So yesterday, I was getting ready for work and noticed that it was really looking like a storm was coming. Like a huge storm the type of which I never see in Japan but always used to see in West Virginia. The entire sky going black, etc. So I decided to go into work early to beat the rain.
As I was walking from the station to my office, the air was charged and thunder could be heard. People everywhere were rushing about, trying to hurry to shelter. I made it to work with about ten minutes to spare, but soon thereafter it started to pour. Everyone who came in after the rain started was soaked like they had been swimming in their work clothes, umbrellas regardless.
I was quite happy to be dry and cozy inside the office, enjoying the rare thunderstorm and thinking of home. Then I saw a news story today, when I woke up: people dead due to a flash flood. It makes me sad to think that while I was enjoying watching the rain, at the same instant as I relaxed before work, there were children fighting for their lives, and losing that fight.
The world is full of tragedy, and it doesn't seem fair.
Don't get me wrong; I am thankful that it seems to be unfair in my favour, thus far (knock on wood). I have a great life and enjoy it immensely. I suppose I am just shocked at the contrast between how I felt about the storm, and the reality of its implications.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
First Impressions / A Return to the Easy Life
My first day back at my old company was a shock. First of all, the office has relocated. Before, we worked in one of the city centers. Now we are located in the largest city center. Not a huge change, but definitely something different. The building is about the same, as far as it being nice and well kept and all, though there's still a bit of construction going on as they get it fully converted from what it was previously, which I'm not sure exactly but I know it wasn't an English-teaching Multimedia Center.
Secondly, when I returned to work, G. Education's president came to meet me face-to-face, spoke to me in English, asked questions about where I was from, etc. and shook my hand, welcoming me to the company. Certainly, nothing like this happened before; I never in fact met the old president of NOVA. Granted, I can appreciate that he is just doing that as a show and most likely doesn't really care at all, but the gesture itself goes a long way towards showing that they are trying to foster a different atmosphere. And I can appreciate gestures. Especially the gesture that followed:
Thirdly, my arrival was quite auspiciously timed; the first quad-annual NOVA bqq party! All the sake, shochu, and draft beer you can drink along with delicious grilled beef and an assortment of cheeses, crackers, vegetables, etc. They even provided bread for those of us used to meat in sandwich form! Needless to say, all of this is on the company's tab. Sadly I couldn't enjoy any alcohol with my lunch, but thankfully they still had plenty left when my shift ended and I enjoyed a few beers before returning home.
Truly, the company has realized that it had a major morale problem and that it was bleeding teachers (its only commodity) faster than [joke about recent crimes in Japan omitted due to it being in poor taste], and is finally trying to do something about it.
Notably, this wasn't a segregated party held only for the foreign staff; we were mixing with all the Japanese workers and even met the president of G. Corporation, the parent company of our current benefactor and a conglomeration of around 200 different businesses. My mixing with the Japanese staff, it really made me feel like I was a part of the company. Not just a commodity. Not just a resource that is expected to be used up in about a year. (On a side note, it will be interesting to see if G. Education's policy towards NOVA teachers changes once they realize that no shows of good will are going to change most peoples' attitudes, specifically because they are only here for a year and have no idea what it is like to work for a typical corporation, thus can't appreciate when they are working for a good one.)
By the way, we still aren't sure of what the G stands for. Gaijin Corporation? Good Corporation? Giant robot Corporation?
Regardless, it is a complete departure from the old feeling at NOVA, where we weren't really treated as being a part of the company. I for one really like it, and am quite happy to return to work at NOVA.
Secondly, when I returned to work, G. Education's president came to meet me face-to-face, spoke to me in English, asked questions about where I was from, etc. and shook my hand, welcoming me to the company. Certainly, nothing like this happened before; I never in fact met the old president of NOVA. Granted, I can appreciate that he is just doing that as a show and most likely doesn't really care at all, but the gesture itself goes a long way towards showing that they are trying to foster a different atmosphere. And I can appreciate gestures. Especially the gesture that followed:
Thirdly, my arrival was quite auspiciously timed; the first quad-annual NOVA bqq party! All the sake, shochu, and draft beer you can drink along with delicious grilled beef and an assortment of cheeses, crackers, vegetables, etc. They even provided bread for those of us used to meat in sandwich form! Needless to say, all of this is on the company's tab. Sadly I couldn't enjoy any alcohol with my lunch, but thankfully they still had plenty left when my shift ended and I enjoyed a few beers before returning home.
Truly, the company has realized that it had a major morale problem and that it was bleeding teachers (its only commodity) faster than [joke about recent crimes in Japan omitted due to it being in poor taste], and is finally trying to do something about it.
Notably, this wasn't a segregated party held only for the foreign staff; we were mixing with all the Japanese workers and even met the president of G. Corporation, the parent company of our current benefactor and a conglomeration of around 200 different businesses. My mixing with the Japanese staff, it really made me feel like I was a part of the company. Not just a commodity. Not just a resource that is expected to be used up in about a year. (On a side note, it will be interesting to see if G. Education's policy towards NOVA teachers changes once they realize that no shows of good will are going to change most peoples' attitudes, specifically because they are only here for a year and have no idea what it is like to work for a typical corporation, thus can't appreciate when they are working for a good one.)
By the way, we still aren't sure of what the G stands for. Gaijin Corporation? Good Corporation? Giant robot Corporation?
Regardless, it is a complete departure from the old feeling at NOVA, where we weren't really treated as being a part of the company. I for one really like it, and am quite happy to return to work at NOVA.
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