Have you ever thought about getting involved and making a difference somehow? Working for a cause? Or just helping people (or animals)? And now you're in Japan, perhaps wondering what your options are.
There are, of course, many, many non-profit organizations in Japan, but not all of them accept volunteers who don't speak Japanese.
I've listed some options in last week's Lifelines column, and also took a look at getting involved with children's homes (orphanages) in Japan and how that works.
And by all means, let me know if you know of other options that should be mentioned! Thanks!
From baby massage to fostering pets, many options for volunteers | Japan Times
Local orphanages may be best bet for volunteers | Japan Times
22 Cool Japan Links From the Past 2 Weeks - July 29
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| At a temple entrance |
Well, we're all moved into our new apartment, with some unpacking left to do still, of course. Please enjoy this latest collection of Japan links from the past two weeks, covering a wide range of topics, from 120 yen per square meter of land being sold in Hokkaido, to blue ramen and curry, to some fun summer words, to why Japan needs family doctors.
Pour yourself a glass of non-Japanese lemonade or some mugicha (or whatever your preferred cold beverage is) and relax a bit.
HOW TO: Use an Air Conditioner in Japan
Given that we're in the height of summer now with the rainy season behind us, temps are soaring across the country and folks are suffering from heatstroke left and right, this might be a good time to look at how to use your air conditioner, especially as I've received several requests for this post. Of course, we should all be trying to do our best to save electricity or finding other ways to cool off, but now that we have a baby, I understand the importance of regulating the temperature somewhat (or else, we NEVER sleep at night due to a cranky, hot little one).
And if the heat and humidity are enough to actually affect you negatively, then please be careful and cool down as needed. It's crazy (in a bad way) to see how many people are falling victim to the heat, this year and every year.
Back to your air conditioner. Keep in mind that aircon makes and models vary -- some have only the most basic features and others a long list of options. I'm using our air conditioner remote as an example for this post, but there are remotes that differ to some extent. Some features might be called something else under different models, as well.
And if the heat and humidity are enough to actually affect you negatively, then please be careful and cool down as needed. It's crazy (in a bad way) to see how many people are falling victim to the heat, this year and every year.
Back to your air conditioner. Keep in mind that aircon makes and models vary -- some have only the most basic features and others a long list of options. I'm using our air conditioner remote as an example for this post, but there are remotes that differ to some extent. Some features might be called something else under different models, as well.
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HOW TO: End Your Battle With Mold in the Bathroom
If you've lived in Japan for any length of time, you know how frustrating it can be to keep the mold away. (And if you haven't lived here yet, well, you'll soon find out...) It grows like a wild beast here. I thought we had pretty bad mold in the pacific northwest in the States, but it's terrible here. I mean, if it isn't rusting, it's probably molding at some point.
OK, maybe not everything, but it does feel like it sometimes!
Not to mention, I'm allergic to it.
It's been four years in Japan and every year I realize more and more just how hard it can be to WIN the mold war, short of bleaching everything in sight (which, I don't do, for various reasons).
So how can you keep it from taking over? And when it's spreading it's nastiness around your bathroom, how do you get rid of it? Here are some ideas:
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