the last lap OLD

Well, this post is definitely a month old late. Thanx to my busy schedule! Anyway, the last 3 months in Japan is just a wrapped up for all the 12 months I have spent here. The last 3 months is not the time for me to push myself a bit harder be it in work or japanese learning or travelling. The last lap is meant for me to analyse how my life so far, to contemplate and completing things that are yet finished. The last 3 months are also the time for me to prepare and gear myself for the life back in Singapore. Indeed, Japan experience is great. I love it. It opens my eyes for many things that I have not seen before.

I love this place because I am away from the pressure I used to have. Sad, but true. Before I came to Japan, I have been pushed from every side, be it about career, having a bf and getting married of course (roll eyes), pressing hard for my faith and many many things that I have unconsciously bore. Evreyday I was so busy with meetings, catching up with friends and many many works. I have forgotten private time, just to chill out and relax and just stay home, wathing a comedy. Yeah, I don’t remember doing that.

In Japan, it is pratically a sabbatical leave. I almost have no responsibility, not many peopl to meet, no meeting of course and no pressure to do what is expected of me. I feel the freedom. I can think on my own and decide what I want to do. I do what I like and appreciate many things, be it people, nature and even the way of life here. Again, having said this, it does not mean Japan is easy to live or the most interesting place in the world. The life here is tough for the local. For sure, if i am to live here a year or 2 longer, i will feel the pinch. In Japan, everybody needs to follow the system and anyone who is different may feel uncomfortable.

As of now, I will go back to sg very soon, in about 7 weeks. So, basically I need to start packing and sending my things back and of course I need to buy some soveniours to make sure that people know I have been really living in Japan and friends will not feel neglected by me not giving anything after living here for so long.

If anyone would like to know how to survive in Japan, it is simple. Try to think as the local and do what the locals do. Just learn the language, it is not an easy language, trust me! But interesting enough that I could pick up the language pretty fast. It seems the words are inside me that when i heard the words, it connects. Strange, but true! It took me ages to decipher english, but japanse, if not for the kanji, i could have done much better.

One of the most important thing is to know the way of thinking. At first, we may be mistaken by their behaviour, but after 1 year, we will grasp what is actually on their mind. Not easy, but interesting in a way. Hehhe

As the time of going back is nearing, there is only 1 thing i need to do. yeah, I need to master the fashion here and the make-up. Gosh, it is damned difficult and pricey. Hua… But that is practically my goal for the last 7 weeks. Ganbarimasu…

milestone3 OLD

Oh no, I am going for my 7 month in Japan. So, what do I think of Japan? Is it as exciting as what Nihon’s fans think? well… well… it depends =P

Reviewing milestone2, it is rather far-fetched. I need to make it more down to earth this time.

So, the plan for the next 3 month is the following:

1. Travell

yeah, I will be doing some travelling. I have not decided on the place, but will make these 3 months a relax period.

2. Work

Hmmm, will continue to do my best. get along with colleagues and supervisors. making positive contribution and positive in all matters.

3. Spiritual life

errrr it is a question mark.

4. Japanese

Will be working on my kanji.

5. other skills

yeah, will be learning other things too.

milestone2 OLD

Period: January-March 2008

Obejctives: (tentative)

1. Work: will going to another section, will just do my best, not sure what to expect

2. Neighbourhood: will try to join a cell group?

3. Japanese: will go to the next 300 kanji, making it 600 altogether. This will definitely take more than 3 months . Will try to finish the beginner level.

4. Fashion. Will master the art of make-up and fashion. Will not go out of the house without make-up!

5. Travel: will be greatly reduced! stay home months! Honey moon has ended

Summary of the 3 months:

1. Oh c’mon, give me a break. This is what I can say about work. Starting this year, the work has been really hectic as in really really hectic! I have started to see what working means to Japanese. It is their life, it is perhaps the center or almost the center of life of every men or women as well. I see the total devotion of work and the good spirit towards work. Yeah, most of them do good works. I have to say it is a thumbs up. I guess that is why Japanese products do have refined quality. It has to pass through so much strict testing and re-testing and double and triple check. yeah, but they come with a huge cost. Everyman works long hour.

Ok, so what have I learnt? I guess whatever I am learning is basically the Japanese style of working/ training. It is definitely not what I think before, so it is not to be compared. There are defnitely ups and downs moments, times when I could not take it anymore. yeah, not if one does not understand the culture, it is tough. I said once again, tough!

Anyway, everything is generally ok. I met new friends in the office and they are nice to me.

2. Ah, I have also joined a cell group in my church. well, it is not as I expected, but I learn to understand what it is done in a certain way. =). I have been trying to build my spiritual life here too. Not easy, I have been missing bible reading and praying, but I keep trying. Hang on…

As for neighborhood, it is just no time! However, I did go out with my japanese friend from the church. But I guess that is as far as I go to know the people.

3. Japanese language is just tough. Kanji-wise, no way. I only know around 200 kanji. The bottom line is, no time to revise the kanji. It is hard enough to have time to learn Japanese. yeah, tough. Besides, language  must be used frequently of which I need to meet more people. However, starting this year, things have been pretty tiring, taihen desu ne.

I will work harder on the next quarter, defnitely will use it more often and learn new grammar and words.

4. fashion and make-up. Improving, I guess I have used light make-up when I went out. However, fashion wise is not yet. I need to set budget for clothes. -_-”

5. Travell… hehhehe I have just visited the area in my perfecture, hakone, odawara.. The only routine leisure I did was onsen, it is relaxing considering the cold weather. hehhehehe…

that’s alll..

milestone1 OLD

 Objectives:

1. Adjustment to the new environment both neighbourhood and office

2. Building relationships with the the people I come into contact with, in the office, apartment, neighbourhood and church

3. Doing my job

4. Learning Japanese (basic, first 300 kanji)

5. Learning fashion (basicc)

6. Travelling

Progress:

Summary of the quarter:

1. As far as adjustment is concerned, it is good. I have found good shopping malls, supermarkets, wet markets, convenience stores and many things in the neighbourhood. I have even been to the library in my area. The library is indeed way below singapore’s sophisticated library. Over here, the library is small, almost run down (IMHO) in terms of book collection, not many visitors and almost no english books except a small 2-level shelf. Apparently, Japanese does not borrow books from the library, either rent or simply buy. However, I do believe the library in the university must be of good selection.

As for office, it is good. I knew all the people in the group and have talked and tried to build relationship with them. It is interesting to know about the company structure in the Japanese company and again we can see the imperfection in the seemingly perfect scenario. The poeple here is nice and helpful. I love their hard-worked and serious attitude towards work and their spirit of ownerships. Amazing! It is a hard virtue to be observed in singapore and perhaps in many other countries.

2. Relationships is a hard topic. I have quite a little problem with the people with whom I come with because of language barrier. However, in general everything is good. I have met several interesting people be it in the office, in the japanese class and in the church. It is great. I have to admit that I love meeting new people and start a chitchat. Hehehhe. I love to hear new things, to know what happens at the other side of the world and the kind of works people are doing. Yeah, really glad to be able to meet people of various background and nationalities.

3. Job-wise, it is ok. I have learnt quite a bit of new things and the work is good. I am glad that I do not have to do over-time as other colleagues.

4. Japanese. Sigh, this is hard. Japanese is not an easy language and well, there has been absence of classes for the past 3 weeks, so I have not been using it. So, the state of my Japanese is pretty bad and there are so many things yet to learn and catch up. Kanji-wise, it is tough, I think I only managed to know around 150 kanji. Not easy. At the moment I am not able to spend the time for the kanji, it needs tremendous amount of time. Anyway, I will work harder this year. yeah, very very hard.

5. Fashion. This is an interesting topic . Yeah, there is a slight change now. I have been learning about fashion and make-up. Errrr practically I use my free time to read magazine and learn about how to do the make-up. Yeah, much time has been spent. I have done many window-shopping as well. I have yet bought the clothes as I need to think carefully what I need. I plan to buy a pair of boots, but it is so expensive and many clothes which are equally expensive. -_-” how to solve this issue of pricing? However, interestingly I have grown interest in shopping and all the ladies-stuff. It is interesting.

6. Travelling. Hmmm hehehe, ok lah. I went to Hakone, a village near mount Fuji. It is a place where mt Fuji can be seen clearly. I have gone to Nikko as well, a beautiful place. I love to sightsee, but now I realise that everywehere in Japan is almost the same. Errrr…. it is just equally beautiful .

First 6 weeks  

1. Office: working on it. It has not been that easy especially the language barrier. Both of us speak either broken english or broken japanese. Friends: working on it. A little trouble in understanding each of us, all are apparently very different. Neighborhood: quite ok. Have been familiar with the complicated train systems, have been adjusted to the life of convenience store, supermarkets, bento, cheaper eating establishment and simple cooking.

2. Relationships is hard. It takes time and effort and trust. Working on it. As for church, sigh… not yet know anybody. I am quite shy to approach them. Definitely need to put more effort.

3. Training… so far so good. Still a long way to go. The only problem is my sleeping behaviour. I fall asleep very easily, problem still unsolved.

4. Japasene. Working on it. Attending 3 times japanese class. I must be nutz or total nerd. It is quite stressful and tiring, but well, I do not have anything to do at night. I better maximise the time into good use. As for kanji, it is a real sturggle. Currently, I know around 100 kanji, basic grammar and simple comversation.

5. Fashion: a BIG problem. I do not have an interest in shopping, but will try to find the solution.

6. Travelling: Kyoto (the city and Nijo castle covered), Yokohama (the bay area), Tokyo (Tokyo disneyland, Odaiba, Factory outlet, Tokyo Dome, Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, Akihabara, Tokyo tower, Asakusa and Ueno).  Note: transportation is really painful on the budget.

The first 6 weeks:

target and milestone OLD

ok, so I am setting some targets and milestones. It is divided into 5 parts, i.e. quarterly milestones.

Will be writing about japan adventure, japanese people, japanese language column, work and IDEAS. After a heated conversation with ms h, I have decided to be more sophisticated. Yeah, sophisticated.

So, the target will be likewise (15 months):

- technically-inclined- making positive contributions

- intermediate japanese, good conversation, intermediate reading and writing.

- good english language writing, err not enough.. must be sophisticated!!!

- weekly ideas on the blog- again IDEAS!!

- japan travelogue (north-south, east-west), simple ones will do, I am not popagandhi

- compiling japan survival guide (daily life- especially for gaijin), this should be useful…

- good fashion sense and make up expert

- hmmmm

About OLD

I am currently living in Yokohama, Japan. Well, I will spend my time here for 15 months and I have decided to allocate this blog to record my sojourn in Japan, perhaps a large portion on my activities, groups and sight-seeing.

As for who I am. Errr.. not much and I prefer to be a low profile.