Lessons of the Day

I learned some interesting lessons today at work.

1. Don't bring a banana to work because there are no garbage cans in the office and the peal will smell up your locker before the day is over.

2. When working on a large file in CAD, you may need to switch computers with one of your team mates in order to get enough memory to complete the task.

3. Even though it is September, it is still advisable to wear as little clothing in the office the temperatures are still in the 80s inside.

Nagoya Castle

Despite poor reviews, I decided to give Nagoya Castle a quick try this afternoon. I'm glad that I went, but I wont be going back. The view from the exterior, gardens and tea houses on the grounds are the best part. The castle is a reproduction of the original that was destroyed in WWII. The interior is a random mix with no clear direction or message.
The grounds
Deer live in the mote
The view from the top of the castle. The horizontal line is the expressway, it almost floats over the city. It is also interesting to note the alignment of the apartment buildings, south facing balconies are highly favored and these buildings demonstrate that.Foot Note!

Farmers Market

I'm off to the Farmers Market at the Oasis 21 in Sakae.

Finally a crisp Autumn morning, complete with a true blue sky.

The Market in action.

The Sakae area at ground level and the market just below ground in Oasis 21

One of the Oasis 21 staircases with the 'lake' above on the glass cealing

My Purchases. After getting over the fact the the green skinned citrus is not lime, I have started to like them, so I purchased some from an excited farmer who was offering samples to everyone who walked past.

Baby Shower

Last night after work we had a Nomikai (drinking party) baby shower for one of the OLs in my group who will be starting maternity leave next week.


In typical fashion the party was planed by a rotating member of the group. An e-mail was sent explaining the location, and the set amount for each person to pay in advance to join the party. On the designated money collection day I was informed that my amount due was 3000 yen rather than the 4500 yen specified in the announcement because 'girls eat less so they don't need to pay as much,' Score! I really enjoyed the chosen restaurant, Kitchen Cafe http\\ts-g.jp/dining_t_floor. The interior was decorated in a minimalist classic style with a palate of whites and browns, my taste, but I had to laugh at the Jinglish etched into the glass dividers throughout the dining room. The set menu (an English menu is available) for our event was 6 courses with an additional side of burdock fries added on at the request of the expectant mother. My favorite course was, not surprisingly, the brownie desert, but next to that I most enjoyed the shrimp wrapped in white fish and salmon - cooked not sashimi. The most humorous menu item, was the mixed green salad topped with crumbled cool ranch Doritos.

The aftermath. The guest of honor was seated at the near table and thus it was designated non-smoking, which explains why it's empty and all of my coworkers appear so far in the distance.

Absontee Voting

The day I left for Japan, I mailed my FPCA form to have an absentee ballot sent to me in Japan.

http://www.fvap.gov/

Yesterday, my ballot arrived. So Fast! The vice presidential candidates were only announced 4 weeks ago so in that time the city of Novi was able to print and mail my ballot, that's efficiency.The ballot arrived complete with a postage paid, addressed envelope - so far so good, now I just have to cross my fingers that everything goes correctly and my vote gets counted.

Mouse Tapping

Mouse tapping, which I define as, repeatedly picking up and tapping back down ones mouse rather than moving it smoothly across the desk surface, is rapidly becoming my pet peeve. In a CAD room with 80 people all that tapping adds up quickly. To make things worse the factory next to the building that I work in is being demolished and late last week they finished taking down the structure and started with jackhammers on the foundation. I would like to wear headphones, but I haven't seen anyone else use them and I'm not brave enough to be that kind of a rebel yet.

Japanese Hair Cut

Last weekend I had my first haircut in Japan. I wont lie, I was pretty nervous going in because of the difference in hair texture, most Japanese women are looking to make their hair thinner while I always want my hair to have more volume. The appointment was arranged by my consultant, Kobayashi-san from H&R consultants, based on my two requests, near Issha Station and average price. The place she chose was Coo Hair, just 2 minutes walk from exit 1 of Issha station. I went in equipped with two photos, one of myself with bangs in the style that I was looking for and a second of a hair model with the correct length and end treatment, as well as a Japanese text book cartoon with common expressions used in describing a haircut in Japanese. I was greeted by several stylists and service people who seamed about as nervous as I was; a confusing exchange followed and I was seated the multi-colored version of this couch, which is a good illustration for the tone of the place.I had been told by my Japanese teacher in MI that I could expect to receive a head massage with a hair cut in Japan. I didn't get a massage, instead I received a lengthy massage like hair washing by my stylist Yoko's assistant while we attempted to have a conversation in Jinglish. Yoko was great, she looked at the photos I had brought, quickly understood and explained in English what she was going to do. I hadn't planned to post a photo, but I got some requests, so here you are.
It ended up a little shorter than I wanted, but the bangs turned out great, so I can forgive shortness.

Monet Exhibit

Yesterday, I visited the Nagoya/Boston Museum of Fine Arts (N/BMFA) to see their Monet exhibit before it concludes next Sunday. At first, I was a bit dismayed that English literature was not available, but in the second gallery I stumbled across a paper double spaced and bound book report style, sitting on a bench that explained the pieces in the exhibit. In addition to Monet other Impressionist pieces were also used displayed to explain influences an the progression of Impressionism. Being in Japan, the gallery I most enjoyed illustrated Japanese influences on Monet's work, featuring one of his paintings of a Japanese bridge as well as Japanese woodblock prints of similar subjects.

I arrived at the museum via the Kanayama station, a station with a different look from most that I have used on the Nagoya Subway.

I'd Have Saved a Lot of Time if I'd Known

That the names at the street intersections are not the names of the roads, the roads don't even have names. I was starting to wonder why every intersection was between two streets of the same name.This is the intersection of S. Issha and S. Issha (note the signs next to the traffic lights and slightly hidden behind all the power lines)

Parking Lot Monument

This religious monument is in my office parking lot, I don't know anything about it, but I wonder about the story behind it every morning.

Office Contradictions 1.1

Every day after lunch it is a different persons turn to vacuum the office. There is a schedule posted on the wall and a vacuum parked in a designated space from there it just happens. I wonder though, why it is that the company employs multiple people to stop traffic on the main road to direct traffic into the company parking each morning, but no one to clean our work areas.

How to Make a Right Turn More Dangerous

This type of intersection actually exists, and not just in one place.
Cars can drive in the bus lane.

It's Raining Inside my Garage

I'm starting to feel lame for the number of posts involving my garage, but I need to vent. I was frustrated this morning to find that, despite being stored in the garage, my car got not only wet, but also muddy from last night's rain. The structure is situated such that roof is slightly lower than the level of the ground on two sides and in a heavy rain the mud can flow right through the gaps between the corrugated roof and and walls. Thank you Tropical Storm Sinlaku (Turned Typhoon Sinlaku) for all your rain and gray skies.

Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Over the weekend I took a short trip to the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens. It was a 'short trip' for two reasons, first I was able to walk there in 25 minutes, and could have gotten there even faster if I had realized that there is an entrance at the Hoshigaoka subway station (exit 6), which is just one stop from my closest station Issha. The second reason it was short is that they close at 4:50pm, and I didn't arrive until around 3:00. This Zoo claims to be one of the largest in Asia.

This ram was part of the American Continental Corner section which was in corporation with the Los Angeles Zoo, as Los Angeles is a sister city of Nagoya.

In addition to the main attractions there is also an observation tower. If I had known about the tower when I entered the zoo I could have included a ticket for it with my zoo entry and saved 160 yen off the total.
A view from the observation tower. The dark red dot in the center is a sign for, 'Valor,' the grocery store behind my apartment building.
I snapped this photo on my way out. I'll be going back to spend more time in the botanical gardens, but not until it gets cooler, today's high was 89 accompanied by 70% humidity.

敬老の日

Yesterday morning on my way to work the 'headline news story' was "Chinese man still climbing trees at 90 years of age," sounds strange, but not really news worthy to me. It wasn't until lunch time when it was explained to me that today is 敬老の日 (Keirō no hi --> respect for the aged day), a Japanese national holiday, that I made the connection. Apparently, the media takes the opportunity to feature the elderly in their reporting on this day. The story about the Chinese tree climber was lengthy, it explained his history of tree climbing, how he is able to retrieve different types of foods, and also how he must hide this hobby from is concerned family.

I Love You Grandma!

"Bless You"

I've yet to get past my urge to say it when I hear someone sneeze or over feeling a bit wronged when no one says it to me. I think that one year is going to be too short for me to unlearn my American customary responses. In a related reoccurring situation, the exit from the ladies restroom is a blind corner that often results in near collisions, each time I want to immediately yell "Sorry"but end up speechless as I try to recall, sumimasen, the Japanese for 'excuse me'.

Dinner with the OLs

Last week I had dinner with the Office Ladies, OLs, in my group. The ladies took me to a rotary sushi restaurant, a fun concept in Japanese dining.

You sit at a table or bar and the food comes to you on a conveyor belt that travels throughout the dining area. At the restaurant, I visited, the food was prepared by staff situated in the center of the oval conveyor belt. Powdered tea, pickled ginger, and sauces are provided at the table, everything else can be picked up off the conveyor or ordered off the menu. I was impressed to find that the items are placed sporadically as to not create a situation where some tables get fresh food and others only get leftovers. At the end of the meal the bill is tallied by counting the number of plates on the table. Each plate design corresponds to a different price, the items we consumed ranged in price from 100~315yen (the current exchange rate is 108yen/usd).

Unfortunately, I cant take credit for these photos. My camera was in my car which was was in my office parking lot, which I learned is not the same as the OLs - mine is unfairly located about 5mins walk closer to our building.

Setomono Matsuri

Today I went to the long anticipated, at least by me, Setomono Matsuri. Seto is a town about 60 min from where I live, that is famous for its pottery, it has a clay mine to back up the industry.When I came to Japan on my homefinding trip I was introduced to Seto and decided that rather than ship or rent dishes, I would purchase them in Seto as a suvinear for myslef.
I was very impressed by the festival, it exceeded my exceptions. The selection was unbelievable and the pieces were great. I was struck by the thought that I wont be able to go back next year.

Happy Birthday Mike!

Rice Harvest

I had been planning to take a photo of the rice paddies near my office to show how they had changed from green to golden since my arrival. This week when I drove past the field I had in mind the rice had been harvested! Early July, in Gifu prefecture - Green

This week near on my way to the office - Golden

Also, this week on my way to the office - Cut

A different field this week near the office - I don't know what to call this stage of the harvest

Ladies What's with the Gargling?

The bathroom hand washing situation in the office is outside my comfort zone. There is thin soap that doesn't require water to get it sudsy, and most people don't bother to use it (None of the Japanese homes I have visited have even had soap in the bathroom). After rinsing their hands many ladies splash some water in their mouths, gargle and spit, this seams to be repeated a few times to achieve a satisfactory result, whatever than may be.

Beer Garden

A few weekends ago one of my coworkers and a former TBA transfer employee and his wife attempted to take M, L and I to a Japanese Beer Garden. We were unsuccessful as the waiting list was 3 hours long.I guess the place closes in September, here's hoping we can get in another day.

Office Contradictions 1.0

I work at a company whose primary business is design and manufacture of seats yet our desk chairs are in such bad condition that the covers are worn through.

Baseball

Saturday evening, along with M, L, Y, N, Y, and YM, I watched the Chunichi Dragons beat the Yokohama BayStars 6-1 at the Nagoya Dome.To my partial disappointment the stadium is not open air, I say partial because the temperatures are still in the high 80s to the air conditioning was much appreciated.

Apparently Japanese sports crowds are polite enough to be permitted to use chopsticks during the game.Edamame was a popular snack.

Super fans celebrating after the win. Note that the women on the right is wearing her jersey as a dress with thigh high black stockings and heals.

Blood Drive

There is a blood drive coming up in my office, here is the English announcement I received for it:

''Info. of blood donation. especially, the hot-blooded men should be co-operate it.''

I'm not a hot-blooded man and I didn't have much luck when I tried to donate at home so I think I am gonna sit this one out.

I'm Old in Japan

Today I ate lunch with a different group of ladies, as one of my usual lunch companions was on vacation. I had met two of them before, but one only in a formal situation. The first English question she asked (I cant use chopsticks and try to understand Japanese at the same time) was in regard to my age. I answered in Japanese and received a shocked look in response (during which I wondered if I had misspoke)...followed by ''I thought you were my age! I'm 33.'' Boo to that!

The second topic of conversation that I was able to comprehend was in regard to TOEIC test scores. Apparently it is beneficial career wise for employees to score well on the TOEIC test. One of my coworkers, a Japanese man, who went to High School and College in the US scored a 980, while one of the assistants who learned English strictly in Japan scored a 985 (with the top score being a 990). They asked me how I thought I would score, based on this trend I'd probably score worse because I've had more education inside the US.

Fitting Room Etiquette

During Summer Vacation I did a lot of shopping, I found that it was an activity that required a safe amount of exploring with the added perk of air conditioning upon reaching the destination. In one of the malls I decided, on a whim, to go into what appeared to be a young woman's clothing store. I found that the store was having a summer sale sale so I selected this shirt. At just 1490 Yen it was much less expensive than I had expected clothing to be.
After choosing the shirt, I wanted to try it on. While it is loose fitting I've heard that Japanese woman's clothing can be restricting for Americans because of the differences in body build. It was easy enough to locate the fitting room, but as soon as I steeped in the young, overly made up, sales clerk became alarmed and started frantically trying to tell me something in Japanese. I was carrying a large purse, so I set it outside the fitting room curtain thinking she might be afraid that I was going to steal something, but that didn't calm her down. It wasn't until she started pointing at my shoes that I realized that like homes, restaurants, hotels and probably some other kinds of places I haven't been yet, I needed to take my shoes off before entering the fitting room. After asking a co-worker about the situation, I learned that removing your shoes in a fitting room only applies to the type of fitting room with a raised step to enter it, apparently if the fitting room floor is at the same level as the rest of the store the proper etiquette is to keep your shoes on. Are fitting rooms this difficult to decipher for foreigners living in America?

Life Expectancy

A portion of my commute to and from work is on a toll road, at a rate of 300yen for 5km. Last night as I drove through the express card lane I noticed that the elderly booth attendant to the left was jogging in place while he waited for cars to use his lane. I'd like to think that this mentality is one of the reasons why the average Life Expectancy here is 4 years more than America.

Name this Fruit

Today made a ginger fruit salad that called for limes. It turns that the citrus I purchased thinking it was a lime, was not. Now the question is, if it isn't a lime, what is it?

Chocolate

With my supply of chocolate shipped from home fast approaching end I decided to invest in some Japanese chocolate. It is much sweater and creamery than advertised. The longer I am here the less I believe a Japanese person when they tell me that Japanese people don't like sweets.

This Labor Day I am Thankful for Kid Rock

Just before arriving at the office this morning, my favorite Nagoya radio station, RadioI, played All Summer Long off Kid Rock's new album. I cant say that I would usually get excited for Kid Rock, but being that today is Labor day and I am missing out I was very excited to hear someone singing about Michigan.

Today reality sets in, after working 14 short weeks straight, I will not work 17 weeks until my next vacation day.