At this moment, it is 18:36 and I am still in the office. Why? So I can use my computer to blog! Well, rather because I don't have internet at the dormitory. Can you believe it? A computer engineer without internet at home? Blasphemy eh? I have been plaguing my supervisor about it for about a month now... and still no positive reply yet. "I will check with..." who and who. Sigh...
Anyway, continuing from last entry, I was ticked off with just getting notice of having to move. At the time, I was prepared with money in hand to close a deal for a car from an ad online. I even test drove the car. The guy was selling a K class car 660cc for $800 roughly. Before coming to Japan, I had no idea how inconvenient not having a car would be. Even something so simple as shopping for food or just shopping was a big pain in the ass. Big heavy bags are not cool.
I wasn't expecting my supervisor to check with coop japan back home if getting a car would be okay. She did. Bloody trumped! So the car idea went down the hole. =(. For now anyway, if the right deal arises again I will buy keeping my mouth shut this time of course. So eventually, I had to move, which was another big pain in the ass. Physically moving is not that bad, but changing the registered address for this and that is a big hassle!
The company dorm has its ups and downs though. The good things are that it is bloody quiet and the managing lady makes great Japanese meals. Bad things... rant on that another time.
Regarding the title, this week has been so damn hot. Yesterday was 27C degrees and it is only May. I have been told that it gets as hot as 40C degrees mid-summer. Something to look forward to? Luckily the air conditioner in the office was fixed today. Yay.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
At last...
I finally got myself to create a blog for my time here in this foreign place. After four long months working and living here, the feelings of loneliness and nostalgia have started to settle in. It could be just that this has been a really bad week. At this moment, I am working the last of two work days in the Golden Week holiday. It is more or less what we call spring break, but for everyone. Why the hell there are two working days during the Golden Week holiday? I have no idea. My guess is that it is some Japanese thing. Guess what? Almost everyone goes to work on those two days.
They have no concept of flexible hours. Everyone starts work at 9am and leaves work probably at 9pm, everyday. Technically, the day ends at 5:30 so being the "intern" who doesn't know any better, I leave anytime I feel like after that. Trains are packed to the point of discomfort sometimes especially when it rains because the the bike riders take a day off.
I have been taking the bus since I moved from my original apartment. It aggravates me everytime I tell the story why I moved. It began when I decided to buy a car about two months ago. I knew this was strictly against coop japan policy but I miss having a vehicle at my disposable anytime of the day. I was utterly digusted at the thought of being enslaved to bus and train schedules. In Japan, you need to register a parking pace beforehand to be able to purchase a car. The place I was living in has parking space and is owned by the company so I had no choice but to ask for the parking registration. Bad move. First I was given false hope when my supervisor told me that I can legally get a car but... there maybe a problem.
..
Before I get to the problem I want to rant about this coop japan policy about not being allowed to drive. Who is to say that coop japan students are not allowed to drive? I don't think it is in their jurisdiction to say so. Regular UBC students can drive. Why can't I? I was looking through the policies and crap from coop japan to find nothing that stated I can't drive. Driving to and from work I can understand because the employer could be liable.
Anyway, she tells me I "might" have to move and she doesn't know if there will be a parking space available. At this point I was thinking WTF, when were you going to tell me I had to move. This was about a week before the moving date.
to be continued...
They have no concept of flexible hours. Everyone starts work at 9am and leaves work probably at 9pm, everyday. Technically, the day ends at 5:30 so being the "intern" who doesn't know any better, I leave anytime I feel like after that. Trains are packed to the point of discomfort sometimes especially when it rains because the the bike riders take a day off.
I have been taking the bus since I moved from my original apartment. It aggravates me everytime I tell the story why I moved. It began when I decided to buy a car about two months ago. I knew this was strictly against coop japan policy but I miss having a vehicle at my disposable anytime of the day. I was utterly digusted at the thought of being enslaved to bus and train schedules. In Japan, you need to register a parking pace beforehand to be able to purchase a car. The place I was living in has parking space and is owned by the company so I had no choice but to ask for the parking registration. Bad move. First I was given false hope when my supervisor told me that I can legally get a car but... there maybe a problem.
..
Before I get to the problem I want to rant about this coop japan policy about not being allowed to drive. Who is to say that coop japan students are not allowed to drive? I don't think it is in their jurisdiction to say so. Regular UBC students can drive. Why can't I? I was looking through the policies and crap from coop japan to find nothing that stated I can't drive. Driving to and from work I can understand because the employer could be liable.
Anyway, she tells me I "might" have to move and she doesn't know if there will be a parking space available. At this point I was thinking WTF, when were you going to tell me I had to move. This was about a week before the moving date.
to be continued...
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