Back Behind The Wheel

This will either be interesting or it will be the podcasting equivalent of sitting through a slide show of vacation photos. We’ll see. I’m still figuring this stuff out.

Someone mentioned that my podcast reminded them of the weekly public radio program This American Life, so I decided to check it out. For the past two weeks I’ve been listening to it eight hours a day at work. So for this episode I decided to try to take a lesson from them. No way is it anywhere near as good as This American Life, but then again they have a team of 10 professional producers working full-time on every episode. And there’s no background music in mine. Too much trouble.

Update: I fixed the broken link to the MP3 file.
Update: The last minute or so of the file didn’t get uploaded. That’s been fixed too.

Show notes:

  • There are accompanying photos in the gallery.
  • Calpis (Not “cow piss”)

Rich Pav

Richard has been living in Japan since 1990 with his wife and two teenage sons, Tony and Andy.

7 thoughts to “Back Behind The Wheel”

  1. Thanks!

    I, for one, enjoyed this podcast a lot. Even though I spent 5 years in Taiwan (instead of Japan) your podcasts really take me back. I’m really looking forward to moving back to Asia (once I finish my Master’s).

    I love the whole episode at the convenience store. 7-11’s in Taiwan are much the same. How much time have your kids spent in America? I really liked the “Can you get this in America?” game!

    In a purely selfish vein, I’d be really interested in hearing you discuss some of the pros and cons of living in Japan. My intention, originally, was to move there after getting my degree, but after talking to folks in my program who have lived there, I’m not so sure. Have you read the book “Dogs and Demons” by Alex Kerr? If you have, I’d love to know whether or not you feel it’s fair. Regardless, I really appreciate the sense of Japan that your podcast provides.

    Take care!
    noah

  2. Rich-

    Your kids are adorable. How fortunate they are to be exposed to two languages! I wish I had been as a kid. Have they been to the States?

    This show was great. I really enjoyed hearing their voices.

    BTW, don’t feel pressure to get the shows out. Your fans will always be patient.

    Best,

    Ann

  3. I used to eat those little fish things all the time when I was little! I don’t know why I stopped eating it. ^^;

    I have an American father and a Filipino mother and moved to the USA when I was very small. I wish my mother spoke to me in tagalog so I would at least understand the language. I envy your children. lol.

    …I hope html tags work. :p

  4. Hey Rich, just listened to this podcast last night on the train back from Tokyo to Sendai. Did you figure out what your car’s “insert card” message meant? If you’ve got an ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) unit installed, maybe it’s asking you to insert your ETC card?? Just a thought anyway. Cheers.

    1. You’re right, that’s what it was. I found a compartment between the driver and passenger seats that hid the secret card slot. My wife got an ETC card and also figured out how to turn off that frikkin’ voice. Now it makes a spaceship taking off/landing sound effect whenever the engine is turned on or off.

  5. I have been listening to your podcast for a few episodes now and LOVE it. I especially enjoyed the episode in the convenience store. I grew up in Hawaii and believe it or not the 7-11s carry musubis. I don’t know if that’s what they call them in Japan. But they’re essentially like the rice balls.
    Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your podcast and to keep up the great work!

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