Archive for September, 2007

Beating the Flexi-time

September 17th, 2007
{ 7 Comments }

The train arrived at Seishin Chuo station at 9:50AM. I had to be at the office at 10:00PM. Guess I had to dash into the office again. Then I saw many Japanese officemates (who are in the same floor as me). Some of them smiled at me.

Officemate: Hello Shiera-san!
Me: Hi! Running again to the office, huh?
Officemate: Yeah, it’s a good exercise, though.

Just kidding! If only I were in the Philippines, I would have initiated conversations with the other regular flexi-time beaters. I would have made friends and running to the office would have been more fun. But it’s very different here. Many of my officemates (even teammates) always ride on the same train car but we just ignore each other. I asked some Japanese acquaintances about this and told me that maybe they are just shy. I just hope they’re just shy… because I always have the impression that many of them are afraid of foreigners.

Anyway, this doesn’t stop me from having fun during my morning sprints…

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At work

Nganong dili? (Why Not?)

September 17th, 2007
{ 8 Comments }

Bag-o lang ko gapa-miyembro sa Bisaya Bloggers. Sa email na nadawat nako, naagni ko na suwayan ang magsulat ug Binisaya. Sakto sila… mas lingaw jud diay pero lisud. ^-^
Sabagay, unsa man pud ang pulos na miyembro ka sa Bisaya Bloggers unya wala jud kay gisulat na Binisaya, di ba? Sa mga ubang mga Bisaya Bloggers… suwayi gani ninyo ang mag Binisaya… lingaw. Siguro sugod karon, akong paninguhaon na magsulat ug Binisaya bisan kausa lang kada bulan. ^-^

English Version:
I recently joined Bisaya Bloggers. After reading the welcome email, I was inspired to write in Bisaya. They’re right! It is really fun… but difficult! ^^
Anyway, what’s the use of joining Bisaya Bloggers if I don’t have anything written in Bisaya? To all Bisaya bloggers out there… try writing in Bisaya. I assure you, it’s fun. From now on, I will try to write at least one entry written in Bisaya. ^-^

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Things I love

For the Lazy

September 16th, 2007
{ 4 Comments }

When I am really glued to a movie, anime, or a drama, I’d rather watch it while comfortably snuggled in my futon. One reason is that my chair is far from being comfy and it’s impossible to watch from afar because my PC has just an ordinary LCD screen. Thus, it is completely incapable of outputting clear images in any angle.

As many of you may know, most of the Japanese houses have tatami-floored bedrooms, and so is mine. Since I can’t afford it it’s a tatami room, I decided not to buy a bed. So that I could turn off the light, I’d have to stand up and pull the cord. Then I saw this cute lamp cord extension…


Now, I no longer have to take my butt off my futon…
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Experiences in Japan

Commercial District: Japan Style

September 15th, 2007
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This is the sh?tengai (???) in Sannomiya, Kobe.

If you’re visiting a certain place in Japan that has no malls, don’t fret. Most likely, it has a sh?tengai – a commercial district that usually connects to a train station. Connected – meaning, you could find your way to the station by just following the arrows. ^-^

In a sh?tengai, you could find: supermarket, restaurants, cafés, pachinko, game centers, clothes shops, convenience stores, barber shops, bookshops, cellphone shops, 100-yen shops, and many more.

A good substitute for a mall, you say? Not really… because it depends on the size and the location. Smaller sh?tengais are usually lined with restaurants… never expect to find a Gap or a Uniqlo boutique. But, large sh?tengais like the one in the picture, are truly a joy to those who love window-shopping, like me! Some even extend to a few kilometers, like the one here in Osaka. If you have a bicycle, you could try sh?tengai-hopping. ^-^

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Japan: exposed

The Warning

September 14th, 2007
{ 3 Comments }
From The New York Times:
“Third Quake in Two Days Rocks Coast of Indonesia”.
More troubling report from the Japan Times:
“…there is a 30 percent chance of a magnitude 6.7 to 7.2 tremor occurring in the tectonic plates of the southern Kanto region within the next decade, and a 70 percent chance within the next 30 years.”
These reports are freaking me out. Why does the Pacific Ring of Fire have to exist? Why should there be earthquakes? Unfortunately, man still has no way of predicting the exact date and time an earthquake will occur. But there’s a glimmer of hope… I think.

Good News:
Recent developments have enabled the Japanese government to at least issue warnings before tremors from a major earthquake.

Bad News:

  • The warnings can be given about 10 seconds before big tremors arrive.
  • “At the moment, NHK plans to deliver the warnings only in Japanese, but the public broadcaster will consider providing the information in foreign languages in the future as well.”

10 seconds would be enough time to duck under a desk… but only in Japanese??
Lord, we’re in Your hands…

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Japan: exposed, Sentiments

Keep it Hidden

September 13th, 2007
{ 9 Comments }

Presenting… the new audio player from CONGLI! This is equipped with FM/AM radio, Play, Forward, Rewind, and Pause features. Without the Eject button, removing the casette tape had never been easier…


Waaahhh! I wish it were an 80GB iPod! ^-^ I bought this from SM-Makati more than a year ago, for about 350pesos (~US$7). Weeks before coming here, I decided to at least try improving my Japanese and my audio materials are all in cassette tapes so I really had to buy one… the cheapest that I could find.

There are a few times when I have the impulse to listen to those audio materials, and the best time to do that is during my train rides to/from work. But everytime I open the pouch and turn this player on, I couldn’t help feeling like using a tool from the Stone Age! I haven’t even met a person using an MD player! Everyone’s using MP3 players that keep on getting smaller. So, I must, at all cost keep this one hidden. ^-^

I guess I really need to buy an MP3 player…

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Sentiments

Filipino-Style?

September 11th, 2007
{ 5 Comments }

Japanese are honest and disciplined. They never violate rules. This was how I see all of them until I came here in Osaka.

On the day of my arrival, my manager and his wife led me to my apartment. Along the way, I noticed areas with “No Parking” signs flooded with bicycles and motorbikes. My manager probably noticed my bewilderment because he voluntarily said that in Osaka, people are behaving like Filipinos, especially when it comes to traffic rules.

Having stayed in Osaka for over a year, I’d have to say that many people here are traffic violators. They’re doing it… so why shouldn’t I? Nah, I only go against traffic lights in minor and deserted roads. And I don’t usually illegally park my bicycle. It’s really awkward seeing them cross the street while I, a foreigner, patiently wait for the pedestrian traffic light to turn green. I’ve also seen many drivers beating the red light. Above all, it’s scary and irritating to see many of them occupied with their cellphones while bicycling! Once, I was behind a lady punching her cellphone’s keypad while bicycling through a 1.5-meter wide tunnel. She didn’t stop even if she’d already bumped into the wall several times!

Filipino-style? I don’t really think so. In Cebu, for example, traffic enforcers are always ready to catch violators and collect penalties. I don’t want to part with some Pesos so I don’t violate traffic rules there. ^-^

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Simply Osaka

The Cube

September 10th, 2007
{ 3 Comments }
Somewhere near Tenma JR Station…

I really don’t know what’s this…
might as well take a closer look next time. ^-^
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Simply Osaka

Just coffee, please?

September 9th, 2007
{ 2 Comments }

This is in the mall connected to the Hankyu Railway Umeda (??) Station. The coffee shop facing the fountains serves my favorite coffee shake: Granita Latte .

The cafe appears to be a peaceful place to chill out but inside, it is far from being quiet. It is really noisy that you have to speak loudly. If you’re unlucky, the person next to you might give you another step to acquiring lung cancer. The cafe designated smoking and non-smoking “tables” but people just ignore the sign… and it’s an enclosed area! How am I supposed to dodge the second-hand smoke being generously passed around? So, I don’t really stay long inside. As soon as I finish my coffee shake, I’d have to say sayonara to this relaxing view.
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Simply Osaka, Things I love

At the end of the day

September 7th, 2007
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After a stressful day of squeezing technical stuffs and blogs into our brains, this refreshing sight marks the end of the day. This is what we see as soon as we step out of the office…


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At work, Sightseeing in Japan

Make-up? What’s That?

September 5th, 2007
{ 8 Comments }

Just another boredom rant…

Surrounded daily by women who bring their complete sets of make-up, then proficiently apply them while on the train… I’m impressed! But the “lady” (??) in me sometimes can’t help but wonder… how plain do I look compared to these “decorated” ones? Often wearing just a t-shirt, jeans, and a pair of sneakers… what cosmetics can one expect from me other than a lip gloss?

Why shouldn’t I try it? What? Wear make-up… daily? Nah… I’m too lazy to add this to my daily physical maintainance. I don’t even know how to correctly apply blush-on and eye-shadow. Let’s just say, I’m not up to it yet…

And guess when was the last time I wore makeup? It was during my college graduation – more than 6 years ago!

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Revelations

Meaty Tuesday

September 4th, 2007
{ 10 Comments }

Here in Japan, it’s very rare for a whole team to gather just to eat and drink the night away. Yes, we just had a team socializing building event at a yakiniku (grilled meat) restaurant in Kobe… without spending a single yen! It was on the team’s budget… yipee!

The first batch of sliced meat was served, while I wondered why the grill wasn’t ready yet. I was really astonished to hear that we had to eat those sliced meat… RAW! I was hesitant but I tried it anyway. Surprisingly, it was delicious! It tasted like sushi. Then another plate arrived: neatly-arranged slices of pork liver (see picture below, left side).

I glanced at the grill… still not ready. This time, I was really horrified when someone told me that those liver slices were to be eaten… RAW again! Could this get any weirder? You see, when I was still a little girl, my grandmother always told me that anybody who eats raw meat, especially raw liver, is an aswang. I don’t even cook pork liver adobo because touching and slicing those bloody parts gives me the creeps! But curiosity got the best of me, so with my eyes closed, I stuffed a slice to my mouth… mmm… it also tasted like unflavored sushi. But the aswang issue plagued me that I almost threw up! Thank God for the unlimited Coke supply… I successfully convinced my esophagus to give that liver slice a safe passage to my stomach.

At that time, I had the urge to run away from the restaurant because I thought that we’re gonna eat all the meat raw! Thank God the grill was finally given the chance to serve its purpose. I ate as many grilled meat as I could to erase the effect of the liver on me.

I was really full (and I still am)… I think I consumed enough meat to last me for a month… but still couldn’t forget about the liver! yikes!

Update: That was a Korean Yakiniku Restaurant. Aside from the raw thin-sliced beef, pork, and pork liver, they also served minced raw pork.

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At work, Experiences in Japan
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