• I’m halfway through with my five-week language course. It already seems like I’ve been here for months because of the intensity of the program. I’ve made some really great friends and am staying busy studying Polish for hours everyday. I’m… more ›

  • Witaj! I’ve already been in Lublin, Poland, for a week now, where I’m taking intensive language classes at the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL). I spend almost forty hours a week in class. Even though I’m in the most advanced… more ›

  • Finally a Rainy Season worthy of its name! It has basically been flooding in Shimonoseki (if not all of the Chugoku Region of Japan) for several days now, with the occasional sunny and humid day thrown in to break the… more ›

  • I’m at the First International Conference on Auto/Biography listening to a twenty-minute speech turn into a forty-minute speech in Chinese with English interpretation. It’s hot and humid in the room, and the PA system hasn’t squealed in a good fifteen… more ›

  • This morning I had a continental breakfast: bread and cheese with a strong cup of coffee. If I would’ve had some fruit jam, a raging hangover and an extra ounce of self-hatred, it would’ve been a Swedish breakfast. (I’ve been… more ›

  • I should be writing the conference paper that I will present in China in a little more than a week. But of course I am sick and unable to focus, especially after spending almost 1 1/2 hours writing and replying… more ›

  • I counted (on my fingers and toes and a few other body parts!) last night the number of days I have left in Japan: 23. That does not include the seven days I’ll be in China for the conference (June… more ›

  • I’m at Mister Donut (“Yes! Healthy.” is the new slogan campaign!) at the Sea Mall, listening to the last lines of Tears for Fears’ “Everybody (Even Frankie!) Wants to Rule the World.” I’m here by default: I went to the… more ›

  • Yesterday I had a wonderful time with my sensei. He talks nostalgically about the American occupation after WWII, eagerly speaks in English about any topic and still remains physically active after his several decades! We were talking about fruit, and… more ›

  • My Memorial Day was rather forgettable … at least so far. In Japan there is, of course, no such holiday, so it was business as usual, teaching my two classes. I’m really tired. I’m starting to worry about my health.… more ›