Categories
Recent Posts: M Thomas Apple Author Page
“Freeta-“ live style was not easy
What’s a chapter of your life you’d title “The Hard Years” — and what got you through it? I didn’t know the term “freeta-“ (from “free arbeiter” with “arbeiter” meaning “worker” in German) until I had lived in Japan as a teaching assistant for several years. Yet it occurred to me that that was the […]
Multilingual ≠ perfectly fluent, and that’s OK!
Which languages do you speak and how did that impact your life? I studied French from junior high through first year undergraduate. I can’t speak it. I tried, but my teacher (MA from Tunisia) had to use a book based on Parisien French, even though my hometown is a stone’s throw from Québéc (not Paris!). […]
JAXA finally gets it right with the H3
Six small satellites developed by universities and other organizations carried by the vehicle also were believed to be successfully separated, JAXA said. https://apnews.com/article/japan-jaxa-h3-rocket-launch-9c64f2c59b9212d612902e74823b77b5 “Believed to be” successful. Very Japanese. It’s a start. A late, very much delayed start. But at least it worked (finally).
Top Posts & Pages
copyright disclaimer
© Matthew Apple and Taking Leave, 2009-2020. Duplication of this material without express and written permission is strictly prohibited. If you would like to post or copy brief excerpts from the blog, please provide a link to the original URL along with an author’s credit.
Category Archives: food
Kaiten Zushi Magic
Last week, my youngest daughter turned 5. Because three of us (both daughters and myself) were recovering from the mumps, we cancelled her birthday party and rescheduled it for the 14th. As a reward to both girls for their hard … Continue reading
O-shougatsu
New Year’s lasts one night of drinks and one day of college football in the US, but in Japan the holidays lasts for three days. Actually, for many the New Year’s holidays start on December 29th, giving the typical worker a … Continue reading
Party Hardy, Daddy & Mommy!
There are lots of parties in Japan. Parties when people get hired. Parties when people retire. Parties when a sporting event is held. Parties when a building is officially opened. Parties to “forget the year,” and parties to start the new one. Even parties to celebrate the release of a new book. Continue reading