Manchester-Barcelona

I deserve a break tonight. Why not?? I am sure the atmosphere will be great. If I don't do it I will regret it and I have a philosophy... "never regret of the things that you have done but the ones you didn't".
Thus, I am joining some of my fellow-adventurers for some drinks and enjoyment of football in downtown London in a couple of hours (it's true, as we are 1 hour behing for me seemed too early!. I have already seen numerous Barca t-shirts around... I* wonder why... it's gonna be fun... and we will behave however the result :-)!!!

I will tell you how it went!
Ganbatte! :-)

I love London

Hello everyone,
I hope that those who had a long weekend could enjoy it a lot.

I missed this year the "Inter Office" event in Dresden.. :-(

However, although in London the holiday is moved to Monday (bank holiday) -therefore, yesterday-, we DID have class as usual.
Our speed is fast (the shinkansen is slow compared to us ;-( and now that I am getting back into the rythm (after not a very fruitful last week)... is almost time to go! :-(
Yes, in 72 hours we will have our final exam!!

For the rest, life in London, great. Not much time for experiencing or behaving as a tourist but great. The cosmopolitan atmosphere attracts me a lot (not to speak of the ambiance at the school -SOAS really packed of interesting, intellectual and diverse people from quite remote places all around the world).
Balls, parties and other celebrations are being held everywhere as the students are taking these days their final exams.

Among all the busy schedule and despite the lesson on Saturday... yes, we had time to go out. My call to the rest of the fellow-colleagues to do something together was very successful but as happens in big groups, it was very complicated to adapt to all tastes. In the end, each person went in small groups for dinner and meeting at 21:30 at Picadilly Square for drinks (irrealistic to my experience.... and I proved it right!!). Only 5 of us were at that time at the given place... the rest... finishing dinner or still getting ready. We went to a huge and nice pub that Gus knew (I liked the music there!:-)) and then we spent quite some time gathering the people that were approaching to the center. What happened? that by the time we moved the Pubs were closing. We were then around 15 people and thanks to Steve we could find a place were we could sit for some drinks... (quiet at that moment) and then go down to the club to dance... until I decided to retire and went home very well accompanied by two of my favourite ETP-Japan males! :-))

Sunday, quiet, Oxford street, walking around, relaxing, no plan, letting myself go, treating me and enjoying the beautiful day that London offered.
After all, I love London... and I think London loves me! ;-)

As for the International Hall where I live, also cool place to meet lots of people that stay for one reason or the other in London for a while(all ages!!)

The weather has been sunny and warm the last days but yesterday night there was a muggy weather... result?? heavy and long rain during the night and today morning (at least it makes the air fresher!

Well, I think I have made a fair summary of the last days!! Best wishes... and keep smiling!!!

London, day 4

Yesterday I had a really bad day in terms of concentration for the language. However, it's not my style to give up. I have the right to have weak days. Today I feel better :-) No holiday or bank holiday for us. Not even to the British way (on Monday).

I attach a beautiful statement that I totally share. It's another of my mottos. Have a good day!

Japanese learning in London

Back to London. 2 more weeks. Intense, intense, intense. Full concentration is needed. Lots of hours in class and at the library. I need full concentration and after the hectic last weeks I am kcackered. The programme is quite tough. Still waiting for confirmation on the apartment in Tokio. London keeps being one of my favourite cities in thye world. I feel very comfortable here. Tomorrow, again kanji exam, I have to practice, practice, practice if I want to follow the rythm. I encourage myself.... Gambatte! :-) Cheers,

Thanks!

Hello again. Today, 16th May (Sunday)
I want to thank to everyone that came on Friday. It was a very pleasant evening full of great people, people that I care for. I would like to apologize because I could not spend all the time that I would have liked with you. I forgot as well many things that I had prepared. Among one of them, the cake. The cake that I wanted to share with you and that you can see above this text. Here you have a picture. I have placed it on the fridge at work, in case you want to visit (S02G06)-but do it soon!-. I've left the cake and everything you need to enjoy it. I say "I've left" because unfortunately I won't be there to join you.

From tomorrow I will be in London following an intensive Japanese language training at SOAS, getting more acquainted with the language this time and improving communications skills in Japanese :-) I was at SOAS already 4 weeks ago and it was really an intense fortnight. The education is excellent, the Japanese teachers professional and motivating and I feel more confident now once I will be landing in Tokyo (in one month!) and will have to get hold of what I have learnt in the last months to survive!
The language programme so far is quite though. The whole day following lessons, from Monday to Saturday (and I promise that you have to have all the senses focused and concentrated -the Pilates principles help! ;-)). After the lessons, a little break with the colleagues and back to doing homework, revise the lessons and getting ready for the next day, new lesson and exam.

I am looking forward to meeting again my "adventure mates". In my class we are 8 people (from Hungary, Greece, Italy, France, Bulgaria and Spain). My colleagues come from different backgrounds and type of companies. The same for the rest. We are in total 36 people getting ready to become "Business Samurais". In total 5 groups of different levels. Amazing to see how many of them are so fluent and know so much about the complexities of the language, people and country. It is very enriching :-)I hope that this week we will finally find and have the approval on the apartment in Tokyo for the first weeks (meaning that I will have a postal address!).

That's all for now. You will here from me soon. Regards, M.

Welcome/ Bienvenido/ Irasshaimase/ Welkom

Hello everyone/Konnichiwa minna-san !

Welcome to my blog. If you came to this point is because you must know that I am moving to Japan very soon.
I have to say that I couldn-t be more happy and excited about it :-)

Getting to this point has not been easy. Going to Asia to spend some time and work there in order to have a global education and professional experience have been in my mind for many years.

I have been preparing this adventure for very long time but especially the last months everything went in my favour and helped to shape my dream and make it come true.

I consider the timing could not be better and I am looking forward to sharing with you my next moves! :-)

As some of you know I have been travelling quite a lot the last months. Preparing for Japan has taken me to Paris, Milan and London, where I have learnt tons about culture, history, politics, religion and society, business & management, work, life, protocole and of course... Japanese!!
At the same time I've got to know my new colleagues, the ones that will go to Japan with me (or me with them!) and the ones that will move to Korea with the same programme and the ones from Japan. Young and enthusiastic people from all over Europe, different companies, similar mindsets, same destination.

So far great time together and learning a lot from everyone (specially the ones that have already some experience with Japanese culture!). Enjoying every minute of it!!

What I knew and what I have added to my knowledge in the last months have not only motivated more to enjoy this journey but also to discover the country and its people.

I can imagine that you have plenty of questions: Why Japan? What are your interests? What will you do there? Where will you live? Do you go alone? When will you come back?... and I have plenty of answers!!!... but you will discover by yourselves if you follow regularly my postings ;-)

I admit that I am not very fond of computers, cell phones or other gadgets and that I prefer and value far more human interaction face to face. However, since this will be quite difficult from now and I am going to live in one of the most technologically advance countries in the word, I have decided to create this blog so that you can keep track of what I am up to.

You know (if not you will know soon) I am not in favour of making strict plans in life but just have a line that fits my principles and values. I think I am quite flexible and tolerant, I enjoy meeting people and broadening horizons, I love to surprise myself every day by doing something new... I like enjoying life, discovering new things, sharing experiences, better myself off, grow as a person... in short, I need to feel I am alive! :-)

This is all for the moment.
This blog will become more active from June 1st 2009.
Don't forget to drop by from time to time and leave a word if possible. I would like to know how do you do! :-)

Any idea for this blog is more than welcome. Thanks in advance!

Dewa mata suguni ne/ See you soon,
マルタ Marta


One of my favourite mottos:
“Imagine that the key to happiness is following your own intuition instead of other peoples’ opinions and advice.” – unknown