Narita, Japan May 28th 11:45am
Soo.. It all started back in december last year, when I went to a meeting I wasn’t supposed to go. There I met a nice lady, we talked briefly about my expectations from my major, and what I was planning on doing for my future. I told her I was studying japanese at the time and that I was planning on coming to Japan in the near future, to join a japanese school and learn the language. She got very excited about it and asked me if I would be interested in doing a co-op (Co-Operative Education, something like an internship but you get taught as well) in Japan, I jumped at the idea and told her it would be a wonderful thing if that would happen. That same afternoon I went to visit her in her office and she told me she had spoken with her contact in Radisson and he told her that there were probably some opportunities in Japan for me.
Well it was more easy said than done. Since December I was running around all campus at the university trying to convince people that me going to Japan was a good idea. At least it seemed to me, having my first real job in another country using other language would be a one of a kind experience for me, and well, I love living one of a kind experiences, even if I’m scared and lonely inside.
Well.. more than just a story about what is going on I just want to write how I feel. I’m soo scared. extremely super scared. Don’t know scared of what. Because I’m not scared of failure, because there is not really much to fail on. Seems that the computer work they needed here was just simple stuff, as the have told me, and that is okay, I don’t mind doing simple work, I can always build upon that and show. Maybe I’m just scared this is not going to work for me and I won’t be happy. I’m scared that I’m alone now. I don’t have internet access and I can’t talk with my friends and family (Jon & Tyler).
Wow, I’m about to cry. Why, cause I have nothing. I’m just dragging around the world this load of enourmous baggage of things I don’t need, things that make me confortable in some way, but in the end I don’t need and just seem to make my life a little bit easier, although ultimately it’s just a heavy load.
First Day at work.
Narita, Japan May 28th 8:00am
Today I was expected to meet with my manager at 8am, he was like 15 mins late. We had breakfast, he talked a bit about the hotel and stuff, most of the things I can’t remember anyways.
He asked me, what do I expect from the internship. I don’t really know. I guess I want to have a job, do the internship thing, that is nice, and also I want to gain some experience so I fill my resume and stuff. I don’t know. I wanna be happy. How can I be happy. well.. that’s a good question.
I want to learn japanese. I will enjoy that.
Then some japanese guy, the financial officer joined the table and the started discussing about some finanncial stuff that had nothing to do with me. We ordered breakfast. I think from the nervousness I’ve been feeling lately I haven’t been eating much. So ordered some scrambled eggs and toast. They were kinda dry. After a while Miyoshi-san 三好さん joined the table. They talked a little about miscelaneous stuff and about my sideburns and my hair. They said it had to be trimmed a little.
Day Before that.
New York,NY May 26th 8:00am
I was in NYC staying at the same chain hotel here, I chose it because I wanted to get a feeling of the hotel. I didn’t liked that one too much, it had nice rooms though, but the whole neighborhood and feeling of the hotel had kinda run down feeling.
So I woke up, hemed the pants of the new suit, chatted with some friends and got things ready for the trip I’ve been waiting for so long. The JFK is huge, terminals everywhere and specially the Northwest/KLM terminal has a very “brand-new” and nicely finished feeling.