Have I ever explained how I got here?
It was because of a woman.
Big surprise, eh?
Stephanie Lovie was a woman I was really infatuated with back in journalism school at Humber College.
Attractive and smart, she told me she wanted to go on something called the Japan Exchange & Teaching Programme, to go and live and teach in Japan.
I had never heard of it - but I figured if I tried to get into the program too, it would be an excellent way for us to be together as boyfriend and girlfriend.
I was screwed in the head, folks. She liked me. But that was as far as it ever went. I got a peck or two on the lips every now and then, but that was it for all of my (by today's standards) quite useless efforts.
Anyhow, Stephanie also mentioned (while she was driving me around in her Hyundi Pny - the "o" had fallen off) that she wanted to try and get into the Toronto Star summer internship program, a highly respected stepping stone into one of North America's better newspapers.
What the heck I thought. It would be great if we actually got in together - and then we could be reporters together. A childish fantasy to be sure.
Still, for her, I applied to the JET Programme, and applied to the Toronto Star Internship program. I got called in for interviews for both.
It was February of 1990, and I had just had an interview with the Toronto Star (I told them I also had an upcoming interview with JET). At JET (I told them I had just had an interview with the Toronto Star), they interviewed me and asked why I wanted to go to Japan. Pretty standard stuff, eh? Well, I didn't really prepare for the interview - much like everything I do in rife. I said the first thing that came to mind - which rightly or wrongly, was how I felt.
Truthfully, I wanted to do it so I could finally lose my virginity and sleep with Stephanie. But telling them that sounded stupid, so I told them what I felt at that instant.
I told them that I wanted to go to Japan to talk to people. i wanted to find out about who they really are. I wanted to ask an old-timer about the war (WWII) - to get their side of things.
When I was told that was probably a very difficult thing to find out as the Japanese are kind of tight-lipped about their personal history, I said I don't mind. It's not something I'm just going to ask a stranger. I'll ask one of my friends.
They seemed to like the fact that I would respect the Japanese enough to want to become friends with them... that and the fact that I was/am a silver-tongued devil who can pretty much charm the pants offa anyone (in a non-sexual way, of course). The sexual way would come later.
Anyhow... they obvious bought my sincerity, because that's what it was. It wasn't the cut and dried answer everybody gives about how they are looking forward to learning the language and culture et al. I wanted to talk to people.
And the JET Programme... they wanted people to talk to the Japanese. That's what the exchange was like - at least back in the early 1990s.
Further, I was also up for a summer internship job with the Toronto Star newspaper - considered one of the best newspapers in North America. Ernest Hemmingway used to write for it - and Superman's original newspaper job as Clark Kent was based on the Toronto Star. JET knew I was a journalist and after meeting me they knew I was more than a writer - that I could communicate.
I guess they put one plus one together and came up with me.
Somewhere, just call me Papa,
Andrew Joseph
Today's title is by The Rolling Stones - LIPS
PS: Along with the JET Programme, I also got onto the Toronto Star internship program (both were impressed that each had thought highly of me to get the interview at least), and actually had to quit the Star early so I could begin the trip to Japan. I never saw Stephanie again - but did feel bad about getting into both programs. But only for a minute.
PPS: I did get to meet my good buddy Doug McIntosh while I worked at The Star. A splendid time was had by all!
PS: Along with the JET Programme, I also got onto the Toronto Star internship program (both were impressed that each had thought highly of me to get the interview at least), and actually had to quit the Star early so I could begin the trip to Japan. I never saw Stephanie again - but did feel bad about getting into both programs. But only for a minute.
PPS: I did get to meet my good buddy Doug McIntosh while I worked at The Star. A splendid time was had by all!
