Video killed the radio star!

Wow, never thought I'd be able to use that gag.

Anyway, I was interviewed by Shimonoseki's local radio station this afternoon and I thought I'd upload the dubbing they gave me of the live broadcast. Again if there is enough interest, I'll type up the script and translate it when I have time. Otherwise, listen, laugh and enjoy my hilarious (and probably incorrect) use of the Japanese language in all its glory. The link is below!

The (Bourne) Interview (with Matt Damon)

Oh and I had dinner with Uchiyama-sensei (My super awesome lecturer at UQ) and it turns out she taught my sister Felicia, how ever many years ago. Probably around 10 years ago now, when I was about 9 or 10 years old I think. Anyway, it really makes you think, it's a small world after all, especially if you end up in the same field of interest as a lot of other people. CONNECTIONS PEOPLE! IT'S ALL ABOUT CONNECTIONS! I think Uchiyama-sensei's husband wants me to become a diplomat though, he fixed every mistake I made, like every single one, it. was. amazing. Then he said, you're good now, but I want you to be awesome! Totally didn't realise he was 70, but I couldn't help but chuckle when he was like study law, do it! Anyway, that's it for me people, I've had my fair of technology for now.

He's Shimonoseki Famous

Oh and I thought I'd let my 3 fans know that I'm also in a commercial for my university. I know it's not as interesting as me ranting about energy drinks, but you never know, if anyone is in the Yamaguchi area you might be able to see me on TV, my boss at the fish market already has.

This is just so I become even more infamous around the place as I gradually take over the town and turn it into my own chocolate factory. And by chocolate I mean beer. And by beer I mean chocolate flavoured beer. Actually, you know what I'm going to stick with chocolate it's nicer than beer... where was I? Oh that's right, I'm in a commercial. I was in a newspaper, and tomorrow I'll be on the radio. For anyone who's listening KamonFM from 4pm. God knows what I'm going to talk about, hopefully I don't make too big an ass of myself.

Link to the commercial on Shimonoseki Uni Website
http://www.shimonoseki-cu.ac.jp/pub/movie/cm_index.html
(Don't worry I only have one line, they couldn't trust me with an actual script)

Keeping Japan going since the Meiji Restoration

All the poisons of a regular energy drink
 without the caffeine hit!

Now this isn't a hopeless advertising campaign for Ribobitan's caffeine free medicinal energy drinks, but it's pretty damn close.

This 100ml bottle of demon juice has the same amount of Taurine as a regular can of redbull (1000mg) Whether or not that's any good for you, I have yet to work out. But they sell it in the pharmacy so it's gotta be good for you right?

Anyway, I was introduced to this because at work all the nice ladies at my work (who are all 15-40 years older than me) apparently didn't think I was 元気 (high-spirited) enough.

Then one of them told me if I drink this I'll be raging with energy, and another one said but don't be surprised when your pee's a different colour and then heartily laughed in my face.I still haven't quite got a handle on Japanese humour but I'm learning. (The colour is like old fashioned creaming soda but even more yellow and suspicious looking)

But if you don't think energy drinks are a quick fix for an ongoing problem, (like my hayfever for example)  then you have another thing coming. I mean even Arnold thinks they're awesome, see for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU26Lm3Sf4Q&feature=related

Sightseeing in Ube City and Yamaguchi City

Hey everyone, I went on a guided tour to each of those cities and I was wondering if anyone would actually be interested in what I did.

Since it was completely free, paid for by the tourism department of Yamaguchi prefecture, I have to write a report saying how much fun I had, which they post on their website to lure in more tourists. (It was actually fun, but I exaggerate in my tourism reports because I'm pretty sure that's what they want me to do, I mean, they pay for my lunch, my trip and everything, the report is the catch.)

I'm about to finish the report about Yamaguchi city, so if anyone is interested I'll post both up and you can see what's on offer in Yamaguchi prefecture in terms of sight-seeing. Obviously there's a lot more available to you if you go by yourself but this should give you some ideas. I was on a guided tour so everything was decided before I went, times, meals, etc.

Let me know if you're interested. (Oh and the reports are in English, because they're trying to appeal to foreign tourists... not Japanese tourists)

The polls are in! Daily life by a 'landslide'!

 Alright, so since daily life won the poll, and my Dad's been nagging me about putting up some photos of what it looks like at the fish market, I decided I'd kill two birds with one stone and talk a little about what it's like at my part time job. Obviously, I'm not going to complain about it, even though I absolutely love whining for absolutely no reason, the truth is I'm lucky to have the job thanks to Uchiyama-sensei (one of my lecturers at UQ). It's challenging and all my colleagues are really nice.

激安ーSO CHEAP, SO FIERCE.

HOWEVER! JUST BECAUSE I SAID I CAN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THE JOB IT DOESN'T MEAN I CAN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PAY! Yeah, so basically I worked 59.5 hours, and my pay ended up being about 47,600 yen. Now, first of all, I'm grateful for any money that comes my way, but if it wasn't such good experience, I wouldn't be caught dead working anywhere for the equivalent of $10AUD an hour.

Anyway, as you can see on the right, it looks crazy delicious, this is our general display. This is actually at the end of the day when we've sold most of the sushi. The sign reads "Time Service, fiercely cheap, 100~" Normally it's more expensive but almost everything gets reduced to 100 yen near the end because we can't keep it overnight.

The smaller sign says deep fried puffer fish from 500 yen.
(That's whole blowfish by the way, ranging from the size of my fist, to larger than my outstretched hand)

唐戸市場〜おいでませ！！！

The blowfish can be seen in the bottom left corner of this picture. They're pretty huge and won't kill you... I think. The lady with her side to us is standing where I usually work.

So in her place I basically play the role of the crazy man on the subway trying to sell you his time machine, except in this circumstance I'm the crazed foreigner peddling deep-fried seafood at the fish market. I stand in the same spot for about 5-10 hours every Saturday, Sunday and public holiday for 800 yen an hour. If you asked me what I envisioned exchange in a foreign country to be, this isn't it, but that's what makes it so much more awesome. I really feel like I'm living the life of a Japanese uni student, I get to bitch about my part-time job and everything. In reality, not only is it great Japanese practice but it is also excellent for my communication skills. Of course there are times, like when I was almost molested by a drunk Japanese lady in her 40's who apparently wants to go to Thailand, where it can a bit awkward, but it is great experience nonetheless.


Life is an adventure, live it.
Anyway, cliches aside, I have work from 7am tomorrow so I'm off to bed. Love you all <3

BANANAS! バナナを食べてくれませんか？

SO MANY BANANAS!!!!! ARGH!!!!!! CAPSLOCK!
There's so many the picture won't actually fit in my post.

That's right people, I'm talking about bananas. Now you're probably thinking, why on earth would one man need so many bananas? And I'm here to tell you why. Because they were on sale. That's right, there are about 17 bananas there, total cost 200 yen. That's about $2.50 AUD. If there's something wrong with that.... well, then I don't want to be right.

あり得ない二〇〇円で十七本ゲット！バナナを買ってこいよ〜

In conclusion, bananas are awesome, if you're not eating them well then you're missing out.

Just ask this guy=>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOXVn5_OKFw