[.ca] Memoirs of a Gaijin: Emails from Japan

Terrific read on a trip.:
So many times I've thrown a book in my suitcase to read while traveling. Whether its my favorite 'choose-your-own-adventure', the latest applied mathematics book my smart friends recommend, or the R-S volume from my mom's encyclopedia, the book usually stays in the suitcase. This one is different; I actually read it. Funny and genuine, this is worth packing.

Peek directly at the long-stretched ties that span halfway around the globe.:
A witty, honest work, Ben Hesse's Memoirs of a Gaijin should be a required read for those college grads who are contemplating the increasingly popular first "real-life" step of teaching English abroad. The meat of this book is the correspondence of E-mails between Ben in Japan and his friends and family back home in Minnesota. E-mail may not be as comforting a medium for them as the long-distance phone calls of ten years ago, but luckily for us, they allow us to peek directly at the long-stretched ties that span halfway around the globe. In between E-mails, Ben fills us in with the details that cast light onto that which, out of consideration for those who worry about him, he leaves out of his mass mailings back home.

meaningful insight between laughs:
Ben's wit is what makes this book great. It's great to read e-mails to and from home to get a sense of his experience there. The book provides good insight into an experience that more and more Americans are undertaking.

Funny and insightful:
Cultural barriers lend themselves to humor and reflection. Hesse's 'Memoirs' provides healthy doses of Engrish and other fun examples of culture shock. It also includes insightful reflections on time spent thousands of miles away from anything familiar, feelings that even those who've never left their hometown will recognize instantly. I strongly recommend picking up this book.

Emails from Japan:
Every now and then you want a book that just makes you laugh. I found myself laughing out loud while reading this book, the email and short chapter format made it an ideal read for my public transit commute to work. The email format did make me feel like I was snooping at times but also made for a more intimate experience. But hey I'll be honest that's probably why I liked it. Also I found the book reminded me a little of David Sedaris' writing - not the writing style but the way the author paints his family. I feel like I know the author's mom personally. On the but side - if you have never been to Japan (watching lost in translation doesn't count) or have never lived overseas, some aspects of the book could be lost on you. If you plan to go to Japan or are in Japan - you should read this book.