It's only my third day in Japan, the second day of the program and it feels that we've done a lot already. I feel very close to my other colleagues from the other overseas offices and it's such a joy and comfort that we all experience the same things more or less --- the pressure, the feeling of being under or unappreciated, the confusion, the joy in putting together plans and people together, the satisfaction of having not just a successful but a meaningful project, the gratitude that we have a job we love to do.
This morning, we got introduced to the UNC's programs. It all went over my head as the speakers were mostly speaking Nihongo. They started to speak in English but it became a bit blurry as I found it hard to distinguish whether it was Japanese or English. Shame shame shame.
When the session ended, we took the train to Roppongi ichome, where the hq is. There's nothing like seeing the mother ship... hehehe. It was only 2 floors (20th/21st) but it had a lot of divisions and personnel. Sayang, I wasnt able to meet my former boss. But I was able to meet other staff who I worked with in past projects. I never thought I would be hugging them, but I did ;) hehehe.
I also thought how similar our offices were like. Like our office in Manila has a starbucks in the ground floor and the hq has one! When I took a peek at the hq stockroom, I thought to myself, "it suddenly feels like i never left the office."
I would also think that the hq staffmembers would be more formal, but they were warm and welcoming. All of us (the participants) felt included and genuinely appreciated. I also thought they (hq staff) would all be suited up, but they were more casual.. dare I say, I do dress a bit like them when I'm in Manila at work. And that is casual :P
Like I said earlier, this is only the third day but it feels like it's already towards the end, because we've learned a lot of things and met people, and experienced wonderful things, how could it get any better? but it will... i'm sure.
Anyway, I'm still waiting for the sushi. I have tasted soba and ramen and fish-katsu (fried fish), but I can't say that I like it. So far the only meal I really liked was the smoked salmon sandwich I had at a New Zealand cafe in Roppongi and the cheese pizza I had tonight nearby. I'm still waiting to be blown away by Japanese food. Hopefully tomorrow at the awarding ceremony and reception.
My feet are aching and I refuse to look (or even smell) them as they are sure to be red and swollen. Pero even if I was feeling that way around 5pm, I still went on to Akihabara to look for a maid cafe. Iika-ika na, ka-echosan pa ang hinahanap... Oh, I also found a casio exilim camera for about 10,000 -- i like! should i buy? hmmmm.... anyway...
So eto na nga, lakad pa rin kami at hanap ng maid cafe until we came upon a gaming complex where they have the novelty stuff --- the pick-up crane for the stuffed toys, the manga figurines, and the purikura.
The purikura I know is very straightforward. You settle in the booth, adopt a couple of fun poses, your picture is taken and you wait for the photos to come out. Ganon pa rin naman ngayon, except we borrowed and wore cosplay wear! hahahaha!!! it was such a treat!
This thing is only for girls. Males aren't allowed to even enter the sanctuary of girly kawaii-dom. I put on a school girl's uniform, which I thought was too short and actually too tight around the waist :P while my friend, a colleague from Australia wore the maid's costume! It was so much fun I tell you. We are seriously thinking of buying an authentic cosplay attire after the program if there are still funds available. Mahal kasi e ￥10000!
So we have a free morning tomorrow, when I plan to wash clothes. Then it's the noh and kyogen in the afternoon, then the JF awards ceremony and reception. We get to meet the president of JF! I just hope my feet dont hurt as much tomorrow...
No photos yet because I dont want to download the photos to the pc... soon, I hope.
Ja, ashita- ne!
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