* Osaka no Makati – Osaka’s Makati
Before I start another week at the new company, I have to tell you that my first day went very well…

I stepped into the shower half-awake and I slipped! I thought I couldn’t go to work because I ached all over. I successfully ignored the pains last Friday but my body finally gave in yesterday. Now, I have these nasty bruises in my right shoulder, my hip, and my left leg.

I wasn’t able to buy a notebook and at lunch time, I got lost looking for a convenience store, then bought a note pad. Its cover says “This is the most comfortable Report pad you have ever used. All times you’ll feel pleasant with it”.

The floor layout was a bit confusing that I almost went inside the men’s toilet, and almost bumped into a guy as he was on his way out of the toilet!

I won’t be able to attend to calls or personal emails during office hours.

I think blogging is not prohibited but it’d be very embarrassing if I’d try to access non-work-related web sites.

I haven’t seen anybody eating in their seats during work hours so I’d have to appease my revolting stomach by popping in tiny bars of chocolates. No more chips and sandwiches for me.

The company doesn’t have an unlimited supply of water and tea but before I could start my litany of discontent, my eyes bulged upon seeing the prices on the vending machine! Canned coffee, bottled water, bottled tea, everything costs only 50 yen! There’s another vending machine of drinks in paper cups and each cup costs only 20 yen! That’s definitely more than 50% cheaper than in the previous company.

I love the location and the office! It’ s definitely Osaka’s version of Makati (Greenbelt Area). From the office, you could see the beautiful Osaka Castle.

The place was filled with professional-looking people and I felt shy so I only managed to take few pictures:

I just love using my highlighter so I prefer reading printed materials. It’s not surprising that after a year here in the current company, I’ve accumulated a very thick layer of printouts. Strictly following the company’s security guidelines, I would have to shred all those colorful pieces before leaving the company.

When our HR Manager, a.k.a. “nanay”*, showed us the only shredder in the 6th floor, the shredder bin (is this how you call that box for the shredded paper?) was almost full. He instructed us to replace the trash bag if it’s already full and deposit the trash a good 50 meters or so away from the shredder. I planned to shred mine on the last day, to avoid replacing the trash bag. However, I had nothing else to do so I decided to do it, hoping that somebody already replaced the trash bag.

As I was feeding the papers into the paper monster, it suddenly stopped doing its job and started giving out this irritating, beeping sound. Crap! The bin’s already full! I tried to squeeze the contents and proceeded but it kept on beeping. So, I had no choice but to remove the monster’s collection, which by the way was very heavy, and put in a new trash bag. Having fed everything into the shredder, I asked the person sitting closest to the shredder where to place to trash, hoping to hear that it is indeed OK to leave it there. Unfortunately, he just told me where to place it.

Gathering all my physical strength, I dragged that big bulk across the room, passing and bothering many desk occupants along the way. (I did intentionally hit their chairs. hehe.. Just kidding! The trash was just too bulky for the aisle). I could see eyes at the back of my head while I utter dozens of “Sumimasen*”. To overcome my increasing discomfort, I just repeatedly told myself that to them, I’m just one crazy “Gaijin*”. That area was full of male employees but NO ONE volunteered to help – as expected. Na-deadma ang beauty ko! haha

Well, I’ll just take it as another blooper, another unforgettable moment here. ^-^

Nanay – Filipino term for “mother”
Sumimasen – Japanese word for “Excuse me”
Gaijin – Japanese Colloquial term for “foreigner”
Image from: Cartoon Stock

As our last day here in the current company approaches, I’m constantly hounded by questions of what awaits me in the next company. Most likely, I couldn’t access blogs because most of the companies here no longer give internet access to their employees if there’s no need for it in their projects. How am I gonna fight off sleepiness? Then, there’d be additions to my food budget. In here , there’s an unlimited supply of tea, coffee, and water. Most companies don’t offer these treats and mind you, a 500ml bottle of water costs around 100 yen. Then I’m gonna need more business attire! I just wear jeans and t-shirt here and my old business clothes are now too big for me. I complain too much, don’t I? Honestly, I’m mostly excited.

We were interviewed in a company with an office that’s so much alike to a previous employer’s and it is located in a place like Makati City! I am already calling it Makati in Osaka.

Then there was another interview this morning. The office was really gorgeous (I repeat, just the office and not the interviewers, ok?), especially the receiving area. It’s adorned with big and impressive furnitures – so rare in a country where every space is of utmost importance. I was already nervous before the interview and then my stomach happened. Just one piece of bread for breakfast and too much walking left me starving before we even reached the place and my stomach growled in the middle of the interview! haha! Then while I was painstakingly trying to explain a project in Nihongo, we were distracted by an earthquake! It seemed like Mother Earth was telling me that my broken Japanese was also giving her a headache!

Well, I hope we’d be able to hear from those companies this week. I believe, though, that the next opportunity is best for me. ^-^