Word for the Travel Wise (09/18/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Ever wonder who the first person to sample certain foods was? Like who decided seaweed was okay to eat or which fish you could nosh on raw and which ones you couldn’t? Every time I find myself in front of a salad bar or sushi bar I ponder these things. Sure, sometimes I just dig right in without thinking about it, but really. There’s a lot of seaweed in the ocean. Japan-guide provides the skinny on three of the most commonly eaten seaweed and which dish you may find them.

Today’s word is a Japanese word used in Japan:

nori – thin, dried seaweed sheets

Spoken Japanese comes smoothly for those who either practice or submit themselves to hours of Japanese pop music, but either way one can learn this language in through several avenues. Japanese Online is a VERY good FREE site to start learning. They have audio and a great conversation lessons. The lessons get more in-depth as you become a registered user which is still free of charge. Takese.com has a list of over 2000 words worth checking out. Those on the road already may want to pick up the LP Japanese phrasebook or check into a school for a few weeks of learning. Study Abroad has a list of school located all over the country. If you’re seeking help with written Japanese best of luck to you!

Past Japanese words: hajimemashite, dewa mata, tomodachi, omocha, uchiwa

Golf With a Twist

by Erik Olsen on

I’m not much of a golfer. Most of my friends can attest to that. I’m not horrible, it’s just that I’ve never really mastered the driver, a rather important part of the game. Also, when it comes to being outside, I much prefer hiking or kayaking to hitting a little white ball around a nicely manicured lawn.

But if golf’s your thing, AND you want to add a dose of adventure to the game, you might be interested in a show called Adventure Golf. The program follows around an amateur golfer named Ian Cross as he plays courses in Dubai, Japan, South Africa, Scotland, and Florida. After the round, he takes viewers around the local environs and shows them (one would guess) all the lovely poverty (except in Dubai) that skirts the course.

Photo of the Day (9/16/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on


Today’s shot comes out of Japan from vyxle. I’ve always been a fan of food and beverage shots. They give you a sense of place without even seeing the place. No sumo wrestlers, no geisha, no temples, or dizzying shots from a Tokyo karaoke bar. Just the Lemon drink bottles with a little bit of English and a little bit of Japanese.

Very cool and from the Gadling Flickr pool. Upload your own shots for a chance at the POTD.

Expat Guide

by Erik Olsen on

Living abroad is one of the great experiences in life. I’ve lived a couple of places around the globe, if just for a short time, including Bangkok, Thailand, Santiago, Chile and Madrid, Spain. Don’t know where I’ll go next, but one of these days I’ll hoof my way outta NYC and do a couple of years in another country.

That said, living abroad and fully taking advantage of the city you’re in are two different things. In Santiago, I regularly ran into people (that is, Americans) who hung out only with other Americans and who kind of kept to their own comfortable environs. This is NOT the way to live abroad.

I have two suggestions here for you if you are considering a move overseas. First, check out the helpful series of books by the folks at Avalon Publishing. They are expanding their series all the time, but for now have nice books on Japan, Ireland, France, Mexico, Italy and more. I’ve taken a look at a few of these books and believe anyone thinking of making the move would be well-served by taking a look at them. Another good book group is the Culture Shock series. You can find more about them, and more about being an expat at this site.

Which leads me to the whole how do I make the most of living abroad question. The telegraph UK has got a list of events put together for expats in various cities around the world. The links here tell you about nightlife and cultural events and also help you with nitty gritty details like consulate info and such.

Planning is key when you move abroad, so take a look at some of these resources if such a move is on your calendar and, well ,good luck to you. It will be one of the best moves you ever make.

Animated Photos

by Erik Olsen on

I wonder if someone can help explain what these photos actually show. I found this on a random ramble around the web and was rather blown away by what they seem to be. They seem to be light paintings made in Japan by a Japanese artist using a long-exposure on a camera. But whatever the case, they are fabulous.