TheMysterious Duck comments

Posted in: Apple buys 2 startups to improve its mobile maps See in context

@first two posters - Google maps has been available as an app for sometime now.

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Posted in: N Korea slams U.S. aircraft carrier's arrival See in context

Did they really use the word "madcap"?

Hard to take them seriously. Oh, what? We dont? OK

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Posted in: Electric cars head toward another dead end See in context

I want a leaf but they are really out of my price range. Leaf in the UK is around 30,000 I think or maybe a bit less. I wouldnt consider buying a new car anyway, though might one day if something like the Leaf was 50% of its current cost

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Posted in: Shinkansen cleanup crews perform '7-minute miracles' 120 times a day See in context

just dont try giving your used PET bottle to the usual shinkansen staff as you get off as i did, they will get very upset.

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Posted in: Coffee, coffee everywhere but not a drop to drink See in context

@LFRAgain

The vast majority of the coffee drinking world has access to coffee of a standard that the naysayers on this thread would call "gourmet". In coffee drinking countries I have visited (with the exception of the US), your bog standard cup of coffee from just about everywhere was far superior to anything Starbucks or the average shop in Japan or the UK have to offer. And no one there is holding their pinky fingers up in the air.

I don't think you can say or not whether these people drink if for the caffeine or flavour. It is just part of their culture.

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Posted in: Coffee, coffee everywhere but not a drop to drink See in context

I think my avatar is particularly apt for this thread.

That's me supping fine espresso in a fine German coffee shop selling fine coffee beans.

You probably cannot notice my elevated little finger which indicates my elevated social class (笑)

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Posted in: Coffee, coffee everywhere but not a drop to drink See in context

MoS Burger? McD`s?

Good God...

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Posted in: Coffee, coffee everywhere but not a drop to drink See in context

SImple solution: buy beans, grind at home, make coffee, drink, save money.

That said one of the things I love about Europe (not the UK though) is that you can get decent coffee everywhere. Portugal was great, as you can get a espresso and custard egg tart for a couple of euros.

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Posted in: Marmite and natto: Kobe chef’s 40-year mission in UK to demystify Japanese cuisine See in context

An uphill struggle, I believe.

The holy trinity of British taste: fat, sugar, salt. With no subtlety of flavour being non existent for most in the food they are exposed to, tasting Japanese food for many Brits would be a pointless exercise.

Wagamama is about as popular as Japanese food gets in the UK, ignoring the few relatively Japanese restaurants around the place, and their food dishes are very strong in flavour (esp sugar and salt) compared to their Japanese equivalents.

I generalise but include even myself in this group, despite my love of Japanese food.

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Posted in: 5 challenges of working for a major English conversation school See in context

I Agree with tmarie.

I would say that most teachers in Japan really don't have much concept of teaching and learning but then that doesn't necessarily matter as what makes student s happy is not usually what will help them learn.

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Posted in: 5 challenges of working for a major English conversation school See in context

@shiofuki - yes, like working in the British state school system!

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Posted in: 5 challenges of working for a major English conversation school See in context

I think the point I was trying to make in my last post was that many of the things people criticise eikaiwa for are just aspects of teaching in general. Evil management, long, unsociable hours (I have 22 teaching hours but spend a lot more doing prep, never mind the extrs duties, meetings and admin -eikaiwa 25-30teaching hours and a lot less prep), poor return in terms of effort to amount of effort.

I think you do a lot worse than teach English for a living.

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Posted in: 5 challenges of working for a major English conversation school See in context

Taught English at Shane for 6 years. Back in the UK did Pgce and now in 2nd year of teaching. Will be back in Japan next summer with spouse to live permanently.

I will be glad to teach in Japan again after the nightmare that is the British school system. Yes, school finishes at 3.30, however most evenings preperation and marking keep me at my desk until 9/10 pm.

Point being that I find the "dullness" of eikaiwa quite relaxing in comparison. I feel the rewards outweigh the negatives. Frienfly keen students, reasonable salary No need to take work home. If you think management at your typical eikaiwa is overbearing and petty, try tge average UK school.

Howaitosan - dont listen to the negative comments, i did before I first came and it made me negative for ages, every situation and person are different. I cant wait to get back there! Will be aiming to work as ALT this time though.

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Posted in: Nadeshiko Japan beats Canada 2-1 in Olympic soccer opener See in context

I was there. It was great.

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