declan_murphy@hotmail.com wrote:

> Nope. And after reading the grammar/spelling flames, I wonder if I am
> the only gaigin without a dancing bear background. 

Once, years ago,  i inquired about job opportunities at a dancing bear 
institute. The polite young man who interviewed me sneered at my jeans 
and told me I smelled of alcohol. Needless to say, I did not accept 
the job.

>Last night I
> stumbled into a bar in Susukino on my way back from the Sapporo Sludge
> Festival, and got into a conversation with some enormous English chick
> (sitting 6 inches from me, it couldn't be helped) who after asking me
> how long I'd be in Japan followed up with "And you've been teaching
> THAT long?"

Coupla months ago I wandered into an 'Irish Pub' in Shinjuku that was 
overrun with loud, obnoxious, baseball-cap-wearing a-holes from 
ustralia. What's up with that? They don't even play baseball in 
ustralia.