Articles from Rey Ian\'s Personal Blog

Japanese Nomikai
2007-12-21 08:48:00
A month ago, since there have been changes in our company, it has been relaunched. After a 2-hour reintroduction of the top management, partners and investors, we had our nomikai, or simply a toast for the new beginning.As a Filipino, we have this notion about company parties that it should overflow with food. Here in Japan, its not. There is food but not that much unlike in the Philippines. The entire room was filled with all of the Engineers and Systems teams and the management. Food was placed at the center of the room along with beer and red and white wine. Observing how the Japanese do ceremonies such as this surprised me a bit. Before anything else, there is this usual speech with some of the most important people in the top management and the ceremonial toast. Also, it is expected that women serve the men and/or kohais (the newly employed) should serve the senpais (the older ones). But I didn't care serving the senpais. It felt like I didn't really fit in to their culture. I f ...

Interesting Creatures at Ueno Zoo (??????)
2007-12-07 19:05:00
Ueno Zoo Ticket Price: 600 for AdultsOpen on WeekendsHow to get there? Just take the Yamanote line and stop at Ueno Station, then walk several hundred meters and you are at Ueno Zoo.One of my favorites in the National Geographic Channel segment is the meercats. I am thrilled to see this creature for the first time.I think it was also my first time to see these animals in tux, the penguin.Siesta break for this American Bison because he can't understand Nihongo.You need a camera with fast shutter speed to catch this crazy armadillo from running all the time without pausing for a while. Without going to Australia, I have seen these Kangaroos who maybe had a hard time using Nihongo in an Aussie accent.The porcupines are also interesting to see. Pink Flamingos paint the scenery with its own color. ...

Struggling with My Nihongo
2007-12-07 18:43:00
One of the difficult things I have encountered here is understanding their language, Nihongo. I did study Nihongo way back in the Philippines for a couple of months but I believe it's not that enough, simply saying because I am not a Japanese. We used the textbook Minna no Nihongo but to my surprise, some of the Japanese conversation I hear don't use and follow the proper grammar patterns in the book. Which makes me lost everytime I join a conversation. Have you ever felt the pressure and the frustration of expressing something with someone which you can't express in an another language? Yes, it like being beating the hell out of you and you can't even fight back.My colleague suggested I join Nihongo Volunteer groups here in Tokyo but during this season, they take off during the holiday season. Living alone here even makes me more isolated. It felt like after all, I am all alone. I used to remember a friend of mine saying "At the end of the day, no matter who is your companion duri ...

Doraemon Photo Collection 1
2007-12-04 08:21:00
For more than two (2), months, these were the photos I have taken with one of Japan's most famous cartoon character, Doraemon.An omiyage (pasalubong) shop in Tokyo Grandsta Station showcasing Doraemon memorabilias.A children's ride in a small amusement park fronting Ueno Zoo.A hand puppet for sale in Harajuku. ...

The Japanese Taxi
2007-12-04 07:06:00
Probably, for a foreigner, one of the jewels of Japan is their TAXI. Why? Jewel because of its fare and jewel for its amazing value inside. Tokyo taxi's are probably the most high tech taxi cabs in the world. Yesterday, taxi cabs jacked up their flag down rates to 710 yen for the first 2 kilometers from the usual 660 Yen. This is the first increase after 10 years. Indeed this is already very expensive for foreigners. That is why people here ride the trains (another special mention) because taxi fare is very expensive. If you are a new timer here, do not ride the taxi without enough money.But on the other side, taxis are very convenient for those in a hurry. If you office is far from the train station, and if you have extra money, why not try it? Also, taxis in Tokyo have GPS wherein they have the capability to search on the on-board computer your destination and plot the shortest path with reference to current traffic and road conditions.Mind you, the topmost picture above was when ...

Tokyo 2016: The Bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics
2007-11-30 23:50:00
I first saw the Tokyo 2016 Summer Olympic Games campaign print ad on Ueno Zoo. And indeed they are battling against Azerbaijan (Baku), Brazil (Rio de Janiero), Qatar (Doha), USA (Chicago, Illinois), Czech Republic (Prague), and Spain (Madrid) to host the 2016 Summer Olympics.If Japan wins for the bid this 2009, then Japan should prepare their entire citizenry to speak English like what Beijing, China did. If Japan restricts VISA to foreign nationals to work for the Olympics, then they should rely on their local workforce. By then, these individuals must be able to speak English in a minimum capacity. This is needed in cases such as tourists will ask for directions, look for places, ask for alternatives, or maybe just have a cup of coffee in a local coffee shop.Well, I hope I am still or will be here in Tokyo by 2016. I want to see the opening and closing ceremonies of this spectacular event. But what the hell, it's 9 years to go and we won't even know who will win the bid until the n ...

Missing Filipino Christmas from Tokyo
2007-11-28 07:39:00
Tokyo's airwaves is filled with Christmas songs and littered with Christmas Trees lighted in different colors. But, as a Filipino, I don't really feel the smell of Christmas. It seemed there is lacking. Well, just today, I saw 4 people in Santa Claus costumes. Two of which in Keio University during lunch time and another two stood in front of Tamachi Station giving Christmas gospel CDs for free. I am sure they are not the ones on Keio because the two Santa Clauses I saw at the station are real foreigners with accent while in Keio University, are Japanese native speakers.So how is Philippine way of celebrating Christmas different from Japan? There are several differences.1. The Philippine celebration of Christmas is more of spiritual and a way for family to reunite, eat and store fat on our bodies and light firecrackers. But in Davao, I think this year is the 4th year that there is a total ban on firecrackers. So it is okay for me here in Tokyo to hear nothing during Christmas and New ...

Stormtrooper Sighted at Akihabara and Shibuya
2007-11-25 18:19:00
Seen a dancing star Trooper from Starwars? Here is an old flick showcasing a costumed Startrooper dancing in the streets of Shibuya and Akihabara. I hope someday I can catch one of these fellows in Akihabara or Shibuya. Enjoy. ...

My First Catholic Church Visit in Yotsuya
2007-11-25 07:51:00
Finally, I have found a Catholic Church in Yotsuya. St. Ignatuis Parish beside Sofia University. You would not be easily lost as the tall crucifix on top of the belfry is visible outside from Yotsuya Station via my one-and-only Chuou Line (another special mention of the train).There is another Church on the left-side facing oppositely with St. Ignatius with a huge cross. But I am not sure if it is a Catholic. Just ask for directions where is Sofia University.The church is nice and warm! I was a bit late, as usual. But I manage to listen to the words of wisdom. I felt relieved and I don't know but cried in the middle of the mass. Maybe I was affected with the OFW syndrome. Which they say, lonely OFWs get too emotional on their second month. And always the second month. Also, I felt goosebumps and the usual eerie when the song "Kordero ng Dios" was sung. I am not used to Tagalog mass hymns. I am either into English and the hardcore Bisaya mass hymns. But when the hymn was sung, it felt ...

Fuji TV's Hilarious Comedy Segments
2007-11-24 20:10:00
This is definitely one of the things Japanese TV is good at. Spoofing and comedic acts of various proportions. In this flick, you see Darth Vader trying to beat the Japanese Keisatsu (Police). Fuji TV is one of the large networks here in Tokyo with live huge screen facilities open for public in Shibuya and Shinjuku. See the flick and you will surely laugh on it. ...

Suruga Bank Tokyo(???????)
2007-11-23 00:05:00
The dilemma of the gaijin has sprung up to send money to his native country. The saga continues with his adventure in the outskirts of metropolitan Tokyo.There are so many obstacles that you will face here. First, you can't do any bank transaction such as ATM registration nor cellphone plan availment nor Internet subscription nor anything that has a contract unless you have your FINAL alien card registration.Thus, sending money to Philippines using bank to bank transaction is impossible, unless your officemate does it for you. So what are the options? Western Union at Suruga Bank outlet in Tokyo. Finding this bank for the first time in Central Tokyo is very difficult for the first time. There are a couple of options. You can take the subway or JR train. The subway is the nearest, fastest and easiest way but I tried it using JR to go there. When sending money, please do not forget to bring your passport with VISA and your final alien registration card. If your alien registration card i ...

Interesting Finds at Meguro
2007-11-22 21:56:00
For some Dabawenyos, especially those who live in Toril and constantly visit the upperlands like Eden, this plant is most likely familiar to you. We locally call it "the mickey mouse plan" since the physical features of this inedible fruit is like that of Mickey Mouse's head and ears. Here in Meguro, Tokyo, this plant is called "Fokkusu Fueizu" or Fox's Face. Price tags around 735 yen per stem depending on the fruits it has.What for? Ornamental display of course.... ...

The Buzz About Smorty
2007-11-22 11:11:00
Do you own a blog? Do you love to write anything online? Do you evaluate establishment services right after availing it? Do you want to earn by blogging? Then, I guess, Smorty is here to help you that. Smorty is a new and exciting way of blogging. Advertisers and bloggers have been given a list of dynamic opportunities suited for each individual's preference and forte. Smorty is a new blog advertising platform that will be the future standard of paid online advertising. Smorty's service is very easy and very fast. Using you PayPal account, you can directly forward all of your earnings from the opportunities you take. Smorty has so far been the fastest blog paid advertising site yet on the Internet when I comes to rewards renumeration and blog approval. So if you love to blog or simply blogging is just part of your life to express feelings, why not jazz it up with Smorty? Help Smorty fulfill advertisers dream and Smorty pays you back. Isn't it a good idea? Earning money while enjoyin ...

Okachimachi: Tokyo's Chinatown
2007-11-22 10:29:00
Tsugi ha, Okachimachi. Deguchi ha hidari gawa desu.???????????????Finally, the gaijin found a Divisoria-style haven of cheap goods from China. It is indeed a real haven for people who are in tight budget here in Japan. Here, everything you see in the Philippine Chinatown districts are here.Okachimachi is a town next to Ueno via the Yamanote Line. The station lies within the central business district of the Chinese community. Here, you can find everything from "toothpick to battleship," a common joke of Chinese traders in Davao City.The first time I went there, I was with our neighbor in Davao, Ryan who also works here, and he toured me to this amazing place. Streets are filled with side-street shops selling very cheap watches, bags, golf and golf accessories, clothes from branded to never-been-heard brands, shoes, bags, toys, lots and lots of food stalls catering Japanese and Chinese goods like manju, rice cakes, tuna rice bowls, okonomiyaki, different kin ...

Garage Floors from Carguygarage.com
2007-11-22 09:53:00
Carguygarage offers the best and coolest car garage floor tiles and flooring for your very own garage. The offer many different colors of flooring to suit style and design of your garage. Your problems with cracked, chipped and stained concrete floor garage will be over with this flooring system that Carguygarage offers. You floors will look as new as a professional exhibit store like those of know brands of cars. Also, their interlocking garage floor tiles are very easy to install and durable. Preserve and maintain the flooring of your garage with this interlocking garage floor tile system which will surely suit your needs. Different colors and designs to choose from in their website to suit your garage style needs. The website is easy to navigate and organized. You may never get wrong in choosing the right kind of tile or flooring for your garage.There is also an online catalogue that you can download for your comprehensive selection. And when you want to verify the availability of ...

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