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Josh Meyer's Home Page...
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Madison as seen from a 747
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WELCOME TO MY WEBSITE
Before you delve into the depths of it there are some things you should know.
I use this site to chronicle and share my experiences (primarily) as a foreigner living and working in rural Japan. I am assuming that most visitors to this site are friends and family who are trying to keep up on my life. Most of this site is from my own point of view and are my own personal accounts.
A MIX OF HUMOR, FACT AND OPINION
I enjoy humor and sarcasm, particularly making jokes about my experiences. I base almost everything I write on this site on things that have actually happened. Frequently I try to put a humorous slant on it. I try to stay true to how I felt when it happened and generally, the only embellishments I make are for the sake of humor. Most of these are hopefully obvious, so I leave the task of sorting out the joke from the reality to the reader. In the end, I like to think that there is some educational value to this site. If there are ever any questions you can send me a message in the feedback section.
There are sections where I talk about Japanese culture. Some of these are simply my observations and Others I research. That does not mean my sources themselves (usually Wikipedia or asking a Japanese person) are necessarily correct. Usually I will mention if my source is simply just something I heard.
ABOUT SPELLING AND GRAMMAR
Many entries are written quickly in my spare time at work. Often without the aid of a spell checker. Sometimes (Okay, frequently) I write these quickly and don't have time to proof read. This means mistakes abound. Try not to look down on me too much for this. If this were something more formal than a personal website I would try to iron out all the kinks in my writing and be more professional.
UPDATES:
Saturday, July 19, 2008
The next and hopefully second to last entry about the wedding is now in the Journal. Part VII talks about issues I had with getting music for the weddings. Also, today was closing ceremonies at my school. A large portion of it was dedicated to me leaving. I gave a speech and was even sang to by the entire student body. Tonight is also my farewell enkai.
I'm still backlogged writing about the wedding, but perhaps I'll get to write about all the farewell parties I've been to when I get done. There's so many ideas I've had that I've never gotten around to writing about; The gayest place on earth and two of the most random experiences of my entire time in Japan (one involves poultry and the other was the very last phrase I officially taught) just to name a few.
Friday, June 27th, 2008
I've just added two new entries to the journal. One about Wedding gifts/ wedding favors and the other is a little story about what happened to me one morning two weeks ago.
It's been a few weeks since I last announced an update but they have been happening.
First of all, I have added more pictures to several sections including wedding pictures and a few more of Fuji.
I have also organized the site a bit better by moving some pages into new/ different sections. I still have a long way to go, so bear with me as I do. I promise things will be alot easier when/if I finish. Just remember that everything old should all still be here but it might be in a different place than before.
Monday, June 02, 2008
Oops, I didn't realize how long it has been since the last update! Sorry, but Part IV of the wedding is ready.
When last I left you; the date had been set and I was slowly being driven insane by the fact that my wedding was going to be in June. And to think, I still didn't have a thing to wear! See how the clothing thing gets rectified (with or without sanity) in the journal.
Friday, May 9th, 2008
two things this week.
1 I commented on the "Desmond Decker" incident. see the Feedback page and Messages TO Josh
2 The wedding part III: June bride. Go see the latest entry in the Journal.
Friday, May 2nd, 2008
So I asked her to Marry me. Next up; booking a place to hold the wedding. Preferably, one without Disney characters and/or crosses everywhere........That might be a tall order in this country.
Find out if it's even possible in The Journal!
Friday, April 25th, 2008
Picture this. A gentle ocean breeze caresses two lovers as they walk across the sunset lit beach. They talk, they laugh, they kiss. Everything is exactly the way it is supposed to be.
The moment is right, the evening perfect. Suddenly, he drops to one knee before her and holds out a ring. "Yes!" She cries joyously!
That's one interpretation, but if you want to know how I really proposed to Makimi, read the journal.
Friday, April 18th, 2008
What happens when you mix a beauty Pagaent, guys with beards, 1500 samurai, a portable Shinto shrine and top it all off with way too much alcohol? Read the Journal to find out.
SHINGEN KO MATSURI UPDATE:
Shingen Ko Matsuri will be April 5th.
For more information checkout the following link.
http://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/shingen/english.pdf
Monday, March 10th, 2008
Sure, just because cultural and languistic barriers make understanding the Japanese sense of humor difficult, It doesn't mean they don't have one.
In fact, I was just asked to take part in a joke pageant. That or I'm going to be a new zoo exhibit.
Read all about it in the Journal!
Friday, December 14, 2007
Class today was full of surprises. See how in "The Journal"
December, 3rd, 2007
I just spent all afternoon and evening adding the section for the 2006 Tokyo Game Show. Check it out in the "Game Time" section. if you like it then send me a message and let me know. I could add a page for the 2007 show too is I get the motivation to put the time in.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
After months of contemplation, one of my kids has been given a new alias. Let's hope she continues to fail to live up to it.
Thursday, November 22nd, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving! In Wisconsin it's about 11:00 in the evening the day before Thanksgiving, That means my mom is probably cooking and will be doing so for another 5 hours before going to bed and not sleeping. Either way, If any of my friends or family is reading this, Happy Thanksgiving and read the updated Journal to see what I've been eating recently!
Tuseday, October 2nd, 2007
Updated the Journal
Thursday, May 17th, 2007
New, in the Journal:
A student asks Josh a question that qualifies him to work for NOVA English schools. Does Soul Mate might have some competition?
Wednesday, May 2nd, 2007
New update to the journal! Also there is a new photo section: Shingenko Matsuri 2007!
Thursday, March 15th, 2007
Updated the Journal. Sorry it's been so long since I've done so. This entry is a fictitous letter I wrote to one of my co-workers.
I hope you enjoy it.
Friday, February 2nd, 2007
I Now have net at home again. This meand more frequent updates and PICTURES! There are several ideas I've had for new photo sections. Now I can finally start them!
YESTERDAY I added a section on video games in Japan called "game time" (see left) I also intend on expanding the "Let's eat section"
TODAY I added a new entry to "The Journal" (see the messages from Josh section.)
Check often for more updates!
Tuesday, January 16th, 2007
My sister just gave birth to twins! (Monday Wisconsin time.)
Congrats Becky, Shawn and Kestrel! And welcome to the world, Perrigrin and Merlyn!
Sunday, December 31st, 2006
Happy New Year everyone!
I have been invited to spend the New Year's holiday with Makimi's family. As I enjoy the holiday with her family, I am getting a wonderfully intimate look at this important holiday in Japanese culture!
This has inspired me to add a new section entitled "Holidays and events."
I have already got plenty to talk about and lots of great pictures to share! However, New year's is celebrated over several days in Japan and I'm not even half way through yet! so keep an eye on this section for updates in the next few days and beyond!
Tuesday, December 5th, 2006
Yesterday my normally comatose Ninense were acting the way they used to!
Did my favorite students finally escape the clutches of their Zombie clone captors with with much Shotgun and chainsaw decapitating action?! I don't know. All I do know is that for Monday at least, my kids were back! Read all about in the Journal.
Tuesday, November 28th, 2006
Not everything That happens to me is bad. Checkout "The bad and the good." My latest update to to the Journal.
Monday, November 27th, 2006
In the past month updates have been hapening but I never got around to listing them on this page.
The biggest ones you might notice are MORE PICTURES! What made this possible was that I went back to the states for a week to see the family, do some wedding planning and fix the computer. But instead of fixing it I ended up getting a shiney (I should probably take the plastic off the top) new Toshiba Sattelite.
I thoroughly enjoyed making use of both my new toy and the the Wireless network my dad installed since last time I was in town!
So where can you find these pretty pictures you might be asking?
1. Shingenko Matsuri 2006 has been expanded.
2. Halloween has been expanded and is now composed of two sub-sections for 2004 and 2006.
3. I added a picture or two in "the Journal"
Expect these and other sections to be expanded but not until I get internet at home (so don't hold your breath.)
Friday, October 27th, 2006
BIG BIG NEWS!!!!
First, I'm coming home for Thanksgiving! If you want to get ahold of me then send me a message via E-mail or on the "feedback page"
Secondly, I'M GETTING MARRIED!
Yes, that is right I have found a wonderful and lovely young woman that for some reason doesn't run away screaming.
In other news, New update to the Journal (See the "Messages from Josh" section.)
Friday, September 15th, 2006
Do you think my job as a teacher in a Japanese Jr. high school is easy or safe? You'd better check out the Journal. (In the "messagaes from Josh section as always.")
ALSO
The feedback page is now working, go in there and write me a message because I am quite lonely and wondering if anyone is even reading.
Monday September 11th. I talked to Eli and he added a working feedback page! go to "FEEDEBACK PAGE" and let me know what you think. I added some topics, but feel free to add more if you have something to say that doesn't fit the topic. Although it is optional, I'd appreciate it if people would tell me who they are.
Also
I updated "The Journal" (In the messages from Josh tab) last week and forgot to mention it, Check it out to hear about my return to the other school.
Wednesday, September 6th, 2006
What's more fun than a barrel full of monkeys? Getting to see one scratch it's butt in it's natural setting! If you care to hear about the wildlife of Yamanashi (and I'm not talking about how I spend my weekends) then all you have to do is check out the journal.
Tuesday, August 29th, 2006
I finally added another entry to the journal. If you thought the American health care system had it's problems, wait until you hear about what I went through. No time machine needed for those of you who want to see what medicine was like in the 1900's. Just a plane ticklet and a desire for some anti-biotics.
Additionally, you might notice that there are NEW PICTURES! I was at Makimi's house and added a section for Shingenko Matsuri 2006 (the festival where people dress as samurai, I.e., the bannar at the top.) Her computer is kind of slow so I only got a few up, but hey, it's NEW PICTURES! Hopefully I'll get a chance to finish the section later, but don't hold your breath.
Wednesday, July 19th, 2006
The third installment of my Korea trip and Mother's visit now has been posted in "The Journal"
Friday July, 7th 2006
I have posted the second part of my journal series about my trip to Korea and my mothers visit. Check it out in "The Journal"
FYI I still am without net at home.
May 25th, 2006
I Updated "The Journal." for a second day in a row.
Previous update
May 17th, 2006
I was given a really old computer by a friend. Hopefully I will have a high-speed connection soon.
I also hope that the computer with it's Pentium II chip and filled 3Gig hard drive can handle it.
In website news: There is a new entry in "The journal"
Previous messages:
May 10th, 2006
I have just updated TWO yes TWO pages on the "Messages from Josh" section.
Check out some addtitions to "If I had a dime for everytime. . . " and "The Journal."
All the best,
Josh
April 7th, 2006
Tomorrow (Saturday April 8th)I will be in the festival where people dress as samurai and march in a huge parade in the capitol city. (I.e., the banner at the top of the page and the section called "Shingenko Matsuri.")
Additionally it will be broadcast LIVE ON THE INTERNET from 4:00-7:30 Japan time. Roughly that is 1:00AM central (Please double check that if you want to see it.)
the link is:
http://www.ntt-east.co.jp./yamanashi/shingen.htm
I will try to take pictures, but I have to use my camera sparingly because my computer died AGAIN. Without it I don't have a place to dump the pictures and free up the memory card.
Take care and stay in touch,
-Josh
March 30th, 2006
LIVE FROM THE SHRANE LIBRARY IN BEATUIFUL MINAMI-ALPS CITY, IT'S THE UPDATE!
Spring is here and I have been enjoying the cherry blossoms this last week. I've been taking lots of been taking lots of pictures that I hope to share as well!
Spring is quite beautiful here. with spring comes budding trees, blooming flowers, warmer days, and hopefully a new internet connection! (What you thought I'd make my first entry in over a month and not start bitching about something?)
That's right, I am still without net access at home! (Why else would I have stopped off at a library in a country where I am illiterate.)
Belive it or not, the fact that I am without net is not about lazyness on my part. I've had a hell of a time getting hooked-up.
Although many thinks to Makimi for calling my would be new net provider to ask WTF every few days!
They were supposed to call me and confirm my phone number. After about a week of that not hapening we called them and it turned out they had the wrong number! We gave it to them again and still nothing. Makimi made a few more phone calls after not hearing jack from them for a few more weeks. they finally left a message on my machine last week. But there is something you need to understand about my ansering machine; My answering machine does not have it's buttons clearly marked. After almost three years, I still don't know how to change the message. As far as either I or Makimi can figure out, The stupid thing has no way to play back messages! (Although I know it can, one time I accidently hit a bunch of buttons, got a really annoying electronic version of "Hi-ho" playing (did I forget to mention that Disney OWNS JAPAN?) as well as every message that has been left since the last time the thing was unpluged! anyway, back to the current rant.)
We didn't write down the number that they needed us to call back. In short, Makimi is still making phone calls to them every few days.
I am changing schools again and hopefully the computers there will still be able to get my website and I'll beable to update more frequently.
Until then, All the best,
Josh
Previous entry
Feb 11th 2006
I'm back in Japan with my new camera and a working computer!
Unfourtunately I don't have internet at home anymore and the school I'm at SCREWED ME AGAIN! They were messing with the netwok settings and permenantly disconected the computer I was using from the net. For some reason the other computers don't like to access my website (everytime I try the browser crashes.) Sadly I will not beable to update this site with any degree of frequency for a time.
Just check back for updates every so often, but they will be infrequent until I change schools in a few months or manage to get net hooked back up at home.
All the best,
Josh
How to contact me via the website:
Just click the "So what do you think" heading on the side of the screen. That will take you to a feedback page. I think you might need to fill out all the areas that it asks for, but don't worry, you don't have to give me any correct information. Although if you want a reply please tell me your E-mail address. All messages will be forwarded to me.
previous message;
I am very frequently updating the site!
To see what I'm up to, go to the "Messages from Josh" section and check out the Journal. Other areas of the site occasionally get updated, so be sure to poke around and see what might be new.
(Previous entry)
Stuck in the stone age!!!!
My computer is dead again!
Additionally, the city has decided to up it's internet security. The end result being that until they manage to work all the bugs out, I am unable to access hotmail at work or even at the public library!
In short. I can only access hotmail at frends homes now.
The only other communication that I have with the outside world is this website (other than telephone). You can still E-mail me but don't expect a timely reply. Last time I checked my mail I had gotten over 20 messages and NONE OF THEM were junk mail!
If you want to hear what I am up to check out primarily "The Journal" (it's located in the "Messages from Josh" section.) You can also go to the "This is not a blog archives" section, although it is not as frequently updated as I am turning it into more of an archives section.
This page is under construction, In short, I don't care about spelling and grammar until the final product is ready.
Please note that any errors in my writtings are the result of growing up under a Republican education plan.
Where I come from, Republican is a four letter word. In all fairness however, this is partly due to poor public education durring the time I grew up. (Thank you Presednt Regan.)
ARCHIVES! ARCHIVES! ARCHIVES!
Check out the archives section frequently! Don't forget to look back at previous months, I am constantly adding past events. Every front page message that doesn't eventually get it's own section ends up going to it's respective date with possible related photos and further writings!
I am using a calander format as an experiment. Just go to the month of the original posting and click on the date. Some of the messages have been updated as well.
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