Uchiage
If you hear this from your boss, you should be proud of yourself. This means that he will treat you out for dinner or a drink because of the efforts you exerted for him and he is quite satisfied with the output. Isa lang remark ko… masarap kumain pag libre!!! =p
My Plan of Action(Japan mode)
Set your mind
PRO-Active: Set your mind that you already left and brought nothing. What are the things that you need which you currently don’t have. Make a list. Keep it handy so you can update it anytime anywhere.
Prepare for the worst
Know that you will be in a land that most probably wont understand English and other things that you are used to. So…
- Know your basic Nihongo
- Introduction(you’ll be asked to speak in front of everyone! YIKES!)
- How to give a good first impression
- Meishi
- Basic questions (what, where, when, why, who, how, which, which way)
- Kotoba
- Learn to eat veggies
- Learn to eat raw fish
- Learn how to eat with chopsticks alone(Start with: Shrimps and Fish)
- Learn how to eat with chopsticks alone very very fast
- Practice Walking
- Practice Walking Faster
- Bring your book if you want to(huwag pirata. Nakakahiya!)
- If you don’t know your way of life
- Laundry
- Cooking
- Cleaning
- Kasi sa Japan you will read the instructions in KANJI(malilintikan ka!)
IMPORTANT: Know your would-be Address, Phone number, Contact person & his/her number.(Side Story: Held up in Naha Airport)
Be flexible with your accounts
Settle your accounts first or make them more accessible. Enroll in online services for your ATM, Credit Cards, Cellphone Loads(for roaming purposes).
Roaming phone
If you want others to constantly keep in contact with people in the Philippines, bring a 3G phone. Enroll in Roaming services so as to keep the price low for the people who will contact you. Don’t forget your charger.
DOs and DON’Ts
I brought:
- Initial food(no fruits please, seasonings, breading mixes)
- Medicine
- Accessories(t.brush, nail clippers, comb)
- Toiletries (T.paste, soap, hair gel)
- Clothes and shoes(for Office(formal/informal), home and Casual purposes)’
- Towel, undies.
- MONEY
- Offering Gifts for your Hosts/Workmates
did not bring:
- Pirated DVDs and CDs
- Fruits
- Alcoholic stuff (Sa baggage lang pwede. Bawal sa hand carry)
When Packing:
- Check your List
- Double-check
When Leaving..
- What to wear?
- Definitely not clothes/shoes with metallic things (for metal detectors)
- Do not wear loose pants and use belts w/ metallic buckles) unless you want to strip down before every metal detector(mga twice per airport).
- Check your ticket(s), passport/visa
- Be Early on the day of your flight (sidestory: Held UP at NAIA!)
- Know your address, phone number, contact person in JAPAN(sidestory: Held UP at Immigration!)
Im leaving…
As soon as I heard the confirmed news… I told my family about it. They were fine with me going away…it’s inevitable naman eh.. Its a bit strange that my mom can’t believe that I will be leaving and had only 2 weeks to prepare. Almost every night I was going home late because of the project that I was currently in so she thinks that I should start early in my packing(pero ang totoo, mas excited pa kaysa sa akin…Sorry mom! =) ) So I go about my work everyday and try to do my best but in the back of my mind, I was already planning my trip and worse, my mom is already a step ahead, she was EXECUTING… she ironed my clothes, kept asking what clothes I will bring, and stuff.. I constantly remind her that she should not trouble herself with those things because I had a plan but since she IS my mom I let her do what she thinks she needs to do and take everything from there when I execute my plan..
At work, I asked people not to spread the word that I will be leaving because it will only be a while. 3 months is a short time to stay in Japan specially when it becomes warm enough to swim the seas when it is time to go home. I only told a number of people so as not to make a big deal out of it and I was planning to keep it a secret until the day I returned but somehow, the news got out when I left and I can’t do anything about it.
