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ep. 37 response
I had never considered that either…
Week 38
Episode: 038
Time Count: 32:29
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Ep. 37
I definitely want to try savory oatmeal. It also never occurred to me before. Also, I liked learning the word 放置する （ほうちする）when she talks about people abandoning their shopping carts in the parking lot.
Episode 39 (edit: not Ep. 38!)
For this episode, I was able to partly follow the transcript while listening to the episode.
It was mostly a quiz to guess peoples’ real names（本名）from the nickname. For some reason, it didn’t occur to me that people use their nicknames on credit cards until Utaco mentioned it. I also thought it was hilarious that she used SpongeBob Squarepants as the example for the nickname “Bob”. From now on, I will refer to this TV show as SpongeRobert Squarepants. 
For the English corner, she talked about how a listener told her about Pocket Talk (ポケトーク）a simultaneous translation device (having the transcript available to figure out the name of this product was helpful). It seems to be a device you can use with a sim card or wifi and there was a purchase component as well as a subscription component to the pricing (something about a global plan). While Utaco said it could be useful for situations where you really need to understand what’s going on, like at the hospital, she hadn’t tried it and wanted to know if anyone had experience with Pocket Talk.
Regarding the Pocket Talk, I found this review where they demonstrate its use in real situations with various languages (starting ~@7:40)
Thanks for posting that link to the Pocket Talk review! That’s a pretty cool device. With the speed of advancement of AI, I wonder what will happen to interpreters in the near future? I’ve heard that simultaneous translation can cost upwards of $1500/day per interpreter (given that it’s a specialized skill that takes years to master), but if a pocket device can do the same… Sometimes it makes me wonder what the point of learning a foreign language is at all.
BTW: I guess this was for Episode 39 rather than 38?
What the halibut!? Thanks for pointing out that I was actually listening to Ep. 39…!
I also wonder how AI will impact interpreting and translation… lately I’ve noticed gmail will suggest grammar and spelling corrections when I compose an email in another language. I assume like most jobs, it will result in lower pay and a smaller market. But I don’t think AI can entirely replace human interpreters, especially where some kind of certification or liability is involved. In the case of some court reporters, simultaneous voice-to-text technology speeds up the production of a transcription, but it hasn’t replaced the final check and certification. I’m sure pay is lower though…
As for the point of learning foreign languages, this crosses my mind often! I’ve only finished my third book in Japanese, but I suspect even the best translations will not give you a full appreciation for the book as it is written in the original language. I am learning so many expressions that allude to the culture and history in which the language (and people) developed. I would not necessarily be aware of these with a translated version? I’m a little cynical when it comes to third-party digital interfaces inserted between humans. Having Wanikani and the internet is wonderful, and having a device like a Pocket Talk would be really fun for travel, but then I think about privacy, monetization, content control, gatekeeping and I start daydreaming about becoming a luddite…
Episode 38 (this time for real)
People not putting their shopping cart away - Utaco starts the episode saying others complained about the same thing she uses the phrase 共感の声 (きょうかんのこえ), or “voices of sympathy.” She says it happens not just in the US, but also in the UK, where they have the reputation for being proper, which surprised her. Then she mentioned other regions (South America, SE Asia?) around the world, but I didn’t really understand this part - I assumed she was saying some places were more likely to not put away the carts…?
Driver’s licence renewal process - This discussion was kind of hard to follow, but from what I understood, she had recently renewed her license （免許証 - めんきょしょう）around her birthday (when renewals come up), had presented the necessary documents (including visa status) to obtain a temporary license (仮免 - かりめん), but then actual driver’s ID didn’t come (this episode was at the end of october?). So she called the DMV (took forever, was nervous about speaking on the phone) and somehow ended up being told to go into one of the DMV offices with all her documents again. She seemed surprised she could go into any DMV office and didn’t have to go back to the original one (?) so she contemplated which office in her vicinity would have the shortest wait times. She ended up driving after classes to an office that took and hour (!) to get to and was shocked that even at lunch time without an appointment (I think that’s what she said), it only took three minutes total because no one was there. [wow that’s a lot of driving!]
My favorite thing - visiting thrift shops - the new thing she’s obsessed with/addicted to（はまってる）is going to thrift shops. She uses the phrase スリフト巡り (visiting thrift shops). [sidenote: 巡りseems like a useful add-on word for places you visit or tour, but I have never used this before…] She describes how when her husband arrived in the US (before she came) he brought very little with him, but he didn’t buy brand new （新品 ー しんぴん）stuff, but rather found a lot of things at the thrift store.
She says there are two categories of things she’ll look for at the thrift store - dinnerwear (食器類 -しょっきるい) especially vintage Fireking or Pyrex. Here, she notes that for vintage dishware you could go to antique stores and they will more likely have complete sets and in better condition, but they are more expensive. The second category is clothing. She mentions that in America, people will compliment you on your clothing or accessories, even people you don’t know. When she wears thrift shop finds, she says she often is complemented. Interestingly she noted that she found a Calvin Klein older spring coat and said she knew it was vintage because the label said it was made in the US, as CK clothing isn’t made in the US anymore. She also describes a kimono robe she found that she gets complimented on.
In this section, I liked learning the word 戦利品 (せんりひん) for getting a bargain. The kanji is spoils of war! Ha.
Things I miss about Japan - In this episode it’s sweet coffee you drink with a straw (she later refers to this as chilled cup coffee). It wasn’t so much that she super-duper missed this, but to her, it was a true mystery as to why it’s hard to find in America. In japan there are many kinds. Some examples she gave are Mount Ranier, Doutor and Seven Premium. She notes Starbucks has 3-4 kinds, but they are expensive, unlike the 100-120 yen kind you can find in convenience stores or highway rest stops (when you want something that’s not water, something sweet). She also notes that other sweet beverages available - coke, other sodas, lemon tea - don’t quite do it (she says they are ちょっと違うな)
Here is the Instagram account she mentioned Utacolorlife It doesn’t seem to be active these days, but I checked it out and I can see the kimono style robe and the vintage pyrex dishes that she bought at the thrift store
and I think this is what Utaco meant by チルドカップコーヒ: Doutor Chilled Cup Coffee Now I want one!
The most I see it by frequency is probably cafe hopping becoming カフェ巡り
I always trick myself into buying one of these coffee things, thinking they’ll be good. They’re not, they taste horrible. Maybe that’s just me though
Ah, good to be warned! I may try it anyway. My credo is no ragrets.
Week 39
Episode: 039
Time Count: 32:00
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I’m almost caught back up. I listened to 37 while putting together an IKEA shelf 
Should be caught back up before we move on to 40.
Meanwhile I’ve done no listening in a month so am way behind 
Same here. I decided to jump ahead and listen to the current week with the group, while catching up on the earlier episodes in between. Currently listening to 16!
I reached Episode 17 and enjoyed reading your comment and learning this expression. I did not catch this. And the NANA panel, it took awhile to actually find it. And I don’t think I would have caught it there either!
Just caught up with this episode. About nicknames, I nodded along with most her list, but when she said “Chris” comes from “Christian”, I was pulled up short. I would have said “Christopher”. Don’t think I’ve actually met a “Christian” in my life….I also totally get why she’s surprised by “Bill” being short for “William” - as a child, I felt the same way. Don’t think we have “Chucks” in Australia although we might have had Charlies in the past…whereas we have “Johnos”, “Daves” and Davos. And Australian men are often referred to by their surnames or weird diminutives of their surname. The (in)famous Australian cricketer Shane Warne was usually referred to as “Warnie”.
I thought the same back when I listened to it. Definitely influence from her knowing lots of Hispanic Americans there
I grew up with plenty of Christian Chrises in the US, but fewer than Christopher Chrises. I think it’s particularly popular in older millennials but so are Christina, Crystal, and Kristen, etc. We were apparently going through a phase. 
Week 40
Break week next week!
Episode: 040
Time Count: 34:00
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I did a bunch of listening, but also got distracted by my audiobook a lot and so now I’m just starting 39. After the break though, I think I will actually be finally caught up
If we’re doing a break but each episode is done every two weeks does that mean we’re waiting a month before episode 41 