Bday present

Bday present
Originally uploaded by john hayato

I've been wondering what my sis was sending me for xmas/bday and it came in the mail today. A very cool dry fit shirt that they had made. I have my new racing shirt. Thanks Jeremy, Michelle, Momo, and Maddy

Are you in need of a support group?

Are you a Japanese man who is in danger of a divorce?  Do you have trouble saying "Sorry", "Thank you", or "I love you" to your wife?  If so, maybe it's time you joined the Zenkoku Teishu Kanpaku Kyokai (the National Chauvinistic Husbands Association) so that you can better understand the 3 Principles of Love.  Apparently this organization was started in 1999 by a Japanese man who found that his wife was considering divorce.  It sounds like a great group for men who really don't have a clue.  Here is the Japanese site: http://www.zenteikyou.com/

Japan's 'Chauvinistic Husbands' save marriages
San Francisco Chronicle - CA, USA
Today, there are almost 5000 husbands and chapters throughout Japan. The association says it can save many marriages through a 10-question approach, ...

Other links:

Japan's Husbands Learn to Be Loving

The National Chauvinistic Husband's Association is trying to change the way ... He first put his energy into saving his own marriage. ...

www.voanews.com/english/2006-10-25-voa9.cfm

AlterNet: Sex and Relationships: 'Chauvinistic' Husbands in Japan ...

... Amano, who founded Japan's National Chauvinistic Husband's Association in 1999 ... City, Kyuushu Island, says his wife woke him up to the need save his marriage. ...

www.alternet.org/sex/47767

Japan's Contrite Husbands Rush to Marriage Rescue

... want to hear, and husbands will have better marriages if they can say these ... Amano, who founded Japan's National Chauvinistic Husband's Association in 1999 ...

www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/3055/context/cover

Welcome to Japan's Don't Divorce Me Club'

... of these stories about Japanese men trying to save their marriage in the past. ... According to a group called the National Chauvinistic Husbands Association. ...

tangomag.com/20072927/welcome-to-japan%E2%80%99s-dont-divorce-me-cl...

The Daily Tribune >>

... up to save their marriages â€" and, they hope, marriage in Japan generally. ... technique in saving marriages as "smileage" â€" husbands accumulating the goodwill ...

www.tribune.net.ph/commentary/20071108com6.html

Fearing divorce, Japanese men learn to say 'I love you' - Yahoo!7 News

... up to save their marriages -- and, they hope, marriage in Japan generally. ... technique in saving marriages as "smileage" -- husbands accumulating the ...

au.news.yahoo.com/071107/19/p/14v9h.html

--
John Hayato Branderhorst

Top News in Japan
Originally uploaded by john hayato

Top News in Japan

I think Japan has a problem with disrespecting women. At least that's the impression I get from the top 7 or so articles in the news. Found Jan. 18, 2007 on The Mainichi Daily News website

I miss Universal Healthcare

I've have health insurance in the states for about 9 months now and I have to say, I'm disappointed.  The two reasons I've had to use my insurance are chiropractor work and dental.  With both places I went and had work done and left not having a clue as to what my insurance would cover.  I filled out forms at the respective offices and they said they would go through my insurance and then I would receive a bill.  I don't know about you but that isn't very comforting.  Mostly because the bills I received were larger than I expected and also difficult to understand.  In Japan, I went to the doctor or dentist, had work done, paid a bill, and that was it.  Here it's a waiting game where I hope I can afford the bill that's sent to me. 

We're 2 weeks into 2008 and I've been slacking on blog posts. I was planning on doing a post on what 2007 was to me. So here goes, albeit a tad abridged version since I've got some reports to type up...


2007 was the first full year I spent in the United States since OH MY GOODNESS 1996! The answer would have been 1997 but I spent 3 weeks in Okinawa for my jiichan's (grandpa's) funeral.

Let me break it down for you:

1997 - 3 weeks: Okinawa

1998 - sept. -dec.: Yokohama

1999 - Jan. - June: Yokohama

2000 - Sept. - Dec.: Nagoya

2001 - 2006: Okinawa, Japan, Thailand, India, Taiwan, Malaysia, Philippines, Canada...


First time I celebrated Thanksgiving with my parents since 1999.


First time I ran a marathon (did a triathlon that incl. a marathon in 2006 but pretty much walked the marathon part)

First job in the U.S. since graduating from college.


I look forward to 2008 as I feel like I've adjusted to life in America (bye bye reverse culture shock... for the most part) and have some wonderful plans in the works. My training schedule will not be as crazy but will be replaced with more work and school.







Having lived abroad during the last presidential election, I didn't really notice the lack of interest people in their 20's have towards their right to vote. I honestly thought that most people I know choose to use their right to vote and are interested in the candidates but I'm finding that I'm wrong in that assumption. Even now with all the interesting people running for office, a lot of my friends just don't care. I find that sad...

How many books a year do you read?

                                  

"It doesn't matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don't read anymore. Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole conception is flawed at the top because people don't read anymore."

-- Steve Jobs explains why Amazon's Kindle e-reader is doomed

Study Hard!

I was forwarded an article from a friend which was about the educational system in California. The article starts out talking about how California is ranked 40th in the nation based on the likelihood students will thrive in school and have successful adult lives but somehow the article finishes on a high note with teachers in California being paid fairly well and high achieving students ranking well in the nation. While the United States average spent per pupil is $9,000; California spends a mere $7,000.
One of the principals interviewed for the article told of how his focus is to get more students in AP classes which is great and all but it appears to me that none of the problems listed at the beginning of the article were really addressed.

I hope when I have kids they don't have any learning issues and are fluent in English because if they aren't they might just fall behind in the school system.

New Years Day swim

Water was around 50 degrees but great way to start the year. Happy New Year!