ZZzzzzZZZzzz...

Haven't updated the blog for awhile. Many things happened, (mostly work-related though) will do a more detailed update later when I have more time and AFTER I GET MORE SLEEP !!! But the gist is -

1. A good old college guy friend got married on July 1st, but I was working in the office while his wedding ceremony was happening on the other side of the planet. Sad sad sad.... -__- wrong timing...
2. World Cup was over and I watched the few final matches at the office gym while running (yea, no TV at apt and probably won't get one at all)
3. Another good old college friend seems to learn how to stays away from the "dark side" and becomes much more positive. No more alcohol or talking about death!!! yay!!
2. Having a daily meeting from 8am to 9am and had to take a 10:30pm conference call with the NY team every other Wednesday =(
3. Work hours getting longer and longer (sigh)
4. Had my first dinner + drinking gathering event with co-worker last night which went from 7 to 11pm. Feel weird to see people you work with everyday at office gets drunk and talks so differently.... well... Japanese style, I guess. But, tiring...
5. Had home-cooked dinner twice this week. (Thanks Mike!!!) Gosh, I miss simple dinner and homemade veggie!!
6. Going to Hakone this (long) weekend
7. Yea, tomorrow is Friday!!
8. Desperately need MORE sleep!!

ZZzzzzzZZzzzz.... (-__-)z

Japanese business men's lunch naps

I see something very interesting or particularly "Japanese" almost everyday here in Tokyo. This is what I found today -

Japanese salary men in suits napping during lunch -
I wanted to read some documents today at lunch, so I picked a floor lobby with tables and chairs and started reading the docs while eating my sandwiches. I devoted my attention to the table next to me very soon though - there were 3 business men dressing in formal black suits sitting together at the same table. They were not eating nor chatting. They were just ... NAPPING. Yea, not kidding you. Simply, just having their eyes close, heads slowly resting towards one side on their shoulders, just.. sleeping!!!

I was soooo tempted to take a picture of this peculiar scene with my cell phone camera; however, I didn't want the stupid camera noise (that I have no way to turn off) to disturb this "peaceful" environment (for them anyways)!! They napped for about a total of 7, 8 minutes. (yea, I witnessed the whole process.) At the end one of the guys magically "woke" up, looked at his watch, woke up the other two guys and left the table.

I know European people are known to be very laid back and take lunch naps at home, but witnessing Japanese business men do it (in a group setting) at a company lobby is just.... hilarious and yet sad at the same time, almost the exact opposite of the Europeans.

Seriously though, you all crazy Japanese people - you work WAY too much!!!!

World Cup at Work

It's very distracting when a semi-final world cup game was showing on a gigantic LCD TV right over your head AT THE OFFICE.

That's right. Did I ever mention that there are six, seven big LCD TVs at the trading floor where I am working at? Well... I guess the trading floor at Goldman Sachs Japan is nice... ^__~ The TVs are showing normal TVs, so from time to time when there is a baseball or basketball game showing, you might hear the American or British employees (yea, the foreigners are always the noisy bunch!!) cheer or yell.

Back to the semi-final match Germany V.S. Italy. For those who watched the game, you probably already knew how good the game was. It started sometime around 5pm Tokyo time, while I was still working at the office (well... of coz!!) The fact that it was JUST showing RIGHT THERE (over my head a little bit) was a seriously huge temptation!! I looked up from time to time to check the score for the first half and most of the second half of the match. And when I finally got the thing that I wanted to get done done, I immediately packed up my stuff and fled to the company gym downstaris to continue watching the match (while running on treadmill).

I had to admit the run was "enganging" and I didn't even realize I had run for almost 45 min when Italy made their first goal. The good thing about being neutral is that you don't get need to get too emotionally involved and are able to appreciate how good both team played.

I miss watching World Cup. The many years I spent in the US trained me to be "indifferent" about this worldwide sports event! Being in Asia again woke my World Cup spirit up. Though Japan is still no where compare to HK, speaking about World Cup Fever!!!

p.s. I think Juergen Klinsmann, the Germany coach, is superb charming and cute!! (yea, yea, I Know... my taste is .... "different"!! Hmm... I wonder what does that say about Mike.... hehe... =p )

No time for anything...

To all Japanese people,
If you keep your crazy working hours, there will be no time for you to date, to spend time with your love ones, to make a family nor any babies !!!

p.s. I am glad it's Friday and WEEKEND!!!! @___@