Honey, can you turn off the lump?

 At our hotel in Sapporo, we had a night stand with the light switches built in. Oh how I wish I could get paid to be the spellchecker in Japan! I'd be a millionaire!

My students last week asked me if any thing funny happened on our trip. I explained the nightstand and how it said "Lump" instead of "Lamp". They looked at me quizzically. I finally wrote it on the board along with a picture of a lump _/`\_ . Then they got it, but apparently it was not as funny as I thought it was. Oh well, I guess that's why the signs stay the same.

A winter fairy is melting a snowman

In my Tuesday night class last week, my students asked me about a Docomo cellphone commercial they saw on tv. They said, "she is singing English but I don't understand what."

So, I got out the laptop and found it on YouTube. Once, I heard it, I just started laughing and wrote it down. I required a few explanations and this lovely drawing for them to fully understand what I was talking about.

It's a fairy with a hairdryer or a snowman in a microwave, your choice. By the end, they were laughing too. 

"Who is a winter fairy?"

"Good question," I said.

Run Bambi!

I took a picture of this advertisement in Yokohama station last weekend. I couldn't help but smile. Does it not look like the forest is on fire and the deer are running for their lives? Just me?

To each their own, I suppose?

Courtesy of Engrish.com

I think they outsourced.

I was on a tour on Saturday and this sign was on our bus. Our U.S of A Navy owned bus... oh goodness.

I guess no one double checked his work. Sorry for the blurry picture, the bus was moving.

Huh?

What do you think they teach here?

New favorite

This guy kept moving on me, so I didn't get a good pictures, but his jacket says..

IN THE QUIET OF

THEN NIGHT

WHEN

I'M GONE 

PERFECT

That is perfect, buddy. :)

Gee, thanks Keita

Another awesome email from my students- and this one is in my advanced conversation class!

Hello Kelly, are you fine? Mariko will come next class.
Tomorrow will be rainy day take care catch cold.
keita

A few key words missing, huh? He cracks me up though.

I really wanted to buy these...

but I had a feeling that neither Connor nor Baby B would ever be allowed to wear these childrens' clothes. Why not, Laura? Are you worried Connor's preschool teacher would be concerned about what you are teaching him at home? Load up on guns! Bring your friends!We found these near a temple we were visiting with mom and dad in Asakusa. This onesie was equally as good. Shit happens to everyone when your life is not boredom.Today I went to a store close to base called the Sexy Miser which sells all sorts of these clothes. Good times! On a completely unrelated side note, I hope you enjoy your birthday presents Dave and Jen.

Engrish

We often see signs that don't make any sense in Japan. T-shirts or signs where the English is just not quite right. Many people have told me about www.engrish.com. Seriously though, all that stuff is true. It makes me realize though, what a difficult language English actually is. Just changing a preposition can completely change the meaning of a sentence.

When we were at the Red Brick Warehouse the other day we saw this sign. It took us a minute to figure out what they were even trying to sell. Can you figure it out?It's a coat hanger. :)