Kashima 2008 (10th Day) -07/03/08

Last day in Kashima. I was all packed in the morning, ever ready to go..

Really missed my bed and my family...

This time round, i went back with PP. She was really nice, always checking if i'm ok by specially walking over to the Economy seats area from her Business Class seat.

I even had the chance to go with her into the waiting lounge while we wait for our flight.

Pk came to fetch me back home but she did not wish to join us.

Home Sweet Home....

My next trip: Australia in May =D

Kashima 2008 (9th Day) -06/03/08

I cant remember what I did in the morning... hehe..

The fun part starts in the afternoon where we have a short tour at:

(1) Minato Park 港公园



The stone and the observatory tower



The top looks like a spaceship. Inspiration of the design must be from a spaceship..



The tree is wrapped to protect it from the cold.. (i tink so)



Up we go... into the spaceship!



View of Kashima Harbour from the top



Locations of all nearby harbours.. Singapore is marked too~



Another view from the top



I hope to see this in Australia too..

(2) Kashima Shrine



The Entrance (artistic right?)



Beautiful...



异族婚姻.. we were so lucky to witness this..



I like this photo! Can u see the colourful lights shining in??



There were antlers too.. =)



Not just 1 but many!



There is a saying that no matter how tall or short you are.. once you step into this pond, everyone will be of the same height. Sorry, i dun dare to try nor do i want to wet myself in the cold weather..



YUM YUM! I still think of it even though i'm back. Where can I find it in Singapore. It has a tinge of crispy feel on the outside as it was bbq... but soft on the inside. I love the one with the brown sauce but they dun like it. I cant remember the name, anyone knows?



Tiny me in the garden..

Kashima 2008 (8th Day) -05/03/08

Still working damn hard on the video........

I'm hoping to push it out by evening so I can enjoy PP's bdae dinner celebration at night!

And i did it. It was born in the afternoon *SMILE*

I was quite pleased with the end result and even sent it to myself as a souvenir. BUT due to my slowness in checking emails, the yousendit.com link expired before i retrieved it *SIGH*

Dinner.......... *DRRRROOOOLLLLL*

KOREAN BBQ DINNER...(BECOZ it is PP's Birthday!)


(To protect their privacy, it's better for me not to post any photos with their faces on it)

There were PP, me, Tak, Tkk, Katou & Mac?...
They arranged for me & PP to sit furthest away from the door as we were guests (diff from China culture).
We presented PP with our gifts and to my surprise, PP gave me an white packet as a bonus for helping her. I didnt expect it to contain $. Indeed, it is a useful and practical bonus for me :)

Thanks PP.

Kashima 2008 (7th Day) -04/03/08

I am a camera lady today! Ho Ho Ho.........

I like this part~ But this year was different from last year. PP wanted me to read out the WHOLE CASE STUDY to the volunteer students before we start video-taping. My god.. such a long script..

Last year was more interesting and funnier too as there were opposite views. This year.. hmm... so-so..

After video-taping, i have to analyse the video contents, cut here and there and form a brand new video. I really work my butt off to get the video done in time.

Therefore, not much of an excited day today except sitting infront of the computer with earphones until midnight.......

A Taiwanese student came to chat with me.. he told me the Singaporean student told him that Singaporean girls are hard to get. -_-"
Really???? Hmm............ hmmm............... HMmmm... (sthg to ponder abt)

Kashima 2008 (6th Day) -03/03/08

A Monday & I overslept. =P
Heng nothing big happened......

Morning -> Slack slack here, slack slack there...

Know what? Tkk told me 3 March 2008 is Girl's day in Japan! Dessert was special too because it is Girl's day~ hmm... no photo so... how do i describe it? it looks like a white-in-colour kueh wrapped with a scented leaf. The smell of the leaf is too strong to my liking hence i passed it to Tkk for consumption instead.

There is a Boy's Day as well and it's on 5 May.

Suddenly we went to the topic of fruits and I was surprised to find out that Tkk likes durian! If she ever visit Singapore, i must bring her to Geylang to eat durian sia.. make sure she likes it more. Hahhaa!

Tkk and I has the privilege to view the students' presentation on cultural differences. They were grouped according to where they are from (yah, grouped by me..) This is what I have learnt:

Japanese Business Culture

• They are working towards work-life balance. No more long working hours.
• When 2 businessmen meet up:

1. Person of highest seniority should sit furthest from the door.
2. Next, to exchange name cards with one another.
   
3. Name cards should be placed on the table in front of you.
4. To drink a sip of tea before introduction starts.
5. Subordinates must not speak before superior speaks.

Korean Business Culture

• 韩国人爱面子。Thus, the higher position they are in, the more generous they should be. It means spending more money even though you are gaining a higher salary.
• Frequent job rotations
• Speed is more impt than Quality. (A common word they use is 'Pali-pali' - means to be faster)
• Seniority is very impt.

Taiwan Business Culture

• Suitable gifts to give to client in corporations: Orchids, pineapples or red apple
• Taboo gifts: Umbrella (伞=散), Clock and Towel

China Business Culture

• During a banquet, seating arrangement is important. Guests must be seated nearer to the door while host further away.
• Cost of the banquet = Importance of the event/meeting
• It is rude for the guests to pay.

Thai Business Culture

• Handkerchief is not a good gift. (As handkerchief is used for wiping tears)

I learnt something, hope you all do too.

Hehe. I bought my Cookie Elmo today too. PP wanted us to hit the mall and get some food & fruits for her and i took the chance to purchase her. Cookie ELmo is sitting on my office table now..................


SHe is so unbelievably cute... dun u agree?

Kashima 2008 (5th Day) -02/03/08

Late update again,hehe.. been so busy after i'm back. But no matter what, i wish to record my trip details for my own pleasure :)

It is a working Sunday. Saturday is a day of fun and thus Sunday we will have to catch up with all the work.

PP came into the office and told me all about his Sat trip..It must be a nice trip from the way she told me about it... They went to a manga cafe filled with people dressing up as anime characters. She also went to a SPA with all kinds of spa treatment, including the one which Xin has told me abt it - putting ur feet into a pond of fishes and the fishes will feed off the dirty particles on your feet. She mentioned a section where everyone is naked *GOSH* Yah.. i cant accept it at the moment so.......cannot imagine it if i was there.. . . . .

Just like the previous year, Sunday is a day whereby PP & me works tog in the office. It's a day where we have some time alone to chat too..

A day of peace...

Sweet PP passed me her extra pillow because I feel 辛苦 with nothing to hug =(
FYI, my bed is not that soft and springy too.............
I miss my bed at home.....

Kashima (4th day)

It's my 5th day in Kashima and I'm waiting for PP to come..

Sigh, yesterday was bit of a bad day for me =(

First, i could not find the right direction to Kashima Port thus to prevent myself from losing my way in this shivering cold unfamiliar land, i decided to head back to SMTC (to where i stayed). So i didn't get to take any cruise ride and my right ear was slightly 'aching' from the cold weather.

2ndly, I wanted to take the shuttle bus from SMTC to Jusco cheerio to shop ard... i was horrified to discover that there will not be bus to fetch me back if no one signs up for the next travel timing. They even advised me to take a taxi which costs >$20 just for a short 10mins car ride!!! Furthermore, you have to CALL for a cab! You cannot simply just wave ur hand on the street for a cab.. I wish my colleague, TP (who knows Jap) is here with me...Well, i could try to bike my way there but luckily they compromised and agreed to drive me there. (GOSH, if PP was here, it will be a different story)

3rdly, the office area was no more accessible as they have locked up both doors and some maintenance seems to be going on. SIGH...... there goes my intended entertainment. After shopping, i have to head back to my room and watch tv instead (there was no nice tv prog still)

-____-

At least i get to buy some food back.. i bought meiji chocos which of cos cost more expensive in Singapore, hehhee.. i'm going to eat while work!!

I saw a very very cute softtoy!!! But I dun know if I want to buy it... *troubled* It's so so cute! IT's an ELMO in disguise of COOKIE MONSTER!!!
hmm...........
hhmmmmmmmm

Will it be a waste of money? At this pt, Pk's face flashed thru my mind. I can imagine him looking at me with a twisted face and says:"why did u go to Japan and buy this kinda ting???"
Me:" Yes dear..."
Pk:" -_- "
Maybe i will say:" I bought it cos it looks like u *smile*"
Pk:" -___-" "

Anyway, my money is limited now...i'm not sure if there will be a chance to head down to Jusco again so i shall see..
But i really feel like buying leh cos it's not available in Singapore (which i'm nt entirely sure too,hahah)

Okay, PP not here yet.. I wonder wat is in store for me today :)

Kashima 2008 (3rd day)

Waking up at 6.15 am *tired*

Morning call to PP at 7am *still tired*

Breakfast at cafeteria *slightly better*

Walking back to office *tinking if will feel tired after breakfast*

Not much of an excitement today except that I get to talk in front of the whole class. It's somethng that i dun like to do but i have no choice cos it's a request from PP. So i did it. Did i do it well? Well....... i dun know... i will forget abt it. But at least when i said :" Hi, I'm TJ", the students laughed. Last year batch is the same as this year batch = they laugh easily.

So it's work work work for the whole day until now (i did manage to do some personal work).

I like the weather.. cold but with heater in the office..
I like the food.. diff menu for diff days and diff meals..
I like the environment.. peaceful, quiet, no insects..
I like the surrounding.. trees ard.. flowers on the table..

I just went back to my room and watched a bit of tv. GOSH! a girl managed to skip 152 times in 30secs! Can u imagine how fast it is? The image shown on tv of her is just like u are fast-fowarding a normal skipper... Why do Japanese have time to train sthg like that?????

Kashima (2nd day)

You know.. im skinny and i dun eat a lot......

Yet, colleagues here are worse than me. They will either skip lunch or dinner for the day (which leaves me alone for meal cos PP has to eat with the students, sobz)!! I know Linda dun have much liking for Jap food but for the other 2 jap colleagues, i dun know why. Does it come with age??

Certainly, i wont skip lunch or dinner here simply because i love the cafeteria food! The food is one of the factors that attracts me back.......it is so delicious that i dun know how to describe it. Every meal is different but i like them all. I like diff varieties of food for a meal and Japanese food fits the bill! *Drool...........

I retook photos of SMTC (the place i am staying) via a better camera. Probably i will post it when im back in Spore...

I'm going to cycle ard Kashima on Saturday.
I'm going to have dinner at a Korean BBQ Restaurant on Wednesday.
I'm going to visit Kashima Shrine on Thursday.

Yup! It's not only work here *wink

Kashima 2008 (1st day)

Hi Japan!!!!

It's my 2nd time stepping on Japan. Many people have told me that i'm lucky to be able to travel to japan for freeeeeeeeeeee

I woke up at 2.30am on 27 Feb to get ready for pk to come and fetch me at 3.30am. *Thanks :)

He was tired and i was tired too.

I queued up to get my Northwest airline ticket...

So the airport officer asked:
"did anyone entrust you with anything to bring abroad?"
"What is in ur luggage?"
"when did u pack ur luggage?"
blah blah blah..........

The security is necessary but the questions are so cute and funny~

I could not slp well on the plane even though i was quite tired. It's always hard to slp with such limited space... i expeccted an ang mo to sit beside me but this time round it was a black american.

I watched Bee movie while enjoying my plane breakfast but i was way too sleepy to catch the whole movie.

Turbulence encountered before landing was like a roller coaster ride.. i was a bit scared and i could only hold on to the hand rest...

Security check was also stricter at Narita Airport. They conducted lugage checks on every single passenger..

I saw my big name on an A4 sign the moment i stepped out from the departure gate... 2 Japanese guys have come to fetch me :) Katou san and.... (forgot his name)
I like Katou san cos he looks very approachable. Despite having difficulty in speaking even a short complete sentence of English, he tried his very best to chat with me in the car..
we talked abt our work....
we talked abt the population of our country..
ya.. basically abt that.. do not imagine to be a short conversation.. it lasted long.. cos we uses handsign, repeated several times on our sentences, Takou san looking at the driver and back at me and trying to figure wat i m a\talking abt.....

If we dun understand each other, it often ends up in a laugh. keke..not those fake fake laugh but genuine laughters...

I remembered i called his name wrongly last year. I called him Tako San which means Mr Octopus.. and he still rem, haha!

I hugged Takiko san, Linda and PP when i see them!~ It was nice to see them again after 1 year..
Needless to say, there was definitely work for me to do since my arrival is considered late.

Oh ya! I got back the same room as last year...... not sure if they did it on purpose..

End note on 1st day:
Well, i'm definitely not as amazed as i was last year. Everything remains the same except for a new & better photocopying machine, a new drawer in the office, a new document camera (transparency) and english channels on tv~

It's colder too...