We'll also be joining a culture which pits feline against fellow felines in a contest of... weightlifting.
Japan, is there an end to the awesome things you have yet to introduce to the world?
Visit the portal page here
[365+]
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
HOUSE!
Let me tell you about the movie 'House'.
Oh, this was one of the gems to come out of Japanese cinema in the late 70s. The story follows that of a handful of young girls who travel out to the Japanese countryside to spend summer vacation with one of the girl's aunt. Of course, this is how all horror films start, isn't it? They even went through the trouble of introducing the characters (twice!) with names corresponding to their particular stereotype. Beautiful.
Something seems odd about the house from the moment they set foot upon its eerie grounds. It's haunted (obviously) and as is with horror films, the girls are killed off, one by one -- eaten by the house.
But it isn't scary. No, to call this a "horror" film would be grossly inaccurate. In fact, a more apt description would be: "a nonsensical, but hilarious acid trip with English subtitles". Seriously, a man is literally turned into bananas... for absolutely no reason at all.
I'm telling you, it's great, and if you don't believe me, I've thrown in the trailer for added measure.
Oh, did I not mention the American pop music? Yeah, it's pretty prevalent throughout the entire film, and I'm also pretty sure that the whole "carnivorous piano" thing is the direct inspiration for the man-eating piano in Mario 64.
Now, as I watched the film, I, playing the cinematic anthropologist, thought to myself, "This is the culture I'll be entering. This was their popular horror during the 70s.". Then I smiled, I laughed, and I soaked it all in.
"Bring it on... Bring it on..."
Stephen Pell's portal page is here.
[365+]
Oh, this was one of the gems to come out of Japanese cinema in the late 70s. The story follows that of a handful of young girls who travel out to the Japanese countryside to spend summer vacation with one of the girl's aunt. Of course, this is how all horror films start, isn't it? They even went through the trouble of introducing the characters (twice!) with names corresponding to their particular stereotype. Beautiful.
Something seems odd about the house from the moment they set foot upon its eerie grounds. It's haunted (obviously) and as is with horror films, the girls are killed off, one by one -- eaten by the house.
But it isn't scary. No, to call this a "horror" film would be grossly inaccurate. In fact, a more apt description would be: "a nonsensical, but hilarious acid trip with English subtitles". Seriously, a man is literally turned into bananas... for absolutely no reason at all.
I'm telling you, it's great, and if you don't believe me, I've thrown in the trailer for added measure.
Oh, did I not mention the American pop music? Yeah, it's pretty prevalent throughout the entire film, and I'm also pretty sure that the whole "carnivorous piano" thing is the direct inspiration for the man-eating piano in Mario 64.
Now, as I watched the film, I, playing the cinematic anthropologist, thought to myself, "This is the culture I'll be entering. This was their popular horror during the 70s.". Then I smiled, I laughed, and I soaked it all in.
"Bring it on... Bring it on..."
Stephen Pell's portal page is here.
[365+]
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Quotes pt. 1
Best quote of the trip planning so far?
"We'll get awesome bikes!"
Stephen P's response when asked to provide a practical transportation solution.
I guess you just had to be there...
Stephen P's brand-spakin' new portal site is up and ready for business. You can check it out here
[365+]
"We'll get awesome bikes!"
Stephen P's response when asked to provide a practical transportation solution.
I guess you just had to be there...
Stephen P's brand-spakin' new portal site is up and ready for business. You can check it out here
[365+]
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Basic Questions
Ok, so let me clue you in to the situation. Let's start by answering some of questions you're bound to have.
"Why the June 2011 embarkment?"
This is simple. You see, Stephen R. is finishing up his Collegiate career, and he still has one more year to go. Thus, we have marked June 2011 as the prime time.
"Where will you live?"
I suppose this question is two-fold. If you're asking in what part of Japan will we live, the answer is "we don't know yet", but would love to be in Fukuoka, as Stephen R. spent his last Semester teaching English there, and has made some good connections which would be beneficial. Yet, as I said, the exact city is still TBD, for the reason being, see the second half of this answer.
Here's the second half of the answer (thanks for making the trip). As I said before, Stephen R. will be graduating next year. He will be receiving a Bachelor's degree, thus making him eligible for the JET program. If you don't know about the JET program, let me give you the shorthand version (the longhand version is here). JET is essentially a program instituted by the Japanese Government to take foreigners, like our very own Stephen R., and hire them to teach English to the citizens of Japan. While enrolled in the JET program, housing is provided, and it is a paid position. However, whether or not I would be allowed to stay with Stephen R. in his JET sponsored living arrangement is still unconfirmed, but if all goes accordingly, I will be able to stay with him, thus providing the second half of the answer: We will be staying in an apartment the size of a broom closet.
"Yes, but how will you make them dolla, dolla bills?"
Well, that's a good question. Stephen R., obviously, will be able to subsist quite nicely on his JET salary (providing he's accepted). I, on the other hand, will have to be a bit more creative.
I'm planning on teaching English as well, though it will be freelance (think: flyers stapled to a telephone pole). Surprisingly enough, and fortunately, native English speakers who choose to go this route do pretty well for themselves, providing they can find enough students to cover their expenses.
Additionally, I'll be engaging in the world's oldest profession... no, not that one, I talking about the world of professional blogging! (though that profession and this one have a few things in common). Yes, that's right, I'm hoping that with careful maintenance and an abundance insightful, informative, and intelligent posts, this blog will cultivate enough of an audience to justify the monetization of this blog, thus paying me money for the words I write. Oh, first, you do it for love, then, for a few friends, then --
What? Too honest?
Well, that's just the truth.
And that brings us to the end of this QA session (which was conducted entirely between myself and... myself). Hope it helped give you a more detailed picture of the journey.
Tune in next time for more answers to more questions, including: "How will you pack?", "The Fundraising", and "How can I get Stephen Pell's phone number?"
Patience. Patience.
Stephen Pell also manages another blog... Check it out! http://pellmellblog.blogspot.com/
[365+]
"Why the June 2011 embarkment?"
This is simple. You see, Stephen R. is finishing up his Collegiate career, and he still has one more year to go. Thus, we have marked June 2011 as the prime time.
"Where will you live?"
I suppose this question is two-fold. If you're asking in what part of Japan will we live, the answer is "we don't know yet", but would love to be in Fukuoka, as Stephen R. spent his last Semester teaching English there, and has made some good connections which would be beneficial. Yet, as I said, the exact city is still TBD, for the reason being, see the second half of this answer.
Here's the second half of the answer (thanks for making the trip). As I said before, Stephen R. will be graduating next year. He will be receiving a Bachelor's degree, thus making him eligible for the JET program. If you don't know about the JET program, let me give you the shorthand version (the longhand version is here). JET is essentially a program instituted by the Japanese Government to take foreigners, like our very own Stephen R., and hire them to teach English to the citizens of Japan. While enrolled in the JET program, housing is provided, and it is a paid position. However, whether or not I would be allowed to stay with Stephen R. in his JET sponsored living arrangement is still unconfirmed, but if all goes accordingly, I will be able to stay with him, thus providing the second half of the answer: We will be staying in an apartment the size of a broom closet.
"Yes, but how will you make them dolla, dolla bills?"
Well, that's a good question. Stephen R., obviously, will be able to subsist quite nicely on his JET salary (providing he's accepted). I, on the other hand, will have to be a bit more creative.
I'm planning on teaching English as well, though it will be freelance (think: flyers stapled to a telephone pole). Surprisingly enough, and fortunately, native English speakers who choose to go this route do pretty well for themselves, providing they can find enough students to cover their expenses.
Additionally, I'll be engaging in the world's oldest profession... no, not that one, I talking about the world of professional blogging! (though that profession and this one have a few things in common). Yes, that's right, I'm hoping that with careful maintenance and an abundance insightful, informative, and intelligent posts, this blog will cultivate enough of an audience to justify the monetization of this blog, thus paying me money for the words I write. Oh, first, you do it for love, then, for a few friends, then --
What? Too honest?
Well, that's just the truth.
And that brings us to the end of this QA session (which was conducted entirely between myself and... myself). Hope it helped give you a more detailed picture of the journey.
Tune in next time for more answers to more questions, including: "How will you pack?", "The Fundraising", and "How can I get Stephen Pell's phone number?"
Patience. Patience.
Stephen Pell also manages another blog... Check it out! http://pellmellblog.blogspot.com/
[365+]
The Start of the Journey...
Let it be known that on Friday, May the 21st, in the year 2010, the two parties of Stephen (Steven) Pell and Stephen (Steffen) Roberson, resolved to move to Japan for one year beginning in June of 2011.
Yea, let it also be known that this blog, Stephens in Japan was created on the night of Saturday, May 22nd as a way of documenting this two-year journey from the States, to the Land of the Rising Sun.
Yea, let it also be known that, from this blog, you can expect periodic, sometimes gratuitous, updates along the way. From the giant steps forward, to the inevitable stumbles backwards; the grandest of experiences, and the tiniest of minutiae -- you'll be there for all of it.
Yea, let it also be known that the entire blog won't be written in the strange bastardization of 19th century legalistic dialect from which this ceremonial first post has been fashioned from... that would be stupid.
I urge you to subscribe. This seemingly small gesture of support would mean the world to us, and let us know we're not alone.
Join us.
Sincerely,
Stephen Pell
Stephen Pell keeps another blog as well: Visit http://pellmellblog.blogspot.com/. Read. Subscribe. Enjoy!
[365+]
Yea, let it also be known that this blog, Stephens in Japan was created on the night of Saturday, May 22nd as a way of documenting this two-year journey from the States, to the Land of the Rising Sun.
Yea, let it also be known that, from this blog, you can expect periodic, sometimes gratuitous, updates along the way. From the giant steps forward, to the inevitable stumbles backwards; the grandest of experiences, and the tiniest of minutiae -- you'll be there for all of it.
Yea, let it also be known that the entire blog won't be written in the strange bastardization of 19th century legalistic dialect from which this ceremonial first post has been fashioned from... that would be stupid.
I urge you to subscribe. This seemingly small gesture of support would mean the world to us, and let us know we're not alone.
Join us.
Sincerely,
Stephen Pell
Stephen Pell keeps another blog as well: Visit http://pellmellblog.blogspot.com/. Read. Subscribe. Enjoy!
[365+]
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