I'm new to Blogging

Time slipped by quickly without posting. I am new to blogging. I underestimated the commitment required to post regularly. But I am not going to give up.
I have lived in Asia for 9 years and I like it. I have a nice wife and great son. I have no serious complaints. What throws me for a loop sometimes is how fast 9 years have passed by. I ended up in Japan about 7 years ago as part of my back packing trip. I left a few time for a around 6 months.
The only regret I really have is my Japanese is so poor. I do study but just don't seem to pick it up. I conjugate verbs slowly and have serious comprehension problems. I don't let it get me down though. I really worry about embarrassing my son when he is older - I just keep trying.

I do like Japan

I've been slapped around a bit in Japan but that could happen anywhere. I do like living here. That is why it is hard to listen to fellow gaijin complaining about Japan. I just can't figure it out - if you don't like it then leave. Why is this so difficult for people to understand. If you are stuck here then make the best of it while preparing your exit plan. It is that simple.

Gaijin Grandfather

Wow, met a fellow gaijin in the community gym today. The guy is 61 years old lived in Japan for 35 years. Father of 2 kids and has 2 grandchildren. Moving from school district to school district he has taught English for the entire time. He has no employer pension and is entitled to a small government pension when the time comes. I got the feeling he is broke. It does not matter where you are - planning for the future is so important.

Traffic can kill

On her 6th day of elementary school a little girl was killed recently close to my house. She crossed the road in front of her bus and was hit by a passing car. The traffic rules in Japan are very loose when it comes to school zones and playground zones. I have seen warning signs but no hard rules. For the lack of rules I am surprised there are not more accidents. Japan loves her rules - I wonder why there is a "no passing school bus" rule.

If you have children in Japan I will tell you what you already know. Supervision is required at all times.

I didn't win the lottery

I have always been suspicious of people who hate the lottery. I love playing the lottery. Every week I go down to the takarkuji ticket booth and drop 200 yen on the loto 6. Payout is around 200,000,000 million yen and chances of winning big are 1/6 million. Besides studying kanji, the lottery allows me the chance to dream of not worrying about my son's future. I just know I will win one day. I have "the" feeling and I am a lucky guy.

Windbag Gaijins

I know two single Japanese women with biracial children. Both deadbeat gaijin fathers returned to the States leaving mother and child to fend for themselves. I have done volunteer work at an orphanage and met a few biracial kids where both parents took off.
The one thing you will find in the gaijin community is the most vocal are usually the biggest windbags. They complain and complain about Japan. Yet, when the wanker is a gaijin, like the deadbeat gaijin dads, the windbags are strangely silent.

Bilingual Education

Every night I read my son an English book and sometimes a Japanese book. My son is still too young to understand but enjoys ripping the book. I worry about my son's English fluency. I use to ride my western friends, with Japanese children, about their children's poor English ability. I realize now, I am a Jack Ass.
Urashima Taro is a good children's book. He doesn't listen to instructions and something bad happens. I will be drilling this into my poor son in years to come.