I was taking a small break from Japanese and read an article in the NYtimes online. I ran across this interesting article about people who sabotage themselves and blame others for their failures (which the author takes to calling a masochistic personality). It was pretty interesting, then I ran across this little paragraph:
"But if someone has a pattern of disappointment in many areas of life, a therapist should consider that it could be self-engineered. Treatment can help, including psychodynamic and cognitive therapy, but there is still no effective medication for masochism."
Immediately, I knew the author was a psychiatrist. Scroll down to the bottom and *ching* I'm correct. There's "still no effective medication" my #&$. We don't need medications nearly as much as you are giving them out. Read any psychology textbook (or maybe the always-trusty wikipedia). Success rates are about the same, if not in conventional, non-medicated therapy's (I'm focusing on CBT with this one) favor. Not only that, recidivism rates for those who finally go off of the medication are incredibly high, so non-medicated therapy has the benefit of protecting the individual from future relapses.
Granted, there are some places where medicine does have it's proper place, but it's not nearly as necessary as I think people believe.
[Wanting to insert child-like "Where's your medication for that, psychiatrist?" but trying not to weaken argument... perhaps too late...]
Unfortunately, this endemic belief that medication is the way to solve problems, especially by a portion of those who are actually tasked with solving the problems, is a big problem, in my opinion.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Don't Get Your Plain Form in My Keigo!
It's snowing.
In order to improve my Japanese listening and comprehension, I should be listening to Japan music. Unfortunately, it seems that I've moved to French music instead.
So there are some interesting occurrences when you have a very agglutinative language, as opposed to a moderately analytic language. Japanese, which you know, is all about the politeness, shows degrees of politeness mostly with the conjugation you use, and to a lesser degree with your word choice. So, if I want to be super-polite, I'll use keigo conjugations (and words), and if I want to be "rude" or friendly (when I'm around friends), I should be using the normal conjugations.
So, like, today, I was coming into work. And there was this coworker behind me. So, we walked to the office together, and she was totally like "ohayo," and I was thinking to myself "excuse me? Where's the gozaimasu? Since when are we on friendly terms?" so I responded with the moderate level of politeness I use for everyone. Again, she spoke, and again it was jishokei! "Ma'am, who do you think I am? Imma hafta go sonkeigo all over this conversation if this continues."
"Konban, kuru no?"
Ok, that's it, I warned you. "Moshi kureba, gorenraku itashimasu." Bam! Pow! Slapped in the face with humble keigo.
Ok, that's 90% not how it really happened. Meh, you can find the 10% yourself.
I've got an enkai tonight and another one tomorrow night. And then another next week. It's too much, it's killing me. Or, it will kill me. I can't decide. I'm looking forward to this weekend to just chill and work off the effects of too many enkais. Very calm and relaxed, I hope.
At my last enkai, I learned the word skinshippu. It's a combination of skin and friendship, and it's what they call the fact that they touch each other way too much for my comfort. It's just...too much. I've always felt uncomfortable about it when they touch me (not inappropriately, but just too much for men), and I only put up with it because that's how they treat each other. Finally, one of them asked about skinshippu in the US, and I told him how weird it was to me. He couldn't believe it, and was very surprised. And that's the story of how I learned a new word.
Well, that's about it for now. See you later.
In order to improve my Japanese listening and comprehension, I should be listening to Japan music. Unfortunately, it seems that I've moved to French music instead.
So there are some interesting occurrences when you have a very agglutinative language, as opposed to a moderately analytic language. Japanese, which you know, is all about the politeness, shows degrees of politeness mostly with the conjugation you use, and to a lesser degree with your word choice. So, if I want to be super-polite, I'll use keigo conjugations (and words), and if I want to be "rude" or friendly (when I'm around friends), I should be using the normal conjugations.
So, like, today, I was coming into work. And there was this coworker behind me. So, we walked to the office together, and she was totally like "ohayo," and I was thinking to myself "excuse me? Where's the gozaimasu? Since when are we on friendly terms?" so I responded with the moderate level of politeness I use for everyone. Again, she spoke, and again it was jishokei! "Ma'am, who do you think I am? Imma hafta go sonkeigo all over this conversation if this continues."
"Konban, kuru no?"
Ok, that's it, I warned you. "Moshi kureba, gorenraku itashimasu." Bam! Pow! Slapped in the face with humble keigo.
Ok, that's 90% not how it really happened. Meh, you can find the 10% yourself.
I've got an enkai tonight and another one tomorrow night. And then another next week. It's too much, it's killing me. Or, it will kill me. I can't decide. I'm looking forward to this weekend to just chill and work off the effects of too many enkais. Very calm and relaxed, I hope.
At my last enkai, I learned the word skinshippu. It's a combination of skin and friendship, and it's what they call the fact that they touch each other way too much for my comfort. It's just...too much. I've always felt uncomfortable about it when they touch me (not inappropriately, but just too much for men), and I only put up with it because that's how they treat each other. Finally, one of them asked about skinshippu in the US, and I told him how weird it was to me. He couldn't believe it, and was very surprised. And that's the story of how I learned a new word.
Well, that's about it for now. See you later.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Goodbye Shingo's Up-Mountain-San
My favorite teacher is leaving! How will I continue teaching next year without her? Oy vey iz mir... She's been at Shingo for at least 9 years. She's seen countless classes and ALT's, is great to work with, and has wonderful ideas. It will be very sad to see her go. We have our last lesson on Tuesday. Zannen, but perhaps she'll be replaced by another great teacher, so you never know!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Little Things
Surprise snow! We got 61 centimeters of it yesterday. Hold on, let me calculate that in inches for you. 2 FEET! We got two feet of snow, and Hachinohe isn't known for getting a lot of snow. Last night wasn't bad, I even shoveled my car a little parking spot, but it was a pain in the ass to deal with this morning, and I got to work 10 minutes late because of the huge traffic jam it caused. Still, this gives me hope for a nice powdery run down Hakkoda the weekend after next.
Little things:
I went to Shingochuu graduation yesterday. Ahh, samishii! My students, all grown up and off to High School. And the tears streaming down their faces, kanashii! In the words of Ms. Kamiyama, the English teacher, they were the best class she'd ever taught (and let me tell you something, she's been in the business for at least 40 years). If only I could trade the ichinensei with them instead...
I am returning tomorrow for my last lesson of the year. I made a lesson where they students break into 3 groups and then choose to listen to English songs. They can choose easy, medium, hard, or impossible songs, and then they all listen to the target part of the song 2 or 3 times. They have worksheets they fill out with lines, and they get points for each correct word. It should be fun, I hope they like the songs.
I had my last trip to the orthopedic clinic on Monday. It was pretty quick, they moved me straight to the back room with the jellyfish, chair of molestation, and water-bed. They gave me some medication, then kicked me out. Looks like I'm pretty much done. My pain is mostly gone too, so soon I'll be back to the gym and snowboarding.
I have a pimple on my forehead. Apparently, in Japan, people tell fortunes by pimples. No joke. My coworker saw my pimple and printed out a few pages of pimple fortune-telling information for me. Thanks Tanaka-san! (For those interested, it's on my forehead, between my left eyebrow and hair-line ;) ).
Lastly, and terribly sadly, my building is going to be torn down next year! I don't know why (cough, soviet-bloc era construction, huge cracks in the concrete, generally depressing non-decor). So, since they are tearing the building down next year, and since my shower is broken and it will cost a lot of money to fix it, I am moving out early! Oh yes. So, goodbye Block B, hello Block A! Yep, just moving over to the building next to me (which they are knocking down in 2 years, so I get to keep my cheap rent until I leave *phew*).
Ok, enkai tomorrow night, then night-bus to Tokyo. Then I get to meet up with Jesse! YES!
Little things:
I went to Shingochuu graduation yesterday. Ahh, samishii! My students, all grown up and off to High School. And the tears streaming down their faces, kanashii! In the words of Ms. Kamiyama, the English teacher, they were the best class she'd ever taught (and let me tell you something, she's been in the business for at least 40 years). If only I could trade the ichinensei with them instead...
I am returning tomorrow for my last lesson of the year. I made a lesson where they students break into 3 groups and then choose to listen to English songs. They can choose easy, medium, hard, or impossible songs, and then they all listen to the target part of the song 2 or 3 times. They have worksheets they fill out with lines, and they get points for each correct word. It should be fun, I hope they like the songs.
I had my last trip to the orthopedic clinic on Monday. It was pretty quick, they moved me straight to the back room with the jellyfish, chair of molestation, and water-bed. They gave me some medication, then kicked me out. Looks like I'm pretty much done. My pain is mostly gone too, so soon I'll be back to the gym and snowboarding.
I have a pimple on my forehead. Apparently, in Japan, people tell fortunes by pimples. No joke. My coworker saw my pimple and printed out a few pages of pimple fortune-telling information for me. Thanks Tanaka-san! (For those interested, it's on my forehead, between my left eyebrow and hair-line ;) ).
Lastly, and terribly sadly, my building is going to be torn down next year! I don't know why (cough, soviet-bloc era construction, huge cracks in the concrete, generally depressing non-decor). So, since they are tearing the building down next year, and since my shower is broken and it will cost a lot of money to fix it, I am moving out early! Oh yes. So, goodbye Block B, hello Block A! Yep, just moving over to the building next to me (which they are knocking down in 2 years, so I get to keep my cheap rent until I leave *phew*).
Ok, enkai tomorrow night, then night-bus to Tokyo. Then I get to meet up with Jesse! YES!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Trip to the Orthopedic Clinic
What to write what to write what to write? I'll tell you a bit of my trip to the doctor last night.
I went to the doctor because I've had some back pain that didn't go away. I did it all on my own, too. Pretty good, eh? Got an X-ray, all of my bones are fine (and, may I say, I've got some fine-lookin' bones). It's either a slipped disk, which isn't likely after the doctor had me do some stretches, or a pulled muscle. So, I got a corset and some medicine, and I'm good to go. Before leaving, I went to the rehabilitation room.
They put electric jellyfish on my back. That's what it felt like, anyways. Vibrating, slightly squishy, circles. Then they hooked me up to the molestation chair. I kid you not. You sit in it and the nurse straps you in. Then the chair itself lowers these arm bars that hold you in place by the armpits and it falls backwards, so you're facing the ceiling. Then the entire thing starts moving, jiggling, and vibrating over you. It was terrifying. Even the seatbelt part squeezes in and out over your crotch. And you wonder where crazy hentai comes from.
Lastly was the water bed. This was actually pretty cool. It was just a water bed that massages you. I guess it has the effect of cleansing your sins after your dalliance with the molesting chair.
Also, I taught my MJ lesson today. It was awesome. I dressed up as "Michael Jackson." And I taught the kids how to moonwalk and do the thriller dance. They really got into it. Yeah, my powerpoint was kickass. What what?
My friend is arriving here in a week, I can't wait to show him around and freak him out in Tokyo! I'm going to take him to a restaurant called Alcatraz ER. Google it, if you dare, bruahaha. One double-hyphenated word: Russian-Roulette-Sushi.
I went to the doctor because I've had some back pain that didn't go away. I did it all on my own, too. Pretty good, eh? Got an X-ray, all of my bones are fine (and, may I say, I've got some fine-lookin' bones). It's either a slipped disk, which isn't likely after the doctor had me do some stretches, or a pulled muscle. So, I got a corset and some medicine, and I'm good to go. Before leaving, I went to the rehabilitation room.
They put electric jellyfish on my back. That's what it felt like, anyways. Vibrating, slightly squishy, circles. Then they hooked me up to the molestation chair. I kid you not. You sit in it and the nurse straps you in. Then the chair itself lowers these arm bars that hold you in place by the armpits and it falls backwards, so you're facing the ceiling. Then the entire thing starts moving, jiggling, and vibrating over you. It was terrifying. Even the seatbelt part squeezes in and out over your crotch. And you wonder where crazy hentai comes from.
Lastly was the water bed. This was actually pretty cool. It was just a water bed that massages you. I guess it has the effect of cleansing your sins after your dalliance with the molesting chair.
Also, I taught my MJ lesson today. It was awesome. I dressed up as "Michael Jackson." And I taught the kids how to moonwalk and do the thriller dance. They really got into it. Yeah, my powerpoint was kickass. What what?
My friend is arriving here in a week, I can't wait to show him around and freak him out in Tokyo! I'm going to take him to a restaurant called Alcatraz ER. Google it, if you dare, bruahaha. One double-hyphenated word: Russian-Roulette-Sushi.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Friday's Lesson Plan
Friday's plan looks like this:
4th period:
-Interview and writing (Reviewing of Verbs)
-ALT explains Michael Jackson to Students (25 min.)
Lunch
5th Period:
-Game (Using to + infinitives)
-ALT explains Michael Jackson to Students (25 min.)
-Other notes: I'd like you to explain Michael Jackson to the students.
Great lesson plan, or Greatest lesson plan?
4th period:
-Interview and writing (Reviewing of Verbs)
-ALT explains Michael Jackson to Students (25 min.)
Lunch
5th Period:
-Game (Using to + infinitives)
-ALT explains Michael Jackson to Students (25 min.)
-Other notes: I'd like you to explain Michael Jackson to the students.
Great lesson plan, or Greatest lesson plan?
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