company structure. Forget your job title. Ask yourself: What do I do that adds remarkable, measurable, distinguished, distinctive value? Forget your job description. Ask yourself: What do I do that I am most proud of? Most of all, forget about the standard rungs of progression you've climbed in your career up to now. Burn that damnable "ladder" and ask yourself: What have I accomplished that I can unabashedly brag about? If you're going to be a brand, you've got to become relentlessly focused on what you do that adds value, that you're proud of, and most important, that you can shamelessly take credit for.--Tom Peters
When you've done that, sit down and ask yourself one more question to define your brand: What do I want to be famous for? That's right -- famous for!
Everyone is saying that loyalty is gone; loyalty is dead; loyalty is over. I think that's a bunch of crap.
I think loyalty is much more important than it ever was in the past. A 40-year career with the same company once may have been called loyalty; from here it looks a lot like a work life with very few options, very few opportunities, and very little individual power. That's what we used to call indentured servitude.
Today loyalty is the only thing that matters. But it isn't blind loyalty to the company. It's loyalty to your colleagues, loyalty to your team, loyalty to your project, loyalty to your customers, and loyalty to yourself. I see it as a much deeper sense of loyalty than mindless loyalty to the Company Z logo.
I know this may sound like selfishness. But being CEO of Me Inc. requires you to act selfishly -- to grow yourself, to promote yourself, to get the market to reward yourself. Of course, the other side of the selfish coin is that any company you work for ought to applaud every single one of the efforts you make to develop yourself. After all, everything you do to grow Me Inc. is gravy for them: the projects you lead, the networks you develop, the customers you delight, the braggables you create generate credit for the firm. As long as you're learning, growing, building relationships, and delivering great results, it's good for you and it's great for the company.
That win-win logic holds for as long as you happen to be at that particular company. Which is precisely where the age of free agency comes into play.
The second lesson is one that today's professional athletes have all learned: you've got to check with the market on a regular basis to have a reliable read on your brand's value. You don't have to be looking for a job to go on a job interview. For that matter, you don't even have to go on an actual job interview to get useful, important feedback.
The Internet Job Search: Japan
(originally published by Transitions Abroad)
by Skald
Getting a good job in Japan can seem difficult and intimidating. However, by following a few basic procedures, it is possible for anyone with a college degree to do so.
The difficult thing about obtaining a job in Japan is that most applicants are not currently living there. Japanese schools receive a flood of emails for every job they post. How do you stand out from the crowd? How do you conduct an effective job search from a distance? How do you weigh job listings and job offers?
Actually, its not too difficult. By doing a few extra things, you will rise above the masses and obtain a teaching job.
WEB SITE
A web resume is a powerful tool for job searchers. While you will be emailing a standard cover letter and resume, only a limited amount of information can be included in these formats. A web resume allows job seekers to sell themselves in a more powerful and thorough way.
Web resumes are easy to set up by using one of the free blogging sites, such as Blogger (http://www.blogger.com). Simply go the the site and open an account. Be sure to include a photo. When you email schools, always include a link to your web resume and mention that it contains your photo.
BACKGROUND READING
Do some reading. Many applicants have no teaching experience and are not trained English teachers. This is not a problem for many conversation schools. However, a bit of background knowledge will help you stand out from other applicants. It pays to do some minimal research.
Most conversation schools claim to prefer a "natural approach" (although few understand what this means). Therefore, it makes sense to read about this approach so you can discuss it intelligently during a phone interview (or email correspondence).
For a brief overview, go to my teaching blog, Effortless Acquisition:
http://www.effortlessacquisition.blogspot.com . This site contains sample web resumes, links to internet job boards, a guide for new English teachers, warnings, good and bad experiences in Japan, and information about teaching techniques. Click on the link labelled "An
Effortless Acquisition Curriculum" for a description of effective "natural methods".
Next, go to Dave's ESL cafe: http://www.daveseslcafe.com and read the teacher's forums. These contain a wealth of lesson plans, games, and suggestions from working English teachers all over the world.
Scanning the above sites will give a bit of background knowledge and enable you to talk intelligently about teaching. You will also get an idea of what you are in for.
BE PROACTIVE
While job boards can be useful, a proactive approach is the best job search method. Pick a few cities or regions you would like to live in. Then target schools in those cities. By doing this I received several job offers from schools that were not yet advertising their openings. In fact, this may be the most efficient means of finding a job.
Go to the Japanese Internet Yellow Pages at http://english.itp.ne.jp/index.html
By entering a city and the subject "language schools" you will get a list of schools in that particular area. Many will list email addresses and web addresses. They also list phone numbers.
Send an email with an intro letter, a link to your website, and your resume to every school that has an email address. If you have time, send a paper letter and resume to those schools which do not list email addresses. If you can afford it, the best technique is to call them.
Stress any teaching experience you have, and any travel or living abroad experiences. Stress your flexibility. Stress your enthusiasm.
INTERNET JOB BOARDS
There are a number of internet job sites that advertise jobs in Japan. These are good sources, but they contain as many sleazy schools as good ones. You must be careful when responding to ads. Read the job requirements carefully.
The following websites regularly carry job postings for Japan.
National Links:
Ohayo Sensei: http://www.ohayosensei.com
Daves ESL Cafe: http://www.daveseslcafe.com
Jobs In Japan: http://www.jobsinjapan.com
JALT (has university teaching positions):
http://www.jalt-publications.org/tlt/jobs/
The above sites carry job listings Japan wide, and are a good place to start. Below are a few regional websites. Many of the jobs on these sites are part time- but they do carry full time listings as well.
Regional:
Get Hiroshima: http://www.gethiroshima.com
Kansai Time Out: http://kto.co.jp/new/modules/news
Kansai Flea Market: http://www.kfm.to/
Respond to job postings by email. Include a short introductory letter. In the letter, mention that your photo is available on your website (for example: http://www.yourwebsite.blogspot.com ). By mentioning the photo and including a link, you are likely to draw employers to your site-- where they will see the additional
information you have included.
Paste your resume at the bottom of the email, in the body of the email itself (don't send as an attachment).
INTERVIEWS
The purpose of most interviews is to see if you can express yourself clearly in English. They'll also be looking for enthusiasm, flexibility, and a specific interest in Japan. Emphasize these traits during the interview.
You will also get a chance to ask questions. Be sure to ask about the number of teaching hours per week. Also ask for the email addresses of current teachers.
PICK A SCHOOL
Based on the answers to your questions, choose a school that fits. Be especially wary of schools that demand more than 20 hours a week of teaching. Be wary of schools that will not give contact information for teachers at their school. Be wary of schools that have an extremely rigid teaching system or claim to have a "secret" curriculum.
Otherwise, good luck!
...........
by Skald
Getting a good job in Japan can seem difficult and intimidating. However, by following a few basic procedures, it is possible for anyone with a college degree to do so.
The difficult thing about obtaining a job in Japan is that most applicants are not currently living there. Japanese schools receive a flood of emails for every job they post. How do you stand out from the crowd? How do you conduct an effective job search from a distance? How do you weigh job listings and job offers?
Actually, its not too difficult. By doing a few extra things, you will rise above the masses and obtain a teaching job.
WEB SITE
A web resume is a powerful tool for job searchers. While you will be emailing a standard cover letter and resume, only a limited amount of information can be included in these formats. A web resume allows job seekers to sell themselves in a more powerful and thorough way.
Web resumes are easy to set up by using one of the free blogging sites, such as Blogger (http://www.blogger.com). Simply go the the site and open an account. Be sure to include a photo. When you email schools, always include a link to your web resume and mention that it contains your photo.
BACKGROUND READING
Do some reading. Many applicants have no teaching experience and are not trained English teachers. This is not a problem for many conversation schools. However, a bit of background knowledge will help you stand out from other applicants. It pays to do some minimal research.
Most conversation schools claim to prefer a "natural approach" (although few understand what this means). Therefore, it makes sense to read about this approach so you can discuss it intelligently during a phone interview (or email correspondence).
For a brief overview, go to my teaching blog, Effortless Acquisition:
http://www.effortlessacquisition.blogspot.com . This site contains sample web resumes, links to internet job boards, a guide for new English teachers, warnings, good and bad experiences in Japan, and information about teaching techniques. Click on the link labelled "An
Effortless Acquisition Curriculum" for a description of effective "natural methods".
Next, go to Dave's ESL cafe: http://www.daveseslcafe.com and read the teacher's forums. These contain a wealth of lesson plans, games, and suggestions from working English teachers all over the world.
Scanning the above sites will give a bit of background knowledge and enable you to talk intelligently about teaching. You will also get an idea of what you are in for.
BE PROACTIVE
While job boards can be useful, a proactive approach is the best job search method. Pick a few cities or regions you would like to live in. Then target schools in those cities. By doing this I received several job offers from schools that were not yet advertising their openings. In fact, this may be the most efficient means of finding a job.
Go to the Japanese Internet Yellow Pages at http://english.itp.ne.jp/index.html
By entering a city and the subject "language schools" you will get a list of schools in that particular area. Many will list email addresses and web addresses. They also list phone numbers.
Send an email with an intro letter, a link to your website, and your resume to every school that has an email address. If you have time, send a paper letter and resume to those schools which do not list email addresses. If you can afford it, the best technique is to call them.
Stress any teaching experience you have, and any travel or living abroad experiences. Stress your flexibility. Stress your enthusiasm.
INTERNET JOB BOARDS
There are a number of internet job sites that advertise jobs in Japan. These are good sources, but they contain as many sleazy schools as good ones. You must be careful when responding to ads. Read the job requirements carefully.
The following websites regularly carry job postings for Japan.
National Links:
Ohayo Sensei: http://www.ohayosensei.com
Daves ESL Cafe: http://www.daveseslcafe.com
Jobs In Japan: http://www.jobsinjapan.com
JALT (has university teaching positions):
http://www.jalt-publications.org/tlt/jobs/
The above sites carry job listings Japan wide, and are a good place to start. Below are a few regional websites. Many of the jobs on these sites are part time- but they do carry full time listings as well.
Regional:
Get Hiroshima: http://www.gethiroshima.com
Kansai Time Out: http://kto.co.jp/new/modules/news
Kansai Flea Market: http://www.kfm.to/
Respond to job postings by email. Include a short introductory letter. In the letter, mention that your photo is available on your website (for example: http://www.yourwebsite.blogspot.com ). By mentioning the photo and including a link, you are likely to draw employers to your site-- where they will see the additional
information you have included.
Paste your resume at the bottom of the email, in the body of the email itself (don't send as an attachment).
INTERVIEWS
The purpose of most interviews is to see if you can express yourself clearly in English. They'll also be looking for enthusiasm, flexibility, and a specific interest in Japan. Emphasize these traits during the interview.
You will also get a chance to ask questions. Be sure to ask about the number of teaching hours per week. Also ask for the email addresses of current teachers.
PICK A SCHOOL
Based on the answers to your questions, choose a school that fits. Be especially wary of schools that demand more than 20 hours a week of teaching. Be wary of schools that will not give contact information for teachers at their school. Be wary of schools that have an extremely rigid teaching system or claim to have a "secret" curriculum.
Otherwise, good luck!
...........
Lessons Learned
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
How to Avoid a Terrible Work Situation
Originally published by Transitions Abroad
by AJ/Skald
"We're not teaching another class until we get paid". The teachers room boiled with angry foreigners. Korean staff ran to and fro in a panicked frenzy. Underlings scurried between the owner's office and the break room.
Our pay checks were late again... four weeks late at this point. Finally, we'd had enough: Enough insults, enough threats, enough broken promises.
Each time a Korean staff member entered the room, an angry chorus of English shouted them down. "Tell him we aren't teaching until we get everything he owes us".... "Tell him no more cameras in the classroom". We were mad as hell and we weren't gonna take it anymore.
Unfortunately, teaching abroad isn't always pretty. There are a lot of ugly situations out there. A lot of sleazy employers. A lot of freaks. A lot of broken promises. In fact, most English teaching jobs fall into the "bad" and "ugly" categories.
Most teachers are lured abroad by visions of exotic travel, exploration, and lucrative contracts. But more often than not, things end badly. Most teachers leave with a bad taste in their mouth not only for the job, but for the country. A bad job quickly sours the entire experience.
Some teachers stick out their contract and grow increasingly bitter. They vent their frustrations on web boards... or in bars. Others break contract and leave-- often in a flurry of conflict and argument. Another popular option is the "midnight run"-- the day after pay day, the teacher boards a plane and disappears.
Can the bad and ugly be avoided? Is it possible to find a good English teaching position?
It certainly is, but its not easy. Like most job seekers, employers do their best to paint a good picture. They rarely volunteer unflattering information. Some do this subtlely, while others blatantly lie. If you are applying from your home country, it is very difficult to screen the truth from the lies. In fact, it is
impossible to be completely sure.
But there are some basic precautions.
The best strategy is to ask a lot of questions. The following are essential:
1. How many hours will I be in the classroom per week (exactly)?
2. How many hours will I be expected to be on location (office, school) per week?
3. Are there any required extracurricular activities? (Many schools host mandatory parties, summer camps, winter camps, etc.).
4. What percentage of teachers typically complete their contract? (High turnover is a very bad sign).
5. Have you had any conflicts or arguments with teachers? (Most have. Beware schools that try to paint a perfect picture).
6. Have pay checks ever been late? (Obviously a VERY bad sign).
7. Are teachers observed? (Many schools constantly observe teachers and create a very tense working environment).
8. Do you have cameras in the halls or classrooms? (A sign of paranoia and a controlling management style).
9. Do you have split shifts? How much will I travel each week? (You may "only" be teaching 20 hours per week, but if the first class is at 9am and the last ends at 9pm, it feels like you are working much more).
10. What days will I have off?
11. What teaching methods do you use? (Beware any school that claims to have a "secret" or "special" curriculum, as this is often a sign of a get-rich-quick mentality. Also beware rigid guidelines and formulas).
12. What kinds of materials are available to teachers?
13. What kind of educational background do the management and owner have? (Usually they are businessmen with no background in education whatsoever- not a good situation).
14. Do you provide any orientation or training? (Beware schools that do not. Will you be thrown into a class, jet-lagged and clueless, two days after you arrive?)
***15. Can I have the email addresses and phone numbers of three of your current teachers? (The more the better, as it gives you a more honest picture of the school).
THE LAST QUESTION IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. You must talk to foreigners who are currently teaching at the school. Any school that refuses this request should instantly be crossed off. Some schools may give contact information for foreign managers. Do not accept these. You must contact teachers, not managers.
Obviously, shady school management will not answer questions honestly. It is vital to contact SEVERAL current teachers and ask all of the questions above. They too may fudge, but if you read between the lines a clearer picture will emerge.
Another strategy is to check blacklists and grey lists. These are web boards that list disreputable schools in various countries. Korea, in particular, has a large number of dedicated blacklists. So many, in fact, that the best advice may be to avoid working in Korea completely. Search the lists for schools you are considering. Post a question to the board... ask if anyone has had problems with the
school you are considering. While this may yield results, blacklists are notoriously unreliable. Just because a school is not on the list does not mean it is a good one. Most bad schools, in fact, will not be found on any of the blacklists.
Here are a few blacklists (again, do not rely solely on these):
English School Watch (International)
http://englishschoolwatch.org/notebook.php
Mark's ESL Blacklist (International)
http://marksesl.com/forums/cgi/access/black-white_lists.cgi
Hogwon Blacklist (Korea):
http://www.geocities.com/hagwonblacklist/
Buxiban.com (Taiwan & China)
http://www.buxiban.com/
Also, for a general overview of a particular country, including common problems, see the teachers' forums at Dave's ESL Cafe:
http://www.daveseslcafe.com
Once you receive a contract, examine it carefully. Does it carry complicated and detailed restrictions? Does it carry built in punishments for "misbehavior"? This is a sign of past conflicts at the school. It is a sign of a hostile working environment. Be wary of such contracts.
Another important part of the contract is the section on sick leave and vacation. Read this very carefully. Does the school offer several days of sick leave out right? They should. Do they require a doctor's note for every day missed? They should not. Is sick leave paid? It should be.
Regarding vacation: can you take vacation when you choose or are vacation days predetermined by the school? Are meetings and training days scheduled on holidays? Scour the contract for these details and ask more questions if necessary.
Working abroad is difficult. Its never easy to adjust to a new culture, new job, new social environment, and new home all at the same time. Its difficult to leave behind friends and family. These adjustments are hard enough with even the best job. However, they are next to impossible when compounded by an ugly employment situation.
Do not jump at the first job offered. Take your time. Ask questions. Compare job offers. Research. Be especially careful about Korean positions.
The English industry is full of cheats, opportunists, petty dictators, and outright liars. Always be wary. Always be skeptical.
Good jobs do exist. But in many countries (Korea, China) the bad and ugly are the majority. Do your homework.
.........
How to Avoid a Terrible Work Situation
Originally published by Transitions Abroad
by AJ/Skald
"We're not teaching another class until we get paid". The teachers room boiled with angry foreigners. Korean staff ran to and fro in a panicked frenzy. Underlings scurried between the owner's office and the break room.
Our pay checks were late again... four weeks late at this point. Finally, we'd had enough: Enough insults, enough threats, enough broken promises.
Each time a Korean staff member entered the room, an angry chorus of English shouted them down. "Tell him we aren't teaching until we get everything he owes us".... "Tell him no more cameras in the classroom". We were mad as hell and we weren't gonna take it anymore.
Unfortunately, teaching abroad isn't always pretty. There are a lot of ugly situations out there. A lot of sleazy employers. A lot of freaks. A lot of broken promises. In fact, most English teaching jobs fall into the "bad" and "ugly" categories.
Most teachers are lured abroad by visions of exotic travel, exploration, and lucrative contracts. But more often than not, things end badly. Most teachers leave with a bad taste in their mouth not only for the job, but for the country. A bad job quickly sours the entire experience.
Some teachers stick out their contract and grow increasingly bitter. They vent their frustrations on web boards... or in bars. Others break contract and leave-- often in a flurry of conflict and argument. Another popular option is the "midnight run"-- the day after pay day, the teacher boards a plane and disappears.
Can the bad and ugly be avoided? Is it possible to find a good English teaching position?
It certainly is, but its not easy. Like most job seekers, employers do their best to paint a good picture. They rarely volunteer unflattering information. Some do this subtlely, while others blatantly lie. If you are applying from your home country, it is very difficult to screen the truth from the lies. In fact, it is
impossible to be completely sure.
But there are some basic precautions.
The best strategy is to ask a lot of questions. The following are essential:
1. How many hours will I be in the classroom per week (exactly)?
2. How many hours will I be expected to be on location (office, school) per week?
3. Are there any required extracurricular activities? (Many schools host mandatory parties, summer camps, winter camps, etc.).
4. What percentage of teachers typically complete their contract? (High turnover is a very bad sign).
5. Have you had any conflicts or arguments with teachers? (Most have. Beware schools that try to paint a perfect picture).
6. Have pay checks ever been late? (Obviously a VERY bad sign).
7. Are teachers observed? (Many schools constantly observe teachers and create a very tense working environment).
8. Do you have cameras in the halls or classrooms? (A sign of paranoia and a controlling management style).
9. Do you have split shifts? How much will I travel each week? (You may "only" be teaching 20 hours per week, but if the first class is at 9am and the last ends at 9pm, it feels like you are working much more).
10. What days will I have off?
11. What teaching methods do you use? (Beware any school that claims to have a "secret" or "special" curriculum, as this is often a sign of a get-rich-quick mentality. Also beware rigid guidelines and formulas).
12. What kinds of materials are available to teachers?
13. What kind of educational background do the management and owner have? (Usually they are businessmen with no background in education whatsoever- not a good situation).
14. Do you provide any orientation or training? (Beware schools that do not. Will you be thrown into a class, jet-lagged and clueless, two days after you arrive?)
***15. Can I have the email addresses and phone numbers of three of your current teachers? (The more the better, as it gives you a more honest picture of the school).
THE LAST QUESTION IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. You must talk to foreigners who are currently teaching at the school. Any school that refuses this request should instantly be crossed off. Some schools may give contact information for foreign managers. Do not accept these. You must contact teachers, not managers.
Obviously, shady school management will not answer questions honestly. It is vital to contact SEVERAL current teachers and ask all of the questions above. They too may fudge, but if you read between the lines a clearer picture will emerge.
Another strategy is to check blacklists and grey lists. These are web boards that list disreputable schools in various countries. Korea, in particular, has a large number of dedicated blacklists. So many, in fact, that the best advice may be to avoid working in Korea completely. Search the lists for schools you are considering. Post a question to the board... ask if anyone has had problems with the
school you are considering. While this may yield results, blacklists are notoriously unreliable. Just because a school is not on the list does not mean it is a good one. Most bad schools, in fact, will not be found on any of the blacklists.
Here are a few blacklists (again, do not rely solely on these):
English School Watch (International)
http://englishschoolwatch.org/notebook.php
Mark's ESL Blacklist (International)
http://marksesl.com/forums/cgi/access/black-white_lists.cgi
Hogwon Blacklist (Korea):
http://www.geocities.com/hagwonblacklist/
Buxiban.com (Taiwan & China)
http://www.buxiban.com/
Also, for a general overview of a particular country, including common problems, see the teachers' forums at Dave's ESL Cafe:
http://www.daveseslcafe.com
Once you receive a contract, examine it carefully. Does it carry complicated and detailed restrictions? Does it carry built in punishments for "misbehavior"? This is a sign of past conflicts at the school. It is a sign of a hostile working environment. Be wary of such contracts.
Another important part of the contract is the section on sick leave and vacation. Read this very carefully. Does the school offer several days of sick leave out right? They should. Do they require a doctor's note for every day missed? They should not. Is sick leave paid? It should be.
Regarding vacation: can you take vacation when you choose or are vacation days predetermined by the school? Are meetings and training days scheduled on holidays? Scour the contract for these details and ask more questions if necessary.
Working abroad is difficult. Its never easy to adjust to a new culture, new job, new social environment, and new home all at the same time. Its difficult to leave behind friends and family. These adjustments are hard enough with even the best job. However, they are next to impossible when compounded by an ugly employment situation.
Do not jump at the first job offered. Take your time. Ask questions. Compare job offers. Research. Be especially careful about Korean positions.
The English industry is full of cheats, opportunists, petty dictators, and outright liars. Always be wary. Always be skeptical.
Good jobs do exist. But in many countries (Korea, China) the bad and ugly are the majority. Do your homework.
.........
Earthquake
by Kristin
I experienced an earthquake here. I was on the third floor of a building, in a coffee shop, with my friend Lisa. All of a sudden we noticed that we were moving. From that point on everything went very surreal. She asked me if I felt the moving. I said yes and we simultaneously looked under our table (as if to find some sort of answer from that?!). Then, it seemed like it stopped.
I got up from the table still feeling a bit dazed but not really focusing on what had just happened. When I got up from the table, the shaking got stronger. I noticed lamps, that were hanging from the ceiling, really starting to rock back and forth. Then, I felt the building start swaying!!! I started to panic. All I could think about was how a department store in Seoul, Korea had suddenly collapsed, while I had been living there. The only explanation had been the poor construction of it.
Well, I still didn't realize what was going on. I just thought that the building was about to collapse. Lisa was still sitting down. I told her we needed to get out of the building, that I thought it was going to collapse. She told me she wasn't going anywhere. In that split moment of feeling like I was in a drugged state as well as trying to figure out what was going on and what I should do, I found myself leaning over a railing as I started getting dizzy and feeling like I was going to throw up.
The building was still swaying, the lamps were still rocking and people were stopped dead in their tracks. Then it was over. That's when the realization hit me...we had been in an earthquake. We were so shocked and out of it...yet we were kind of excited! We went down and back outside to join our Indian friends for the zoo.
They had of course felt the quake outside. They also saw the building, we had just come from, swaying from side to side. Apparently earthquakes are common here. Therefore, the Japanese construct their buildings to sway in a quake and therefore absorb the shock. I have to say that I felt a bit nauseous for a good part of the remainder of the day.
I had thought this was my first earthquake. However, A.J. later told me that we had experienced one in the Japanese Embassy in Bangkok (back in January). We were there getting our visas for Japan when we felt our building shake (this one shook as opposed to swaying). We were on the 9th floor. Once again, I had no idea what was going on. It happened twice and was much less significant than what I experienced here. I didn't think much of it. Apparently he was told later that it was aftershock from the tsunami. He had just neglected to tell me until this earthquake here made him think of it.
I don't know what's going on with this side of the world. You may have heard that Indonesia had a massive quake about a week or so ago. Well, people in Bangkok felt it. In fact, they thought it was going to create another tsunami. On that note (I'm getting dizzy just thinking about that building swaying) I'm going to send this.
.......
I experienced an earthquake here. I was on the third floor of a building, in a coffee shop, with my friend Lisa. All of a sudden we noticed that we were moving. From that point on everything went very surreal. She asked me if I felt the moving. I said yes and we simultaneously looked under our table (as if to find some sort of answer from that?!). Then, it seemed like it stopped.
I got up from the table still feeling a bit dazed but not really focusing on what had just happened. When I got up from the table, the shaking got stronger. I noticed lamps, that were hanging from the ceiling, really starting to rock back and forth. Then, I felt the building start swaying!!! I started to panic. All I could think about was how a department store in Seoul, Korea had suddenly collapsed, while I had been living there. The only explanation had been the poor construction of it.
Well, I still didn't realize what was going on. I just thought that the building was about to collapse. Lisa was still sitting down. I told her we needed to get out of the building, that I thought it was going to collapse. She told me she wasn't going anywhere. In that split moment of feeling like I was in a drugged state as well as trying to figure out what was going on and what I should do, I found myself leaning over a railing as I started getting dizzy and feeling like I was going to throw up.
The building was still swaying, the lamps were still rocking and people were stopped dead in their tracks. Then it was over. That's when the realization hit me...we had been in an earthquake. We were so shocked and out of it...yet we were kind of excited! We went down and back outside to join our Indian friends for the zoo.
They had of course felt the quake outside. They also saw the building, we had just come from, swaying from side to side. Apparently earthquakes are common here. Therefore, the Japanese construct their buildings to sway in a quake and therefore absorb the shock. I have to say that I felt a bit nauseous for a good part of the remainder of the day.
I had thought this was my first earthquake. However, A.J. later told me that we had experienced one in the Japanese Embassy in Bangkok (back in January). We were there getting our visas for Japan when we felt our building shake (this one shook as opposed to swaying). We were on the 9th floor. Once again, I had no idea what was going on. It happened twice and was much less significant than what I experienced here. I didn't think much of it. Apparently he was told later that it was aftershock from the tsunami. He had just neglected to tell me until this earthquake here made him think of it.
I don't know what's going on with this side of the world. You may have heard that Indonesia had a massive quake about a week or so ago. Well, people in Bangkok felt it. In fact, they thought it was going to create another tsunami. On that note (I'm getting dizzy just thinking about that building swaying) I'm going to send this.
.......
Other Hiroshima Impressions
by Kristin
This is such a pedestrian friendly, green city. The cherry blossoms (Japan is famous for the blooming of these trees) are starting to come out. I can't wait to see them and for the weather to get warm!!! The cherry blossoms only stay in bloom for about a week I think. But during that time, people are picnicking, camping and partying all along the river banks (so I've been told). I've already noticed it going on.
Public transportation here consists of trains, street cars (trolleys) and buses. As I mentioned earlier, a lot of people ride bikes which is apparently a national thing and not only a Hiroshima trend. A.J. found a bicycle parking deck next to a train station! People ride their bikes on the sidewalks. A.J. has already gotten a bike. I'm kind of holding off for right now as I like walking everywhere. I've already ridden a couple of times on the back part of A.J.'s bike. It's just a rack over his rear tire for passengers or for strapping something on. It was a little bit difficult to get the hang of riding on the back at first....the Japanese make it look so easy!
I can't wait to explore the countryside! I especially want to get to some onsens soon (natural hot springs). I've heard such good things about them!! Along with the countryside, I'm eager to get to Osaka and especially Tokyo. I'd really like to dig up some of the crazy, quirky, seedy stuff that I'm sure Tokyo has to offer.
One of my favorite restaurants to go to is a place that has really good pasta and yummy Mexican food! It's owned by a guy from Detroit. It's got really good beer, too. However, as most things, it's not cheap. So, I really have to limit myself from going there.
I will say that customer service here is phenomenal! People are friendly and helpful. I don't think I've ever had the kind of service I get simply from a transaction in something such as a convenient store. Even gas stations will stop traffic to let their customers get out onto the street. It's amazing!
I've also noticed that while some things (such as electronics) are superior, other areas are lacking such as an archaic banking system. Also, Japan seems to be king as far as bureaucracy goes. I thought it was bad in the States but it seems to be worse here. For example, one of the new teachers had taught in Japan last year. While here before, he got a speeding ticket. He said that he had to go through about 7 different people just to pay the fine. The obvious downside to this would be the huge headache. However, such a bogged down bureaucratic system does create jobs.
.....
Something else that I've noticed is that many things seem to be created for a purpose. It all seems to be about presentation as well as efficiency. For example, there are machines outside of public buildings which provide plastic bags for you to put your wet umbrella in on rainy days. That way, when you go into say a restaurant, you don't create a wet mess with your umbrella. This also creates jobs, though too...right? Somewhere there's a company that manufactures these plastic umbrella bags. As far as jobs aplenty, I've even seen at certain times of the day (on busy streets) cross guards. Their only job is to wave their flashing wand to let people walk and to stop traffic. It's kind of comical since there is already the crosswalk lights.
This is such a pedestrian friendly, green city. The cherry blossoms (Japan is famous for the blooming of these trees) are starting to come out. I can't wait to see them and for the weather to get warm!!! The cherry blossoms only stay in bloom for about a week I think. But during that time, people are picnicking, camping and partying all along the river banks (so I've been told). I've already noticed it going on.
Public transportation here consists of trains, street cars (trolleys) and buses. As I mentioned earlier, a lot of people ride bikes which is apparently a national thing and not only a Hiroshima trend. A.J. found a bicycle parking deck next to a train station! People ride their bikes on the sidewalks. A.J. has already gotten a bike. I'm kind of holding off for right now as I like walking everywhere. I've already ridden a couple of times on the back part of A.J.'s bike. It's just a rack over his rear tire for passengers or for strapping something on. It was a little bit difficult to get the hang of riding on the back at first....the Japanese make it look so easy!
I can't wait to explore the countryside! I especially want to get to some onsens soon (natural hot springs). I've heard such good things about them!! Along with the countryside, I'm eager to get to Osaka and especially Tokyo. I'd really like to dig up some of the crazy, quirky, seedy stuff that I'm sure Tokyo has to offer.
One of my favorite restaurants to go to is a place that has really good pasta and yummy Mexican food! It's owned by a guy from Detroit. It's got really good beer, too. However, as most things, it's not cheap. So, I really have to limit myself from going there.
I will say that customer service here is phenomenal! People are friendly and helpful. I don't think I've ever had the kind of service I get simply from a transaction in something such as a convenient store. Even gas stations will stop traffic to let their customers get out onto the street. It's amazing!
I've also noticed that while some things (such as electronics) are superior, other areas are lacking such as an archaic banking system. Also, Japan seems to be king as far as bureaucracy goes. I thought it was bad in the States but it seems to be worse here. For example, one of the new teachers had taught in Japan last year. While here before, he got a speeding ticket. He said that he had to go through about 7 different people just to pay the fine. The obvious downside to this would be the huge headache. However, such a bogged down bureaucratic system does create jobs.
.....
Something else that I've noticed is that many things seem to be created for a purpose. It all seems to be about presentation as well as efficiency. For example, there are machines outside of public buildings which provide plastic bags for you to put your wet umbrella in on rainy days. That way, when you go into say a restaurant, you don't create a wet mess with your umbrella. This also creates jobs, though too...right? Somewhere there's a company that manufactures these plastic umbrella bags. As far as jobs aplenty, I've even seen at certain times of the day (on busy streets) cross guards. Their only job is to wave their flashing wand to let people walk and to stop traffic. It's kind of comical since there is already the crosswalk lights.
Stuff To Do In Hiroshima
by Kristin
A.J. and I went to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. It was so incredibly intense!! I had to stop reading everything because I was getting so drained. The museum collects and displays belongings left by the victims, photos and other materials that convey the horror of the atomic bombing. It also has exhibits that describe Hiroshima before and after the bombing and others that present the current status of the nuclear age.
Hiroshima is a city that very much promotes the elimination of all nuclear weapons. Behind the museum, the "A Bomb Dome" still stands. It's a building that was directly at the center of the bombing. It's just a skeleton of a building that gets illuminated every night....kind of an eerie sight.
Other than Karaoke, a few bars and restaurants I haven't experienced much else of Hiroshima's night life. There are definitely some clubs that I want to check out. There's a decent sized Latino population here. In fact, I've hung out with a guy from Colombia. I'm hoping to take in some Latin clubs at some point.
I also met a guy from Jamaica who seems to be into hip hop. Hip hop seems to be fairly popular here. One of the new teachers went out with a Japanese woman one night whose really into break dancing (in fact, she's going to "study" break dancing at a school in LA soon). Anyway, he said the club was so hilarious....there were different Japanese women that would come out and pop/break dance for an audience.
He also said that before the dancers started performing, there was a BMX (bike) event with Japanese guys doing all sorts of tricks on their bikes. I'm sorry I missed that evening. I might be going to an event where a guy from England that I met will be DJing. I know one thing that I want to save my money for is Fuji Rock. Fuji Rock is in August. It's three days of camping and music near Mt. Fuji. Radio Head will be there and that alone is enough for me to want to go!
......
A.J. and I went to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. It was so incredibly intense!! I had to stop reading everything because I was getting so drained. The museum collects and displays belongings left by the victims, photos and other materials that convey the horror of the atomic bombing. It also has exhibits that describe Hiroshima before and after the bombing and others that present the current status of the nuclear age.
Hiroshima is a city that very much promotes the elimination of all nuclear weapons. Behind the museum, the "A Bomb Dome" still stands. It's a building that was directly at the center of the bombing. It's just a skeleton of a building that gets illuminated every night....kind of an eerie sight.
Other than Karaoke, a few bars and restaurants I haven't experienced much else of Hiroshima's night life. There are definitely some clubs that I want to check out. There's a decent sized Latino population here. In fact, I've hung out with a guy from Colombia. I'm hoping to take in some Latin clubs at some point.
I also met a guy from Jamaica who seems to be into hip hop. Hip hop seems to be fairly popular here. One of the new teachers went out with a Japanese woman one night whose really into break dancing (in fact, she's going to "study" break dancing at a school in LA soon). Anyway, he said the club was so hilarious....there were different Japanese women that would come out and pop/break dance for an audience.
He also said that before the dancers started performing, there was a BMX (bike) event with Japanese guys doing all sorts of tricks on their bikes. I'm sorry I missed that evening. I might be going to an event where a guy from England that I met will be DJing. I know one thing that I want to save my money for is Fuji Rock. Fuji Rock is in August. It's three days of camping and music near Mt. Fuji. Radio Head will be there and that alone is enough for me to want to go!
......
Getting Settled In Japan
by Kristin
Although I'm liking Japan, I'm not thrilled about the job. I'll find out tomorrow how my life is going to fare over the next 5 months when I get my schedule. The staff at my school are all very nice and helpful when it comes down to school matters. However, they have been extremely unhelpful in things such as setting up a required bank account, getting our foreigner IDs, getting set up with furnishings and necessities for our apartments, etc.
On top of that, during the training they spent the three and half weeks drilling their ineffective teaching method into all of us. It's a method that I don't like and will use as little as possible. After observing several classes taught by the directors, we started teaching while then being observed by a director. We would then have feedback with the observing director, which I found they always tended to focus more on negative aspects rather than positive. I won't turn this into a bitch session.
However, if things just aren't working out with this job I'm not going to let it ruin my Japanese experience (which is what happened in Korea). There are other options (one being a job offer at a university in Bangkok) which I'll explore. Assuming things go o.k. with this job, there's potential to make some decent money. Plus, I'm really going to start pushing to do massage (now that I'm in a country where I can charge what I'm worth again....I just couldn't compete with $3 an hour Thai massages in Bangkok).
I could also have the potential to pick up private students. However, after teaching all week, I don't think I'm going to want to do it on the side. So, a friend of mine and I are probably going to start hostessing. Basically we'll be working in a lounge type setting getting drinks and lighting cigarettes for business men who are wanting to converse in English. It pays $20 an hour to just sit and chat...not bad. I'll give it a try anyway. If there's anything sketchy about it (like the job I had at Rio in Gainesville...the Hispanic/Latino club I got fired from for not following the rules....HA!) then I'll quit.
As I mentioned earlier, I'm just finishing up an 11 day break from the training. During that time, I've gotten an apartment that I absolutely love! And, this time it's a proper apartment. It's tiny but it has a kitchen and dining area in the first room that you walk into. There's a bathroom off of this room, which has an actual tub, hot water, sink, and toilet that flushes. Then there are wooden, sliding doors separating the next room where I sleep. Traditionally, the doors would have the very thin paper square sections. However, mine have frosted glass. Also, there should be a tatami mat (like a bamboo mat) in the bedroom. The landlord took it out, though thinking I would want my apartment "Western style". So, there's linoleum instead.
I'm on the top floor of the building (5th floor) with a balcony looking out at a river. I bought a washing machine yesterday, which my friend and I lugged up (there's no elevator) to my apartment. It's out on the balcony. Driers are not common here, so I have some hemp strung across the balcony to use as a clothes line.
Apartments come with no amenities. So, I had to buy a stove top, refrigerator, washing machine, etc., etc. I've pretty much finished supplying my apartment. I bought the stove top off a couple of teachers that were leaving. I found the refrigerator and washing machine at a recycled (used) shop, which delivered the items to my apartment at no extra cost (but they dropped them off outside, not wanting to help carry them up since I don't have an elevator).
Many Japanese people sleep on futons on the tatami matted bedroom floor. To save on buying a futon, I popped my tent up and am sleeping in it. We didn't have our first warm night here until last night. So, I've been having to run the heat. I don't have central heat. There's a dual unit for heat and air on the wall in my bedroom. It can be kind of drafty. However, I've been pretty cozy camping out on my camping pad, in my tent with my sleeping bag. I love it!! A couple of my friends saw it and really liked the concept as well. However, they think it's something temporary until the weather turns warm. Then, they think I'll want to make it more of a "proper" bedroom and really "settle in". It's true, the tent might get hot but I like the way it looks in my room and I also like the fact that I don't have to worry about buying more things to fill space. Seeing as how I tend to move about once a year, I don't really think that "settling in" is in my nature.
Although I'm liking Japan, I'm not thrilled about the job. I'll find out tomorrow how my life is going to fare over the next 5 months when I get my schedule. The staff at my school are all very nice and helpful when it comes down to school matters. However, they have been extremely unhelpful in things such as setting up a required bank account, getting our foreigner IDs, getting set up with furnishings and necessities for our apartments, etc.
On top of that, during the training they spent the three and half weeks drilling their ineffective teaching method into all of us. It's a method that I don't like and will use as little as possible. After observing several classes taught by the directors, we started teaching while then being observed by a director. We would then have feedback with the observing director, which I found they always tended to focus more on negative aspects rather than positive. I won't turn this into a bitch session.
However, if things just aren't working out with this job I'm not going to let it ruin my Japanese experience (which is what happened in Korea). There are other options (one being a job offer at a university in Bangkok) which I'll explore. Assuming things go o.k. with this job, there's potential to make some decent money. Plus, I'm really going to start pushing to do massage (now that I'm in a country where I can charge what I'm worth again....I just couldn't compete with $3 an hour Thai massages in Bangkok).
I could also have the potential to pick up private students. However, after teaching all week, I don't think I'm going to want to do it on the side. So, a friend of mine and I are probably going to start hostessing. Basically we'll be working in a lounge type setting getting drinks and lighting cigarettes for business men who are wanting to converse in English. It pays $20 an hour to just sit and chat...not bad. I'll give it a try anyway. If there's anything sketchy about it (like the job I had at Rio in Gainesville...the Hispanic/Latino club I got fired from for not following the rules....HA!) then I'll quit.
As I mentioned earlier, I'm just finishing up an 11 day break from the training. During that time, I've gotten an apartment that I absolutely love! And, this time it's a proper apartment. It's tiny but it has a kitchen and dining area in the first room that you walk into. There's a bathroom off of this room, which has an actual tub, hot water, sink, and toilet that flushes. Then there are wooden, sliding doors separating the next room where I sleep. Traditionally, the doors would have the very thin paper square sections. However, mine have frosted glass. Also, there should be a tatami mat (like a bamboo mat) in the bedroom. The landlord took it out, though thinking I would want my apartment "Western style". So, there's linoleum instead.
I'm on the top floor of the building (5th floor) with a balcony looking out at a river. I bought a washing machine yesterday, which my friend and I lugged up (there's no elevator) to my apartment. It's out on the balcony. Driers are not common here, so I have some hemp strung across the balcony to use as a clothes line.
Apartments come with no amenities. So, I had to buy a stove top, refrigerator, washing machine, etc., etc. I've pretty much finished supplying my apartment. I bought the stove top off a couple of teachers that were leaving. I found the refrigerator and washing machine at a recycled (used) shop, which delivered the items to my apartment at no extra cost (but they dropped them off outside, not wanting to help carry them up since I don't have an elevator).
Many Japanese people sleep on futons on the tatami matted bedroom floor. To save on buying a futon, I popped my tent up and am sleeping in it. We didn't have our first warm night here until last night. So, I've been having to run the heat. I don't have central heat. There's a dual unit for heat and air on the wall in my bedroom. It can be kind of drafty. However, I've been pretty cozy camping out on my camping pad, in my tent with my sleeping bag. I love it!! A couple of my friends saw it and really liked the concept as well. However, they think it's something temporary until the weather turns warm. Then, they think I'll want to make it more of a "proper" bedroom and really "settle in". It's true, the tent might get hot but I like the way it looks in my room and I also like the fact that I don't have to worry about buying more things to fill space. Seeing as how I tend to move about once a year, I don't really think that "settling in" is in my nature.
Japan Budget
by Kristin
I've realized that I really need to put myself on a budget here. I'm supposed to be saving money. However, I'm already thinking about a few large purchases. Not to mention that Japan is SUPER expensive (i.e. one cantaloupe can go for anywhere from $10 to $100; I tried on a pair of pants that cost over $700; I bought two cds from a Tower Records for over $40...with all of that said, I am finding second hand clothing stores, reasonable restaurants and 100 yen shops - 100 yen is roughly equivalent to $1)!!!
I had heard that Japan was expensive as well, but once again seeing is believing. I've come from the land of year round sunshine; laid back people; cheap, spicy food; cheap clothes (just about cheap everything) whose motto could be "Mai Pen Rai" (no worries!) to the land of harsher, seasonal weather; more rigid/rule bound people; expensive, bland food; expensive clothes (just about everything is expensive) whose motto could be "Kanpai" (keep fighting...don't give up!). All of these things contributed to my culture shock in the beginning.
However, I'm slowly realizing that I'm no longer in Thailand and I've got to find things about this culture to enjoy as well. And I am!!! Every day I'm liking Hiroshima more and more. There is so much quirkiness here. I love such things as seeing GQ looking business men reading manga comics (characters with big eyes that Japanese anime (animation) is known for) in the convenient stores OR seeing everyone riding bicycles....even those GQ looking business men OR seeing adults on these funky, small framed bikes with high seats that look like they would belong in a circus or to a kid OR seeing the crazy, cutesy bunny, frog, Hello Kitty creatures on tv, all kinds of products, etc. OR having to wait at a crosswalk until the sign indicates that I can walk (I'm still not used to such orderliness after living in such a chaotic city as Bangkok!) OR all of the different fashions (i.e. the goth girls, the baby doll girls...yes, they dress like baby dolls, the lacey, Victorian clad women complete with lacey parasols and all, the road warrior chicks (as A.J. refers to them)...they were wearing chest pads, knee pads, dark makeup, etc., the hip hop fashion, etc. etc. (I think my favorite are the women who sport a hairdo that looks like they've come from a prom back in the 70's...
I've also seen some really curly, fro styled hair with definite shades of the 80's by the looks of their clothes) OR having people keep speaking Japanese to me when I tell them I don't understand (i.e. this man came up to me one day wanting to record an interview with me; I still have no clue as to what he was wanting me to say or why; when I told him I wasn't understanding and he still kept shoving the recorder in my face, I just said who I was and why I had come to Japan; who knows, maybe my voice will end up on one of the crazy animal shows I was describing earlier as part of an English lesson ?!) OR finding a shop with nothing but Monchhichis (I remember having one of those little stuffed monkeys when I was younger; I even remember the song...Monchhichi, monchhichi, so soft and cuddly...).
......
I've realized that I really need to put myself on a budget here. I'm supposed to be saving money. However, I'm already thinking about a few large purchases. Not to mention that Japan is SUPER expensive (i.e. one cantaloupe can go for anywhere from $10 to $100; I tried on a pair of pants that cost over $700; I bought two cds from a Tower Records for over $40...with all of that said, I am finding second hand clothing stores, reasonable restaurants and 100 yen shops - 100 yen is roughly equivalent to $1)!!!
I had heard that Japan was expensive as well, but once again seeing is believing. I've come from the land of year round sunshine; laid back people; cheap, spicy food; cheap clothes (just about cheap everything) whose motto could be "Mai Pen Rai" (no worries!) to the land of harsher, seasonal weather; more rigid/rule bound people; expensive, bland food; expensive clothes (just about everything is expensive) whose motto could be "Kanpai" (keep fighting...don't give up!). All of these things contributed to my culture shock in the beginning.
However, I'm slowly realizing that I'm no longer in Thailand and I've got to find things about this culture to enjoy as well. And I am!!! Every day I'm liking Hiroshima more and more. There is so much quirkiness here. I love such things as seeing GQ looking business men reading manga comics (characters with big eyes that Japanese anime (animation) is known for) in the convenient stores OR seeing everyone riding bicycles....even those GQ looking business men OR seeing adults on these funky, small framed bikes with high seats that look like they would belong in a circus or to a kid OR seeing the crazy, cutesy bunny, frog, Hello Kitty creatures on tv, all kinds of products, etc. OR having to wait at a crosswalk until the sign indicates that I can walk (I'm still not used to such orderliness after living in such a chaotic city as Bangkok!) OR all of the different fashions (i.e. the goth girls, the baby doll girls...yes, they dress like baby dolls, the lacey, Victorian clad women complete with lacey parasols and all, the road warrior chicks (as A.J. refers to them)...they were wearing chest pads, knee pads, dark makeup, etc., the hip hop fashion, etc. etc. (I think my favorite are the women who sport a hairdo that looks like they've come from a prom back in the 70's...
I've also seen some really curly, fro styled hair with definite shades of the 80's by the looks of their clothes) OR having people keep speaking Japanese to me when I tell them I don't understand (i.e. this man came up to me one day wanting to record an interview with me; I still have no clue as to what he was wanting me to say or why; when I told him I wasn't understanding and he still kept shoving the recorder in my face, I just said who I was and why I had come to Japan; who knows, maybe my voice will end up on one of the crazy animal shows I was describing earlier as part of an English lesson ?!) OR finding a shop with nothing but Monchhichis (I remember having one of those little stuffed monkeys when I was younger; I even remember the song...Monchhichi, monchhichi, so soft and cuddly...).
......
Arrival In Japan
by Kristin
A.J. and I had a superb flight from Bangkok to Osaka. We flew Singapore Airlines, which is rated the best in the world (I believe). It's too bad it was a red eye flight. I really wanted to stay awake and take in as much of the wonderful service as I could. I think it was only a six hour flight. We landed in Osaka early in the morning.
It was such a huge ordeal lugging all of our bags through three different train stations. Once we left the airport, we took a regular train for about 45 minutes (JR- Japan Railway) to the Shinkansen station (bullet train). There were no luggage carts in the train stations. So, we dragged our 3 large army duffel bags and carried our other small, various bags throughout the train stations. It was the worst traveling I've ever done. I'm now convinced to ditch the army sea bags and go for large suitcases on wheels (I've got my eye on a couple that are made out of aluminum from Germany).
Anyway, my very first impressions of Japan (just from the airport and train stations) were "Oh shit...people here don`t speak ANY English and there's not nearly the amount of sign-age in English that I thought there would be. I also noticed all of the vending machines, which sell cold and hot canned drinks, cigarettes, phone cards, beer, etc. You can get a plethora of items from the vending machines here. Somebody told me they saw one once with heads of lettuce and other veggies in it.
Going back to the language barrier, I've been in many countries but have never experienced a barrier such as what is here in Japan. When I lived in Korea, everyone was dying to come up and talk to me on the street...just to practice their English. Living in Thailand, English wasn't a problem because it's such a popular tourist destination. I would experience difficulties trying to speak Thai because I would mangle the pronunciations, since it's a tonal language. But the Thais would blurt out the little bit of English they knew and it was always enough to get by. I suppose I've gotten by with bits of English in the other countries I've been to because I would be backpacking around hitting touristy areas.
So, Japan is already proving to be a whole new experience as far as language goes. One positive aspect is that it will force me to pick up some Japanese. Also, the few phrases I've learned thus far have been understood when I speak them. Japanese is not a tonal language and therefore much easier to pronounce (yay! ).
Some other first impressions of Japan was all of the recycling bins (which they're quite strict about; recycling is very regulated here; I happen to be quite excited about that but have been illegally dumping my trash at night because I can't figure out the overcomplicated process of recycling; I have to be careful with the illegal dumping because I read that the police are out at night looking for such activity) and the smoking situation.
The smoking situation is such that some public places have sectioned areas for smoking but others don't. For example, A.J. and I accidentally stumbled onto the smoking car of the Shinkansen train. So, while there was an actual car for smokers, I've been in a Subway eating right next to a guy smoking (and I mean right next to him...he could have been in my lap he was so close...as I've experienced in other countries, space or lack of is an issue here) because the whole second floor was smoking (the first floor, for non smokers, only has a few bar stools to sit at).
Well, we got to Hiroshima after a super fast bullet train ride from Osaka. The train was scheduled to depart at some precise time like 10:17am and it sure as hell did. I had heard of the preciseness of time here but seeing is believing! So, we took off on our smokey train ride, going about 180mph on a sleek looking train that could have been out of a science fiction movie. We were picked up at the Hiroshima station by one of our bosses. We were due to start a three and a half week training 5 days after arriving.
There were 6 other new teachers coming from Vancouver, Canada; somewhere in England (?); Toronto, Canada; San Francisco and NYC. We were all put up in a really nice (but compact...everything seemed so small at first) hotel for the duration of the training. I've finished the training and am just finishing up an 11 day break before getting my schedule tomorrow and starting work on Friday. E-mail has been rather difficult due to money and time. There was a courtesy lap top in the hotel lobby. However, I was basically just reading e-mails and not really able to take up the time to respond. There are a couple of computers at the school. However, it can be difficult to find one that doesn't have somebody on it or waiting to get on it. Plus, they're really slow.
Right now I'm at an internet cafe. I really haven't been utilizing these (like I did in Bangkok) because they're not cheap. I would pay less than a dollar for one hour in Bangkok's internet cafes. These are more complicated...you have to sign up for a specified amount of time. If you go over that time, the charge for each additional minute is pretty high. It's kind of cool, though.
In Bangkok, the internet cafes are simply an open room with tables and chairs and computers. Some of them might have drinks you could buy. This particular internet cafe that I'm in right now is much more of an experience. I'm in my own little cubicle with a desk, desk lamp, phone (to call for an order of food or drinks to be served to my cubicle), etc. It basically feels like my own little office. I can also get courtesy soft drinks, coffee/tea, a blanket, pillow and slippers if I want. People come in here to get on the internet, watch dvds or play video games. I think this place is open 24 hours, too. I could also having my own smoking cubicle if I wanted (of course).
A.J. and I had a superb flight from Bangkok to Osaka. We flew Singapore Airlines, which is rated the best in the world (I believe). It's too bad it was a red eye flight. I really wanted to stay awake and take in as much of the wonderful service as I could. I think it was only a six hour flight. We landed in Osaka early in the morning.
It was such a huge ordeal lugging all of our bags through three different train stations. Once we left the airport, we took a regular train for about 45 minutes (JR- Japan Railway) to the Shinkansen station (bullet train). There were no luggage carts in the train stations. So, we dragged our 3 large army duffel bags and carried our other small, various bags throughout the train stations. It was the worst traveling I've ever done. I'm now convinced to ditch the army sea bags and go for large suitcases on wheels (I've got my eye on a couple that are made out of aluminum from Germany).
Anyway, my very first impressions of Japan (just from the airport and train stations) were "Oh shit...people here don`t speak ANY English and there's not nearly the amount of sign-age in English that I thought there would be. I also noticed all of the vending machines, which sell cold and hot canned drinks, cigarettes, phone cards, beer, etc. You can get a plethora of items from the vending machines here. Somebody told me they saw one once with heads of lettuce and other veggies in it.
Going back to the language barrier, I've been in many countries but have never experienced a barrier such as what is here in Japan. When I lived in Korea, everyone was dying to come up and talk to me on the street...just to practice their English. Living in Thailand, English wasn't a problem because it's such a popular tourist destination. I would experience difficulties trying to speak Thai because I would mangle the pronunciations, since it's a tonal language. But the Thais would blurt out the little bit of English they knew and it was always enough to get by. I suppose I've gotten by with bits of English in the other countries I've been to because I would be backpacking around hitting touristy areas.
So, Japan is already proving to be a whole new experience as far as language goes. One positive aspect is that it will force me to pick up some Japanese. Also, the few phrases I've learned thus far have been understood when I speak them. Japanese is not a tonal language and therefore much easier to pronounce (yay! ).
Some other first impressions of Japan was all of the recycling bins (which they're quite strict about; recycling is very regulated here; I happen to be quite excited about that but have been illegally dumping my trash at night because I can't figure out the overcomplicated process of recycling; I have to be careful with the illegal dumping because I read that the police are out at night looking for such activity) and the smoking situation.
The smoking situation is such that some public places have sectioned areas for smoking but others don't. For example, A.J. and I accidentally stumbled onto the smoking car of the Shinkansen train. So, while there was an actual car for smokers, I've been in a Subway eating right next to a guy smoking (and I mean right next to him...he could have been in my lap he was so close...as I've experienced in other countries, space or lack of is an issue here) because the whole second floor was smoking (the first floor, for non smokers, only has a few bar stools to sit at).
Well, we got to Hiroshima after a super fast bullet train ride from Osaka. The train was scheduled to depart at some precise time like 10:17am and it sure as hell did. I had heard of the preciseness of time here but seeing is believing! So, we took off on our smokey train ride, going about 180mph on a sleek looking train that could have been out of a science fiction movie. We were picked up at the Hiroshima station by one of our bosses. We were due to start a three and a half week training 5 days after arriving.
There were 6 other new teachers coming from Vancouver, Canada; somewhere in England (?); Toronto, Canada; San Francisco and NYC. We were all put up in a really nice (but compact...everything seemed so small at first) hotel for the duration of the training. I've finished the training and am just finishing up an 11 day break before getting my schedule tomorrow and starting work on Friday. E-mail has been rather difficult due to money and time. There was a courtesy lap top in the hotel lobby. However, I was basically just reading e-mails and not really able to take up the time to respond. There are a couple of computers at the school. However, it can be difficult to find one that doesn't have somebody on it or waiting to get on it. Plus, they're really slow.
Right now I'm at an internet cafe. I really haven't been utilizing these (like I did in Bangkok) because they're not cheap. I would pay less than a dollar for one hour in Bangkok's internet cafes. These are more complicated...you have to sign up for a specified amount of time. If you go over that time, the charge for each additional minute is pretty high. It's kind of cool, though.
In Bangkok, the internet cafes are simply an open room with tables and chairs and computers. Some of them might have drinks you could buy. This particular internet cafe that I'm in right now is much more of an experience. I'm in my own little cubicle with a desk, desk lamp, phone (to call for an order of food or drinks to be served to my cubicle), etc. It basically feels like my own little office. I can also get courtesy soft drinks, coffee/tea, a blanket, pillow and slippers if I want. People come in here to get on the internet, watch dvds or play video games. I think this place is open 24 hours, too. I could also having my own smoking cubicle if I wanted (of course).
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Morning Commute
by AJ/Skald
Up at 8:30 and out the door at 9:00, I still catch the tail end of Hiroshima's rush hour. I'm running a little late and going a bit too fast. I dodge other vehicles and keep a wary eye out for pedestrians. My route takes me over Misasa bridge and along the Otagawa River. Its a beautiful trip this morning- the cherry trees are blooming. I cruise under a canopy of pink puffs... which rain down when the wind blows. The sky is clear and I can see the mountains on the edge of the city. They too are spotted with cotton-candy trees.
As I cruise into town, traffic picks up. Downtown is bustling as I search for a parking space. It reminds me of downtown Athens... too many people looking, too few spaces. I cruise by my favorite illegal spot, but its full. Traffic cones mark "no parking" areas in front of store entranceways. All the best places are cordoned off. Worrying I'll be late for work, I opt for the parking deck. Its only 100 yen for the whole day (about $1).
I park my bike on the second floor and dash off to work. The air is clean. The city is quiet. I'm invigorated by the morning's exercise.
Its another day in cycling paradise.
.......
Up at 8:30 and out the door at 9:00, I still catch the tail end of Hiroshima's rush hour. I'm running a little late and going a bit too fast. I dodge other vehicles and keep a wary eye out for pedestrians. My route takes me over Misasa bridge and along the Otagawa River. Its a beautiful trip this morning- the cherry trees are blooming. I cruise under a canopy of pink puffs... which rain down when the wind blows. The sky is clear and I can see the mountains on the edge of the city. They too are spotted with cotton-candy trees.
As I cruise into town, traffic picks up. Downtown is bustling as I search for a parking space. It reminds me of downtown Athens... too many people looking, too few spaces. I cruise by my favorite illegal spot, but its full. Traffic cones mark "no parking" areas in front of store entranceways. All the best places are cordoned off. Worrying I'll be late for work, I opt for the parking deck. Its only 100 yen for the whole day (about $1).
I park my bike on the second floor and dash off to work. The air is clean. The city is quiet. I'm invigorated by the morning's exercise.
Its another day in cycling paradise.
.......
Monday, April 11, 2005
Play, not "Work", not "Study"
by AJ
Create interesting, fun, absorbing happenings in the target language-- thats how AUA's David Long describes the goal of his program. And it was great (well, in level one anyway.... see my teaching blog for more details about AUA's language program and my critique of it: Effortless Language Acquisition).
He also had another great saying, "all education should be kindergarten". He envisioned a school for adults that was structured on the same principles as kindergarten. The "school" would be a giant room with many centers. In each center, a teacher would create HAPPENINGS (experiences, workshops) around a particular topic. These would NOT be passive lectures. Rather, they would be hands on workshops. One teacher might teach Thai massage. Another might be taking apart a motorcycle with students. Another would be teaching the basics of SCUBA. Another would be telling stories, while still another would be teaching a class on making SomTam (spicy papaya salad). All of this would be happening in Thai (geared to the level of the students). So a beginning level class would use very very simple vocabulary,... while advanced students would delve into the fine details of the project.
Students would be free to wander into the school, peruse the centers, and join whichever appealed to them. If the teachers did their jobs well, the students would be so absorbed in the happenings they would forget they were occuring in the target language (in this case, Thai).
I got a taste of this in AUAs level one classes and it was great. I learned that when you learn something unconsciously, you truly ACQUIRE it.
For example, I learned the Thai word for "pineapple" this way. I did not learn it by memorizing a translation. I did not learn it from drilling a language point using a flashcard of a pineapple. I learned it by cutting a pineapple, eating a pineapple, and listening to stories that included pineapples. I learned it by making dishes that included pineapples and doing a goofy "pineapple dance".
As a result, if someone asks me in English "Whats the Thai word for 'pineapple'"... I will often pause and be confused. It takes me a second because I didnt learn a translation.
But if you show me a pineapple, I will instantly think "sapparot".... no hesitation. If I want to say the word, I dont first think of the English word "pineapple" then scan my memory for the Thai word. Rather, I picture a pineapple in my mind and up pops "sapparot" instantly.
On my teaching blog I detailed my disappointments with AUAs other levels... but those disappointments stem from the fact that they neglected their own method at those levels. The method is sound. Its tremendous fun, its totally stress free, its interesting, and it works.
Which brings me back to kindergarten.
What makes these experienes so effective and fun? I argue that it is the element of play. In AUA's level one classes, we did not "study" Thai. We played IN Thai. We were entertained IN Thai.
What if we took this approach not only with foreign language education, but with all of education and indeed, with all of "work"? What if your "job" was to show up in a big room and peruse various projects that were going on... then join the one that seemed most interesting? You'd make an income based on your contribution. Or maybe you'd operate on "alternative economics"... using barter or your own units of exchange.
This is one reason I enjoy freelance writing so much. I choose a topic that Im interested in, write an article, then share it with some extremely cool people-- who pay me and publish it if they like it. I dont consider it "work" at all.... though I may spend hours... or days, on a simple short article. A few months ago I played with an article on Muay Thai. I wrote it, then re-wrote it, then re-wrote it again. I put a huge number of hours into the thing.... and in the end, it still sucked. No one wanted it, and rightfully so. But I still had a good time playing with it and didnt care.
By contrast, I am loathe to do even an hour of imposed "work" at my job. I hate it. I resist it. I do the minimum with as little effort as possible. If I didnt get paid for this effort, Id go ballistic! Id strangle them. There is little joy in the process itself.... its not "play", its drudgery... so I want my damn money.
The trick is to carve out playful freelance (or free agent) projects that bring in a livable income. Writing is one option. Both Matt and I use it as a supplemental source of income. My friend Wat, in Thailand, makes jewelry and sells it to tourists. Matt finds that being a free agent teacher is fun and playful. My friend Kristin enjoys massage so she does that. She often trades massages for goods or services (she's gotten a great deal of typing and editing out of me, for example!!).
What we are all trying to do is to return to kindergarten... to that time when learning, effort, and play were not separate, but one and the same. Im not saying its an easy goal to reach.
But I believe it is doable. If we remain persistent and determined, we can bring play and joyful effort back into our lives.... at first slowly, as supplements or part-time... but sooner or later, full time. The end of "work".
Achievable. Doable.
Back to Kindergarten.
Create interesting, fun, absorbing happenings in the target language-- thats how AUA's David Long describes the goal of his program. And it was great (well, in level one anyway.... see my teaching blog for more details about AUA's language program and my critique of it: Effortless Language Acquisition).
He also had another great saying, "all education should be kindergarten". He envisioned a school for adults that was structured on the same principles as kindergarten. The "school" would be a giant room with many centers. In each center, a teacher would create HAPPENINGS (experiences, workshops) around a particular topic. These would NOT be passive lectures. Rather, they would be hands on workshops. One teacher might teach Thai massage. Another might be taking apart a motorcycle with students. Another would be teaching the basics of SCUBA. Another would be telling stories, while still another would be teaching a class on making SomTam (spicy papaya salad). All of this would be happening in Thai (geared to the level of the students). So a beginning level class would use very very simple vocabulary,... while advanced students would delve into the fine details of the project.
Students would be free to wander into the school, peruse the centers, and join whichever appealed to them. If the teachers did their jobs well, the students would be so absorbed in the happenings they would forget they were occuring in the target language (in this case, Thai).
I got a taste of this in AUAs level one classes and it was great. I learned that when you learn something unconsciously, you truly ACQUIRE it.
For example, I learned the Thai word for "pineapple" this way. I did not learn it by memorizing a translation. I did not learn it from drilling a language point using a flashcard of a pineapple. I learned it by cutting a pineapple, eating a pineapple, and listening to stories that included pineapples. I learned it by making dishes that included pineapples and doing a goofy "pineapple dance".
As a result, if someone asks me in English "Whats the Thai word for 'pineapple'"... I will often pause and be confused. It takes me a second because I didnt learn a translation.
But if you show me a pineapple, I will instantly think "sapparot".... no hesitation. If I want to say the word, I dont first think of the English word "pineapple" then scan my memory for the Thai word. Rather, I picture a pineapple in my mind and up pops "sapparot" instantly.
On my teaching blog I detailed my disappointments with AUAs other levels... but those disappointments stem from the fact that they neglected their own method at those levels. The method is sound. Its tremendous fun, its totally stress free, its interesting, and it works.
Which brings me back to kindergarten.
What makes these experienes so effective and fun? I argue that it is the element of play. In AUA's level one classes, we did not "study" Thai. We played IN Thai. We were entertained IN Thai.
What if we took this approach not only with foreign language education, but with all of education and indeed, with all of "work"? What if your "job" was to show up in a big room and peruse various projects that were going on... then join the one that seemed most interesting? You'd make an income based on your contribution. Or maybe you'd operate on "alternative economics"... using barter or your own units of exchange.
This is one reason I enjoy freelance writing so much. I choose a topic that Im interested in, write an article, then share it with some extremely cool people-- who pay me and publish it if they like it. I dont consider it "work" at all.... though I may spend hours... or days, on a simple short article. A few months ago I played with an article on Muay Thai. I wrote it, then re-wrote it, then re-wrote it again. I put a huge number of hours into the thing.... and in the end, it still sucked. No one wanted it, and rightfully so. But I still had a good time playing with it and didnt care.
By contrast, I am loathe to do even an hour of imposed "work" at my job. I hate it. I resist it. I do the minimum with as little effort as possible. If I didnt get paid for this effort, Id go ballistic! Id strangle them. There is little joy in the process itself.... its not "play", its drudgery... so I want my damn money.
The trick is to carve out playful freelance (or free agent) projects that bring in a livable income. Writing is one option. Both Matt and I use it as a supplemental source of income. My friend Wat, in Thailand, makes jewelry and sells it to tourists. Matt finds that being a free agent teacher is fun and playful. My friend Kristin enjoys massage so she does that. She often trades massages for goods or services (she's gotten a great deal of typing and editing out of me, for example!!).
What we are all trying to do is to return to kindergarten... to that time when learning, effort, and play were not separate, but one and the same. Im not saying its an easy goal to reach.
But I believe it is doable. If we remain persistent and determined, we can bring play and joyful effort back into our lives.... at first slowly, as supplements or part-time... but sooner or later, full time. The end of "work".
Achievable. Doable.
Back to Kindergarten.
Transcendent Economics!?!
by AJ/Skald
Tom Asacker's goal is to transform business from a "profit-driven" enterprise to an "emotion-driven" enterprise. He imagines business with heart, business with soul...... businessmen approaching their craft with the mindset of artists.
Wow!
Imagine that. Imagine going to work and being inspired!! Better yet, imagine no work and no jobs at all... just a network of freelancing projects. Imagine if all "work" was like the collaborative arts.
When a movie is made, the producers, writer, and director come together to establish a vision for their project. They then assemble a large pool of artistic talent... people they like, know, or trust.... collaborators, not "employees". They bring on actors, cinematographers, lighting artists, casting experts, sound artists, set artists, etc., etc.... All of these folks collaborate to make their art (often banal, but sometimes genius). When the project ends, they all go off to other projects. Many will "click" and form partnerships... moving from one project to another together. Others are solo free agents, preferring a mix of collaborators.
There is no "job security" in such a situation, but neither is their wage slavery. No wonder so many people dream of working in the movies, or on plays, or other performing arts. Even the most banal and idiotic horror movie is more fun to work on than the typical corporate work project. Would you rather be a lowly tech on a movie set... or a cashier at Wal-Mart? Would anyone prefer the latter?
Cause on a movie set you are at least a part of something fun; even if its a shitty movie. There is always an element of play involved. But at "work"... its nothing but drudgery. And worse, its drudgery for a boring & heartless cause (enriching Sam Walton's family, for example).
Is it possible to copy the artistic model? Could the education field, for example, operate this way? The technology field? Landscaping? Auto repair?
In other words, is it possible to rescue "work" from boredom?
I dont know, and in truth I have my doubts. But Im comforted to know there are folks like Tom Asacker who are giving it a try!
Check out his blog: A Clear Eye
.................
Tom Asacker's goal is to transform business from a "profit-driven" enterprise to an "emotion-driven" enterprise. He imagines business with heart, business with soul...... businessmen approaching their craft with the mindset of artists.
Wow!
Imagine that. Imagine going to work and being inspired!! Better yet, imagine no work and no jobs at all... just a network of freelancing projects. Imagine if all "work" was like the collaborative arts.
When a movie is made, the producers, writer, and director come together to establish a vision for their project. They then assemble a large pool of artistic talent... people they like, know, or trust.... collaborators, not "employees". They bring on actors, cinematographers, lighting artists, casting experts, sound artists, set artists, etc., etc.... All of these folks collaborate to make their art (often banal, but sometimes genius). When the project ends, they all go off to other projects. Many will "click" and form partnerships... moving from one project to another together. Others are solo free agents, preferring a mix of collaborators.
There is no "job security" in such a situation, but neither is their wage slavery. No wonder so many people dream of working in the movies, or on plays, or other performing arts. Even the most banal and idiotic horror movie is more fun to work on than the typical corporate work project. Would you rather be a lowly tech on a movie set... or a cashier at Wal-Mart? Would anyone prefer the latter?
Cause on a movie set you are at least a part of something fun; even if its a shitty movie. There is always an element of play involved. But at "work"... its nothing but drudgery. And worse, its drudgery for a boring & heartless cause (enriching Sam Walton's family, for example).
Is it possible to copy the artistic model? Could the education field, for example, operate this way? The technology field? Landscaping? Auto repair?
In other words, is it possible to rescue "work" from boredom?
I dont know, and in truth I have my doubts. But Im comforted to know there are folks like Tom Asacker who are giving it a try!
Check out his blog: A Clear Eye
.................
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Archetypal Encounters
by Skald
"Now there is a view which we will be supporting in this series which says that the human brain is not so much an organ which facilitates perception of reality as it is a sort of filter acting as a sensory barrier blocking out an excess of reality. This idea originated with Henri Bergson who called the brain a cerebral reducing valve.
The sometimes bizarre experiences opened up by psychedelic drugs are not simply illusions created by chemicals interfering with the brain's accurate perception of reality. This is a very naive reading based on the Newtonian/Cartesian conception of what constitutes reality, a worldview increasing in question, both by modern physics and in consciousness research.
Psychedelic drugs open up what we could call other worlds, what Jung has called the collective unconscious, what Hillman has called the invisible world, what Sheldrake has called morphic resonances, what the Shaman of primal societies were well practised in mediating. The worlds that all the archetypal myths and legends are about."
--Stanley Richards
The above is a quote I found on Bruce Eisner's Excellent blog. Reading it, it suddenly hit me... just what the connection between psychedelic neo-shamanism and "deliberate travel" is all about. Its one of those "duh" moments.
In both cases we are talking about journeys of discovery. Travel... conscious travel... is an outward means that eventually forces us to encounter the internal-- our hopes, fears, strengths, weaknesses... our identity... our place in the world and the universe. Psychedelic meditaion is a direct internal means that eventually forces us to encounter the vast (infinite) universe and our relation to it (or our identity with it).
Aldous Huxley, in the Perennial Philosophy, identifies these two approaches as THE traditional archtypal means of spiritual discovery. There is the internal path, there is the external path.... and then there are those who try both simultaneously (a choice he claims is the best and also the most difficult).
I favor the dual path. It is necessary to explore our minds. Are there more important questions than "Who/What am I?", "What is my relationship to the universe?", "What is 'the universe' and what is the nature of existence?".......
At the same time, "it is easy to be a holy man on a mountain". In other words, permanent retreat from the external world is an escape... a denial of life. We must play with these questions in the context of the "real world". We must test them with experience. We must somehow learn to swallow the whole catastrophe.... swallow it, digest it, savor it.
Ralf Potts hinted at this in a recent post. He noted that "travel writing must confront the real world".... not airbrush it, not avoid it. Part of travel is confronting poverty. Its encountering beggars. Its witnessing ecological destruction. Its suffering. Its enduring hardship. Its tackling challenges. If you do none of that, you aren't travelling. You're on vacation.
The same is true of internal journeys. "Recreational users" are out for a "high" and a party. But serious inner journeys are often unnerving. They are confrontations with the bizaare, the inexplicable, the horrowing, the mysterious, and the awe inspiring. Leave the low-dose thrill seeking to frat boys. Hobopoets are after a much deeper encounter.
Both paths, the inner journey & the outer, follow the arc outlined by Joseph Campbell in "The Hero With A Thousand Faces"..... these are archtypal joureys... as old as humanity itself. On one hand, technology is radically altering the face of the planet.
But on the other, we are engaging the same journeys & the same questions that have danced with humanity since it first awakened.
"Now there is a view which we will be supporting in this series which says that the human brain is not so much an organ which facilitates perception of reality as it is a sort of filter acting as a sensory barrier blocking out an excess of reality. This idea originated with Henri Bergson who called the brain a cerebral reducing valve.
The sometimes bizarre experiences opened up by psychedelic drugs are not simply illusions created by chemicals interfering with the brain's accurate perception of reality. This is a very naive reading based on the Newtonian/Cartesian conception of what constitutes reality, a worldview increasing in question, both by modern physics and in consciousness research.
Psychedelic drugs open up what we could call other worlds, what Jung has called the collective unconscious, what Hillman has called the invisible world, what Sheldrake has called morphic resonances, what the Shaman of primal societies were well practised in mediating. The worlds that all the archetypal myths and legends are about."
--Stanley Richards
The above is a quote I found on Bruce Eisner's Excellent blog. Reading it, it suddenly hit me... just what the connection between psychedelic neo-shamanism and "deliberate travel" is all about. Its one of those "duh" moments.
In both cases we are talking about journeys of discovery. Travel... conscious travel... is an outward means that eventually forces us to encounter the internal-- our hopes, fears, strengths, weaknesses... our identity... our place in the world and the universe. Psychedelic meditaion is a direct internal means that eventually forces us to encounter the vast (infinite) universe and our relation to it (or our identity with it).
Aldous Huxley, in the Perennial Philosophy, identifies these two approaches as THE traditional archtypal means of spiritual discovery. There is the internal path, there is the external path.... and then there are those who try both simultaneously (a choice he claims is the best and also the most difficult).
I favor the dual path. It is necessary to explore our minds. Are there more important questions than "Who/What am I?", "What is my relationship to the universe?", "What is 'the universe' and what is the nature of existence?".......
At the same time, "it is easy to be a holy man on a mountain". In other words, permanent retreat from the external world is an escape... a denial of life. We must play with these questions in the context of the "real world". We must test them with experience. We must somehow learn to swallow the whole catastrophe.... swallow it, digest it, savor it.
Ralf Potts hinted at this in a recent post. He noted that "travel writing must confront the real world".... not airbrush it, not avoid it. Part of travel is confronting poverty. Its encountering beggars. Its witnessing ecological destruction. Its suffering. Its enduring hardship. Its tackling challenges. If you do none of that, you aren't travelling. You're on vacation.
The same is true of internal journeys. "Recreational users" are out for a "high" and a party. But serious inner journeys are often unnerving. They are confrontations with the bizaare, the inexplicable, the horrowing, the mysterious, and the awe inspiring. Leave the low-dose thrill seeking to frat boys. Hobopoets are after a much deeper encounter.
Both paths, the inner journey & the outer, follow the arc outlined by Joseph Campbell in "The Hero With A Thousand Faces"..... these are archtypal joureys... as old as humanity itself. On one hand, technology is radically altering the face of the planet.
But on the other, we are engaging the same journeys & the same questions that have danced with humanity since it first awakened.
Salvia Summary
by AJ/Skald
A Hobopoet reader recently encouraged me to share my salvia experiences... so here is the short summary version I sent him:
The short version is that the salvia experiences were incredibly powerful, unnerving, and very bizarre. The strangest thing
was that they were all tied together thematically. I always encountered the same "beings" and they always presented an unfolding scene to me (each time they revealed more).
These "beings" were like tiny plasticine people with black heads and large eyes. They were of various colors and would arrange themselves into a scene. The scene was always of a particular street and house.... with a woman & a black dog. I saw this scene for the first time a few weeks before Jessica, my first girlfriend, was killed in a car accident... the woman in the visions resembled her (in a vague cartoon way) and Jessica always had black labs as pets.
After her death I continued to see this scene... eventually was shown a barn in the back of the house (her house had a barn).
The maddening thing is that while I feel there's a link.. there was no clear message. Nothing extraordinary was revealed. Did these visions mean anything? Were they conjurations of my mind? Were they, in fact, a form of communication with other beings (as McKenna would suggest)? I dont know.
Im very curious to see if the same theme would emerge again... as its been two years since my last salvia experience.
Anyway, these sorts of visions always sound crazy when you talk about them. But they raise very interesting questions.
.......................
A Hobopoet reader recently encouraged me to share my salvia experiences... so here is the short summary version I sent him:
The short version is that the salvia experiences were incredibly powerful, unnerving, and very bizarre. The strangest thing
was that they were all tied together thematically. I always encountered the same "beings" and they always presented an unfolding scene to me (each time they revealed more).
These "beings" were like tiny plasticine people with black heads and large eyes. They were of various colors and would arrange themselves into a scene. The scene was always of a particular street and house.... with a woman & a black dog. I saw this scene for the first time a few weeks before Jessica, my first girlfriend, was killed in a car accident... the woman in the visions resembled her (in a vague cartoon way) and Jessica always had black labs as pets.
After her death I continued to see this scene... eventually was shown a barn in the back of the house (her house had a barn).
The maddening thing is that while I feel there's a link.. there was no clear message. Nothing extraordinary was revealed. Did these visions mean anything? Were they conjurations of my mind? Were they, in fact, a form of communication with other beings (as McKenna would suggest)? I dont know.
Im very curious to see if the same theme would emerge again... as its been two years since my last salvia experience.
Anyway, these sorts of visions always sound crazy when you talk about them. But they raise very interesting questions.
.......................
Strange Parallels
by AJ/Skald
"But now I am condemned to wander, attached to a faraway company, and every day I lose the taste for the climate and the manners of living, and even the language of Europe."
--Arthur Rimbaud
The above quote was taken from this Arthur Rimbaud site .
(Oddly enough, I had never read his poetry before, nor was I familiar with his biography. Needless to say, I'm blown away. Thanks Greg for the recommendation).
That line resonates strongly with me.... just substitute "America" for "Europe". Day by day I lose my taste for the climate, manners, and culture of the United States. However much I may (or may not) struggle abroad, I no longer feel the urge to return to the US. It no longer feels like home to me.
Is this so surprising? America bores the shit out of me. I spent 30 plus years there.... I feel it has little to offer. Even in my short lifespan, it has devolved..... become a bland standardized wasteland. It really hit home one day in the summer of 2002. I was living in my van and roaming the region bounded by Atlanta (GA), Athens(GA), Greenville (SC), and Chapel Hill (NC). One night I camped in a parking lot.
I awoke the next morning, climbed into the front seat, started the van... and headed towards the street. Suddenly I was hit by vertigo. I pulled over and stopped the engine. I couldn't remember which town I was in.
I looked around and saw a Wal-Mart, a McDonalds, and various strip-mall chain stores. My head reeled... "where the fuck am I?".
I restarted the van and pulled onto the highway. Eventually (and it took a few minutes) I saw a distinct landmark of Greenville, SC.
America has become an endless stripmall... every town has the same shops, the same architecture, the same roads. Every town practices slash & burn development. Trees and hills are levelled and colonated with pre-fab boxes. Every town has the same butt-ugly McMansions. The same food. The same Fox-fed people.
Standardization... the businessman's dream. The artist's nightmare.
From that day forward I lost interest in America. It has nothing left to offer me.
I used to get homesick when I was abroad... but now "abroad" IS my home.
........
"But now I am condemned to wander, attached to a faraway company, and every day I lose the taste for the climate and the manners of living, and even the language of Europe."
--Arthur Rimbaud
The above quote was taken from this Arthur Rimbaud site .
(Oddly enough, I had never read his poetry before, nor was I familiar with his biography. Needless to say, I'm blown away. Thanks Greg for the recommendation).
That line resonates strongly with me.... just substitute "America" for "Europe". Day by day I lose my taste for the climate, manners, and culture of the United States. However much I may (or may not) struggle abroad, I no longer feel the urge to return to the US. It no longer feels like home to me.
Is this so surprising? America bores the shit out of me. I spent 30 plus years there.... I feel it has little to offer. Even in my short lifespan, it has devolved..... become a bland standardized wasteland. It really hit home one day in the summer of 2002. I was living in my van and roaming the region bounded by Atlanta (GA), Athens(GA), Greenville (SC), and Chapel Hill (NC). One night I camped in a parking lot.
I awoke the next morning, climbed into the front seat, started the van... and headed towards the street. Suddenly I was hit by vertigo. I pulled over and stopped the engine. I couldn't remember which town I was in.
I looked around and saw a Wal-Mart, a McDonalds, and various strip-mall chain stores. My head reeled... "where the fuck am I?".
I restarted the van and pulled onto the highway. Eventually (and it took a few minutes) I saw a distinct landmark of Greenville, SC.
America has become an endless stripmall... every town has the same shops, the same architecture, the same roads. Every town practices slash & burn development. Trees and hills are levelled and colonated with pre-fab boxes. Every town has the same butt-ugly McMansions. The same food. The same Fox-fed people.
Standardization... the businessman's dream. The artist's nightmare.
From that day forward I lost interest in America. It has nothing left to offer me.
I used to get homesick when I was abroad... but now "abroad" IS my home.
........
Monday, April 04, 2005
Just Don't Bore Me
by Skald
"You can beat me, abuse me, insult me.... just don't bore me"
That's a rough paraphrase of a line by Clint Eastwood in HEARTBREAK RIDGE. It sums up my approach to life. Strip away the grander concepts I impose on my travels and that's what it comes down to. I can't tolerate boredom. I travel because travel keeps me interested. Travel challenges me. Travel unbalances me.
Travel facilitates learning. I have complained a great deal this last month. I've bemoaned the difficulties I've had in Japan. But better that than a predictable life of routine. I can tolerate abuse. I can tolerate loneliness. I can tolerate difficulty. I've endured dysentary, uncertainty, and pain. Those I can handle.
But not boredom. One day of boredom and I'm climbing the walls.
Timothy Leary was like me. He called us "novelty seekers". Biologist refer to us as "fast mutators". We seek conscious evolution. We are not like other people. If you are reading this site, chances are you are a fast mutating nomad too. Your worst nightmare is to be locked in an office 8 hours a day. Better a punch in the gut than a day of shuffling paper. That's how we think.
The problem is that the slow mutating security seekers are in the vast majority. The lawyers, accountants, and businessmen dominate. They love routine. They love standardization and quantification. Chaos scares the bejeezus out of them.
Risk is something that scares them... something they want to "manage". They can't imagine why people would seek it out.
Unfortunately, these bastards make life hard on us. Every year they regulate, regiment, and control the world a little more. Like an army of grey leeches they are slowly sucking the blood out of the world. SAFETY is their mantra. PROFIT is their God.
And so we inevitably must buck the system.. their system. Whether we do it quietly or loudly, we must break the rules. We break their drug laws. We break their work regulations. We ignore their social conventions. We leave the safe and the comfortable. We step onto the open road... We board a plane.....
We deliberately seek that which they shun: risk, challenge, difficulty, and the unknown.
We can endure anything... just don't bore us.
.........
"You can beat me, abuse me, insult me.... just don't bore me"
That's a rough paraphrase of a line by Clint Eastwood in HEARTBREAK RIDGE. It sums up my approach to life. Strip away the grander concepts I impose on my travels and that's what it comes down to. I can't tolerate boredom. I travel because travel keeps me interested. Travel challenges me. Travel unbalances me.
Travel facilitates learning. I have complained a great deal this last month. I've bemoaned the difficulties I've had in Japan. But better that than a predictable life of routine. I can tolerate abuse. I can tolerate loneliness. I can tolerate difficulty. I've endured dysentary, uncertainty, and pain. Those I can handle.
But not boredom. One day of boredom and I'm climbing the walls.
Timothy Leary was like me. He called us "novelty seekers". Biologist refer to us as "fast mutators". We seek conscious evolution. We are not like other people. If you are reading this site, chances are you are a fast mutating nomad too. Your worst nightmare is to be locked in an office 8 hours a day. Better a punch in the gut than a day of shuffling paper. That's how we think.
The problem is that the slow mutating security seekers are in the vast majority. The lawyers, accountants, and businessmen dominate. They love routine. They love standardization and quantification. Chaos scares the bejeezus out of them.
Risk is something that scares them... something they want to "manage". They can't imagine why people would seek it out.
Unfortunately, these bastards make life hard on us. Every year they regulate, regiment, and control the world a little more. Like an army of grey leeches they are slowly sucking the blood out of the world. SAFETY is their mantra. PROFIT is their God.
And so we inevitably must buck the system.. their system. Whether we do it quietly or loudly, we must break the rules. We break their drug laws. We break their work regulations. We ignore their social conventions. We leave the safe and the comfortable. We step onto the open road... We board a plane.....
We deliberately seek that which they shun: risk, challenge, difficulty, and the unknown.
We can endure anything... just don't bore us.
.........
Never To Work Again
by AJ/Skald
"But do you think you could find a way to never have to succumb to work ever again???"
Dan/Sunwalker posted that question to me in a previous comment. It is, in fact, the central question of my (economic) life. It is a vital question for all hobopoets to contemplate.
I would love to hear people's answers to this question. How do you intend to free yourself from wage slavery for good? Do you think you "could find a way to never have to succumb to work ever again??"
Is this possible? I think so. But if so, how? How, in nuts and bolts practical language, are we to achieve this goal?
My plan is freelancing. I now pull in a few bucks a month as a freelance writer. Im hoping to increase that amount. But writing is rarely a high paying gig.... so I plan to supplement with freelance English teaching. I hope to pick up a number of private students... build the number through word of mouth... until I am making "enough" from writing & teaching to quit my job.
I may do this in Japan... or it may be necessary to do it in a much cheaper country such as Thailand,....
So there's my plan. I have a way to go but I am much closer than I was three years ago-- when I decided to pursue the hobopoet path seriously. Then I was a total wage slave. Now Im a part-time hobopoet, part-time free agent. Im stuck in a full time job now, but its my first in three years. And if I can make it a year here... Ill have saved enough money for two to three years of work-free livin. Of course, by then I hope to be a freelancer and dispense with jobs for good.
So... what are your solutions?
Can we find a way to never succumb to work ever again?
......
"But do you think you could find a way to never have to succumb to work ever again???"
Dan/Sunwalker posted that question to me in a previous comment. It is, in fact, the central question of my (economic) life. It is a vital question for all hobopoets to contemplate.
I would love to hear people's answers to this question. How do you intend to free yourself from wage slavery for good? Do you think you "could find a way to never have to succumb to work ever again??"
Is this possible? I think so. But if so, how? How, in nuts and bolts practical language, are we to achieve this goal?
My plan is freelancing. I now pull in a few bucks a month as a freelance writer. Im hoping to increase that amount. But writing is rarely a high paying gig.... so I plan to supplement with freelance English teaching. I hope to pick up a number of private students... build the number through word of mouth... until I am making "enough" from writing & teaching to quit my job.
I may do this in Japan... or it may be necessary to do it in a much cheaper country such as Thailand,....
So there's my plan. I have a way to go but I am much closer than I was three years ago-- when I decided to pursue the hobopoet path seriously. Then I was a total wage slave. Now Im a part-time hobopoet, part-time free agent. Im stuck in a full time job now, but its my first in three years. And if I can make it a year here... Ill have saved enough money for two to three years of work-free livin. Of course, by then I hope to be a freelancer and dispense with jobs for good.
So... what are your solutions?
Can we find a way to never succumb to work ever again?
......
Bicycles
by AJ/Skald
I bought a bike yesterday. Not just any bike-- a one speed granny commuter... the type used by 80% of the people of Hiroshima. Its got a basket on the front and a tray on the back.
Originally Id planned to get a scooter or maybe a motorcycle. But Hiroshima is incredibly bike-friendly... no need for anything else really. In Japan bicycles are ridden on the sidewalk, not the street. You dont have to dodge cars or otherwise take your life in your hands. Neither is it difficult to ride on the sidewalk... as they are incredibly wide. Maybe 4 to 5 times as wide as a normal American sidewalk. Pedestrians and bikes easily share this space.
But wait, there's more. The city also has great bike/walking paths. For example, a path runs from my apartment to the center of town.... it follows the otagawa river-- a very pleasant ride. I dont have to deal with cars or traffic lights... and only cross one road on my 15 minute journey.
Because this place is geared for bikes, everyone rides them: kids, teens, businessmen in suits, hip-hop style freaks, women in mini-skirts, foreigners, old people. Everybody. And because so many people ride bikes, there is no traffic problem in Hiroshima. I have never seen a traffic jam, not even during rush hour.
Bicycles are the most popular, but not the only car-beating option. There is also an extensive street car system... and a train line that connects the city to various satellite towns in the prefecture.
But wait, there's more. Yesterday I discovered a monorail line that runs from the center of town to a station 5 minutes from my apartment. Its underground when it hits town, so I never even noticed the station.
Hiroshima is a small city-- only 1 million or so people.
As I tool around happily on my bike, I cant help but think of those poor souls in my hometown of Athens, GA. A large group of cyclists have been begging, threatening, and harassing the local government for years. They hope to make Athens a bicycle friendly town. It certainly could be... its smaller than Hiroshima so there's no real need for cars. But the good old boys/girls who run the city have done nothing (well, next to nothing): a few token bike lanes that are short and almost random in their start and stopping points. Plus, of course, these are nothing more than a stripe on the road... you're still shoulder to shoulder with behomoth SUVs, trucks, and cars.
How sad that the construction, car, road industries so dominate America. Hiroshima has shown me that a livable, bicycle-friendly city is possible. Its possible to eliminate traffic jams and air pollution (the worst of it, anyway).
I find it quite inspiring.
I bought a bike yesterday. Not just any bike-- a one speed granny commuter... the type used by 80% of the people of Hiroshima. Its got a basket on the front and a tray on the back.
Originally Id planned to get a scooter or maybe a motorcycle. But Hiroshima is incredibly bike-friendly... no need for anything else really. In Japan bicycles are ridden on the sidewalk, not the street. You dont have to dodge cars or otherwise take your life in your hands. Neither is it difficult to ride on the sidewalk... as they are incredibly wide. Maybe 4 to 5 times as wide as a normal American sidewalk. Pedestrians and bikes easily share this space.
But wait, there's more. The city also has great bike/walking paths. For example, a path runs from my apartment to the center of town.... it follows the otagawa river-- a very pleasant ride. I dont have to deal with cars or traffic lights... and only cross one road on my 15 minute journey.
Because this place is geared for bikes, everyone rides them: kids, teens, businessmen in suits, hip-hop style freaks, women in mini-skirts, foreigners, old people. Everybody. And because so many people ride bikes, there is no traffic problem in Hiroshima. I have never seen a traffic jam, not even during rush hour.
Bicycles are the most popular, but not the only car-beating option. There is also an extensive street car system... and a train line that connects the city to various satellite towns in the prefecture.
But wait, there's more. Yesterday I discovered a monorail line that runs from the center of town to a station 5 minutes from my apartment. Its underground when it hits town, so I never even noticed the station.
Hiroshima is a small city-- only 1 million or so people.
As I tool around happily on my bike, I cant help but think of those poor souls in my hometown of Athens, GA. A large group of cyclists have been begging, threatening, and harassing the local government for years. They hope to make Athens a bicycle friendly town. It certainly could be... its smaller than Hiroshima so there's no real need for cars. But the good old boys/girls who run the city have done nothing (well, next to nothing): a few token bike lanes that are short and almost random in their start and stopping points. Plus, of course, these are nothing more than a stripe on the road... you're still shoulder to shoulder with behomoth SUVs, trucks, and cars.
How sad that the construction, car, road industries so dominate America. Hiroshima has shown me that a livable, bicycle-friendly city is possible. Its possible to eliminate traffic jams and air pollution (the worst of it, anyway).
I find it quite inspiring.
Friday, April 01, 2005
Winter Kisses
by AJ/Skald
solitary, unchanging laughter and
Winter kisses full of sentimental restraint.
a chemical reaction,
something formless and perfect
buzzes, dances, shimmers, bubbles
--ignites the siren call.
From grey line clouds overhead,
a chittering backbeat fallaway hum
......
solitary, unchanging laughter and
Winter kisses full of sentimental restraint.
a chemical reaction,
something formless and perfect
buzzes, dances, shimmers, bubbles
--ignites the siren call.
From grey line clouds overhead,
a chittering backbeat fallaway hum
......
Asleep
by AJ/Skald
Im raving. Coaxed out. Japanese girls playing my perceptual puppet strings. Sitting motionless, eyes chase after them. From one to another. Something comforting. But lonely. Disturbing.
Dont know, exactly, what power is at work here.
Here.
I sit. Another lonely gai-jin gaping from the corner. Sleeping?
Wake. Wake to the slow wailing and operatic screams. An old man, wrapped in cardboard, shivers. Skirted beauties pass him by. Without a glance.
But my eyes linger. He doesnt speak, but I hear his voice.
Detached. Lonely. Perfectly fulfilled.
These whispers can only be heard in solitude.
...............
Im raving. Coaxed out. Japanese girls playing my perceptual puppet strings. Sitting motionless, eyes chase after them. From one to another. Something comforting. But lonely. Disturbing.
Dont know, exactly, what power is at work here.
Here.
I sit. Another lonely gai-jin gaping from the corner. Sleeping?
Wake. Wake to the slow wailing and operatic screams. An old man, wrapped in cardboard, shivers. Skirted beauties pass him by. Without a glance.
But my eyes linger. He doesnt speak, but I hear his voice.
Detached. Lonely. Perfectly fulfilled.
These whispers can only be heard in solitude.
...............
Last Day of Training
by AJ
Training is over. My conclusion: they can shove their drill-based method right up their asses.
In that vein, I used a story to conclude my last junior high class and it went great! We told it as a chain, using the boy in class as the main character. The two girls had great fun concocting embarassing situations for him (He went to America with his girlfriend Minae, etc.). He seemed to enjoy the attention and they all used the past tense without drills or formulas.
I concluded the lesson by having each student write a story about the person to their right. The boy got his revenge. He wrote about Hirakus journey to the ocean, where she was eaten by a shark!
And for the first time since starting work at David English House, I had fun. And so did the students. (Dont tell anyone!!).
The David English way to do this is to have students write a contrived dialogue several times. For example:
Q: What did you do yesterday?
A: I went to the beach.
Q: Who did you go with?
A: I went with my mother?
Q: What did you do there?
A: I swam
Who the hell writes like that? This is contrived language and its boring as shit (for me and the students).
Unfortunately, this is just the sort of drill I did during the first 3/4ths of the class; as I was being observed. The observer was actually the coolest of the managers.. but I still felt constrained to do my sorry-ass version of the schools formula while he watched. Not surprisingly, the first 40 minutes sucked. Boring. Contrived. Artificial. Useless.
I wont blame their formula (well, actually I do), but I WILL blame the fact that Im forced to use it when:
a) I hate it
b) It doesn suit my strengths
c) It contradicts my teaching philosophy
d) I find it mind-numbingly boring.
e) There is no research to support it.
Once the observer left class I broke out the story and we all had a great time (and learned the past tense in an authentic, more effortless, and more enjoyable way). Im not claiming my experience proves anything other than: I teach better with my own approach.
With a Masters in TESOL and years of experience, youd think Id be trusted to make this decision. But Im not. Im just a wage slave at McEnglish. Would you like fries with that?
This is what Tom Peters is talking about when he rants againsts management that stifles //front-line workers//. Innovation is squashed. Motivation is squashed. Passion is drained. Resentment and frustration build.
I agree with Tom. The best management can do is provide a vision of excellence, hire insanely inspired freaks, create a culture of innovation, and (most of all) GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE WAY!
[For a small example of this, see the Stephens House case study in our Curriculum Design post on http://www.effortlessacquisition.blogspot.com ]
Training is over. My conclusion: they can shove their drill-based method right up their asses.
In that vein, I used a story to conclude my last junior high class and it went great! We told it as a chain, using the boy in class as the main character. The two girls had great fun concocting embarassing situations for him (He went to America with his girlfriend Minae, etc.). He seemed to enjoy the attention and they all used the past tense without drills or formulas.
I concluded the lesson by having each student write a story about the person to their right. The boy got his revenge. He wrote about Hirakus journey to the ocean, where she was eaten by a shark!
And for the first time since starting work at David English House, I had fun. And so did the students. (Dont tell anyone!!).
The David English way to do this is to have students write a contrived dialogue several times. For example:
Q: What did you do yesterday?
A: I went to the beach.
Q: Who did you go with?
A: I went with my mother?
Q: What did you do there?
A: I swam
Who the hell writes like that? This is contrived language and its boring as shit (for me and the students).
Unfortunately, this is just the sort of drill I did during the first 3/4ths of the class; as I was being observed. The observer was actually the coolest of the managers.. but I still felt constrained to do my sorry-ass version of the schools formula while he watched. Not surprisingly, the first 40 minutes sucked. Boring. Contrived. Artificial. Useless.
I wont blame their formula (well, actually I do), but I WILL blame the fact that Im forced to use it when:
a) I hate it
b) It doesn suit my strengths
c) It contradicts my teaching philosophy
d) I find it mind-numbingly boring.
e) There is no research to support it.
Once the observer left class I broke out the story and we all had a great time (and learned the past tense in an authentic, more effortless, and more enjoyable way). Im not claiming my experience proves anything other than: I teach better with my own approach.
With a Masters in TESOL and years of experience, youd think Id be trusted to make this decision. But Im not. Im just a wage slave at McEnglish. Would you like fries with that?
This is what Tom Peters is talking about when he rants againsts management that stifles //front-line workers//. Innovation is squashed. Motivation is squashed. Passion is drained. Resentment and frustration build.
I agree with Tom. The best management can do is provide a vision of excellence, hire insanely inspired freaks, create a culture of innovation, and (most of all) GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE WAY!
[For a small example of this, see the Stephens House case study in our Curriculum Design post on http://www.effortlessacquisition.blogspot.com ]
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