Happy Easter!!!

March is gone and April is here. Where did the time go?? Of coarse at work and facebook. But I am so happy spring is finally here and I guess now spring is about gone. The Cherry blossoms in Nagoya were really beautiful this year. Here is a picture just out front of my office.





Nagoya is warm now and this weekend was fantastic!! So the cherry blossoms are now all just about gone and green leafs are replacing them. The good weather is here. But I guess this means the rainy and humid weather is just around the corner. Such are the seasons.

I drove to Osaka today to visit Costco and pick up some food. Its a long drive but nothing else to do today and I missed my food...hehe. So it was a good drive. I hate Sunday nights but I guess I can be positive and say at least another weekend is just 5 days away.

Last Friday riding my bike home from work I was hit but a small Nippon Express delivery van. I got a little hurt and my bike was in bad condition. The van was in much worse condition. But I was lucky. Just sore muscles and 2 cut up hands and a scratched face. But I will live. I didn`t even have my helmet on and my head and shoulder flew right into the windshield of the van and broke it. So a little crazy and I was more scared about the van than anything. But the guy was nice. We both were at fault. So after I realized I wasn`t dead and we looked over my bike and his van we decided to not call the police and I called for some help. So it was a bad night. I spend Saturday fixing my bike and I think we are good to go. This time... with a helmet. The last time I was hit by a car on a bike was in Otaru 10 years ago. I have now been hit 4 times on a bike all in Japan...WOW!!!

wow.... its March!!

I can`t believe its March. Its been a crazy February. Actually maybe the worst month I can remember. Its been busy and the economy has got me down. I can`t think of harder times. People I know left and right a getting cut from their companies. In a sense I am glad I am in Japan right now but to be honest I am completely burned out. The salaryman lifestyle in Japan has got to be the worst life style there is. I mean no time to pursue your own interests or hobbies. Its just company and customer time. Its amazing that I am in the same company. The US and European offices are so much different. Japan is unique thats for sure. There are some good things and generally I think the Japanese business culture is very good. But not if work is only part of your life. In the states we often say we work to life. Meaning we work to get the money to life the kind of life we want to live. In Japan its completely different in a lot of industries and just the general working culture. Its really you live to work I feel. Meaning your place of employment becomes the center part of your life. Its hard to explain in words. But I feel it and as an American Salaryman in Japan I can tell you its a lot of pressue. Doing things that are completely against your own beliefs or values. But doing them because its expected. I don`t think anyone could really understand unless you are in that position. I talk to a lot of guys from the states who are in similar positions. We all feel the same. This is different than just teaching English in Japan or being here to play or party. This is a culture that you really need to work in to understand. I do now and I know I could never do it for my life. In fact being here has got me thinking of maybe some other things I would like to do. I love Japan. I could life here the rest of my life. But I could never do what I am doing for the rest of my life. If I wanted to stay in Japan I would change. I would go into education. Not English conversation!! Real eduction. Thats my interest and thats what I have been thinking lately. So who knows. This economy makes you think of other careers and maybe time for a change. So I am thinking. I do know I don`t want to be an American Salaryman anymore. Its just not for me. When I get back to the states every day is going to feel like a vacation. I know this.... But I really respect the guys I work with here. Wow such hard workers and while their approach is different that that of America or Europe, they do well and you can only respect them. But I don`t want to be them....

So thats my month... as you can tell its been crazy and my rant on this subject is over. I should write a book...

Valentines!! Wow February is almost half over. Where have I been?? Its been a crazy couple of weeks for me online. I started a facebook account and got really involved. I could not believe how many old friends quickly found me and it is sooooo good to see so many people and chat with them. I talked with old high school friends and even girlfriends. Its really interesting to see how everyone has grown up and how their lives have developed and changed. I look at my own life and I would never have though in high school I would be doing what I am. Back then we all had such different goals and things we wanted to do. Now looking back its interesting and fun to see how people have changed. Some people are married, some divorced, some not married and some unemployed. Its life for everyone. So I have completely been away from my blog and hooked on facebook. Crazy!!

Well Valentines day is almost here in Japan. I was so surprised to see all the chocolate at Jusco the other day. I could not believe all the different kids of chocolate that were being sold special for Valentines. It looked so good I had to buy some for myself. So happy valentines day to me!!

Back to Reality....

The Holidays are over... wow time flies. I spent about 2 weeks all over Hokkaido and had an excellent time. Did some skiing and met some old friends. Went to a couple of onsens and ate some great food. It was a really good 2 weeks which I hated to see end. I stayed in Sapporo, Otaru, and Furano. It was awsome just awsome. I really thought as usual how much I really love Hokkaido. Its buy far my favorite place to be in Japan. Not to say other areas in Japan are great too. I just really like the openness of Hokkaido.

I did miss going back to America though. Maybe next year I don`t know. It was kind of nice not to be in the US this year due to the economic situation. Also, the holidays in the US are sooo busy. It was good to just be away and relax in a nice onsen and eat some good food.

Here is a picture of me taken at an onsen... Its nice to be outside relaxing in the hot spring water... especially when its snowing...



Well I was happy and relaxed as you can see. But now back to reality.... the economy stinks and my industry is really having a bad time... so this new year is going to be a challange.... I guess I will have to go relax there again next year.

Christmas is here...

Well my bonenkai is over. Its always fun to go watch guys who are so stressed out in the office and never smile become drunk and act like complete idiots. I love it. We had a bonenkai last Friday night and yes as usual for any bonenkai everyone got a little too drunk. We had 4 parties until early morning. I think it was a little more extreme than most bonenkai in Japan. But I guess there was a lot of stress this year to shake off. Still its funny to watch these guys. I swear a lot of Japanese guys turn gay when they are drunk I don`t know. But they love to hug and touch. Its crazy!! American`s just love to fight when they are drunk... who knows I guess Japanese do too.

So I survived that and tomorrow is my last day at work. Finally I can take a couple weeks off. I will spend the whole time in Hokkaido. I plan to just eat and ski. Thats it. Yaki niku, sushi, Sapporo Ramen, and ski ski ski... however it looks like I will play a little tennis also. I decided not to go back to the US this year and stay here. My parents were here earlier this year so its ok I don`t go. Plus they are headed down to Mexico now for winter. So I no one to go home to anyway. My shopping is done and everything shipped. So I am good to go. I will wake up Christmas morning and go to the airport and fly out. So an early morning for me thats for sure. But excited to see friends waiting for me.

December has just flown by. I can`t believe it. Next year is going to be hell I think. But I will get into that later.

Merry Christmas,

Well well well... December is here. November was a crazy but fun Month. I was busy with work but at the same time took a couple days off and went to Disneyland / Tokyo to play. I also went to Osaka and Kyoto to see the autumn leafs. Kyoto was beautiful I could not believe it!! I took some pictures.

Now the Christmas rush is on. I am doing a lot of shopping online and almost finished. Just a few more gifts and I am finally done. The big problem is the shipping costs I have to pay while living in Japan.... but nothing I can do about that. I am going to spend Christmas and New Years up in Hokkaido. So of coarse I am excited to go and eat some good food and see friends. I really need to just get a place up there. Someday.... Well I can`t wait to get my shopping done and relax the rest of the year. I also am really in the need of a break from work...