Hello everyone.
As mentioned earlier in some post, time goes fast. A few days ago we "passed the Equator" ;-) of my official stay in the country of the rising sun(Spanish expression to say that half of the time has been already spent).
Everyday enjoying more and more. Language skills are improving rapidly at this stage. Vocabulary is growing and I feel I have lots of resources to communicate or to try to say what I want to say.
Currently, the distance with Europe is bigger than before. Last weekend in Europe the change to the "winter time" took place but in Asia we don´t have such a event. Now, 8 hours difference (we are ahead, now beginning Friday).
Regarding the weather, mild temperatures. Last Monday it rained like hell (and, I don´t know why, I decided that I would be brave and went to Waseda by bike!). I learnt during the day that it was a "typhoon" but only lasted the day. Next day, back to "springlike" weather. Gorgeous. Days and nights are still fine. When I check temperatures in The Hague or back in my hometown in Spain, the best ones are here in Tokyo :-)
The last weeks have been very intense. Besides the visit to Kansai area (with typhoon included) that was super interesting, my sister Yvette arrived to Japan. We did have a great time and she took splendid pictures that I will borrow to post here very soon.
Now my friend Raul is around (we met in a very "funny" situation, as a few months ago after flight was cancelled and we had to queue for several hours until the airline company fixed our next flight). He is at the moment visiting some places outside Tokyo but is coming tonight and I have quite some plans for the weekend.
Life in Tokyo is very interesting. You can do so many things!! (of course it takes time to know what´s happening and where). I cannot complain. I am not bad at finding sources of information. I feel active and have a fulfilling life here :-)
This weekend is Halloween. For more than a month many shops (as "Don Quijote" -interesting place to visit when in Japan!) have been promoting the event and have been selling plenty of stuff regarding this celebration. Tomorrow, together with some colleagues from "work" we are going to a huge party in Roppongi. On Sunday we will go to a Baseball match (Baseball is the most popular sport in Japan although all young male people that I have met told me that they love "soccer").
I have to go to class. I apologize for being so short. I wanted to let you know that I don´t forget you and that I appreciate how much you care for me. I promise to bring more stories and thoughts this weekend (with pictures, now I am having some problems with uploading them!)
Friday 30 October 2009
Wednesday 7 October 2009
Knowing a little bit more of Japan
Hello everyone.
It´s autumn in Japan. The last two days have been a very bit rainy and I have had to leave my bike at home and look for warmer clothes (remember that I came in June and only brought summer clothes!). Oh, shopping in Japan, terrible, I don´t like it at all. Lots of offer, yes, lots of nice things, yes but also lots of people, quite expensive most of the things and sizes too small (they told me that I had "men" shoe size!. Definetly, not my passtime.
I have to say that I enjoy going to the "100 Yen" shop :-) Some many useful (and not so much as well) and cheap things! :-)
When the weather allows, it is great to cycle around and discover the city from a different perspective and I love it, specially the weekends, when there are hardly "salary men and women" or school boys-girls and everybody is more relaxed and wears casual clothes.
It seems that back in Europe, most people are back to work as well.
Thanks to all of you who have written during the last weeks asking how was I doing :-)
On the other hand, my sister is coming this Friday and another friend in two weeks. It is exciting and looking forward to sharing with them so many things. A couple of weeks ago I also met some colleagues from work in Europe. It was so nice to see them and taking them to some of my favourite places as well. I am expecting more in the near futures.
During the last weeks, not only the government has changed, we also had "the silver week" (surprinsingly so many things closed in the city!). One note about this holidays, one of them is devoted to the "elderly people", never heard of such a day before.
This time I stayed in Tokyo, I followed what was happening back in Europe through the net (Film Festival in San Sebastian -where my family always spends the last weeks of the summer-, the Eurobasket championship -where Spain, although a disastrous beginning ended up champion on Europe-, or the last days before the final election of the site for the Olympic games in 2016 -Tokyo was candidate city as well as Madrid, I had divided my heart! ;-)) but finally Rio won and I have to say that I am very happy as well-.
Also a few days ago the bit "Games Show" exhibition was held. Lots of people over(lovers of videogames) from around the world.
Two weeks ago I had a wedding in Spain. Unfortunately I could not go but already got all the report. Congratulations M & O!
On the "professional side", I also visited and met some people at the Japan Patent Office, went to JETRO last week or yesterday went to the most important advertising agency in Japan and one of the best in the world.
Today I go with all the classmates to the Kansai area (Kobe and Tokyo) to visit companies and from there, together with my sister Ivette, will do some tourism (next Monday -national holiday in Spain- is also national holiday in Japan!).
Time goes fast, we ended up last week the "second term" and we only have less than 6 more weeks before all the group splits to start working in different places in the country. I am going to miss them :-(
Finally I have bought a telephone in Japan! It is incredible but so far I have lived with a borrowed telephone and with no GPS (this is the most incredible, I have developed such a sense of intuition and orientation that I am even surprised of -taking the circumstances of how difficult is to find addresses in Japan!-
If you want to reach me, take note: + 81 80 4187 7744 (if phoning from outside Japan), 080 4187 7744 if in Japan.
Summarizing, busy life and "enjoying the moment" :-))
Since I will be away for almost one week and then I have people over, it will be quite difficult for me to update this blog or write e-mails. It does not mean that I don´t think about you! Take care for now!
It´s autumn in Japan. The last two days have been a very bit rainy and I have had to leave my bike at home and look for warmer clothes (remember that I came in June and only brought summer clothes!). Oh, shopping in Japan, terrible, I don´t like it at all. Lots of offer, yes, lots of nice things, yes but also lots of people, quite expensive most of the things and sizes too small (they told me that I had "men" shoe size!. Definetly, not my passtime.
I have to say that I enjoy going to the "100 Yen" shop :-) Some many useful (and not so much as well) and cheap things! :-)
When the weather allows, it is great to cycle around and discover the city from a different perspective and I love it, specially the weekends, when there are hardly "salary men and women" or school boys-girls and everybody is more relaxed and wears casual clothes.
It seems that back in Europe, most people are back to work as well.
Thanks to all of you who have written during the last weeks asking how was I doing :-)
On the other hand, my sister is coming this Friday and another friend in two weeks. It is exciting and looking forward to sharing with them so many things. A couple of weeks ago I also met some colleagues from work in Europe. It was so nice to see them and taking them to some of my favourite places as well. I am expecting more in the near futures.
During the last weeks, not only the government has changed, we also had "the silver week" (surprinsingly so many things closed in the city!). One note about this holidays, one of them is devoted to the "elderly people", never heard of such a day before.
This time I stayed in Tokyo, I followed what was happening back in Europe through the net (Film Festival in San Sebastian -where my family always spends the last weeks of the summer-, the Eurobasket championship -where Spain, although a disastrous beginning ended up champion on Europe-, or the last days before the final election of the site for the Olympic games in 2016 -Tokyo was candidate city as well as Madrid, I had divided my heart! ;-)) but finally Rio won and I have to say that I am very happy as well-.
Also a few days ago the bit "Games Show" exhibition was held. Lots of people over(lovers of videogames) from around the world.
Two weeks ago I had a wedding in Spain. Unfortunately I could not go but already got all the report. Congratulations M & O!
On the "professional side", I also visited and met some people at the Japan Patent Office, went to JETRO last week or yesterday went to the most important advertising agency in Japan and one of the best in the world.
Today I go with all the classmates to the Kansai area (Kobe and Tokyo) to visit companies and from there, together with my sister Ivette, will do some tourism (next Monday -national holiday in Spain- is also national holiday in Japan!).
Time goes fast, we ended up last week the "second term" and we only have less than 6 more weeks before all the group splits to start working in different places in the country. I am going to miss them :-(
Finally I have bought a telephone in Japan! It is incredible but so far I have lived with a borrowed telephone and with no GPS (this is the most incredible, I have developed such a sense of intuition and orientation that I am even surprised of -taking the circumstances of how difficult is to find addresses in Japan!-
If you want to reach me, take note: + 81 80 4187 7744 (if phoning from outside Japan), 080 4187 7744 if in Japan.
Summarizing, busy life and "enjoying the moment" :-))
Since I will be away for almost one week and then I have people over, it will be quite difficult for me to update this blog or write e-mails. It does not mean that I don´t think about you! Take care for now!
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