Tim Patrick's Blog, page 5

Volunteering and Fundraising in Japan

Life in a first-world country is often filled with consumption and other trappings of materialism. It is especially difficult to get away from it in the Tokyo-metro area, what with all major train stations built around shopping malls and nearly endless dining options. Volunteering is a great way to remind us that life isn’t just about, well, us.(4 more paragraphs)

What a Car Accident is Like in Japan

There are many ways to research car accidents in Japan. The method I chose was experience one first-hand. It happened just over a week ago, when another vehicle struck the back of my car. I’m fine; thanks for asking. In fact, everyone was fine, as the crash was at a very low speed, with only minor damage to each vehicle. But this was my first traffic accident in Japan, and the entire time I kept asking, “What is the right thing to do?”(13 more paragraphs)

What a Car Accident is Like in Japan?

There are many ways to research car accidents in Japan. The method I chose was experience one first-hand. It happened just over a week ago, when another vehicle struck the back of my car. I’m fine; thanks for asking. In fact, everyone was fine, as the crash was at a very low speed, with only minor damage to each vehicle. But this was my first traffic accident in Japan, and the entire time I kept asking, “What is the right thing to do?”(13 more paragraphs)

What Should Japan Do About North Korea?

Earlier this week, North Korea launched a series of ballistic missiles, including one that sailed high over Aomori Prefecture, at the north end of Japan’s main island of Honshu. I visited Aomori just last week. It’s a beautiful part of the country, famous for its apples, its annual Nebuta and cherry blossom festivals, and its record-breaking snow. It also hosts one of Japan’s key military bases, on the coastal town of Misawa.(12 more paragraphs)

The Normal Japanese Life

The first time I flew into Japan, my initial thought as I looked out the jumbo jet window was, “Wow, the roofs are all so blue.” This was back in 1991, and the flight path to Narita passed over homes that were topped with totan, corrugated metal roofs common in rural areas. These roofs come in a variety of colors, but Narita-area residents were really drawn to blue. It all seemed so exotic.(6 more paragraphs)

Is It Safe to Walk in Japan?

Japan is famously one of the safest countries in the world in regard to routine crimes. Whether you are strolling by yourself late at night through the heart of Tokyo or repeatedly forgetting your sizeable wallet on convenience store checkout counters, the likelihood that crime will happen to you is relatively low here in Japan. But there are other types of danger lurking about.(6 more paragraphs)

The Coffee Shop Experience in Japan

I lived for a time in Seattle, where you can’t throw a rock without hitting a software company or coffee shop. As a result, I’ve spent a lot of time typing on my laptop with Frappuccino blenders echoing in my ears. Here in Japan, we have some of the same coffee shop brands, including those that were transplanted directly from Washington State. So, I expected things to be pretty much the same. It turns out that not all java joints are created equal.(15 more paragraphs)

Save Time Filling Out Forms in Japan

They say that the only sure things in life are death and taxes. In Japan, another thing you can be sure of is that those two will come with a lot of paperwork. And not just those two big life changes. Whether it’s getting a library card or picking up an item you accidentally left on a train, chances are you will be filling out some routine document with your name, address, phone number, and more. While you can’t avoid these forms, there are a few ways that you can complete them faster.(14 more paragraphs)

Taking the Japanese Language Proficiency Test

For foreign students of the Japanese language, there is no better way to feel miserable about your progress than by taking the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT, 日本語能力試験). Offered twice per year by the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services, the test offers students at five different levels the chance to officially certify their language prowess.(10 more paragraphs)

(Not) Getting Medical Care at Night

A few nights ago, my wife suddenly grabbed her stomach in pain. “Ouch,” she said. It was a very loud and long-lasting “ouch,” and as this had happened earlier in the week as well, we thought it best to have a doctor check it out. This was 9:00pm on a Friday night just before Obon weekend, so all regular doctors had already gone home. And as we eventually found out, the whole of medical care in the Tokyo-metro region was closed for the evening.(7 more paragraphs)