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Showing posts with label Podcast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Podcast. Show all posts

Sunday, November 9, 2014

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!

Make Sure To Subscribe!

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


It's cloud of sound!


Make sure to read Mitsuko's blog right here:

Chicchai Adventures!

 And special thanks again to Brianna Hom for taking the time to chat with me!
Check our her adventures (and alliteration right here:

Ask her anything, she's nice!


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

Sunday, August 24, 2014

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:


 

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!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-culture-cafe-podcast/id909164679?mt=2


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

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Crash Course!




Episode 06 - Jersey Coffee
Today is about those dreaded license tests. Mitsuko and I start off by running through what it was like to get out licenses in America, then we flip gears and I get into what it was like for me to get my license in Japan. Along the way we have an anonymous tale of someone who had a critical error in their test and helpful hints from Amber Garrison, who passed her first time! This week closes out with another music recommendation so make sure to check that out while you're driving with your newly minted and hard earned license.



Show Notes:

-Here's the drink for today:

I love this bottle!
 -Here's some pictures from the driving course:

Gassed up and ready to fail!

The trouble of line interpretation starts here.

Twisting and turning, dashed and solid.

There are numbers at all the turns which helps with the instructions.

Some of the cars are retired taxis, I drove a taxi.

I'm pretty sure this is for the motorcycles

This is the motorcycle "S" turn.

Again, motorcycle version but it's the same idea.

Dismay.

There's your full sized "S" turn, which actually isn't all that bad.

Faux signal lights.

The crank. Also not bad.

Course B - It starts from the red dot.

Course A - Starts from the red dot

-And if that's not good enough, check out this video of me walking the course!


-Helpful driving links:

Driving Test
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9wnan1vc80ml72l/driving%20test.doc

Passing The Test
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tr74louggc7tzv4/DrivinginJapanandPassingtheDriversTest%281%29.pdf

One Try Tips
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2d66d2gwal1ob15/passed%20in%20one%20try-tips.doc

-Here's another helpful video courtesy of Amber Garrison:


Thanks Amber!


-This week's musical recommendation:

"The Bend" by Real Estate from their album "Atlas"

I could only find a live version of the song, but please do check out the album if you get a chance. It's gloriously chilled out music meant for summer.



As always if you have thoughts, comments, suggestions,
critiques, or even if you just want to pick a fight, send us an email at:
culturecafecast@gmail.com

-J

Sunday, July 20, 2014

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! 
 

- 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