Hi David,

It might be that the older man didn't get used to operate the ATM and he couldn't work it out the way he wanted. If I am in the situation, and if I am like the older man, I come out and say to you, "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. I can't work it out. Well, after you."

Sam

•  Sam
• 2010年5月25日 18:47

Hi David,
I am sorry to hear about your van. But you turned misfortune into a blessing.
I'm always confused drawing money from ATM. Because differt banks have different type of ATMs. How to draw money and remit of each bank is a bit different, which confuses me so much.
I have five accounts at five banks and one at the post office. I usually go to a bank with many
ATMs when the opperation (mnipulation ?) is complicated. At a supermarket or somewhere which has only one ATM, I just draw some money.

Hi Sam,
I forgot to say to you. One more merit of the hotel lounge is we can have another cup of coffee by(?) the same price.

•  Carrie
• 2010年5月25日 19:45

Hi David,

Glad to hear your presentations went very well, but I'm sorry to hear about your van. The accident was unlucky, but I'm glad the truck driver was a decent person and you don't have to pay for the repairs.

I have to get up at 5 tomorrow morning, so I'll write about the topic later.

Good night,

Tomo

•  Tomo
• 2010年5月25日 22:58

Hi Carrie. The man wasn't very old, so I don't think he was confused. If you don't mind me asking, why on earth do you have so many bank accounts?! It is very unusual in my country for anyone to have more than two.

•  David
• 2010年5月25日 22:59

Hi David,

It's nice to know that the presentaions went very well, and that you had equiries about the books.
Sorry to hear about your van, but you were lucky in a way, because the truck driver was decent.:-)

As for the topic, it might be sometimes difficult for older people to use ATMs, as Sam and Carrie said. On the other hand, I think that people take a long time to send money to some accounts, especially on pay-days. When I go to the bank and withdraw some money on the 25th of every month, there is often a long queue and I have to wait for a long time. I have also one account at the bank, and one at the post office.

Talk to you later,

Maki

•  Maki
• 2010年5月25日 23:46

Hi David,
I'm still in a hotel and the hotel computer allows me to write a comment in English.
One of possibilities I think is that he sent his money to multiple accounts to pay for the bills of his utilities, phone companies, internet providers, purchases and so on. I often see this kind of things.

•  Appoh
• 2010年5月26日 07:32

Hi Appoh,

That's what I guessed, too. As I said, I would never do that in a place where there was only one machine, so I wanted to know what all of you thought about that.

•  David
• 2010年5月26日 07:53

Thanks, Green.

>I'm not a member of their fan club but I know that it's very hard to get the tickets.

Oh, that's figures.

Hi Carrie,

The refills are free? Sounds nice! It's great fun to talk with friends over coffee, isn't it?

By the way, I remember the film called "Coffee and Cigarettes." It is the film which consists of eleven short stories. We can find a conversation over coffee in each stories, which is kind of comic. Do any of you happen to know that? David, how about you?

Sam

•  Sam
• 2010年5月26日 08:05

Correction
in each stories → in each story

•  Sam
• 2010年5月26日 08:18

Hi David,
I came back to the hotel from a party.
Actually, I have no idea. I would do only one transaction even if I had more.
This is only my speculation but people in Osaka sometimes don't care much about what someone else thinks of what they are doing. This speculation comes from my experience of living in Kyoto for four years.
Bye the way, when I was in a line for a ticket at the kiosk to enter a park the other day, it took more than 10 minutes for someone ahead of me to buy tickets. The next person spent another 10 more minutes and the next ladies spent another 10 minutes more! I thought 'What were they talking? Say the number of tickets, that's it ! People in the US even don't know how to buy tickets from a person directly ?'

•  Appoh
• 2010年5月26日 10:51

Did you know that Google made a home page last week that you can play Pacman on?! It's great! Go to google.com/pacman and give it a try.

•  David
• 2010年5月26日 13:05

Hi David,
I will actually have four bank accounts including one of a brokerage firm. The time deposit of a bank became the due date. So I found a new bank whose interest is high. I opened a new bank account. I will remit that money to the new bank. After remitting, I'll have four bank acounts. The utmost time deposit of the deposit insurance corporation is 10,000,000 yen. Plus I'd like to deposit my money at a bank whose interest is higher than the others. As you know, the interest changes day by day. When I deposit money in a bank, it depends on the interest.
That's why I have four accounts. Don't have the mistaken idea that I'm so rich. Each account is not
maximum.

Hi Sam,
I haven't seen the movie. Where can I see it?
Rent a video? Please tell me.

•  Carrie
• 2010年5月26日 14:03

Hi everyone:)

I have four accounts,three at the banks and one at the post office. Because I used to have an account at the Hokuyou Ginko which is a Hokkaido's local bank so I have to change my bank when I moved to Tokyo!

I'm going to see "Alice in wonderland" today!?

Dear Sam
I love that movie:)

•  Chiyo
• 2010年5月26日 15:12

Hi David and everyone,

As for "Pacman", Maki told us about it, and I gave it a try! I didn't know about this game, but it looks like"スーパーマリオブラザーズ." It was fun but I couldn't get a high score. Everyone, be careful not to forget the time!

Concerning "ATMs", I'm just wondering if people in other countries use ATMs to send money to phone companies or some other things. Do they use Internet banking?
At banks, we often see signs saying "if you are going to use ATM for more than three transactions or withdrawings, please stand in line again. Thank you for your corporation." However,sadly at ATM near supermarkets or small boxes, we don't see these signs.
I have a kind of patience for these matters, so if there are a lot of people standing in line, I can wait. But if one person would take more than ten minutes, it would be annoying!!
As you said, it's a matter of manner,right?

Bye for now,

Anne

•  Anne
• 2010年5月26日 15:59

I'm sorry to hear about your van,but I'm glad to hear that the presentation went well.

As for the topic,I thought his manner is bad.As Anne said,he should stand in line again.Maybe he wanted to pay to some companies,so he used ATM about 10 minutes.I have waited to use ATM like you,so I saw your feeling.I felt very annoying at that time,so I don't go to the bank on the pay-day.

As for bank's accounts,I checked my bank accounts.I had 5 accounts.Why do I have many accounts?Because my company told me to make new account for payment.(会社のシステム上、給与は～銀行の口座にしか振り込めないという理由や会社と付き合いのある銀行に口座を開設してもらう必要があるという理由で新しい口座を開設していくことになりました。）←I can't say about it in English...

See you soon!

Nao

•  匿名
• 2010年5月26日 17:05

Yes, Chiyo, I love the movie, too.
Carrie, I think you can rent the DVD at TSUTAYA or something like that.

•  Sam
• 2010年5月26日 19:20

Hi David and everyone,

As for David topic,

I would hate keeping using ATM and someone is waiting.
If I need to more time to use it I would pass someone.
At least, I would read the air of around there.

Kazu

•  Kazu
• 2010年5月26日 19:42

I would pass someone.
↓
I would let someone go before me.

•  Kazu
• 2010年5月26日 19:49

Hi David and everyone,

About the older man you mentioned, I don't think he is very rude if he said “Sorry to have kept you waiting.”(Did he?) As other members said, it's sometimes difficult for older people to use ATMs, and a lot of people send money(or their payments) by ATM because remittance charge is cheaper than if they ask it to a bank teller(madoguchi).

＞If I have to do anything at an ATM that I think is going to take a long time, I always go to a place where there is more than one machine.

You have very good manners, but would you do the same thing if you didn't have a car or a bike? For those people who don't drive, it may not that easy, and the older man might have been one of them.

As for bank accounts, as you know, my husband works in a bank, and I used to work in the same bank, so I have one account at the bank and one at the post office. As Carrie mentioned, your money will be protected up to 10,000,000 yen if the bank crashes, so I think it's a better idea to have more than two bank accounts if you have more than 10,000,000 yen. If I won the lottery, I'll have multiple bank accounts!

See you soon,

Tomo

PS I tried the game "Pacman". I couldn't get a high score, but it was fun!

•  Tomo
• 2010年5月26日 21:58

Hi David and Everyone,

Anne, the sign; "if you are going to use ATM for more than three transactions or withdrawings, please stand in line again. Thank you for your corporation." is really nice, though I haven't seen such signs in my area. I use ATMs only to withdraw some money, so usually it doesn't take a long time. If I have to do more than two transactions, I will do one and stand in the queue again. I think that I'm a kind of patient person, however I would be annoying if I had to wait for more than 10 minutes for only one person.
Carrie and Tomo, now I understand why some people have multiple bank accounts. I haven't thought about Deposit Insurance Law!

Hi Sam,

I've seen "Coffee and Cigarettes". It's interesting and I like it, too.:-)

Bye for now,

Maki

•  Maki
• 2010年5月26日 23:51

Hi amo,
☆Happy Birthday!!　　 Have a wonderful day!☆　　　　　　　　　　 Maki

アクセス不可で携帯からです。

•  Maki
• 2010年5月27日 00:08

Hi David and everyone,

I was too busy to check the blog this couple of days. On Monday, one of my section staff called in sick so the rest of us had to cover her. Monday is the busiest day in the week so I could not take a break until after 5 o’clock, and it was only 30-minute break. Yesterday was also a busy day as Monday but I had arranged to meet up with my sisters and a friend of one of my sisters for dinner after work. I had to leave office at 6:30. Actually I did not finish my work at all but I left it for today. We went a Hungarian restaurant. It was the first time that I had had Hungarian food. It was good and I liked it. We had a long talk about musical and Hungary. This friend likes to see musicals. She went to Europe four times to see musicals last year. She told us about her trips to Europe. Her stories made me want to visit Hungary and see musicals.

As for this week topic, I use ATMs once or twice a month and I try not to go there a peek time so those kinds of situations rarely happen to me. If it happened to me, it would annoy me a bit!!

I want to write more but I am so sleepy, so bye for now

amo

•  amo
• 2010年5月27日 00:18

Hi Maki,

Thank you for your message, I hope today is not a busy day at work :-)

•  amo
• 2010年5月27日 00:23

Happy birthday Amo :-)
Hope you have a great day, and don't work too hard.

•  David
• 2010年5月27日 00:25

☆☆☆Happy Birthday , amo!　☆☆☆
　
　　Hope you have a lovely day!

Anne

•  Anne
• 2010年5月27日 05:26

*：・'°☆。.：*：・'°♪。.：*：・'°☆。.：*：・'°♪。.：*

Happy Birthday, amo!!

Wishing you many happy returns!

Tomo

*：・'°☆。.：*：・'°♪。.：*：・'°☆。.：*：・'°♪。.：*

•  Tomo
• 2010年5月27日 06:39

Maki, you like the film, too? That's great!

Happy birthday, amo!
Hope you have a wonderful day.

Sam

•  Sam
• 2010年5月27日 07:46

Happy Birthday amo!

I hope you have a nice day♪

Amica

•  Amica
• 2010年5月27日 08:00

♪♪ Happy Birthday, amo! ♪♪
It was great to see you again at the seminar.
Hope you get through the hectic week and relax on the weekend.

•  Lily
• 2010年5月27日 09:42

Hi team. I'm in a docomo shop trying out a new phone. It's like an iphone, but it's made by sony. It's really cool!

•  david
• 2010年5月27日 10:32

Hi David,
I wasn’t interested at all in so-called “smart phones” like iPhone. But many of my friends have changed to iPhone, and I’m starting to think it might not be a bad idea...! Let me know how you like it.

•  Lily
• 2010年5月27日 10:52

☆Happy birthday☆amo☆

Hope you'll have a great time!!

Nao

•  Nao
• 2010年5月27日 11:36

Hi David

You are interested in smart phones?I'm also interested in them,and I'm interested in iPad,too.
I'm very excited,and I really want them,but I'm surprised at price of iPad.I can't get them soon...
If you get a smart phone,let me know about it!

Nao

•  Nao
• 2010年5月27日 11:44

Hi amo
Happy birthday. Many happy returns(^。^)y-.。o○

Hi Sam,
Thank you for your information, I'll rent the DVD at Tsutaya.

•  Carrie
• 2010年5月27日 11:50

Hi amo,
Happy birthday with love from me to you.

•  Appoh
• 2010年5月27日 12:50

Hi amo,

☆☆☆HAPPY BIRTHDAY☆☆☆
You sound like busy but I hope you have a great time today!

Hi David,

Did you dicide to buy iphone?
I think it's very convenient and smart but expensive.

Hi Nao,

Did you watch NHK TV program '音楽のチカラ' last night?
The most famouse and popular song writer 松本隆　talked with KinKi Kids!

Green

•  Green
• 2010年5月27日 12:52

David,
correction
I'm sorry. iphone →　new phone

Green

•  Green
• 2010年5月27日 12:56

Hi Lily,

The reason I want a smart phone is that it takes me ages to type emails on a regular number keypad. The phone I was looking at has a touchscreen with a keyboard. I tried it in the shop, and it is really fast. You can also view regular web pages like this one, so it will be easier for me to check the blog and write comments more often. It also has a really good camera, and because I am with au at the moment, it would be quite cheap for me to buy it if I change to docomo. I really like au, and they have always given me great service, but they don't have any phones like this one. Hmmm, it's a difficult decision...

•  David
• 2010年5月27日 13:06

Hi team,
I have two bank accounts in the US.
One is convenient to use in and near DC. The other is supposed to be available across the US.

By the way, a smart phone ? I've never tried it before because I don't trust the IT industry even though I used to be involved in there.
In my opinion, they are always thinking of how to make big money. But the new one is made by SONY? Then, it's not a bad idea to try it anyway.
Oh, I can't. Japanese cell phones can't work in the US.

•  Appoh
• 2010年5月27日 13:10

Hi Green

I didn't know the program.I miss it...:(
I wanted to watch it.
Did you watch it?I'm looking for it on Youtube!

Thank you for telling me!

Nao

•  Nao
• 2010年5月27日 15:05

Hello David and everyone,
I have never had the idea if you have to do anything at an ATM going to take a long time, it is better to go to a place where there is more than one machine. That makes sense! I always thought waiting in a long line was a thing I have to do. I want to be a person not to be frustrated with any can’t-be-helped situations.

I am an au user too and I have liked the phones since I got my first one. But I’m getting interested in smart phones... なやみどころです。

Hello Appoh
Are you still in Indiana? I’ve been there before. What is Indiana like in this season?

Hi amo,
Happy Birthday! Have a lovely day with your family and friends!

taco

•  taco
• 2010年5月27日 17:00

Hi Nao,

Yes,I watched it!
Johnny's calendar of Johnny's net says the program is going to rebroadcasted on June 8th 25:30～26:19 .
松本隆 made some songs for Kinki Kids .
The newest one is 「スワンソング」 as you know!
You can watch their interesting talk and some good old pictures.
Please chack it!!

Green

•  Green
• 2010年5月27日 20:41

is going to rebroadcasted ⇒　is going to be rebroadcasted

Green

•  Green
• 2010年5月27日 21:36

Happy birthday, amo!
I hope you had a nice birthday :-)

trmr

•  trmr
• 2010年5月27日 23:39

Hi everyone,

Thank you for the birthday messages. You all made my day ;-)
I had a busy day today as usual. Also I’ve got a terrible headache since yesterday so I’ve been taking some medicine so I feel sleepy all day. When I got home, nobody was home yet, but soon after one of my sisters came home with a friend who used to live us. She is a chef, so I asked her to make dinner for us. After dinner, of course we ate some cakes :-)

I wanted to write a comment to each of you, but as I said, I was too sleepy to do that. Please forgive me.

Good night and sleep tight!!
amo

•  amo
• 2010年5月28日 00:31

Hi David

I have i phone:)
And one of our customers went to America
just to buy i pad on the release date..
I can't believe that he paid more than ¥150000 to get one!?

i phone is nice anyway.
I often put this comment from i phone:)

•  Chiyo
• 2010年5月28日 03:19

Hi David

Sorry to hear about your van. But it was good that your car was repaired.

I have just one account and mostly use ATM for withdraw. I use web or cell phone to pay the money.

I am interested in smart phone. I want to have one. But I have just changed my phones few month ago! Now my target has changed to wi-fi device that allows to use ipod touch like smart phone.

Hi Sam

Yes, I hope I can do it sometime in the near future.

Hi Carrie

I have never heard, too. I think it was humor. I was very surprised :-)

Hi Tomo

Thank you! It was good arrangement and funny event.

trmr

•  trmr
• 2010年5月28日 07:53

Hi David and everyone,
'ipad' started selling in Japan! I saw more than 40 people were standing in line early in the morning,4'clock! here in Nagoya on TV.
I can't understand even people who have reserved it were standing in line. Are you going to buy it?

It's fine today. Have a great day.

Anne

•  Anne
• 2010年5月28日 08:46

Hi David and everyone,
What do you think of the internet banking without any bank notes. I know the interest rate is higher than thoses of the ordinary banks. But I'm afraind transaction via web has possibility of being scanmmed and without bank notes, I'M a little nervous.

Hi amo,
How'a your headache? Is it getting better? Take a good rest.

Hi Sam,
Correction
I'll rend the DVD at Tsutaya.

•  Carrie
• 2010年5月28日 09:21

Hi taco,
I got back to DC from Indianapolis yesterday.
It had been really hot there and I wondered when the sun set. I could see the sun even when it was 9 pm.

I think there is nothing special to see but at this time of year, the famous race, Indy 500, is coming soon. When I got to the speedway, it was 'The community day' Everyone was allowed to get in the driveway on your own car. I saw a lot of normal cars running there. They must have felt like they were professional drivers.

If you go to my blog, you will see some of the pictures I took there.

Bye for now.

•  Appoh
• 2010年5月28日 11:53

Hi Green

Thank you!!You're so kind.I'm looking forward to watching it!

By the way,I'm surprised at your check!私も見逃さないようもっとチェックしないと。

Nao

•  Nao
• 2010年5月28日 12:04

Hi Carrie,
I had never used the internet banking in Japan but I was really surprised to know there is no banking book used in the US. We can only check our transactions online or paper issued after each transaction.

•  Appoh
• 2010年5月28日 12:04

Hi Carrie,

I am wondering if you mix "rent" with "lend"?

I hope you like the film!

Sam

•  Sam
• 2010年5月28日 12:56