Its been a crazy week. I got into a little argument with my boss which got me upset. Then my car got hit and I got the estimate back at 50 man. The whole side of the body needs to be replaced... doors and all. I wasn`t hurt. I was more hurt by the things that happened with my boss than with the car. But thats life.

I was told last week I need to be staying some nights later. I said thats fine. But whats later?? I already go home around 8:00 (Sometimes 7:00). He told we it doesn`t matter the time just when the job is done... I don`t understand. OK... if the job is done at 8:00pm then it that fine?? He says no. Basically the whole argument was that he wanted me to stay some nights as late as some other employees. Thats like 10 or 11pm. I refused. I said that if the job was done there is no need for me to stay so late and work overtime just because some guys are doing it. Well.. he didn`t understand that either. He has the idea that working 15 hours a day means you are more productive. As an American of coarse I do not have that way of thinking. Working even until 8 is considered late for me...hehe. I mean in the United States we try to get off work at around 6pm. We plan and prioritize the day to be able to do that. I come to this office and its completely different than anything I have ever experienced. I have worked for Japanese companies before and nothing like this. This has got to be the most crazy office I have ever worked in. But its not all Japanese culture. I would say most of it is the management of the office. I don`t say its bad because its not. I just say its different and the thinking seems a little old.
I can sit and complain about this forever. But basically I am here for a couple years and then out. So I will just shut up and work...hehe. But I disagree with the thinking and therefore had an argument. Its funny because the people in the Japan office think the people in the American office do not work very hard. But the people in the American office think the people in the Japan office work just too much but still only get about the same amount of work done. I don`t know who is right or wrong. Of coarse I am American but I am trying to be open minded. However I feel this office needs to stop putting so much emphasis on the total amount of hours worked and just make sure the customer is satisfied. If the customer is happy then thats most important. Working long hours and finding work just to stay long hours makes no sense to me. Anyway, I know a lot of people who disagree and think thats not good enough. My take on that is that as people we need to have a balance in life. For most in my office they have no balance. They work way too much and do not have enough time to grow as individuals. To time to pursue interests and it seems to me its very unhealthy. I would rather have some "Todd Time" and make sure my life is balanced. In the end its just a job and what did we really get out of it??

Keigo??? 敬語 ????

I was in Yokohama all day today at a Japanese Business Manner Instructional Class. There were many people from my company there. The class was all day and it taught about all the important manners we must have to do business in Japan. We discussed everything from giving out name cards to where we should sit in a car with a customer. We also practiced speaking very polite business Japanese.

I was the only American there. The rest were Japanese. I only knew maybe 5 people out of the 25 or 30 that was there. It was really tough for me. I have studied the basic Japanese manners and culture of Japanese business. But one thing I have never been good at is speaking polite Japanese business. Everyone in Japan who really knows me will know that I do not speak polite Japanese. Actually I guess sometimes I am too casual with my language and may even be rude. I think many of my friends would agree ... right Mik??? hehe

BUT lately I have been trying to clean up my language. I have been studying and today was very good for me. I did once again realize today just how formal and different the business culture is in Japan compared to the US. The business culture in the US is so casual. Its very comfortable and classes like the one I had today are not needed. But in Japan I can understand even for Japanese how these types of classes are needed. I saw many Japanese people today make many mistakes with the language. So I didn`t feel to bad. I understand I need to be more polite and use better words and expressions..... DAMMIT!!! ... hehe. So I will just keep studying. In the end I hope the people I work with will respect me for my efforts. It was an interesting class. Tomorrow in the office I get to use and practice everything I learned today. I think everyone will think that Todd has gone crazy.

Another night in Tsukuba,

Well I am in Tsukuba again. I come here almost every week. Sometimes I stay the night and sometimes I come and return the same day. Tonight I am staying... This hotel (Okura Epicol) is practically my second home. I have stayed here on and off for the last 7 years. I was here with my previous company.... anyway..

So I am watching the news and see that there has been a shooting in Nagoya. Some guy shot at a cop and then shot his own sons and now is in his house with his wife... CRAZY!!! I am really thinking either Nagoya is much different than anywhere else in Japan I have stayed OR Japan is really changing. Its not the nice quiet peaceful country it used to be. Since living here I have had my car broken into, my neighbors house was broken into, and now a shooting that is only like 10 minutes from my home. So anyway... kind of crazy. Not really that its big news to me. I mean living in California and Utah we get this news often... but for Japan it just kind of surprises me with all the news I hear lately. But its still much safer than the US thats for sure.

Well tomorrow is Friday. I am soooo happy. I just got to hang in there for one more day and then a break!!

RUSH baby RUSH !!

I received my new Rush CD in the mail today. I was really excited to put this in my player. I just finished listening to it..... what can I say??? IT WAS AWSOME!!! I kind of feel like I am back in high school listening to this. This has been my favorite group since I was in 8th grade. So I was really exicted to hear they were putting out a new album. I wish I was back in the states to see them in concert this year. But I may need to schedule a trip anyway.

Well that at least gave me some energy after the golden week hangover. So I guess I will survive another few days. Its funny because I got many emails from my friends saying "hey did you hear?? Rush is putting out another CD!!" So we were all excited together.

Life is good today.