On cold winter days, I would walk around with my hands in my pockets to keep them warm. Over time, I came to realise that I was the only person doing this, I hardly ever see a Japanese person with their hands in their pockets. So I did the natural thing and asked about it. […]

When offered the chance to go one way or the other, look out for the snow. Recently, I tried crossing the road about 10m away from the nearest crossing and I had already gone too far to return when I realised that there was a pile of snow in my way. Too proud to admit […]

Learning vocabulary in a second language is by far the most time-consuming part. In my case I have been learning Japanese for more than 17 years and every day I come across a new vocabulary, or one that I failed to learn properly. Even once you've mastered the pronunciation (which should be the first thing […]

It's not the knowledge that counts, it's the application of that knowledge. Take language learning for example. Mere knowledge of even the most intricate of grammar patterns, or even the most useful words, is not enough. Whether you have that knowledge or not is inconsequential until you put it to use. Knowledge isn't power. Acting […]

We pass straight through green lights thinking nothing of it. Even though the probability is probably the same, we tend to think we are unlucky when we hit a red. What other things make us feel unlucky? What other things are we taking for granted?

The difference between a professional and an amateur is stark. Professionals get the job done with care, amateurs just care about getting the job done. It takes care to become a professional, to put in the hard yards, and to work through the noise. If you want to be a professional, care. Everything else is […]

Way back in 2009 I had applied for the 2010 JET Programme, where the Japanese government takes in applications from mostly English-speaking nations and sends participants, named JETs, all throughout Japan. This is how I originally came to Yamagata. Even though I had extensive experience learning Japanese and even living in Japan, coupled with my […]