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Temporary Visitor Visa extension of my mother and sister in Japan
Originally, my mother and sister`s visa is good for only 90 days. They came here last July 20th and scheduled to go back home to the Philippines on October 13th. That would be about two weeks before my due date which is October 30th. Upon consideration of many things, we decided to extend them a…
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Look at This Public Restroom in Japan
One of the many things I love about Japan is their toilets. You will be amazed at how sophisticated the technology is in this part of the planet. With all the buttons there are to press, you will be lost if you can’t read Japanese. And it is not just about the toilet bowl. It…
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My first apartment as an ALT in Japan
When I got a job in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT), my company helped me find an accommodation. The company that I worked with had a contract with this apartment chain that I am not gonna name….okay, I changed my mind. I`m just going to tell you. It is Leo Palace. Here you…
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How to distinguish Japanese from Korean and Chinese
Can you tell if a person comes from a specific country? Before coming to Japan, I had no idea how to distinguish Japanese, Korean and Chinese from one another. I had quite a few experience (when I was in the university as an international student) of trying to speak Japanese to a fellow student who I thought is Japanese, but after all, turned out…
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What makes kanji difficult and challenging and what are the ways to overcome it?
Many Japanese language learners express difficulty about the language and most of them say that learning kanji is what makes it hard. Kanji is one of the three set of characters, together with Katakana and Hiragana, which make up the Japanese language. While Katakana and Hiragana symbolize sounds, Kanji symbolizes meaning. So, what makes kanji…
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English Bulletin Boards
One of the not so many tasks of an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) in Japan is updating the school’s English Bulletin Board. In my school where I’m assigned, in fact, the only school I am assigned (normally ALTs are assigned to more than one school), I make sure to update our English Board every month.…
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Why is summer vacation in Japan not a vacation for students at all
Most kids around the world look forward to summer vacation. For most of them, it is the best time of the year. Free from the tiring things in school, listening to the teachers sermon, doing projects and endless homework. But, not in Japan. Although summer is fun in Japan with so many festivals that you…
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Setsubun and Risshun: Say Goodbye to Winter and Hello to Spring
The freezing cold of winter makes people long for spring. Spring, the time when flowers bloom. It is when the temperature goes up gradually. It is when people start going outdoors again. The weather is not too cold. Just “choudo ii”, as the Japanese say, meaning just right. The cold turns to cool. Everything turns…
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Trending Na Miss U Sa Pinas, Trending Pud Ba Sa Japan?
Malingaw ko magscan sa akong timeline kay makita nko kalahian sa Pinoy ug Hapon when it comes to beauty pageants. Trending kaayo sa Fb sa Pinoy ang Miss Universe (Ms. U). Halos tanan akong mkita sa timeline puro about Ms. U. Halos tanan nakatutuk gyud. Ma pa-TV, streaming, etc. Ang uban gani, bisan naa sa…
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Nagasaki Chinese Lantern Festival
Nagasaki City, in Kyushu Japan, celebrates The Lantern Festival every Chinese New Year. This year, the Year of the Rooster, celebrated on January 28,2016, marks the opening of the two-week Chinese Lantern Festival in Nagasaki. Below are some of the photos I took. Yes, its only a few because I take a lot of photos…