House finding

I started to search my house to live alone.
I would like to stay close to my office and at the same time, I would like to find place not so far from my parent house as well.

To be honest, I am not really happy to live alone.
You might think I should find some flat mate. Here in Japan, we do not do that.
People like to live alone.
I am not sure if I can be used to that hugue isolation.
Many forgiener said that they saffer from isolation since they do not understand Japanese culture. I belive that that isolation is not from the luck of understanding.
Originally we Japanese people do not communicate.

Ny nature I love to communicate with people. So I suffer from isolation for my life here.
So I try to find friends who allows me to communicate with me.
I attend the church and I attend the computer technical meeting and ....

Things are not so easy.
I have to work hard to get what I need.

Today, I am disapointed by myself.
The work I have done yesterday was not good and I need to do again.
I just spoil yesterday and I need to ask other people to reschedule.

In the evening, I was so sad and tired.
By the chance, Mr.I who is my mentor passed by and he noticed that I am not fine.
So we talked a bit.

I asked him what he does when he feel down and he answered that he goes to Senbikiya, which is something Japanese Fortnum Maison, and eats fruits cakes.
By the way, Senbiliya's cakes are really nice althouhg they are too expensive.
I think Mr.I's idea is great however I would rather go there with some company.

What should I do today?
So I decided to make sweets and go to super market on the way to go home.
Recently the supermarket to the closest to my place started to open for 24 hourse and I can buy anytime even after the work.

My Friend’ birthday

Yesterday I had dinner with several friends to celebrate my friend’s birthday.
We have chosen to eat hot pot.
In our conversation, we had a bit interesting conversation.
Which animal do you have similar character?
I think I should ask to person when I first meet since it can describe them so well.

One of my friends said that she is like a turtle since she is always on her pace. What she wants to be is a turtle which can move fast.
I wonder on this earth, turtles which can move so quickly exist?

Cheek kiss

When I do cheek kiss, I always remember the suffolk family who teach me how to cheek kiss and shake hands.
I practiced there so much there.

Today, I did cheek kiss in Tokyo.
I always think it is such a warm greeting.

The exam

The last Sunday, I took a exam for bookkeeping.
I have studied for several months and this exam was my burden for long. I have studied a bit hard however I am not sure the result.

Wish me good luck !

Café

Cafeing

One of my hobbies is cafeing. I made this verb from the ward Café.
You know my e-mail address had the word “tealeaf” since I love cafeing.
Like Brisith people, we Japanese LOVE tea and tea time at least me.

Here is a small list of café I am familiar with. I think I would like to write about café more in later since this is my favorite topic.

Afternoon tea (Many branches)
This café has huge popularity in Japanese girls and they sell some products as well.
Sometimes we can not find even one male customer although the shop is so full.
Even if we can find one male customer, they look they are not comfortable to be there.
Their products are quite elegant and cute in a casual way. I guess it is a nice shop to find some present to you female friend. I once received a cup from my close friend and she found it from here.
Unfortunately I can not find them near my office; I often use this café in various towns.
The price is rather high. One cup of tea cost 3-4 pound.
http://www.afternoon-tea.net/main.html

Ueshima-cofee (Many branches)
Ueshima sounds some Japanese family. This café is subsidiary to a big coffee company UCC. I use this café so often and I love them more that starbucks. Their coffee is made with some Japanese ingredient such as bean milk and Japanese Black sugar.
Their coffee test quite nice and my favorite is Japanese Black sugar coffee.
Recently I found one of their branches near my office. They are located in the basement floor in a new building close to my office. Since this building is not something big or famous, my colleagues do know it so far.
One cup of tea cost 2 pound.

http://www.ueshima-coffee-ten.jp/menu/

DEAN&DELUCA(Some branches)
It is one of the most famous café near Tokyo station although they do not have many branches. Some girls seems to love this café so much and they even carry the clothes bag which is printed “DEAN&DELUCA” I guess this shop is something fashionable to them.
I am often there with my friends. They cakes are awesome and I can just HAPPY what ever happened to me.
One cup of coffee cost 2-3 pound
http://www.deandeluca.co.jp/

My custom 2

I have some custom in my life.
If you are the person who knows me in person, you might not believe. I look quite social and friendly however I feel nervous more than people imagine when I first meet people.
I sometime have meal with clients and if it is my first time to meet them, I can not eat much. althouhg I can sometime
Yesterday, I had meal with clients and could not eat much.
Since it often happens in me, I am not surprised though.

However the client said to me that he does not like girl who is small eater.
I know he is my father’s age and he has a daughter close to my age and wanted to encourage me to eat to be healthy. So he never meant bad.

My mistake

I borrow an accounting dictionary from one of managers in the different department from me.
I worked for him a bit.
I forgot to return it to him. Actually visited him to return but he was not there at that time. It was possible to put it on his desk with a small memo with thanks and my name. However I thought I want to return it when he was there.

So I just put it on my desk so that I can return it anytime.
Today he came to my desk and asked me to return it. It was a extreme fault.
It is like I do not respect him although I do so much. And I made him walk to come to my desk to pick up it.

In this country, it is an extreme disrespect to people.
You might think it is such a small thing however here it is not. It is a kind of expression. If you express how you think, people misunderstand you. To survive in a company, it is a death or alive issue.

Valentine chocolate(result)

Valentine chocolate

I gave some chocolate to my company people as a greeting.
I only do this to person who I really have some affection simply.
I would like to describe two impressive person among I gave chocolate.

One of them was a partner in our department. He graduated from the school same as mine. Since I choose a really cute chocolate, I asked him to open and he said that my chocolate was prettiest among the chocolate he received this year. I asked him how many he received this year. Although he has beautiful wife, I think he receives many chocolate every year. He did not answer to my question and smiled.

One other person was my mentor. My company has a mentor system and when I have some problem I consult him. Sometimes his comments are helpful( and sometimes not.)
What I am sure about him is that he gives me the best comments he can think of and he even act for my problem in the best way he can think of.
When I gave him a chocolate his face looked a bit awkward. I guess he was afraid that this chocolate was not just a greeting but meant more. If he misunderstood that way, he should look happier, I think.

EXAM

The next coming Sunday, I am taking an exam about the knowledge of bookkeeping.
For this, everyday after work I am going to school to take a lecture especially for the exams. I feel a bit tired physically since I have to get home late.
For sure mentally I am ok with it.
The school is just three mines from my office and I directly get there after I leave the office.
Wish me good luck!!

The desk position

My desk is near the machine to make coffee and refrigerator.
It might not sound cool however I love to be here. There are some advantages of it.
Firstly I can have coffee easily and take things from refrigerator as well.
Secondly people come to here to have coffee and they often talk to me and I am happy about it.
Unfortunately we work for projects and if we are not assigned in the same project, hardly we know each other. Most of the case, the projects are just within the department therefore we hardly have chance to know people in other department.
It is quite nice since I can see people and at lease I can make myself their acquaintance.

In our office we have some people from oversea and most of them are from America.
Recently we have a new person from Germany! He was transferred to here from German office recently.
I just want to say hello but still I can not.
You know, we Japanese rarely talk to people without some business. If we do that the person who was talked might look at you with eyes saying “What do you want? Are you insane? ” Of course he is not Japanese and even if he behaves that way I can say “Oh I just wanted to say hello”.
I think it is nice to know people in the office not only I feel comfortable but also I can consult them if I need.

Apple meeting

I attended the Apple meeting.
Apple meeting is regually hold at Allpe store at Ginza every month.
Some of us make presentations about computer things and go for a casual drink after that. This is the schedule of the meeting,

Some of us are from other countris and have been here for some decades.
In that case, they are quite Japanese mentally.
That is so funny to see that!

I feel cozy to see faces I know regually.

Absent from work

I've got a cold and absent from work today.
For sure I do not feel good phsically however I'get bored too.

Snow

It sonws in Tokyo.
The snow night is really beautiful with the illumination.
I fell snow lean my thought too.

Valentine Day in my company (prepare)

Valentine Day is coming.
In Japan, we girls give chocolate not only for your love your live but also to the person you have just some affection or just to your colleague as greeting.
It is not the obligation though.


Here is my special rule.
I just give chocolate to person who I really have affection.
It is my rule I do not give chocolate to even my boss if I have no true affection but just some respect.


However company is a tricky place.
People work and stay together in a close way. And those people have so different mind and often we misunderstand others think same way we do.
It is really not.
So I’m afraid that if I give to the chocolate to her person who I feel affection, some persons who did not get might find out that and feel bad.
It is rally just chocolate and we are adults.
However people are so different and can get angry with something we can never imagine.
I should not take a risk at all.
So I discussed with other girls and we decided that we collect money from girls and buy chocolate and deliver to all males in our department.

I think it is rally like Japanese style.
LOVE is always unfair and people really thirsty for it. That is why we really work hard to earn Love from someone you like.
It is never a thing which we can deliver evenly.


I still want to give small chocolate to persons who I feel affection in my company.
Should I give up?

Sunday cafe

I do not have many hobbies I do constantly although I do many things occasionally such as tennis and swimming and singing and dancing.
Cafeing is my constant hobby and I could not be happier if I have company to share this empty relaxing time.
Sunday, I ate lunch with my friend and had a chai-tea at the aftenoon tea.

I am more ambitious.
I have a small chess board from London.
If I can spend relaxing time playing chess with my friend, I think I am too happy.

Today we had a special lunch meeting.
The attendances are excluded only for girls.
Recently we are contentrate to communicate and work together.
So it is a kind of the meal to strengthen our connection.

I usually have sandwitches at my desk.
So I really feel happy to have nice lunch.

tomoko crys

Today I cried at the office.
I know I am too old to cry however things are too hard today.
I needed one hour to recover.