The Way You Speak To Me

Episode 11 - Irohasu (Orange)

I apologize for the delay in this episode but we've just been back to back busy with all manner of events and circumstance that we - as ALTs - find ourselves constantly in the middle of. This week we're talking speech contests! Mitsuko and I both share some strong opinions as well as stories from our past experiences with this yearly school event. As a bonus we've got special guest Brianna Hom making her first appearance on the show. All the way from Akita-ken, Brianna recounts the huge impact her first speech contest left on her.

Show Notes

-The drink for this week is actually water! It's fairly common and I've seen it in just about every single vending machine I've stopped by. Here's some googled images as I don't have my phone and we're just going to have to make do!

Yep, it's water.

The spacing of the "I" is still odd to us.

-We definitely shared some strong opinions this time around so I feel this episode would benefit from a disclaimer. We spoke our minds and opinions honestly. I think we did so while also being mindful and culturally sensitive to the topic at hand. I'm positive many people will disagree with the feelings we expressed, and that's fine! Let me know what you think; I really do want to hear about it.

-Here's a shot from the contest itself:

To preserve their privacy (and my entertainment) their faces have been replaced with dots.

My kids are the "Akachuu" Red ones.

All the students got on the stage to do some last minute practicing upon arrival. I was instructed to make my kids do it as well. Honestly I would've avoided that since A) Everyone talking at once is hardly conducive to concentration B) I doubt it did any favors to the butterflies in their stomachs, and C) If you still required practice by that late into the game then you have more problems than a last minute rehearsal would fix.

My kids were dropped off by another JTE - who had to go back to work immediately thereafter - and I drove myself, so it was just the four of us for most of the day.

-Links!

As always you can find us on iTunes so be sure to subscribe if you haven't already!

If you're not into iTunes or perhaps don't own an "i"device then check us out on Soundcloud!

Make sure to read Mitsuko's blog right here:

 And special thanks again to Brianna Hom for taking the time to chat with me!

Check our her adventures (and alliteration right here:

As always if you have thoughts, comments, suggestions,

critiques, or maybe you want to find out how to be a guest on the show, send us an email at:

culturecafecast@gmail.com

-J

Exclamation Marks!

Episode 08 - Natchan!

Summer is just about over and it's time to talk about the best part of it! Festivals! Festivals are the main attraction during summer in Japan. I imagine most people would leave or travel during this extremely hot and humid time of the year. This week Mitsuko and I try to define what it is to be a festival in Japan, and why that doesn't quite add up to our definition in America. Along the way we discuss some of our favorite moments from festivals we've attended!

Show Notes 

-The drink for this week:

It's excited about being Natchan!

Niku Maki Cheese (Translation: Deliciousness)

Beef stick (Delicious)

Karaage (Friend Chicken)

Yakisoba! It's soba, but yaki'd!

That's yakitori in the background.

Taiyaki! The fish pancakes.

-Gaina lantern balancing:

-Yamakasa Dontakasu:

This is the festival that I never actually saw because I left the day before it was set to happen! You can read Wikipedia's very short entry on it, or just check out the picture below to get an idea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakata_Gion_Yamakasa

-Here's a link to Kotoura-cho's Hakuhousai laser/fireworks show:

Youtube blocked the sound. But you can still enjoy the video. Thank you Youtube.

-This week's musical recommendation:

http://fortune500.bandcamp.com/album/sailorwave

https://soundcloud.com/macross-82-99

 

This is the cover art.

You've probably noticed from the link about that we're not putting these up via Youtube anymore. I host them through Soundcloud and.... *drumroll* we're on iTunes now!

Make sure to subscribe!

As always if you have thoughts, comments, suggestions,

critiques, or maybe you want to find out how to be a guest on the show, send us an email at:

culturecafecast@gmail.com

-J

Into The Frying Pan

Episode 05 - Matcha Milk

Mitsuko and I run through a couple of updates on things in our lives but shortly afterward we get straight to the meat of it. This week is all about "The Day I Arrived," which is a day many current, soon to be, and yet to apply, JETs ponder over and over again. We both share our origin story in Ebi and Akasaki respectively and throw out a few tips (maybe) on what one should probably know ahead of time. After that we started up a couple of new segments: Music Recs and Foodies! Music recommendations are simply that; I'll make one new album recommendation a week and toss out a song that I feel is particularly earworthy. Foodies is a segment where we'll be recording live from a restaurant that we love to eat at (or even a new one) all while shooting the breeze and maybe talking about the  food as well!

Show Notes 


- Matcha Milk has my stamp of approval. Try it! . . . If you can find it, that is.

Small but tasty

- The guy I sat with on the plane wasn't Matt Rogers. You're an awesome guy too Matt (Rogers)! But it was Matt Frazier!

- Kishi Bashi is his name, look him up! And make sure to give "Q&A" a listen:

 

And you like it buy his music!   

iTunes http://bit.ly/QvH7o8 

Bandcamp http://bit.ly/1g2LaUB

- Pictures galore from Foodies!

The time which was.... FAST.... by 1:25

It's like makeup for your food!

Hot enough to grill an Okonomiyaki in 8 minutes

Twin Spatulas

It comes pre un-mixed

One side down

Yakisoba from the same place

Onigiri with fish flakes

Baby birds making residence outside

This is the place

This is also the place

Here's what the Matcha Milk looked like inside

- I also told Koebi about my failure to get a license for a second time and this is what she had to say about it.

Much rules. So strict. License enough?

Thoughts, suggestions, comments, ideas for future episodes?!

Send them to CultureCafeCast@gmail.com

-J

It's A Wrap

Episode 03 - Milk Tea Pt3

This week we waste no time and pick up on the cliffhanger from last week. Mitsuko takes over most of the conversation for the rest explaining what happened in the weeks leading up to her eventual release. Next week we'll be back with the topic originally intended for the debut along with a new drink of choice!

Show Notes 

-Seriously, come talk to us about what it's like to be treated in a hospital in Japan. The basic notion is that if you can fight through pain, you'll be the better for it.

-Thank you to everyone who stopped by (or wrote/called) and brought treats, gifts, cards! I lack the words to thank you properly, but we'll never forget your kindness.

Pictures

Here it is. The saddest face in the word. 

Bad birthday present levels of sad

The latest trend from Paris

This is that "walking cast" that we mentioned. Unlike it's namesake would suggest, it was supremely ill designed for walking.

I thought he was trying to tell me something. . .

In a final weird note. This is the cake that Mitsuko's former principal brought to her when he came to see her on the day she was released. We didn't open it until we got home. As such, it was all the more hilarious.

Thoughts, suggestions, comments, ideas for future episodes?!

Send them to CultureCafeCast@gmail.com

-J

The Inevitable Sequel

Episode 02 - Milk Tea Pt 2

This week starts off with a few random observations but soon after we dive right into the the meat, picking up where last week left off. We cover the day of her surgery and the following day, neither of which Mitsuko remembers much at all. We also listen to some of the wacky things I recorded Mitsuko saying while she was surfing the Fentanyl wave. Show notes down below!

UPDATE: The show is now hosted on Soundcloud and can also be found on iTunes.

Show Notes 

-First off, I understand that NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen or Naproxen (found in Aleve) are classified as analgesics, but I was referring to opioid pain killers in the show.

-No commentary on the baby in the car, it was merely a stray observation. But seriously people, don't leave your baby in the car because this happens.

-Maybe he was just a train fan!

-Read up about Bermuda: http://bermuda.invertmouse.com/ and vote for it on Steam Greenlight!

-Picture time!

Heading in to surgery

Good stuff on tap

Post surgery nap

 -As an added bonus here's the Xrays I had taken Monday when I saw the dentist.

Thoughts, suggestions, comments, ideas for future episodes?!

Send them to CultureCafeCast@gmail.com

-J

We're Live (And Alive)

It's happening!

We finally recorded the first episode of the Culture Cafe Podcast, and it'll be accessible right here for your listening pleasure. I've opted to put them up through Youtube since that will save me the cost of paying for a hosting site. I think I can still get it on iTunes, making it easier to subscribe and listen to, but I'll have to sort that out later. Here's a link to the episode and then further down are some show notes!

UPDATE: The show is now hosted on Soundcloud and can also be found on iTunes.

Episode 01 - Milk Tea Pt 1

Overview

The debut episode will be at least two parts, possibly even three! We're kicking it off by talking about Mitsuko's accident (being hit by a car) and what it was like being in a hospital for over three weeks.

Notes
 
-Each episode is named after a particular drink, we'll drink it during our our chat and provide thoughts and opinions closer to the end.

-Check out Xanthe's work here http://www.xanthesvoice.com/ and be sure to support her latest work in the upcoming indie game "Bermuda" http://bermuda.invertmouse.com/!

-Check out Mitsuko's X-rays before surgery:

 

-And post surgery.

Additional Notes

-You can blame me for the music if you don't like it.

-I said "shwap"

Thoughts, suggestions, comments, ideas for future episodes?! 

Send them to CultureCafeCast@gmail.com

-J