Teaching English in Japan

Recently, I’ve been thinking of teaching English in another country. Thankfully a good education paves the way to this opportunity (meaning I’m not required to take any additional teaching classes, considering I don’t know a thing about being a teacher). So I thought about a place that I think I can have a lot of fun in. Japan.

The only problem is, is that you most likely won’t get a place in the city, and from what I’ve heard, it’s probably unlikely that there’s going to be any placements in Tokyo left. Is it worth it to be in the countryside, completely seperated from everything? I’m not sure, but I’m looking for feedback from anyone who has done a similar program. I’m used to city life, amd would prefer something close to it. I don’t want to go all the way out there and then wish I could run back home.

Marijuana…to smoke or not to smoke?

I’m sure that there is a very large part of the population that smokes, or has smoked up at least once in their life. I was one of the few that was very much against smoking pot for the last several years. Ever since I was in high school, and watched everyone do it, I refused. I do drink, and enjoy partying, and I didn’t mind if other people smoked up around me (although I preferred not to hang out with them) but I didn’t want to touch the stuff. It wasn’t because of all the health myths (I smoke cigs), but it was because I was afraid of being considered grungy. A pothead. Dependent on a feeling, or mindset brought about by marijuana. I did not want to become that. In high school, those kids were gross, and didn’t go anywhere with their lives.

Now, I’m far out of high school, and well aware of my decisions and the consequences to follow. I tried marijuana, which proved to be a great release from extreme stress. Finally, years later, I got it. It’s great. I don’t care if people think that I’m a potthead anymore, because after all the partying, the friends, the hangovers, the gossip, the bad work schedule, the exams, the family drama, the money stuff, the unhappiness that I’ve experienced in the last few years, marijuana swept in and cleared my head. So for those of you who still think like I did, don’t hate until you’ve tried it. I’m writing this because I have a very judgemental close friend. It’s easy to wonder why people enjoy marijuana, but don’t question what you can never understand.

However, I’m proud that I wasn’t a stupid teenager, smoking everyday, every hour on the hour. I waited until I was older, responsible, and understood what my priorities were. Maybe that’s what everyone should do. Hold out until you really need it.

I found this website quite interesting, as it reassured me which weed myths were myths:

http://www.chrisbrunner.com/2006/12/05/top-10-marijuana-myths/

Who’s hotter Megan Fox or Angelina Jolie??

Now, I honestly look at Megan Fox and see the next Angelina. I hail Angelina to be one of the most beautiful women of our time (next in line to  Aishwarya Rai of course), but let’s face it, she’s beginning to age. I love her attitude, her movies, and her style, but I think even she is beginning to accept that her time is over.

I think that pic was a flattering image of Angelina Jolie aging. It’s funny because everyone acts like Angelina Jolie doesn’t care what the public thinks about her, yet when the skinny phase started, she rapidly lost weight. She’s always had a very sexy, filling figure which is now just skinny, making her look frail. I think Angelina isn’t going to age well if she keeps losing weight. Now Megan Fox on the other hand is skinny, but she still looks healthy (unlike Lindsay Lohan). She just looks like a girl that has a small frame (although I’m sure she’s starving on the inside). Well whatever it is she’s doing, she’s definitely the next Jolie, now she just has to get more roles in movies!

Tuition in Ontario is B***S***

Now this is one topic that I know inside out. Tuition fees in Ontario. If you go to a post secondary institution in Ontario Canada, you’re bound to be ripped off by high tuition prices. Honestly, it’s horrible. Financial aid is definitely not the best route to take, and if you did initially take it, you’ll find that sooner or later you will be kicked off of it, leaving you absolutely no way to pay for tuition. I had to work full time to pay for school, therefore missing classes, and finding it difficult to keep up. Does this make any sense at all? Why is it that college tuition is practically half of the price of university tuition. On top of it, those kids get out sooner, and get better paying jobs. If you go to university, you basically have to go to grad school (another jump in tuition fees) to even get a good paying job. Having a degree in Ontario is like having a high school diploma. Everyone has one, and it does jacks***! Yes I am a struggling student, and for the last 2 years I have been trying to find ways to fund my education. Working and attending school is difficult, and I don’t have the blessing of some parent paying for all of my education. $2500 every 4 months, in addition to the cost of books (at least $400 a semester) is very costly. This is in addition to credit card bills, transportation, food, the whole deal. I mean when are these institutions going to realize that half of the people attending aren’t even getting their monies worth? We spend all of our time working just so that the word “registered” shows up on the class list. We barely even make it to school. I mean how can we, working around horrible work schedules that refuse to be accommodating, and classes all the way on the other side of the city! I would have been graduated and done if tuition was the same price of college tuition. And I attend one of those schools that believe they’re better than all the rest (and they suck). They have horrible professors, a badly run registrar, and stupid policies (not mentioning any names U of T). All of these struggles for a piece of paper that will barely get me a job to make ends meet. Is it time to give up and drop out? Should I just apply for some entry level job and work my way up, or is it actually worth it to finish school? I mean, I have bills to pay, and getting my education has brought me nothing but hassle and troubles. To top it off, I hate my major. Either tuition prices need to be lowered, or they need to come up with more bursary plans (only like 2 available at my school-I’ve looked hard). Well, I can say one thing for sure, F*** grad school!

Fast and Furious-Imports are Awesome!

I loved this movie, it had great cars all throughout. When I went to go watch the movie, I was very disappointed to hear my friend tell me what he read in a forum. Some guy was completely bashing the imports. Apparently their pop can mufflers, and tiny bodies aren’t anything in comparison to American muscle. Now don’t get me wrong, I appreciate cars that have something worthwhile under the hood, but this is a new day and age, and American muscle just ain’t cutting it anymore. You can’t compare a huge engine to the latest Skyline. I don’t want to sound like a hater, but the engines in imports are so much more advanced. I mean I think its great that American muscle cars may have 200hp, which was quite advanced for that time, but the Japanese perfected that 200hp, made it faster, cleaner, and smoother. Suspension, torque, horsepower, it’s all in the import. Besides, imports rule the racing world, and secretly I think we all know that. The issue here is letting go. No one likes change, but American muscle had its day, it’s time for imports to shine!

For those of you who saw the movie, and actually enjoyed it, I’m sad that Han only had a two second bit and left for Tokyo. I was also very sad to see (true to form) Paul Walker bashing up that Skyline. But other than that, they flashed a lot of well done cars, and it pretty much carried the whole movie for me!

Toyota Supra killin the race

Rwandan Genocide

I thought it would be nice for us all to take a minute and realize that it is the anniversary of the genocide that took place in Rwanda in 1994. Some 800,000 people were killed because of indifference. As I’ve reported before, there is a current genocide taking place in Sri Lanka, and aid is needed. The UN Security Council ignored the cries of General Dallaire, and the reports that weapons were being sent to the extremist groups. Despite who the failure of Rwanda can be accredited to, remembrance should be paid so we can learn from these mistakes, and prevent them from occurring in our present day world.

WTF Lady Gaga??!!?

Now I don’t mean to sound like someone who is hating on my generation or anything, and don’t get me wrong, I like Lady Gaga’s music, but honestly, she’s totally weird! I mean, in our day and age anything meaningless or confusing is praised by young society. Why? I just don’t get it. I mean I like Lady Gaga’s music because it has a good beat. But really, I only understood her first song about just dancing in a party. The way I interpreted it was that I drank too much and now I have to dance a whole lot to sweat it out and sober up. I don’t know what else she was singing about. I mean she was humping a children’s pool toy in the bloody kiddie pool in her music video?!? I don’t understand why girls think they have to look like trash of some form to get noticed. Her music is pretty funky, that’s all she needs to put out there. And really, why is she always dressed like a space robot? What’s even more funny, is that she’s completely outrageous and slutty in her music videos, but when someone interviews her shes quiet and somewhat shy. Stop trying to act like you’re a reserved young lady when you’re selling sex to get big! This jig is up buddy, everyone knows you’re a whore! But honestly, I do like her songs, the rhythm, all that crap, but just because people like you, you don’t have to start acting like a douche to keep their attention. Who can relate to the horrid way she dresses, and her weird cover your face dance moves along with the in your face sex!? Lady Gaga, you’re going to confuse your fans too much and make yourself a 3 hit wonder (aka Sisqo)! Sorry to report the bad news hun!

QUEST CREW

I know this is extremely delayed, and I’ve meant to comment on these boys for a while now. Quest Crew is insane, I love them! For all of you haters who don’t think they deserved to win, you’re idiots! Not only do they have a great attitude, they always bring it with flare, something creative, humour, and fun. When I watch Quest Crew, I sit through their whole routine, eyeballing their moves. When other crews step up, some of their s*** is alright, but they’re not constant. Much love to Quest Crew, enjoy your victory!!!

Genocide in Sri Lanka

Check out this article posted by the Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/03/31/the_silence_surrounding_sri_lanka/

At this time there is a mass genocide taking place in Sri Lanka. For those of you who are not familiar with this issue, it is somewhat similar to that of Rwanda. The global arena is being true to form, and ignoring or “silencing” the genocide and political issues (as in the case of Rwanda), when global relief, aid, and intervention is needed. Please help spread the word! Check out the link.

Go Away Paris Hilton!!!!!

Now I realize how lucky we are right now, since pop culture is slowly forgetting about Paris Hilton. But that b**** always finds a way back in. I like to watch retarded reality shows such as Flavor of Love, Tila Tequila, Rock of Love, etc because they are truly funny (not because I’m an idiot and want to be like them). But Paris Hilton’s reality show SUCKS! I think we all know this. But that’s not the point. Her stupid BFF reality show finally stopped playing on the channels that I used to enjoy, which made me really happy, but then it came! SMACK. Like a slap in the face, she has another reality show…my British BFF?!!? Are you kidding me? When is she going to stop spending soooo much cash to get people to like her? It’s not happening. It’s bad enough that she’s only reached the literacy level of a kid in Gr.2, but she’s spreading her face all over good ol fashioned reality t.v. I watch those shows for humour, not to fall asleep while dreaming of smashing in my t.v!  And when will her loyal band of ”Parisites” realize that she has no substance or intelligence, and give up on her!

An Idiot at Heart

Is this the kind of woman that we want influencing young girls? Instead of your kids growing up with an understanding of anything intelligent, they’ll be screaming “That’s Hot”! Has society dumbed down for Paris Hilton, or because of her? We all know it’s not just her, but its’ the impression, or persona in general. Many celebrities would rather be seen as a stupid piece of ass instead of a smart go getter! Well in Paris Hilton’s case, she wasn’t even a good piece of ass! Anyways, someone needs to stop renewing contracts with this bimbo, and put something funny, or at least worthwhile on television! GO AWAY PARIS, JUST GO! You have enough money, you don’t need the fame, and we don’t need to see your underwear!

The Crush

I’m taking it that a lot of you can relate to this. That special someone. Even if he doesn’t know it yet. It could be the hot guy on the 8th floor in your building, that dude that you always see at the copy machine in the office, or one of the guys that is a common friend to your best buds. And here we go with the crush. The crush is a horrible state to be in. Mostly because it has to be kept a secret. We build up all these flustering feelings and at the most, gossip about it to our girlfriends. I mean what’s the big deal. We know the only validation to those feelings would come from speaking to that special someone. Why do we feel all bottled up and scared to let someone know that we’re interested in them. I mean it has to be a compliment to them. I guess it’s the thought of being emotionally vulnerable. But have you ever noticed that when you have a crush on someone, it runs strong for a little while, you convince yourself that you’re in love and that this is meant to be, and when you don’t receive any response from the opposite sex (most likely because they have no clue that you like them), you slowly creep away, and give up. You may feel a little bummed out for a few days (especially if you see him with another chick), but eventually you find yourself a new crush and get all flared up again! But that’s where the question lies. If we can deal with the self-rejection that we create (by not telling them that we’re interested), why are we so scared to tell that someone that we like them. I mean, we’ve already set ourselves up for some form of rejection. Is it such a big deal if it comes out of his mouth? I don’t think so. And remember everyone, you have nooooo clue what that person is thinking. They could be thinking the same thing you are…therefore they too, are most likely setting themselves up for rejection. So go for it, tell them, don’t be scared (unless you’re already in a relationship). Who knows, the two of you may be very happy together someday!

Women’s Weight

Has anyone ever noticed, that when we were growing up, we may have viewed certain female icons and images to be very skinny, or underweight. But now, as an adult, I find that I look at these icons or images, and think…man they’re so lucky. Their figures look great, and then we’re all pushed to lose weight and stay trim. This sucks! What’s wrong with not being a stick? I mean there’s no meat to poke at, and all those celebrities that are ultra thin have to have their clothes custom made just so that they look “normal”. If there was a “normal” anymore, it’s certainly not them. For all of you that are super dieting instead of enjoying a good ol fashioned burger, get help, eat something, it’s ok, we won’t hate you.