Since I have been in Japan, that's longer than 2 months now, I have been hunting for jobs. I think I send me resume to over 50-100 schools now, and have had around 10 interviews since then. Especially last week was a busy week with 5 interviews, and all of them where in Osaka.
So okay, there I am Dave (in a suit) going to interviews where they ask me questions about my career, if I have a Uni. degree, why I can speak English so well while it isn't my first language, and sometimes they even wanted me to do some small lesson for them. I had good and bad interviews, one of the bad interviews was in Kobe on a Sunday evening: I came there in my suit, on my Sunday ( I am not a Christian, but Sunday is Holy to me) and I had this interview with some guy from Seattle, who told me after 1 minute that they don't hire non-natives.... Excuse me? What am I doing here? So I told him that I didn't like it and after 1minute I walked away without saying properly goodbye to everybody.
My good one was probably last week, maybe not a good one but it sure was interesting: Interac is a big company in Japan that sends teachers to Elementary, high schools, and companies. The interview took 1.5 hour, and she asked me a lot of difficult questions on what my good points and bad points are, what would I do if .... and what would I do if ... I had prepared a small lesson plan and she and a co-worker acted as kids of the age of 7-8. After this I needed to do a personality test, grammar test * aaaaaaaaaaa*, Japanese culture test * who is this man on the 10.000yen bill?* and a normal question form about where I live and my background.
She send me an email last week saying that I was not selected, and she told me she would get in contact with me if another position would open up.... and she did :D this morning she gave me a call, and she wants me to come to the training tomorrow, and I can work from next week until March .. Fulltime
It feels good, even though I am doki doki * nervous *, teaching 40 kids at the same time, instead of 6 * what I am used to as a max*.
For me it was maybe less important to get a fulltime job ( part time would give me more time to study) but for Mayuko this was most important in the first months of my stay in here. So yeah it is a relieve for both of us. And now we can spend some more money on .... haha.
I must say that we don't do bad with an income of around 430.000yen a month, and an apartment for 23.000 yen * this will rise up the upcoming year to 50.000 I think*.
I am a happy person, even though it is really difficult so now and then to life here, and I also feel lonely so now and then.
Time is there to learn
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Friday, August 18, 2006
Trip to Hiroshima
First of all I want to apologize for being lazy about writing on this blog. To make it up with you people I will tell you about the trip we took to Hiroshima the last couple of days.
We (Mayu and I) took the bus to Hiroshima Tuesday morning on 7.45, and arrived in Hiroshima within 4 hours. ( we choose to take the bus because the shinkansen was total 40.000 yen, the normal JR train 28.000yen, and the bus was only 18.000 yen for a 4 hour drive) The bus ride was okay, we slept talked listened to some music on the Ipod ( top 100 love songs haha).
When we arrived in Hiroshima, we decided to leave our bags at the station, so that we could do some sightseeing before we would go to the hotel. We walked from on the beautiful streets of Hiroshima, where we saw a lot of neon lights, and some nice shops (Hiroshima is not a really big city, and I think visiting it for 1-2 days is enough). We turned left and suddenly we saw almost out of no where the A-Bomb Dome. It looked peace full, but thinking about what have happened on this place 61 years ago made me sad (on August 6th, 1945 when a US B29 bomber 'Enola Gay' dropped the world's first atomic bomb on Hiroshima which eventually killed around 140,000 people and devastated the city). We had walked around the building, and went to the peace park right next to it where we saw the children's monument and the Peace Memorial Museum where we could see pictures, read information , and see video's from the day the bomb fell on Hiroshima. It was impressive and no word I write in here can describe how it made me feel 100%. But one thing is for sure, and that is that when you walk around in this museum, and in the peace park: you will realize what peace is, and you can smile that we are in peace but inside our minds we know that we are in constant danger because there are still so many atomic bombs in the world, and wars going on.
For everyone who is going to Japan, visiting Hiroshima is something what should be highly on your list.
In the evening we went to some building where they had 3 floors of Okonomiyaki restaurants... Hiroshima Okonomiyaki. The food was great, and watching those cooks was even better.
After this we went to the Hotel, because the day was just too hot and we were tired. The hotel wasn't very big, but we had enough space and the place was clean. The hotel stood right next to Hiroshima station so the location was just perfect. We watched some TV, talked about the day , .... , and fell asleep.
On Wednesday we went to Miyajima, and island just 40minutes away from Hiroshima center, and can be reached by ferry. The island it's main attraction is the Itsukushima Shrine with the famous torii. ( Miyajima is on the world heritage list)
Which was the main reason for us to visit this place, and I have to say that it looked beautiful. There were a lot of other temples, and shrines on the island, and especially the ones up Mt misen where amazing. We took the ropeway, and from the station we needed to walk another 30minutes up to the top ( 534meter) we had a great view over the island, and over the whole area from here. When we went down we took some foot bathing in the small river and had a lot of fun in the water. Cooling down was important because it was another hot hot hot day. We had some lunch, looked at the beautiful torii, and went home around 5 after a splendid day at Miyajima.
In the evening we went to some nice Izakaya in the center, and did some Karaoke ( which I didn't like that much because of the sound system at this karaoke center just sucks)
On Thursday we decided to take it easy, and that was needed because we were both broken from the walk up the mountain , and the hot weather from the previous day. We did some shopping, went to some ramen restaurant for lunch, did some karaoke ( again) and bought a present for Eisuke.
We left Hiroshima at 5 pm, and came home at 10. I had some wonderful days, and some great new memories of Hiroshima. Let's never forget what happen in there and enjoy life.
I am looking forward for my further trips the next years to places such as Tokyo, Nara, and maybe Okinawa.
Thanks, and I hope to write something more the upcoming weeks.
We (Mayu and I) took the bus to Hiroshima Tuesday morning on 7.45, and arrived in Hiroshima within 4 hours. ( we choose to take the bus because the shinkansen was total 40.000 yen, the normal JR train 28.000yen, and the bus was only 18.000 yen for a 4 hour drive) The bus ride was okay, we slept talked listened to some music on the Ipod ( top 100 love songs haha).
When we arrived in Hiroshima, we decided to leave our bags at the station, so that we could do some sightseeing before we would go to the hotel. We walked from on the beautiful streets of Hiroshima, where we saw a lot of neon lights, and some nice shops (Hiroshima is not a really big city, and I think visiting it for 1-2 days is enough). We turned left and suddenly we saw almost out of no where the A-Bomb Dome. It looked peace full, but thinking about what have happened on this place 61 years ago made me sad (on August 6th, 1945 when a US B29 bomber 'Enola Gay' dropped the world's first atomic bomb on Hiroshima which eventually killed around 140,000 people and devastated the city). We had walked around the building, and went to the peace park right next to it where we saw the children's monument and the Peace Memorial Museum where we could see pictures, read information , and see video's from the day the bomb fell on Hiroshima. It was impressive and no word I write in here can describe how it made me feel 100%. But one thing is for sure, and that is that when you walk around in this museum, and in the peace park: you will realize what peace is, and you can smile that we are in peace but inside our minds we know that we are in constant danger because there are still so many atomic bombs in the world, and wars going on.
For everyone who is going to Japan, visiting Hiroshima is something what should be highly on your list.
In the evening we went to some building where they had 3 floors of Okonomiyaki restaurants... Hiroshima Okonomiyaki. The food was great, and watching those cooks was even better.
After this we went to the Hotel, because the day was just too hot and we were tired. The hotel wasn't very big, but we had enough space and the place was clean. The hotel stood right next to Hiroshima station so the location was just perfect. We watched some TV, talked about the day , .... , and fell asleep.
On Wednesday we went to Miyajima, and island just 40minutes away from Hiroshima center, and can be reached by ferry. The island it's main attraction is the Itsukushima Shrine with the famous torii. ( Miyajima is on the world heritage list)
Which was the main reason for us to visit this place, and I have to say that it looked beautiful. There were a lot of other temples, and shrines on the island, and especially the ones up Mt misen where amazing. We took the ropeway, and from the station we needed to walk another 30minutes up to the top ( 534meter) we had a great view over the island, and over the whole area from here. When we went down we took some foot bathing in the small river and had a lot of fun in the water. Cooling down was important because it was another hot hot hot day. We had some lunch, looked at the beautiful torii, and went home around 5 after a splendid day at Miyajima.
In the evening we went to some nice Izakaya in the center, and did some Karaoke ( which I didn't like that much because of the sound system at this karaoke center just sucks)
On Thursday we decided to take it easy, and that was needed because we were both broken from the walk up the mountain , and the hot weather from the previous day. We did some shopping, went to some ramen restaurant for lunch, did some karaoke ( again) and bought a present for Eisuke.
We left Hiroshima at 5 pm, and came home at 10. I had some wonderful days, and some great new memories of Hiroshima. Let's never forget what happen in there and enjoy life.
I am looking forward for my further trips the next years to places such as Tokyo, Nara, and maybe Okinawa.
Thanks, and I hope to write something more the upcoming weeks.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Gion Matsuri
Last week, Mayu-chan and I went to Gion matsuri, Yama-boko Junko (山鉾巡行, Yama-boko Junko) to be more precise.
Before I will show you the pictures, I will first let you read something about Gion Matsuri and Yama-boko Junko.
Gion Matsuri (祇園祭;, Gion Matsuri) is an annual festival that takes place in Kyoto and is said to be one of the most famous, if not the most famous festival in all of Japan. It spans the entire month of July and is crowned by the beautiful parade, the Yama-boko Junko (山鉾巡行, Yama-boko Junko) on July 17th.
This festival first originated as part of a purification ritual. In 869 CE the people were suffering from plague and pestilence which was thought to be a result of the rampaging deity Gozu. The emperor ordered that the people pray to the god of the Yasaka shrine, Susano-onomikoto. Sixty-six stylized and decorated halberds, one for each province in Japan, were prepared and erected at Shinsen-en Garden (at the intersection of Oike Street and Omiya Street, Nakagyo Ward) along with the portable shrines (omikoshi) from Yasaka Shrine.
This became a somewhat standard practice and was repeated wherever an outbreak would occur. In 970 CE it was decreed an annual event and has since seldom been broken. Over time the increasingly powerful and influential merchant class made the festival more elaborate and used the parade to brandish their wealth.
In 1533 the Muromachi shogunate halted all religious events, but the people protested stating that they could do with out the rituals, but not the procession. This marks the progression into the festival's current form.
Yamaboko Float Details
The floats in the Yoiyama Parade are divided into two groups, Hoko and Yama, and are collectively called Yamaboko. There are 9 of the larger Hoko which represent the 66 spears used in the original purification ritual, and 23 of the smaller Yama which carry life-size figures of famous and important people. All the floats are decorated with beautiful tapestries both from Nishijin (the finest in all of Japan) and imported from all over the world. In addition to the art, there are many traditional musicians and artists sitting in the floats.
Each year the families that maintain the floats draw lots at special meeting to determine what order they will take in the festival. These lots are issued at a special ceremony before the parade, during which the Mayor of Kyoto dons the robes of a magister.
Hoko Floats
Weight: about 12,000 kg
Height: about 25m from ground to tip / 8 m from ground to roof
Wheel diameter: about 1.9 m
Attendants: about 30-40 pulling during procession, usually 2 men piloting with wedges
Yama Floats
Height: about 6 m
Weight: 1,200 – 1,600 kg
Attendants: 14-24 people to pull, push or carry
More to come!
Before I will show you the pictures, I will first let you read something about Gion Matsuri and Yama-boko Junko.
Gion Matsuri (祇園祭;, Gion Matsuri) is an annual festival that takes place in Kyoto and is said to be one of the most famous, if not the most famous festival in all of Japan. It spans the entire month of July and is crowned by the beautiful parade, the Yama-boko Junko (山鉾巡行, Yama-boko Junko) on July 17th.
This festival first originated as part of a purification ritual. In 869 CE the people were suffering from plague and pestilence which was thought to be a result of the rampaging deity Gozu. The emperor ordered that the people pray to the god of the Yasaka shrine, Susano-onomikoto. Sixty-six stylized and decorated halberds, one for each province in Japan, were prepared and erected at Shinsen-en Garden (at the intersection of Oike Street and Omiya Street, Nakagyo Ward) along with the portable shrines (omikoshi) from Yasaka Shrine.
This became a somewhat standard practice and was repeated wherever an outbreak would occur. In 970 CE it was decreed an annual event and has since seldom been broken. Over time the increasingly powerful and influential merchant class made the festival more elaborate and used the parade to brandish their wealth.
In 1533 the Muromachi shogunate halted all religious events, but the people protested stating that they could do with out the rituals, but not the procession. This marks the progression into the festival's current form.
Yamaboko Float Details
The floats in the Yoiyama Parade are divided into two groups, Hoko and Yama, and are collectively called Yamaboko. There are 9 of the larger Hoko which represent the 66 spears used in the original purification ritual, and 23 of the smaller Yama which carry life-size figures of famous and important people. All the floats are decorated with beautiful tapestries both from Nishijin (the finest in all of Japan) and imported from all over the world. In addition to the art, there are many traditional musicians and artists sitting in the floats.
Each year the families that maintain the floats draw lots at special meeting to determine what order they will take in the festival. These lots are issued at a special ceremony before the parade, during which the Mayor of Kyoto dons the robes of a magister.
Hoko Floats
Weight: about 12,000 kg
Height: about 25m from ground to tip / 8 m from ground to roof
Wheel diameter: about 1.9 m
Attendants: about 30-40 pulling during procession, usually 2 men piloting with wedges
Yama Floats
Height: about 6 m
Weight: 1,200 – 1,600 kg
Attendants: 14-24 people to pull, push or carry
More to come!
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Pictures
Girls High school behind our house. (yes only girls)
Hanshin Tigers Vending Machine!!!!!!!
View over the city a couple minutes walking from our house
Some small shrine on a small island in a small city called Ako
A small shrine on top of the mountain 2 trainstops from our house (that were some HIGH HIGH stairs hahaha)
Well, this picture says enough
Ako
Nunobiki Ropeway, from shinkobe station
Nunobiki Ropeway
Nunobiki waterfall, view from the ropeway
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
The Japanese Subway
-Schoolgirls in all sort of uniforms,
-Salaryman in their black suits,
-People reading comic books, old and young,
-Middle age women fighting for a seat ( of course the middle age women win)
-Female only cabins,
-Chikans and Chijo
-Sleeping people, while sitting or standing
-trains every 5-10 minutes
-Train pushers
-Densha Otoko
-VERY CROWD SUBWAYS
-50% will play with their Keitai ( mobile phone)
-advertisements above your head
-Getting lost
-Watching the latest fashion
-A Gas Attack ( well this only happened one time)
-Salaryman in their black suits,
-People reading comic books, old and young,
-Middle age women fighting for a seat ( of course the middle age women win)
-Female only cabins,
-Chikans and Chijo
-Sleeping people, while sitting or standing
-trains every 5-10 minutes
-Train pushers
-Densha Otoko
-VERY CROWD SUBWAYS
-50% will play with their Keitai ( mobile phone)
-advertisements above your head
-Getting lost
-Watching the latest fashion
-A Gas Attack ( well this only happened one time)
Monday, June 26, 2006
First week in Japan
Hello everyone, Sorry for the late post, I have written a post last Friday but by mistake I lost everything (one hour writing) so now I am trying it again.
on Thursday the 15th of June, I needed to say goodbye to my family, which was of course really difficult, and sad. But not as sad as I thought it would be, maybe because the evening before I realized that life is fantastic, and I didn`t needed to care to much about my family, known they would be alright.
The flight from Amsterdam to Helsinki was alright, and nothing special happened in there, besides me smiling in my seat.
The flight from Helsinki to Osaka was different, first of all because it was much longer 10 hours, and I had a nice older Japanese couple sitting next to me, whom I talked to for hours. Arigato ne Eiko san and Enzo san, for being so kind to me. The airplane was of course full with Japanese people, and from around 200 people I maybe could only see 10-15 non Japanese. I tried to get some sleep in the airplane but remembering my previous experience with flying for this many hours, I knew I wouldn`t be able to sleep, and I didn`t.
Arriving in Japan was a bit weird I must say, because I was really tired, and suddenly I was unable to use my English, my Japanese level isn`t that high, and also the way to Kobe was weird, seeing building everywhere. Mayuko her mom picked me up from Sannomiya (center of Kobe), and we drove together to our new house in Rokko ( see pictures in the previous post. It was great to see her mom again, and we talked a lot.
In the afternoon I finally saw Mayuko again, and that felt so great! hold my wife in my arms again, after 6months and knowing we don`t have to separate anymore. Together we walked to our house ( from Rokko station, to our house is about 15minutes up hill walk) and she showed me our house.
I think the house where we are living in is great, it`s heaps larger than I had expected, and also the area where we are living in is great. Mountains on the right, ocean view on the left.
On Sunday we went to her parents house, and met the whole family again. We had a lunch together, toasted with beer (Kanpai) and had some nice talks. Later that afternoon we were shopping with her brother and his wife (we got a sofa from him).
On Monday we went to the City hall to take care of my Gaijin card ( this is a card that I should always have with me, because I am a foreigner in Japan ( Gaijin- outside person, foreigner. this word can be a bit rude, the same we have alochtoon in the Netherlands). When we wanted to fill in the papers, we found out that this fucker ( sorry but he is a fucker) on the airport made a mistake, by not checking my visa , and not reading my intent of stay in Japan. Because of this, he gave me a 3 month stamp, with the meaning that I needed to go out of Japan with in 3months, and that I could only get a 1 year Gaijin Card instead of a 5 year gaijin card. So yeah after we filled in some papers, we also needed to mail my passport to the Immigration.
A lot of work needed to be done, and probably still needs to be done. Paperwork, paperwork, and even more paperwork. Arigato Mayuko for taking care of this!!!
The days after that, we bought some stuff for the house, relaxed in Kobe`s herb park, and just enjoyed being together again.
On Thursday Mayuko needed to work again, so I started searching for a job as an English teacher. I had send out a lot of emails to companies in here, and even got a short interview on Friday, the interview wasn`t really an interview, because I just got the job, only problem was I didn`t knew for how many hours etc.
On Saturday we went to her Grandmothers house in Ako, she is around 84, we had a lunch. We had this real big EBI ( ebi is a Prawn), and after that we went to her grandmothers house. She showed me pictures of herself when she was young, and from Mayuko her mother ( funny to see that they really look like each other sometimes).
On Sunday we went to Sannomiya to buy a mobile phone for me, and a suit ( yes me in a suit, for job interviews, and for weddings etc). Well I got a real nice Mobile phone, the Vodafone 804ss please click here for some information. And also the suit I bought was pretty nice.
yesterday I started my Job as an Enlgish teacher here in Japan, and I have to say that I really enjoyed it, even tough the first boy was a pain in the ass, because he just couldn`t concentrate, and I needed to take care of him by myself ( the teacher just run off, and said please take care of him). Later that afternoon I needed to teach some little girl from 6, which was just perfect, she was really sweet, and it was really easy to work with her. We practiced Pre-positions, and time.
The only bad thing about this work is that I can only work 2 times a week, and summer school which is starting from the 24th of June. So I don`t think I will stay here for a long time. Actually I am already looking for another job.
So this is a bit what had happened the last week. It`s busy, and I must say that so now and then I have my bad moments. For example, I like to be in charge, to do things myself, but now I am totally dependent from Mayuko, and that makes me insecure sometimes. But on the other hand, I am proud of myself on what I am doing, and proud of Mayuko on what she is doing for us.
We still got a long way to go, but we believe in the future, and up to now, our plans came out well...
Thanks everybody, and don`t forget to post a comment!!!
on Thursday the 15th of June, I needed to say goodbye to my family, which was of course really difficult, and sad. But not as sad as I thought it would be, maybe because the evening before I realized that life is fantastic, and I didn`t needed to care to much about my family, known they would be alright.
The flight from Amsterdam to Helsinki was alright, and nothing special happened in there, besides me smiling in my seat.
The flight from Helsinki to Osaka was different, first of all because it was much longer 10 hours, and I had a nice older Japanese couple sitting next to me, whom I talked to for hours. Arigato ne Eiko san and Enzo san, for being so kind to me. The airplane was of course full with Japanese people, and from around 200 people I maybe could only see 10-15 non Japanese. I tried to get some sleep in the airplane but remembering my previous experience with flying for this many hours, I knew I wouldn`t be able to sleep, and I didn`t.
Arriving in Japan was a bit weird I must say, because I was really tired, and suddenly I was unable to use my English, my Japanese level isn`t that high, and also the way to Kobe was weird, seeing building everywhere. Mayuko her mom picked me up from Sannomiya (center of Kobe), and we drove together to our new house in Rokko ( see pictures in the previous post. It was great to see her mom again, and we talked a lot.
In the afternoon I finally saw Mayuko again, and that felt so great! hold my wife in my arms again, after 6months and knowing we don`t have to separate anymore. Together we walked to our house ( from Rokko station, to our house is about 15minutes up hill walk) and she showed me our house.
I think the house where we are living in is great, it`s heaps larger than I had expected, and also the area where we are living in is great. Mountains on the right, ocean view on the left.
On Sunday we went to her parents house, and met the whole family again. We had a lunch together, toasted with beer (Kanpai) and had some nice talks. Later that afternoon we were shopping with her brother and his wife (we got a sofa from him).
On Monday we went to the City hall to take care of my Gaijin card ( this is a card that I should always have with me, because I am a foreigner in Japan ( Gaijin- outside person, foreigner. this word can be a bit rude, the same we have alochtoon in the Netherlands). When we wanted to fill in the papers, we found out that this fucker ( sorry but he is a fucker) on the airport made a mistake, by not checking my visa , and not reading my intent of stay in Japan. Because of this, he gave me a 3 month stamp, with the meaning that I needed to go out of Japan with in 3months, and that I could only get a 1 year Gaijin Card instead of a 5 year gaijin card. So yeah after we filled in some papers, we also needed to mail my passport to the Immigration.
A lot of work needed to be done, and probably still needs to be done. Paperwork, paperwork, and even more paperwork. Arigato Mayuko for taking care of this!!!
The days after that, we bought some stuff for the house, relaxed in Kobe`s herb park, and just enjoyed being together again.
On Thursday Mayuko needed to work again, so I started searching for a job as an English teacher. I had send out a lot of emails to companies in here, and even got a short interview on Friday, the interview wasn`t really an interview, because I just got the job, only problem was I didn`t knew for how many hours etc.
On Saturday we went to her Grandmothers house in Ako, she is around 84, we had a lunch. We had this real big EBI ( ebi is a Prawn), and after that we went to her grandmothers house. She showed me pictures of herself when she was young, and from Mayuko her mother ( funny to see that they really look like each other sometimes).
On Sunday we went to Sannomiya to buy a mobile phone for me, and a suit ( yes me in a suit, for job interviews, and for weddings etc). Well I got a real nice Mobile phone, the Vodafone 804ss please click here for some information. And also the suit I bought was pretty nice.
yesterday I started my Job as an Enlgish teacher here in Japan, and I have to say that I really enjoyed it, even tough the first boy was a pain in the ass, because he just couldn`t concentrate, and I needed to take care of him by myself ( the teacher just run off, and said please take care of him). Later that afternoon I needed to teach some little girl from 6, which was just perfect, she was really sweet, and it was really easy to work with her. We practiced Pre-positions, and time.
The only bad thing about this work is that I can only work 2 times a week, and summer school which is starting from the 24th of June. So I don`t think I will stay here for a long time. Actually I am already looking for another job.
So this is a bit what had happened the last week. It`s busy, and I must say that so now and then I have my bad moments. For example, I like to be in charge, to do things myself, but now I am totally dependent from Mayuko, and that makes me insecure sometimes. But on the other hand, I am proud of myself on what I am doing, and proud of Mayuko on what she is doing for us.
We still got a long way to go, but we believe in the future, and up to now, our plans came out well...
Thanks everybody, and don`t forget to post a comment!!!
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Our house
The kitchen
The 2 doors to the toilet and bathroom
TV\Computer, sofa will come in 2 weeks, and table in a couple of days
Eating Okonomiyaki with Mayu on my first day
.. Says enough?
Sorry for no message, because we are pretty busy at the moment, but everything is going well in here. We are setting up the house, and enjoying being together again.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Packing, and saying bye bye
Today it will be my last day in the Netherlands, at least for the next years. Tomorrow morning on 11.55 I will depart to Japan, via Helsinki.
A lot have happened the few days so let me first go back to my last day of work; Friday the 9th of June. I took a morning off, to get some sleep, and woke up perfectly happy. On my work it was pretty normal actually, and it didn't really felt like it was my last day. Because another guy (Paul) also had his last day in there, we decided to buy something together * here in the Netherlands when it is your last day on work, or birthday, it is normal to buy something like Pie or Candy* but because we couldn't order Pie anymore we decided to buy some Pizza for everyone. After work we had a small goodbye party/ watching the first soccer match at the bar across the street. I was happy to see the Japanese managers in their too, because I know that they won't come that fast. I want to thank everybody from my work for the great time I have had in there, and the trust and respect you guys gave me. Arigato Gozaimasu (thank you very much) especially I have to say thank you to a group of people, but I think you guys already know who I mean.
On Saturday I had a beautiful canoe trip with my sweet mom, the weather was perfect, and the water was quiet. We had some great talks that day, and as normal it always feels great talking with my mom about nothing, life etc.
On Sunday I was at my dads place to watch soccer with the whole family! Whoehoe, Netherlands won with 1-0. I am definitely going to continue following the matches when I am in Japan, just I don't know if they are really being broadcast in there.
Monday was shopping day, I needed to have some shoes, t-shirts, and for my mother in law Godiva chocolate. Ow and not to forget I also bought Rummikub, and Triominos. I packed my bag ( I won't use a suitcase but a big Cricket bag because I can put more crap in it) which was 25 kilo... AAAA I can only bring 20 with me, so I needed to take some things out of the bag, DVDs do I need them NO, BYE BYE. A book, NO don't need BYE Bye, So finally it went back to 15 kilo. But yeah haha, on the next day it was back to 22 kilo. pfff I hate packing my bag.
I went to Egmond yesterday with my mom, a small place next to the beach, where we did some last shopping * I have bought some presents for the child that my brother in law and his wife are expecting, and for Eisuke the child of Mayuko her best friend. While we sat on the beach we had some good talk (again) and I asked her for advice. My mom is a bit afraid that I am going to lose my Dutch feeling, and while turn into Samurai William. But I don't think I will do that, because my heart will always be in The Netherlands, and I will always have Dutch blood *alright a little Belgium blood too, don't say this to anybody else alright*.
And today is my last day in here, I have finished packing my bag, except for my laptop and the chocolates that lays in the fridge. Tonight we will have a family dinner at my dads place, and tomorrow will be the time to say goodbye.
This is where it become difficult. Saying goodbye to people whom I love, and especially to people whom are family and whom I have become so close with for the last 2 years. I love you my brother, I love you Carolien, I love you Dad, and I love you my sweet mom. You guys will always be in my heart and my family forever. That's why distance is nothing more than meters and flying hours. Because we will always stick together.
I will update you guys next week how my first week in Japan was. Wish me luck
A lot have happened the few days so let me first go back to my last day of work; Friday the 9th of June. I took a morning off, to get some sleep, and woke up perfectly happy. On my work it was pretty normal actually, and it didn't really felt like it was my last day. Because another guy (Paul) also had his last day in there, we decided to buy something together * here in the Netherlands when it is your last day on work, or birthday, it is normal to buy something like Pie or Candy* but because we couldn't order Pie anymore we decided to buy some Pizza for everyone. After work we had a small goodbye party/ watching the first soccer match at the bar across the street. I was happy to see the Japanese managers in their too, because I know that they won't come that fast. I want to thank everybody from my work for the great time I have had in there, and the trust and respect you guys gave me. Arigato Gozaimasu (thank you very much) especially I have to say thank you to a group of people, but I think you guys already know who I mean.
On Saturday I had a beautiful canoe trip with my sweet mom, the weather was perfect, and the water was quiet. We had some great talks that day, and as normal it always feels great talking with my mom about nothing, life etc.
On Sunday I was at my dads place to watch soccer with the whole family! Whoehoe, Netherlands won with 1-0. I am definitely going to continue following the matches when I am in Japan, just I don't know if they are really being broadcast in there.
Monday was shopping day, I needed to have some shoes, t-shirts, and for my mother in law Godiva chocolate. Ow and not to forget I also bought Rummikub, and Triominos. I packed my bag ( I won't use a suitcase but a big Cricket bag because I can put more crap in it) which was 25 kilo... AAAA I can only bring 20 with me, so I needed to take some things out of the bag, DVDs do I need them NO, BYE BYE. A book, NO don't need BYE Bye, So finally it went back to 15 kilo. But yeah haha, on the next day it was back to 22 kilo. pfff I hate packing my bag.
I went to Egmond yesterday with my mom, a small place next to the beach, where we did some last shopping * I have bought some presents for the child that my brother in law and his wife are expecting, and for Eisuke the child of Mayuko her best friend. While we sat on the beach we had some good talk (again) and I asked her for advice. My mom is a bit afraid that I am going to lose my Dutch feeling, and while turn into Samurai William. But I don't think I will do that, because my heart will always be in The Netherlands, and I will always have Dutch blood *alright a little Belgium blood too, don't say this to anybody else alright*.
And today is my last day in here, I have finished packing my bag, except for my laptop and the chocolates that lays in the fridge. Tonight we will have a family dinner at my dads place, and tomorrow will be the time to say goodbye.
This is where it become difficult. Saying goodbye to people whom I love, and especially to people whom are family and whom I have become so close with for the last 2 years. I love you my brother, I love you Carolien, I love you Dad, and I love you my sweet mom. You guys will always be in my heart and my family forever. That's why distance is nothing more than meters and flying hours. Because we will always stick together.
I will update you guys next week how my first week in Japan was. Wish me luck
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
7 days to go, what should I bring with me?
Well only 7 days to go, 1.5 day to work. Next Monday I will go shopping; food, clothes, etc. But the question is: What shall I buy, what shall I bring with me to Japan? I hope you people have some idea's for me.
List of things that definitely want to buy:
Peanut butter
Godiva Chocolate for my mother in law
Chocolate spread
Cheese shaver
Smoked Sausage
Dutch souvenirs: such as post cards, and small well other stuff, NO DROP
present for my father in law, V.S.O.P
So if anybody got some idea's for me???? Please leave a comment.
List of things that definitely want to buy:
Peanut butter
Godiva Chocolate for my mother in law
Chocolate spread
Cheese shaver
Smoked Sausage
Dutch souvenirs: such as post cards, and small well other stuff, NO DROP
present for my father in law, V.S.O.P
So if anybody got some idea's for me???? Please leave a comment.
8 days to go
Only 8 days to go, and I will depart to Japan. WOEHOE!!! I must say that sometimes I am going crazy a little bit, it's a big step that I am going to take and sometimes it is a bit scary, but mainly I am just so happy to be with Mayuko again, and to be in Kireii (beautifull) Japan again.
Almost everything is done, I only have to send out some money next week, and make some phone calls to the city hall, and my insurance company.
But first off all only 2 days to work, I must say that I have really enjoyed this job, even though there are some things in the company that I disagree on. But yeah, that's okay. Just want to say thanks to all of you guys who have been kind to me in here. Niara ;)
I will be writing more the next couple of days, and I hope that when I am in Japan I will be able to write every week.
Matane * see you soon
Almost everything is done, I only have to send out some money next week, and make some phone calls to the city hall, and my insurance company.
But first off all only 2 days to work, I must say that I have really enjoyed this job, even though there are some things in the company that I disagree on. But yeah, that's okay. Just want to say thanks to all of you guys who have been kind to me in here. Niara ;)
I will be writing more the next couple of days, and I hope that when I am in Japan I will be able to write every week.
Matane * see you soon
Sunday, May 14, 2006
32 Days to go.
Since last week Mayuko has moved into our new house to get used to the place, and because it is close to her work in Nishinomiya. She is also setting up the house, so that when I come we only have to do the fun things. Thank you my love for this!!! Stuff that mayuko bought already:
*Fridge
*washingmachine
*Table
*Carpet.. we got 2 rooms with tatami, bit to much
*Futon
*Microwave
She also got some stuff from her parents, and we will buy some small things together when I arrive there.
The walking up and down from the station to the house is not so bad as she thought, but the summer is not here yet hahaha. And also she saw a wild boar in front of our house. haha, scared the hell out of me when I heard this... great for the BBQ though. From our balcony we can see a large tree, and some view over the ocean!
This upcoming Monday, I have to go to the Japanese embassy here in The Hague, to change my COE *Certificate of Eligibility* into a Visa. I should fill in some papers in the morning, than wait for 5 hours * I think I will go to the beach* and I will have my REAL Visa.
Then Tuesday, I have to tell my managers that I am leaving the company, so that is also very exciting.
and then Thursday I have to go to my uncle, who is sadly having cancer, and is doing worse all the time.
So yeah, beside the last thing my life is great! And I am a happy person :D
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
