What does the 'C' stand for, and other questions for dwellars.

[lumberjim]

dana?

[DanaC]

:P My surname begins with a C.

Given that I have political enemies who are not beyond googling dirt on me, I have no intention of posting my surname on here. If they were to google my surname with the name of my village, for instance, and the word councillor, they would get the Council website and ...it's possible, if unlikely that they would get a cellar page.

Given some of the confidences I have shared here, that would not be a good thing.

[DanaC]

Just to let you know what a sad paranoid politician I am, I occasionally do a google on a few terms (name of council, name of borough, the name of my party and my name) just to make sure that if someone used that combination they would not be brought here. Just lately I've tried to be a little more vague in my terms, and use actual names on party units, rather than their more usual acronyms.

It does happen this stuff, even at a local political level. People have been hung out on less and discovered more easily than you'd think. I would rather not have to constantly censor the things I post about myself of personal nature, because of a (very unlikely) risk of eavesdropping.

[DanaC]

Question: ZenGum, what made you decide to go teach in Japan?

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by DanaC

I would rather not have to constantly censor the things I post about myself of personal nature, because of a (very unlikely) risk of eavesdropping.

Yes, but do you still tap your feet in the Ladies room?

When I decided to use my real name on the Cellar, I understood that there were risks, although not as severe as for a politician. I guess that the 'public' is the worst employer of all, since they really have no clue as to what they really want in a public servant.

I have read about employers scanning the web for information on current and future employees. My philosophy on that is if a company attempted to dictate my private life to that degree, I wouldn't want to work for them.

My concession to professionalism is that I don't post to blogs (or BBS's) from work and I do not mention my company in any posts.

Of course, if I did ever leave, I'd have a shitload of stories to tell.

But this is all besides the point. The real truth is that you're Dana Carvey trying out a new character as the 'wacky female British Politician', right?

[ZenGum]

Originally Posted by DanaC

Question: ZenGum, what made you decide to go teach in Japan?

Aaaaghhhhhhh! Can you imagine how many times I have been asked that &%$#ing question????

Seriously though, lots of things. I wanted to travel and yet I needed to earn money. I could either work in my home country and save, then travel, or work in Japan and save, then travel more. This combination gets me the experience of living overseas while earning money. And the girls are gorgeous.
Japan was good for this because you can save a fair bit (approaching US$800 - 1,000 / month) while still being able to afford some interesting adventures. And it is very safe, as far as health, crime and human-caused troubles go. People are (mostly) polite ... and the girls ...
Also, I knew a little Japanese before I came, and many Japanese can get by in English.

The downsides? The yen has slid 20% since I arrived, which hurts when I still think in terms of AU$. The place is crowded and pretty polluted and I am occasionally startled by insular and xenophobic statements, even from people who choose to learn a foreign language. Did you know, for instance, that Japan is unique in the world for having four distinct seasons? I've heard this several times and most teachers have - I guess it must be in some school book or something.

Mostly, though, it is good, and things aren't as expensive as the urban legends tell. Income tax is VERY low for low earners, cigarettes are Y300 (?US$3+) per pack, fine spirits are cheap (chivas regal for Y2800 , ?US$30) and come in huge bottles (2.5 liter) if you want. Did I mention the girls? Kawaiiiii!
Also they have recently made a giant Pikachu sex doll, which I am yet to sample. I'll let you know.

[DanaC]

Did you know, for instance, that Japan is unique in the world for having four distinct seasons? I've heard this several times and most teachers have - I guess it must be in some school book or something.

That's totally bizarre.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Also they have recently made a giant Pikachu sex doll, which I am yet to sample. I'll let you know.

Looks like someone beat you to it!

http://cellar.org/showpost.php?p=399497&postcount=1

[limey]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

... Did you know, for instance, that Japan is unique in the world for having four distinct seasons? I've heard this several times and most teachers have - I guess it must be in some school book or something....

National or geographical stereotypes from schools' language textbooks are very hard to shift. All Russians taught in the Soviet era and those taught on leftover textbooks believe that it is permanently foggy in Britain. The "pea-souper" fogs to which the textbooks refer ceased in Britain in the mid-1960s after the introduction of the Clean Air Act (banning the use of all but smokeless fuels in dometic fireplaces in cities and towns) - I think this view was compounded by Sherlock Holmes movies in which London is always shown shrouded in mist and fog.

[lumberjim]

yeah....it stopped raining in seattle too. hardly EVER rains there anymore.

[Aliantha]

My voice sounds Australian, and yes I can give you a tour of my house. See my thread here.

[lumberjim]

i was just going to ask you for a tour of your house

[Aliantha]

Yes I know. lol Why'd you delete your post? I answered you so you wouldn't look like a dick.

[lumberjim]

and i re-posted it so you wouldn't. now we're even.

[Aliantha]

well I could have deleted my post too I guess. It's lucky we're so considerate of each other isn't it?