Ready for Halloween

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!)

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!

Beautiful day, 09-09-2009

Big hello, everyone!

Today is a special day! :-) At least it "looks" like it when writing it. This brings me the idea of the difference between Japan and other countries when writing the dates. Actually here is a bit like in the United States (first the month and then the day). I keep making mistakes but today it does not matter! ;-)

I am excited, the first visits are about to arrive. Well, actually there are not really "visits" but colleagues from work that are coming. I look forward to seeing them and enjoy the time here.

The weather is beautiful today. I have to say that since the beginning of September, the temperatures have dropped a lot. Now I don´t have the feeling of sweating all the time and even yesterday night had the need to use a sweater. I have not used sweter, jacket or closed shoes for 3 months. Yes, almost 3 months already here and I can say that I feel settled now.

Thanks God my computer problem (Internet) is fixed and I will try to come by more often.
It seems as everybody "is back to work". Back in Europe I received more messages, here the streets are crowdier than in August (specially the first half you could notice everywhere a lot that people were on annual leave).
I see back the school girls and boys in their uniforms (the girls with their traditional skirt over the knee, socks under the kneww, sweater and necktie or bow tie). It had been a while I did not see ladies (normally "salary women" wearing black tights under the knee (I don´t like the way it looks!). I have noticed as well that there are less and less people wearing masks (I don´t wonder, I guess that during summer the use of it drops naturally because it must make you sweat even more!).

I have to thank Tsubayama-san and the TA for their kind help to solve for the problems on the phone. I feel so powerless to make myself understood when I cannot see the people! :-( Without them it would have been impossible. Yesterday I also asked a lady in the supermarket what was the product that was announced on a label with a price because I could not see the difference between to tags. She was very kind.

I am watching the news. I feel that I am in a "historical moment". After the elections a couple of weeks ago and after 50 years of the same government, Japanese people have decided to "change" the party that rules the country!!! :-)) I think this is a good sign (although I did not see the people too enthusiastic about it before or after the poll) and let´s see what it brings.

Before going and joining some pictures, I want to congratulate V & K for their baby!

I´ll come back soon. Be good!

Back to Tokyo, full week of work and assignments

How is everyone? I am here again! I feel a bit "disconnected". Internet connection at home is not working yet (already mad about it I have checked and I have been told that I had been phoned while I was in Taiwan but my Japanese phone did not work there and therefore not trace of missed calls.. :-(
The reason for phoning me? Checking my long name! I am sick about it, yes, my last names are complicated and before I came to this country I just simplified them to my first name and first last name but it has even given me more problems!

I have been told that Monday 24th everything will be fixed... and I pray and cross fingers for it to happen, finally!

Enfin!
This week, back from Taiwan, where I had a great time and met lots of young, enthusiastic and interesting people from the Asia-Pacific region. I was gladly surprised by the quality of the events and fellows as well as the country. Taiwan is an amazing country and the people really were very kind. I felt more comfortable there with my poor Chinese but communicating in English was much better there than it is in Tokyo!

As you can see above, I have posted one picture. It is about the class I took before the vacacion "Global Business Leaders". Nice memories!!
By the way.... little quiz... who are the only 3 Japanese people in the class? ;-)

After this week full of exams and assignments of all kinds I am taking the time to discover my new neighborhood. I have done a "little plan" (things to do and places to visit) that will most probably be useless because I will improvise along the day.
I wish you a fantastic weekend!

Where is the people?

Konnichiwa!　こんいちは！　

I am writing to you from the Uni. Although I moved last Saturday, the Internet connection is not yet available.
I love my new apartment. I have a kitchen, lovely bathroom full of buttons that I still have to understand, huge bed and giant TV screen. The view to the Tokyo skyline is impressive.
Since I moved I sleep like a baby (before I did not have problems but now... I sleep like a bear! ;-)
I have to say that I miss the hostel (and specially their staff) where I spent more than 6 weeks! (they were about to make a "farewell" party just for me! :-)

In Tokyo, still warm. The first night in my new "a-pa-to" I woke up sweating like a chicken. In the middle of the night I had to go and check which one of the remote controls belong to the air-conditioned. Every night I have more or less the same problem (I dont dare -yet- to leave the machine working while I am sleeping).

Speaking of machines... this morning I have had a big problem with the waschine machine. I could not make it work further than the 1st stage and I dont have instructions in English :-/
Since one of the good things of Tokyo is that many shops dont close or close late at night, I thing that I will go to a "laundry with coins" if I want to have washed and dried my clothes for my trip tomorrow.

Ah, speaking of my apartment... is very special. I am living on the 14th floor of a 32floor building. We have a reception as if it was a hotel and a wonderful hall and reading room on the ground floor. On the basement a gym and a "onzen" (温泉 －or japanese style bath-). To my surprise, on the first floor next door, a golf-club. Yes, you understood well, a place where I can practise my golf skills... any time because it is open 24 hours!

By the way, I have not forgotten that my city: Vitoria-Gasteiz (for those that did not know it) is celebrating the festivities!! :-)
In Tokyo, plenty of "matsuries" as well and of course a matsuri (祭)is nothing without fireworks (I remember when I was a kid that in all the festivities in Spain that I went to I expected the night where the turn was to the famous Japanese fireworks!).
To the fireworks is quite usual to see the ladies dressed in Yukata （浴衣　－casual summer kimono made of cotton－). Girls look incredibly beautiful when dressed with Yukata but I dont find it comfortable for myself and one I used it I did not stop sweating...

Last Sunday I had the chance to see some of them. It was an amazing scene but not the fireworks but us. We gathered in Biergarden, yes, we are in Japan! We had a BBQ outdoors... and it started raining! but.. nothing happens! we got umbrellas, transparent raincoats and continued cooking and eating. As you can imagine... we went back home wet, very wet!

This week, my first day from my new apartment to Waseda. The first thing I notice... where is the people? Everything was quite calm. The trains were packed but not "over-packed" as usual. On the streets I did not have to step on others peoples feet to go my direction... the answer? Holiday time!!! Yes, many companies are on holiday period and many "salary men" as well (not to mention universities, that will enjoy almost 2 months of free time! -not our case-).

This week I have attended a special course from the Waseda Business School. It was about developing Global Business Leaders and some of the ETP Students have joined the rich group of students coming from China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Mongolia, Japan and some names of countries that was only the second time that I heard (ex-Soviet Union ones). My first impression... this boys and girls looke so young.... my surprise... most had around 30 years old and some of them had even family and kids! We have had the chance to work together with them preparing a presentation for today which means that we have spent time exchanging views and ideas. The opportunity has been very positive.
From today... one week holiday!

Yes, but my holiday are almost always a bit "special";-)

I applied for an Asia-Pacific Seminar being held in Taipei (Taiwan) and I got a place. Since one of my ambitions since long has been to get to know better what is going on in the Asia-Pacific area mainly because as it is so far from Europe we dont really pay attention, this time I will have a real insight from the other participants with whom I will live for more than a week.

When I come back from Taiwan we resume the classes and lots of assignments are due in that week.
Now that I am settled in my new place and neighborhood I need to start doing sports (nothing done for almost 2 months!!! shame on me!) Yes, its true. However, it does not mean that I dont do exercise everyday (I promise that going to the train station with 30 degrees at 8:30a.m., travelling in a packed wagon almost smashed against the other travellers and going up and down the stairs for the right platform is quite exhausting!).

I go now. Following my motto "do a new thing everyday" I will go home through a different path, I will buy some food that I have never tasted before and I will try to make visual contact with the people (very hard thing to do in this country... but it has worked very well the last days! :-))

Take care and have a great weekend!

End of July... already!

and suffering from the temperatures going up! ;-)

I will be short today. Days are hectic here and everything goes so fast (interesting thought! :-))

I am finally moving to my new apartment on Saturday, I cannot wait! From there I will feel more settled (I have had to check out and in from the hostel several times during the last weeks and I have reached the moment that my things are on the suitcase all the time, wrinkled and some of them cannot find them anymore). Books and notes are also piling up and I have had to buy another suitcase only for them!

There are things and pictures I want to share with you but about my homestay in Hitachi with a Japanese family two weekends ago, my experience wearing a Japanese "Yukata", how I won a dance festival, the trip to Shanghai where I met friends and colleagues from work in The Netherlands, the daily experience of riding on the tube in Tokyo... etc... everyday I am more and more amazed of how I can understand the mindset of Japanese people, they are not so different!!
Yesterday, in a lecture on "Japanese Organization and Business Culture" I also realized how Japanese is the EPO! (and I am serious about it:-))

Today... although I know they cannot read it.... mum and dad´s wedding anniversary, Congratulations!!! おめでとう:-)

Some people have told me that they cannot post comments on this blog. I apologize. I have done nothing. Don´t know what can be the problem but will investigate.

Have a good day everyone and for those that start holiday soon.... make the most of your time and enjoy!!

My first month in Japan... today!! (Summary of my stay so far)

I do this post commemorating my first month in Japan. Yes, already 30 days and "lovin'it" :-)
I would like to make a special mention to my mum, that early every morning checks if there´s something new added.

I am trying to make an easy-to-read blog so that everyone that wishes it can follow me. Mum has been studying English for years and this is an opportunity for her to practise as well ;-)

Furthermore, I apologize for taking so long but there are so many things to be done and so little time free left...

Thanks to all of you who have been writing to me with interest asking how it everything going. I will go one by one but patience, I have a huge list to answr

In short, I will summarize my last 30 days

- Amazing. Best thing I could have ever done. I feel like "fish in water” ;-)
- Although not found an apartment, I am not worried(but today I found a great one that is beautiful, well located and easy to reach for Uni and for work.! ;-)
- Also incredible interaction with Japanese people. At the beginning, the language barrier and the help of my more advance colleagues. Now, after getting "alone with the danger" I manage better and better. Japanese are in general shy and avoid eye contact but I have managed to understand them somehow and our "interaction" is improving everyday...
- As I am learning about their mindset and behaviours I understand them quite well. I think we have lots of things in common.
- Right after arriving, we celebrated our "graduation ceremony". Beautiful location and greatly organized (picture leading this post).
- Visited the EU-Office of the Commission in Japan.
- Several opportunities to interact with Japanese professionals.
- Super professional and well organized programme (the language as well as the business component), purely spoilt! ;-)
- The last days, incredible opportunities and "connection" with Japanese (yes, mainly male!) like Tomy, Shinichi, Hiro, Nichi...
- Surprising that I keep have magnet to football-related people (soccer - in Japanese sounds "So-Ka").
- Improving my evolution on my future working experience.
- The people from the hostel, super! I am meeting plenty of people also among the guests, practising all kind of languages and experiences, learning a lot with all them. Almost feel like Public relations!
- Celebrated "Tabanata" festival.
- I want to buy a Yukata (traditional summer dress -for girls-)
- The experience with the food: great!.
- No shopping paradies. Yes, sales going on but I am very crafty. "100 Yen shop" found thought and getting fantastic deals!
- Japanese language, long way to improve (I speak now better Dutch than ever because all the words that I don´t know in Japanese I know them in Dutch!!)
- Warm temperatues.
- Crossing with thousands of people every minute!
- Super happy, fresh and in good mood in the mornings but after goint to the train, pure Sauna!! (I understand now why they are so thin!!)
- Lately I am doing a research on the hands of Japanese men, I find them beautiful!!
- Visited the new and nice area of Odaiba, the beach of Tokyo, yes! (Statue of Liberty included!)
- The “technological” toilets... deserve another chapter.
- The university, one of the most famous and best private Universities in Japan has a huge campus and the organization is very good.
- Found several exchange partners (Japanese-English, Spanish-Japanese) meeting new people and with whom I share conversations.
- Good contact in the Pilates world and building already an "empire".
- I still don´t have the routine of the daily exercises but will very soon buy a bike to move around.
- Met some Dutch students from Delft at hotel. They come back this Friday and will go out with them.
- Met some people from my hometown that are with their families here living and working.
- I feel privileged by Mr Watanabe, a Japanese man that every morning comes to the terrace of the hostel where I have breakfast. He takes care of me, teaches me a lot and we have nice talks.
- I will go this weekend on a home-stay (3 days with a Japanese family).
- Various networking events held. Met nice and interesting people.
- Got acquainted with computers in Japanese and writing rapports in that language (lots of patience needed!
- Dinner on 52th floor (higher than my farewell party! ;-)
- Recently selected to go to Taiwan to participate in the Asia-Pacific seminar 2009 and supper happy for it.
... and some more..
As I have mentioned, lots of things, great people and hot... very hot! :-)

More thoughts and experiences soon!
Hugs and kisses,
M.