Workin'

So, my updates have been less frequent since work has started.
This should change soon, since I'll be getting my first visitors at the end of this week (which likely means that photos are also on their way)

Now I have the beginnings of a regular schedule. My usual work week is Wednesday - Sunday (most locals like to learn English when they're free, which is the weekend)
This is actually kind of nice, because I have free time when everything (ie- Banks... one thing we don't have is 'Commerce - Japan's Most Convenient Bank' - although Mizuho gave me some free goodies when I opened my account, so no complaints!)

On the bank thing, here's a "ridiculous technology" story: I got a bankbook when I opened my account, but am still waiting for a debit card. Here, even checking accounts have bankbooks (but you can still make transactions without them). But, get this, the books have some electronics in them that let them function as ATM cards.
So, I go into a bank's lobby, open my book and slide it into the machine... then do all the usual button pressing, (even making a deposit by haphazardly setting a bunch of bills in some special opening) and my book (this is a real book, with 20 pgs or so) comes out, with the updated balance printed in the right place, and I'm on my way. (for when I don't have the book on me, say when using a convenience store ATM, I can later just slide the book into one of my bank's machines and choose "update" and it will print all of the previous transactions in order, where they need to be)

Also, I'm really starting to take video screens everywhere for granted.
Information that appears on most trains' in-car screens includes: minutes until arriving at the next 6 stations or so, which side of the train the doors will open, lines that you can connect to at each stop, and even how long the train you're on is, and which car you are in!
Of course, at home the "connections" part would be a little limited, but I'd love to hear "now arriving at Westmont, with connections to NJ transit buses to Camden & Cherry Hill, etc....."