My New mobile PC

McBookPro! I finally got one! And it runs as good as it looks. I ordered it from the net by surfing for the one with the cheapest price. I'm glad to say it cost 20,000 yen lower than the one sold in the Apple store. I decided that I needed it in preparation for taking IELTS. I want to be able to carry my study materials as well as my files anywhere I go. I also want to send my PC home in the hope that they might be able to sell it. I already bought a bluetooth mouse and wireless router to go with it. I love wireless! Everything looks so neat!
At first, I did have a little problem with it since all the keyboard shortcuts keys I knew were for windows, but it's a relief to know that most of my problems were solved when I learned about the command button! I'm even more ecstatic because I just got a copy of Parallel last night so I'd be able to install Windows tonight! The wonders of two OS in one computer! My next target is a android phone (I'm currently eyeing on Samsung I7500). It's too bad though, not many japanese telecom company supports Android.

Goodbye Kyoto!

May 1, 2009 - Despite the beauty of Kyoto, it wasn't enough for us to want to stay. We never had time to enjoy that beauty anyway, because we were so busy. We worked like slaves, Mars' back got worse over the years that he slaved there. We were more than grateful to be out of the hellhole! But before we left we took some great photos of everyone including the cook of the restaurant we both frequented during lunch. Everyone cooperated during the photo shoot. They looked like normal people even though most of them were secretly monsters!

Dio is Leaving Japan

April 8, 2009 - Dio's decision to leave Japan shocked most of us because of it was so sudden. Even Mars knew little about it, he only knew less than a week before Dio's flight!
I was glad that eventhough it was sudden, we were still able to get together to talk. We even took "pirikura" pictures with him. The night before we accompanied him to the train station, I was exploring some files in my PC and I came across the video of a jam session we shot together with him playing the electric guitar. It felt nostalgic. Life goes on, friends come and go but they leave you with ageless memories to remember them by.

Kyoto Shigoto!

It was an exciting day for me. I was going to start working with Mars in Kyoto. I've always wanted to work with Mars, we have a long working history which goes all the way back to when we were still in NTSP(NEC Telecom Software Phils.). We were both System Administrators of the same development machine. The Kyoto office looked normal, despite the really old and ugly building. The carpet that lead to the office needed more than a year's worth of carpet shampoo and vacuum. Mars had been working there for around 3 years. I wonder what he thinks about the carpet. Maybe it wasn't as dirty as it currently is.The Financial Director introduced himself and explained the company rules. Later upon heading home, Mars and I discussed about who and who were the people in the office. And here is how we named them:

Darna(superwoman)

Ginoo(God):

Bruha(Bitch):

Sipsip(Kiss-ass):

Kuripot(spendthrift):

Tambolero(Drummer):

Bata(Boy):

Banggiitan(Cunning):

Dakog-Tingog(Loud-voice):

I do hope they don't get to read this blog or know how we named them. :P

The 30% Cut Off

March 31, 2009 - Mars had just informed me that the payslip was already sent in the email. I checked it out. And there it was, my salary with the 30% cut off. After seeing the amount on the screen many thoughts came rushing to me. Thoughts like, am I really going to live through this? I keep thinking maybe I should go home. If it wasn't such a hopeless romantic I would have jumped on the first plane out of here. But I've decided to hold out. I get anxious sometimes though, I'm prettｙ sure of what I want and I'm willing to go through hell for it. This chapter of my life is like an ending to an anime series, there's no definite conclusion...."BITIN!"

Shiera is Leaving Japan

A mixed of emotions plagued me the night before Shiera's Farewell Party. I was very sad that she decided to leave Japan, but I also feel happy that she found a better oppurtunity elsewhere. Shiera has her own fair share of pain and triumph here in Osaka. We used to talk during our weekend coffee sessions about our lives and common experiences. :) We would come up with silly acronyms to guide our lives such as 3Ms. This is just one of the intimacies that I would miss once she leaves.

Shiera, I wish you all the best in your new life. I know that you know how much I admire you. You are one of the few superwomen I know aside from my mother. Lab yu shie! :)

White Day

March 14, 2009 is one of the happiest day of my life! This is the day when the guys give back to the girls for the chocolates they gave during Valentines day. I baked Kiyo a chocolate cake during Valentines Day with the help of my professional baker housemate Kay. Kiyo had a part time job that day and he wasn't able to finish early so he apologized for the food was not ready yet when I arrived at his house. He was still cooking then and the air smelled great! He cooked steak and prepared a delightful looking salad. He prepared a something cheesy and creamy for dessert(I asked him for the name but he said he doesn't know what it's called). One thing that amazed me the most was that, he bought new set of plates and bowls just for the occasion. The presentation was spectacular! But I was more touched when I tasted the food and it tasted heavenly! I thought if I had died in that instant, I would have died happy! Definitely!Thank you Kiyo!

Separate Ways

20090227 - This day marks the last day of Kay and Shiera in the self-created office in our mansion. They are going to work with Idel and Dio in Honmachi starting March. We had great and noisy times together which includes watching American Idol during lunch break. Our slave of the day rule which made us exercise our culinary skills(I doubt if I have one though). I wish them all the luck in their new office. Honmachi is a great business center with lots of really good shops and fashionably good looking office workers! We are all going to miss them.

Meet the Parents

January 18, 2009. Kiyo and I went together to Sanda to meet with his mother and attend his brother's Ensemble Contest in Awaji Island. We rode the subway until Osaka and transferred to the JR Line for Sanda. It was a long trip to Sanda As we passed by more and more mountains, I started to feel how far the place really is! Kiyo's house was a little far from the station so his mother came to get us from the station in their yellow car. We got in the car, his mother smiled at me. They talked a little on their way to the house but they were talking in regular Japanese speed so I couldn't make out most of what they were saying. His mother offered that we should eat in the house first, since we ate only a little and the event would last until 6PM. when I got into their house, there I met Kiyo's father. I guess Kiyo's looks is a combination of his mother and father. The his nose, eyes and the shape of his face are from his father. His lips are from his mother. His father asked me a few questions about educational system and work. They were harmless impersonal questions so I felt a little relieved. When we finished eating we started out to Awaji Island. When we got to the contest place (it looked like a mini opera house), we were able to listen to the brass band before the percussion group. Kiyo's brother is from the percussion group. They were the last one to perform. They won gold but they were not qualified to join the next contest. The contest was actually a preliminary contest in Hyogo area to decide which group will perform in the higher category contest. When the contest was over we headed out to a rest area near the large bridge connecting Kobe and Awaji Island. His mother treated us to Royal restaurant there. She also bought Takosenbei omiyage for me and my co-workers. I think she is very sweet and kind. It's too bad that I couldn't speak much Japanese, I would have wanted to talk to her more and learn more about Kiyo.

Shiera's Birthday

20090109 - The sun was bright and the air was cool. It was a great day to celebrate the birthday of a very inspiring friend! The day before we had ordered a lot from the AkabaneBussan(Offers Filipino Product Delivery Service) including ice cream and barbecue. Everyone was excited. The game boys(Pai, Jay and Yuri) joined us for lunch. Dio came back in the afternoon for early dinner. He came earlier just to slice the ingredients for the "Pancit". All in all we had two eating sessions. We had the regular elements of a typical Filipino Birthday: pancit, ice cream and barbecue/meat. One missing item is the cake! But despite that, we enjoyed our salo-salo. It wasn't about how complete the menu was but about celebrating the special day of an extraordinary friend.