Mobile English
Feb 8, 08:34 am
Japan on ¥425 a day is an interesting and hilarious article written by a journalist in Tokyo just after the bubble-era, who decided to run a “mobile English school” by hitchhiking around the country and taking donations after every ride:
“I’m back. I return to Japan for a mission, one which will not only allow me to see the entire country, but I will be paid for it. I have no backers, no grants, not even a stipend from this magazine. I am a one-man team with the dream scheme the Mobile English Teacher. Rather than be bound to a school with regulations and the minions that enforce them, I will be a full-fledged freelancer, teaching those lonely souls tooling along Japan’s expressways.
The idea bloomed from prior experiences and observations between 1991 and 1993. Two days after arriving in Japan I hitchhiked to Kyoto to explore employment opportunities. I waited a total of ten minutes, was fed twice, bestowed two packs of cigarettes, and handed ¥2000 for cab fare at the highway exit. My final driver apologized profusely for not dropping me at the door of my ryokan. The money meant nothing to him.”
Tokyo Journal, the magazine this was originally published in, is Japan’s oldest English-language magazine and is worth checking out. Their CityScope section covers all kinds of great events including events, music and film and if you’re chasing a bargain, their classified section is worth a look. Grab a copy next time you’re in Tokyo.
Feb 8, 08:34 am | Digg this!
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