Marshall Fischer
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • MUSIC
  • ARTS AND CRAFTS
    • OFFICE GALLERY
    • DESIGN
    • CUSTOM DRUM BUILD
  • CONTACT

Welcome to the future

8/5/2015

 
I'm in Japan now, and for those friends back home who might read this, the future is pretty amazing. When you're here it's like the present, only more humid and filled with vending machines and lots of bowing. It's as if people are on strings attached to their backs and something is manipulating them like a puppet master, creating a sea of bobbing marionettes. Or like those toy birds whose heads move back and forth in a dish of water. People bow to each other over and over and over again in the same conversation, even long after it ends. They bow to doors when they pass through them. They bow to faces they can't see on the other end of a phone conversation. Impressive.

I haven't started my teaching assignment yet (I'll be at a junior high school most of the week and an elementary school once a week) but I am working at the Board of Education for this month, which is really hanging out in an office practicing hirigana while waiting for instructions to meet with people (we met the mayor yesterday, pretty rad), or fill out paperwork, or travel to nearby places to fill out other paperwork, and bowing at everyone and everything. But as things calm down I'll be using the time to study or prepare lesson plans or something. Or whatever I'm told to do.

Speaking of work, people don't mess around with it. They're on time, and then a clock chimes, and a meeting begins, and then people bow a whole bunch and go to their desks and sit there until another bell - the lunch bell - chimes. Then they turn the lights out and turn on a television, and promptly an hour later the TV is turned off and the lights turned on and they're back to it. No dillydallying here in the future. I like it.

I bought a plant for my room. And sorry Mike, there will be no Japanese girlfriends.
Picture
A view of Sano City, where I'm living, from a mountain overlook. We biked and hiked our way to it.
Picture
And sometimes there's a Toshiba just chilling alongside the road.
Picture
And when you're 6' 1", your knees become familiar with the feeling of being pressed against a wall while you're just trying to relax.

More later.
Jen Shirk
8/6/2015 12:22:03 am

I love how you write. You are funny, cousin. Love you!

Marshall
8/7/2015 01:06:10 am

My girlfriend says my typing sounds aggressive and urgent. I'm just trying to keep my wpm up really high. I love you too!

Beth
8/7/2015 03:47:41 am

Hahaha what! I did say that once, but I daresay it's irrelevant. And glad to hear there aren't any Japanese girlfriends on the other side. Haha love you :)

Marshall
8/7/2015 10:31:43 am

Oh Elizabeth. Of course there are not! Love you tons. :) xoxo

Sarah
8/6/2015 02:10:00 am

That is the most efficient bathroom arrangement I've ever seen! Get used to bruises on your knees!
Bowing out from Ohio,
Sarah

Marshall
8/7/2015 01:09:16 am

The toilet has its own room, and there's a larger room with a deep tub and a standing shower area. It's quite nice. The sink is separate altogether, but here's the kicker: when I flush, I get to save water by using the toilet's little sink, as it's what fills the tank. An arm's reach away is my soap, and by the time that tank is filled up, my hands smell like lavender and sunshine. This place is amazing beyond words.

Mama Fischer
8/6/2015 05:55:24 am

Hi Darlin',

So, if you sit facing the sink you can brush your teeth while taking care of business? Also,it looks like you might have more leg room if you sit in that direction. Just saying!

Love ya.......

Marshall
8/7/2015 01:04:11 am

My coworker actually said that's how she's gonna start using it. I've used hers, and there's even LESS knee room. About an inch maybe. But if you notice, there is a little arm on the side with a bunch of buttons, all of which I'm afraid to push, lest I be jettisoned through the ceiling and land somewhere in the Pacific. But for you mama, maybe I'll try it.

Mama Fischer
8/7/2015 05:54:18 am

I am very curious about those buttons and what they are for.....it's nothing electrical is it? That would not be a good thing. OMG. Can you imagine what the headlines would read? I hope there is an instruction manual to read before you push anything. lol

Love you baby..........xoxoxox

Joe link
8/7/2015 06:22:28 am

Great post!

I'm glad to hear that the Japanese of the future take their lunch breaks as lunch is very important, and so are breaks. But why do they turn on their televisions? Is there something good to watch at lunch time? Do they not eat a lunch?

Marshall
8/7/2015 10:28:11 am

I don't understand what it is they're watching, but I assume it's just to enjoy a little break. Everyone eats at their desks, at least in our office. And then everyone goes to brush their teeth. I agree the breaks are important. At school, in addition to lunch, we get what's called "human rights time" - a short break in the morning and afternoon.


Comments are closed.

    Ahem.

    This is my website, which is currently under construction and therefore a bit lacking. Please hold.

    Archives

    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    December 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.