Time flys… November 30, 2009
Last week I had to wake up early everyday. Our flextime is more restrictive now. Every morning we have a scrum meeting with our team.Everyone goes around and says what they are doing. I usually only say a sentence in Japanese while everyone else does a bit of talking. It’s hard to explain what I’m doing in technical terms, especially in Japanese. Whatever, I guess it’s good practice.
I watched Michael Jackson’s “This is it”. I must say, I really enjoyed it. It was actually the last day to show in Japan. So surprisingly, it was very packed. And usually there is never a crowd at the theatres (from what I’m told). I guess Japanese people aren’t really into movies like in North America. We were waiting for someone so we got into the theatre late. But I’m so glad that the seats are assigned. It was nice to see that we still had good seats walking in. Well we did buy our tickets early. At the beginning, one of the theatre employees encouraged people to stand during the movie. I personally did not want to stand as I was tired from playing volleyball earlier. But I was surprised to see some people stand. There were 3 guys that stood for the whole movie. Some people stood for particular songs. It was an interesting experience that’s for sure. I’d say the crowd was really good. Like there was clapping with the songs, waving of hands, singing, etc. I’d say almost everyone stayed for the whole thing. But at the same time, that’s not rare in Japan.
After the movie, we went to some bar called Recife. It’s where a lot of foreigners go. I talked to Toan’s Japanese friends. Their English was pretty good. I forgot their names. Japanese names are so hard for me. I can never remember them on the first try. Later, we headed out and I found out something. Apparently, you’re not suppose to drink and ride. As in riding a bicycle. Well you can’t drink and drive here at all. But I had no idea this included bicycles. I guess it makes sense. The Japanese love to drink. The only thing I don’t like is the smoking. I mean my clothes stunk really bad after.
It’s hard to believe that tomorrow is December. I’m about half way done here in Japan. Time has really come and gone, here in Japan. The weather here has been so nice. The past week the weather felt like it was spring. Getting temperatures in the 20’s. In a way, I wished it was colder. I miss the cold. Well not really. I miss snow. To go snowboarding that is. This weekend I watched a lot of snowboarding videos. I’m so excited about this Hokkaido trip. I also went shopping this weekend. Instead of shopping for presents for Korea, I was looking at snowboard gear. I haven’t found any good stores here in Kagoshima. It is really really warm here. And we get no snow. The closest and decent hill is in Hiroshima (8 hrs away). So in a way, it sucks. But ya, Hokkaido!! I can’t wait. I’ll prob get a new jacket and pants. Everything else, I will have to rent, like the snowboard and boats. I priced out the trip, it looks like it’s going to cost me a lot. I’m going to have to go to a travel agent tomorrow and see if they have any deal. Either way, I’m going.
This month there are a lot of end of the year parties. Like at work, Japanese school, Seika gym, random coworkers, etc. I probably won’t go to all of them because I don’t have much money. I need to save for presents and for the Hokkaido trip. Usually these parties include dinner and drinking. Like 4000-5000Yen each party. So that adds up. Plus I don’t drink much so sometimes it’s not worth it. But I guess it’s good for the socializing. We’ll see what happens.
Recently, the Yen has been strong against the USD and CAD, like 86Y/USD and 82Y/CAD. I’m thinking of transferring some money over. I won’t making that much of a profit. Maybe $100. It may be worth it.
Edit: I just joined a full marathon in January. I know it’s crazy. But some of the guys at the office are doing it. And they convinced me. It’s the first time for everyone. I likely won’t run the full thing, as in walk and run. I ran today to start the training. Ran about 7km until my knee started hurting and inside of my shoe was bothering me. I’ll probably need new shoes.
Cool blog post. You know funny thing – I saved some yen when I was there and never transfered it back to dollars until now, so it just kind of sat there. I probably should have just blown it on random stupid things! But yah those parties get expensive eh. Have fun in the marathon. Which one is it? I did a 10km which wasn’t too bad, but dang the routes they pick are hilly. Its pretty neat how the office people do things so ‘together’.
Sounds like life at Epson has not changed too too much. Ryu was my fellow gaijin buddy, although unfortunately he already spoke japanese! But he’s awesome. I hope he somehow worked things out with his gf in Korea. Has his english improved? There used to be two other Korean girls, Kim-san and Park-san that were pretty cool too, but they left ): you would have liked them. They were really spunky.
Ikeda-san is married? Hahaha when I was there he was the office heart throb – all the girls loved him! He is indeed super cool. Please tell him I said hi. I still remember the conversation I had with him about his first time getting ‘take out’ in america. You should ask him about it! Maybe he remembers telling me about it.
Please tell Ishida-san and the others that I say “yoroshiku onegaishimasu”. I guess you guys are having your bounenkai soon. Dang I should plan a trip to visit Kagoshima sometime.
Cool that you checked out my old blogs, hopefully they can help you out! Its pretty transitional period in life. Moving out to such a weird and crazy place is a big step in opening yourself up to the world, and I feel like especially Kagoshima you spend a lot of time thinking. I feel like having done that, I can reinvent myself anywhere.
I won’t lie to you even now part of me wishes I had stuck around in Japan (I work at a start up in San Francisco now… its exciting work sometimes but kind of boring life?)
If you ever need advice or anything just send me an email. I guess Toan was one of the first epson interns so he can guide you well! I never met him but I was good friends with people who said Toan was a pretty cool guy, so he’s probably a great guide. If they send ppl out to San Jose let me know! Sometimes they have shucchou!
Happy Holidays,
Rob
Mikey!!! You signed up for a FULL MARATHON in Jan?!? Dangggg! You’re brave my friend! Running the 10K was already a killer for me! Good luck with your training! Make sure you hydrate well and learn to pace! A good way to figure out your pace is to train/run with a buddy! You should try to talk the entire run. That way, when you’re feeling too tired to talk, that’s an indication that you’re running to hard. As for shoes, try out some cheap insoles! I used to get tingling in the balls of my feet when I hit the 5km part, but I bought some cheap insoles that gave me good arch support, and now I can run for so much longer without any pain in my feet! It also helps with your knees and back too! I should meet you somewhere in the world next year when you’re done and on your way back home! I want to go to Korea, but it depends on how much time I can take off! I have three weeks vacation next year, and i’m hoping to take it all together sometime in July or August. But does that mean you’ll be back in Toronto by then?
The weather’s been getting colder in Toronto, but still no snow! Can you believe it? We’re already into December and still haven’t received our first snowfall! Supposedly it’s the first time in 160 years that there’s been no snow in November! I’m sooo glad I didn’t get a Blue Mountain pass this year, or else it would have been the same as that year that we all got our passes and there was barely any snow! At least we got a Tremblant trip out of it right!? I’m craving to go boarding this winter too! But, I have to save money for LA and also for Vancouver in Feb=(
Anywho, I’m good to Skype this Friday morning Toronto time! Is that Friday night for you? We can do it another time if you have plans this Friday! I looked up the world clock and saw that you’re 14 hours ahead of us! That means, if we were to chat at say 9am my time, that’d be 11pm your time? Let me know! Otherwise we can schedule for sometime this weekend or try for next week?
Jal ees suh friend! Miss you!
MIKE! Yes I do have a blog. And you found it I guess! I’m on your side of the world now. I guess it’s really OUR side of the world! Still adjusting to the little things but it really hasn’t been too too hard. I got my H1N1 vaccine before I came here! Plus I carry around a lot of anti-bacs!
Sounds like your having a lot of fun though! Will you be coming to Korea too? I also want to say save your money…are you getting paid?
@Rob: Wow your Yen has just been sitting here for that long. Well at least you exchanged it at a good rate. But ya those parties do add up. Can’t go to all of them. I’m doing the Ibusuki Marathon. I’m so not ready. Most of us aren’t. Ya Ryu-san is a cool guy. He’s married now too. I’m assuming it’s the same girl because she’s Korean and they’ve known each other since their were kids. Ya the other 2 Koreans you mentioned are not here. It would have been nice to meet them.
Ya Ikeda-san is a cool guy. But this month has been busy for everyone in the office. So everyone is running around with meetings, deadlines, and what not. But I did mention your name to Ishida-san and Ikeda-san. They all remember you. I should still haven’t asked about the ‘take-out’ story.
Oh it must be nice working in SanFran. Always wanted to live there. But ya life is Japan is great. I won’t deny that. But at the same time it would be nice to see my family and friends back home. =P
Anyways, Happy Holidays to you too.
@Yury: Ya I know I’m crazy. But I’m doing it. Training almost everyday. But so tiring. I tried your cheap insole trick and it seems to be working. I was able to run 13km the other day. Until my thighs started to give out. I think I need to slow down on my pace. And ya, I think I do need new shoes. They are really cheap and inside somethings keeps jabbing me. I believe it’s when the shoe bends. So it keeps bothers me.
So you’re thinking July and Aug?? Well I will be back by then. I’ll be back late May early June. I have to summer school which starts in July. But I’m sure we can figure something out. Still got time.
I hear you guys are suppose to get a huge snowfall this week. At least that makes up for last month. There’s going to be no snow where I am at. At all. So at least you get snow. So no Blue pass this year?! Well at least you will be going LA and Van. You should try snowboarding in Vancouver. May be super busy then but might be worth it.
I saw your msg about skype and I forgot to reply. However, I waited on Skype but I don’t have your skype username. But we can do it next time. This friday is no good. But any other day is fine.
So soon till Christmas and the New Year. This year seemed like it went so quick.
Anyways, I hope you the best, ttyl
@Ellice: Well I guess it’s not H1N1 then. I hope you told them that.
But ya, I’m coming to Korea! Save my money why?