World Joining Us! मुंबई

No electricity over 14 hours in Nepal

2012-01-25T01:17:00.001+09:00

Be in Nepal after 4 years since I have been there first time. I had seen a photo of Kathmandu and decided to go there at that time. I still remember the first impression when I saw that capital from airplane. Probably, I had never seen the capital which didn't have high building. After staying a week in Nepal as a tourist, I got throat problem next two weeks because of dust on the street. Frankly, I could not very like Nepal after that.

This time, I was mostly staying Chitwan which was 4 or 5 hours far from Kathmandu by bus. Chitwan is famous as safari place to see animals or natural view of Nepal. I stayed in a house which four younger girls and their mother live in. These four girls were really powerful and I felt I am old now. There were no electricity over 14 hours a day, we had to make fire to cook or make hot water for shower. I was quite lazy to make hot water each time so took shower with very cold water on daytime. It was miracle that I did not get cold. Once I asked them to show me Nepal girls make up, one of them made eye make for me twice. They liked to draw line under eyes strongly. I was feeling strange to see myself in the mirror. Once, the girl invited me to her college and I took English class with student. The teacher was nice and they were taking better English class than Japanese school.

Actually, I was suffered from language barrier. It was ok to be in Kathmandu but almost nobody could not speak English in country side. But they are quite talkative and if I can say positively, they are just like to talk and friendly, pure. Sometimes, I could not patient to stay among them because I was exactly only one person who could not enjoy the conversation. I have known how terrible language barrier is. If there is only one person who cannot understand the language, I always tried translating for the person. But this time, it was not working for myself and I was irritated. On the other hand, once we start to drink surrounded the fire on the street, I could enjoy with them even if I didn't know them or their language. People just seemed happy when I repeated their words or tried to say some words in Nepali. They were just really pure.

Their economic is going to be mess. Their infrastructure like electricity or water supply were not improved at all compared with 4 years ago. But Nepal became a big tourist country and people who had land can be rich so easily. 1 million dollar could be nothing in Nepal now, people said. It is almost impossible to get job in Nepal, then people just try going out from Nepal to middle east or China or another Asian countries. I could find Western Union everywhere even in country side. Person who is earning in abroad send money to family from there. If a family live in a good house, the father may belong to army or working in abroad. Otherwise, there is no way to earn in that country.

Nepal, that country is totally difficult to understand and adjust to. What their government is doing for people and how their economy will be because of tourism. China also seems they want to get Nepal as tourism country nowadays. I hope their mind will not getting worse like their living condition.

Let's dance?

2012-01-05T23:12:00.000+09:00

A most popular actor in India, Shark Khan made interview to Lady Gaga on TV last month. I could see advertisement of the special TV program on street at that time. Actually, I'm not so curious both of them but I felt it was funny to compare the way of dance between India and US.

"Chammak challo" from Bollywood movie "Ra one" became a hit song at the end of year 2011. This is very Indian way, I could feel exactly big performance. When I saw PV by Lady Gaga on Youtube which had over 4 hundred million access all over the world, I could find something similar between them which I (Japanese) don't have.

Pop music from US is very common in India as well. You can hear hit songs once you go to disco. Of course, Lady Gaga is quite famous singer. Many people love to listen to her song and probably also love to dance by her songs.
Japanese way of dance is not similar with Indian or American. I like to see their dance performance on Youtube but I feel this is another culture, not mine. For me, that is just entertainment, enough to watch and have fun which it is not usual in my life.
However, if I'm Indian and common to dance from my childhood to now, I may see them with longing eyes as much as Indian young generation watch them and want to dance like that way, "super action performance".

2011

2011-12-29T15:04:00.000+09:00

先日、2010年12月にタンザニアのザンジバル島で出会ったアメリカ人から新年を祝うメッセージが届いた。彼は45歳で、当時はタンザニアの私立学校で教師をしていた。私はザンジバルを離れた後、アルーシャというサファリの拠点になる町へ移動して、2週間ばかり、そのアメリカ人の家に居候していた。年末らしいイベントの乏しかったアルーシャの大晦日、彼がマサイのマーケットで買った牛につける大きなベルをならして、HAPPY NEW YEAR!と新年を祝ったのは、まるで昨日のことのようなのに、2012年を目前にして、時の流れの速さを感じる。

3月11日、コスタリカのサン・ノゼからニューヨークへ向かうフライトを予定していた現地時間の朝4時ごろ、iPhoneでニュースをチェックしていて東北の地震がおきたことを知った。ニューヨークのブルックリンで滞在したユースホステルに設置してあったテレビには、次々に東北の映像が流れ、まるで地獄絵図のようだと思った。2010年の10月にハンガリーのブダペストで出会ったニューヨーク出身のアメリカ人の青年と、2006年に出会ったウクライナ人の友人とニューヨークでの再会を約束していたので、彼らと短いニューヨーク観光を楽しんだ。ブダペストで出会った青年は、その当時から夢見ていた世界一周旅行を現実にし、今はヨーロッパを旅行している。

11ヶ月の世界一周旅行を終えて、日本に帰ってみたものの、余震と放射能のあやふやな情報に嫌気が差して、ベトナムのホーチミンでホテルを開いた日本人の友人のもとへと逃避。1ヶ月間、そのホテルで仕事を手伝いつつ、骨休みをした。何かを得ることや、帰国後のことを考える気を殺ぐホーチミンの気だるい暑さの中、路上に放置してある誰の物とも知れないバイクに座り込んで安宿外を行き来する旅行客を眺めつつ、ふらふらと彷徨う旅行者ではなく、インドに住む一人の人間として、何か確かなものを築きたいと漠然と思っていた。

5月から2ヶ月間、インドで何をするのか迷い、友人の縁もあって結果として今勤めているムンバイの会社への就職が決まった。7月にはウクライナ人とマレーシア人の友人とインドを旅行することを決め、ムンバイから北はデリー、パキスタン国境のアムリトサルまで、久々に観光客らしい旅行をした。このときすでにインド渡航は2010年5月以来3回目で、空港に降り立ったときには懐かしさを感じるようになっていた。ウクライナ人の友人は、あまりに異なったインドという国に不平が絶えなかったが、誰がなんと言おうと、私はインドが一番気に入っていて、ここで生活していくことができる、と確信したのもこのときだった。

8月にビザを取得するために日本へ戻ってからの2ヶ月は、2011年でもっともひどい2ヶ月だった。なんとか状況を打開しようともがいても、なんら進展はなく人生で一番ストレスを味わった期間だったとも言える。インドへ移住するというファーストステップさえも滞り、それでもインド以外に次のステージは考えられずに、毎日イライラしながらも、最終的には長きに渡って望んだビザを取得し、10月に晴れてインドのムンバイへと生活の場を移した。

入社と同時にたくさんの外国人同僚の帰国を見送り、この2ヶ月半、毎日ほぼ11時間は闇雲に働き、気付けば今はもう12月。世界一周中に出会った人たちからの朗報や、望んだ地での始めてのクレイジーな誕生日とクリスマスがこの1年の締めを飾った。「自分以外に自分の夢を叶える人はいない」という、ザンジバル島で出会ったアメリカ人の友人からのメッセージのおかげで、忙しい毎日の中でずれかけていた原点を見つめなおすことができた。これまでの人生でもっともタフで楽しかった2011年。インドという毛色の変わった国で生活の万事がうまく行っているとは決していえない。でも嬉しいことや感動することが、日々のストレスを凌ぐには十分ある毎日だ。来年の今頃、今イメージしている未来にすこしでも近づいていられるよう、能動的な毎日を送りたいと思う。

First grace of ocean

2011-12-28T12:25:00.000+09:00

I wish I could remember the moment I saw ocean first time in my life. On 25th Dec, Christmas day, a girl got first glace in JUHU beach, Mumbai. She is from Nepal. That small country doesn't have ocean but mountain. I grew up in the city which has ocean so I don't remember how I felt when I saw ocean in my childhood. The girl was totally excited and run to ocean directly, didn't care her clothes was getting wet. The Sunset of India is absolutely best all over the world. I was touched the color of sun when I was in Goa last year. The sun changed everything on the ground to red. People stop to chat and see the changes until the sun has gone. Best few minutes in a day. JUHU beach in Mumbai also had same sun with Goa. The expression of that girls from Nepal show you how the place were beautiful. Living in near ocean and see that treasure sunset everyday has been my dream since I met the sun in India.

Sari

2011-12-21T02:08:00.001+09:00

Sari is most popular traditional clothes in India. When I came to India first time in 2010, I bought one in Varanasi. But I gave my friend in Ukraine soon because I could not bring it (5M long cloth) next 10 months until I went back to home after one year jouney. This was second time to buy Sari in India. The owner of the shop showed me so many types of design or color. I bought 2 types of Sari, silk and cotton one. I don't know the average cost but it was Rs 1600 for two.

After I went back to room, my younger friends, two girls locked their room and did not show me for over 30 minutes. My another friends knocked the door and asked them to open it but that girls just repeated "No!". I was wondering what they were doing. After 30 min, they called me and opened the door. Boys were never allowed to enter. Then, they showed me how nice that Sari was. However, it was really taking time until they completed to wear Sari. When my colleague made me wear red Sari for Diwali event at office, she also took time. I thought it was similar situation with wearing Kimono for us. We know the way to wear but we have to try and try again to wear more beautiful and look good.

My another friend form Darjeeling told me the white color Sari is only for widow. I remembered some people prayed for a woman who wore white Sari in Darjeeling. After I got back to my work, I asked my colleague if young girl should not wear white Sari or not. But she taught me less people is following this tradition and women who is not widow also can wear it just as fashion.

Just 5M long cloth can be changed such a beautiful clothes. The person who made Sari first time must be genius. Sari is symbol how India is complicated and beautiful.

Water supply in Mumbai

2011-12-13T01:04:00.001+09:00

Due to X company could not supply water at noon time, X company again promise they give water at 4:00 pm, but they could not give water will now come at 10 pm shall be provided after 10 pm. Water supply shall be normal tomorrow.

家にたどり着くや、ドアのところに小さく畳んで挟まれていたメモがこれ。多少、文章がめちゃくちゃだが、つまるところ、水が夜10時まで出ませんと言っている。ちょっと笑えるのが、「X社は午後4時に供給できるって約束したんだ。だけどだめだったんだ。たぶん夜10時以降は今度こそ大丈夫なはずだよ」という、頑張ったけど駄目だったよ的なニュアンスのある文になっているところだ。

乾季のムンバイは水不足。そんなにしょっちゅうあるわけではないけれど、一度あると、数日間、一日に何時間か水が出ない日が続く。平日の日中はオフィスにいるから気がついていなくて、実際は毎日そうなのかもしれないが。日曜日は洗濯機に水を貯めていたら、蛇口がくすぶり始めてジュバっという音と共に錆色の水が出てきた。こうなるともう駄目。数時間は水を諦めるしかない。

今は午後9時半で、毎日10時半には就寝する身としては、これからシャワーを浴びたり、明日退院するルームメイトのゴハンを作ったりしなければいけないのはわりときつい。そもそも10時に出る保障もないのだけれど…。

Mind sift

2011-12-11T07:33:00.001+09:00

I'm feeling mind sift happen to me. When I was in Japan, I didn't think of the entire way to survive in this world till the day I die. I just kept working and wasted salary to buy something or travel for holiday. That's the thing I usually did. I only thought of next few years when I imagined about my future. That time, I was so curious to see whole world and get the life in India. I have already completed the dream which I had 3 or 4 years ago. I am satisfied with long holiday and could open the door to enter India.

Now, I become serious to think about my entire life here. The limit will come I cannot work at company after few years. It meas I will lose the way to stay here as well. At least, I don't plan to belong to any company my entire life and also it is almost impossible to follow this way. "I need to find out the way to survive here not as labor."I can hear the voice usually here which I didn't hear in Japan. Labor can live only in limited opportunity, work hard and earn money just for living everyday. Free time needs permission by employer. Managed by someone, something is not the way I want.

What to do?

I need to learn a lot of things and should have experiences in this company. There is still something I should learn from them. However, it must be connected with my future plan. I want to make business by myself and I can say I am standing here by myself when I complete it. Investment is not cheap at all here if I want to start something and also need knowledge about this place. What can be good business here?

You can see a lot of types of life in India. Easy to face different life. You can see rich people who ride on Japanese car and also street people at the same time. In Japan, I didn't see such a clear differences and rare to face worse life. After I came here, these differences make me feel fear and keep thinking of my future. They are saying, "It depends on your effort and luck what kind of life you can get. This is life in India."

Positively, this is good thing for me. Because I can try not to waste my days everyday. I can keep in mind, if there is no progress and development in my each days, there is no change about my future or just can get worse than now. Mind sift can work as a good thing so far. So that, India gave me a chance to make better life than Japan, I believe.

Typhoid

2011-12-11T00:01:00.001+09:00

ルームメイトが「たいふぉいど」にかかった。「たいふぉいど」とは腸チフスのことである。そんなわけで、インド、ムンバイの私立病院にお目にかかる機会を得た。

まずこれが病院食。インドの病院は家族が看護にあたるのがあたりまえらしく、病院によっては食事がついていなかったりするそうだ。また、医者が書いた処方箋を持って、病院とは別の場所にある薬局に薬を買いに行かなければならなかったりすることもあり、単身でインドに乗り込んできて入院と言うことになると、病院によってはかなり厄介な目に合うことにある。

「こんな食事でどうやって体力付けろっていうのよ！」と、ルームメイトより数日前にやはり腸チフスにかかった韓国人の同僚は言っていたが、たしかに見た目も内容もなかなか寂しいものである。すべての病院がそうなのかはわからないが、ルームメイトの入院している私立病院の食事はすべてベジタリアン食らしい。「最初の数日はさすがに食欲が無かったけど、回復するにつれて食事が我慢ならず、デリバリーを頼んだ」と言う。食事制限に関してもかな～りゆるい感じが窺える。

さらに、問題なのは入院費。デラックスルームといわれる、部屋を選んだルームメイトは一泊6000ルピー（約9000円）を払うことになったとか。個室で、液晶テレビと冷蔵庫とバスルームがついていたが、内装としては、日本でいう普通レベルの個室といった感じであった。そう考えると十分お高い。さらに医療保険も治療費はカバーできても、部屋代はほどんとカバーされなかったりと、日本の海外保険制度とくらべると、よくわからないサービス内容になっていたりする。

ところでこのルームメイトは母国で腸チフスの予防接種を受けていながらインドでしっかり腸チフスにかかってしまった。インド人の間でも日本よりは身近であっても、そんなにかかることのないレアな病気である。彼らの間でもローカルレストランの食事には手をつけなかったり、あくまでホームメイドの食事を好む人がいるくらいなので、やはりインドのこの手のビョウキは意識的に防ぐべきものなのかもしれない。

One year had passed since I met Her

2011-12-06T01:00:00.001+09:00

Just one year ago, I set foot on Tanzania. I was scared to go there the day before leaving to Tanzania. I was feeling fear about going to Tanzania in tiny shared room in London. I couldn't understand myself at that moment. However, it was truth that I had negative image about safety in Africa until reaching there. Tanzania was too far to have real image for me at that time.The view from airplane was different with any another countries. No high building, clear horizon. I felt a power of Africa.

As usually, I got a fight with clerk at the airport. The airplane leave to Zanzibar didn't come for a few hours. I really got angry and shouted them in front of people. At that moment, I had felt my journey in Tanzania would be worse than another trip. But after leaving mainland of Tanzania, I was moved and forgot everything so easily because of beauty of ocean. An elder woman sat next to me fell a sleep and never woke up until we reached Zanzibar. I could not believe how she could miss this beautiful view even if it was first time for her to take airplane.

My days in Zanzibar were really unforgettable memory. I could meet many good people in Paje beach which was my driver from airport recommended me to stay. From the first day, I started to love the place and I spent great my birthday with nice people. Even now, I could see that beautiful beach with white sand and green ocean when I close my eyes. I swam everyday and children was happy to see that I could swim very well to far away from beach side.

I'm keep in touch with a young boy and he told me about his friends in Zanzibar sometimes, then dreaming I wish I could visit that heaven one more time in my rest of life. That was real beauty of earth and most beautiful part SHE has. Of course not only about view but also people.

One year has passed since I met HER. I wish I can see HER again in my dream tonight.

インド製掃除機を買う

2011-12-04T22:57:00.001+09:00

インドの一般家庭で掃除機を見たことがない。ホウキとモップがその辺においてあるのが通常だ。ホウキで部屋の隅からゴミを掃いて行って玄関までたどり着くと、そこから外にババっと出してオシマイ、という掃除の仕方をよく見かけた。中流階級以上の家庭では、メイドさんを雇って彼らにこの一連の掃除をさせているのもよく見かけた。

郷に入りては、ということで、私も、はじめから部屋の隅に立てかけてあったホウキで掃除をしていたのだが、このホウキ、本当に大昔の藁を結んであって先っぽはバラバラ、というタイプのもので、糸くずやら髪の毛やら絡まると取れなくて、非常に使い勝手が悪い。ルームメイトはティッシュを湿らせて埃を拭き取るといった、非常に手間のかかる方法で掃除をしていて、私がそんな方法で面倒だと思わないのか、と聞いたところ、むしろストレス軽減のための習慣だ、とかで、私が思っているほど不便は感じていないようだった。

しかしとうとう本日、掃除機を購入するに至った。メーカーはEUREKA FORBESというインド製だ。大きいショッピングモールに行って、電化製品売り場をみてみたところ、電子レンジや湯沸かし器、炊飯器などは、いろいろな種類がストックされていたのに、掃除機はわずか３種類だけ。前に見に行ったモールでは、車内を掃除するときに使う、小さいタイプの掃除機しか置いていなかったが、今日は日本でおなじみのホースの長いタイプの掃除機を発見した。値段はRs2550（3400円ほど）で、日本のメーカーと比べると、めちゃくちゃ安い。なんだかおもちゃのような感じで頼りなかったが、まあ、駄目だったら駄目だったでいいかと思い、購入。自宅に帰って早速使ってみると、吸引力はわりと強力で、ちゃんと掃除機の役目は果たしてくれた。

品揃えを見る限り、あまりインドでは浸透してはいなさそうだが、いかんせん埃っぽいインドなので、重宝したいところである。

Workerholic in India

2011-12-04T02:05:00.001+09:00

"If you work hard, you can get better life in the future" My Indian friend told me this is the thing that people in India believe. Working hard is only a way to get better life, earn good money and make life easier. In my case, working hard is not only for money. My first priority is have experience to work at Indian company. However, I am looked like a part of native people who believes that sentence.

I worked for 12-14 hours a day this week. Almost non-stop. I could not stop working even at the lunch time. My colleague helped me to pick my delivery lunch up at the reception instead of me because I could not leave my desk. A week has passed so fast. I just eat and sleep after work except taking one Hindi class for one hour. What a life...Somehow, I'm enjoying my work, I don't say I hate my work but I am afraid to keep this life style for a long time at the same time. At least, I must think of my future and take action for it by making time even in busy days. Specifically, I have to find the way to stay in India without belonging to something. Now, my life in India was supported 100 % by this company which means I DO NOT stand here by myself.

In this weekend, I totally become a loser. I cannot go out to look for something new, something funny even if I'm here, my favorite country. Cleaning up my room is the only one thing I had done after messy one week. Tomorrow, I have one more day to recover myself. Hopefully, I will not finish my weekend just as a loser.

My Kimono is still alive in Ukraine after 5 years.

2011-11-30T00:23:00.001+09:00

Untitled from feet-off-the-ground on Vimeo.

Nice news from my friend. One Kimono which I left 5 years ago in Ukraine is used for video. I don't know who made it but really happy to know about it. I brought this Kimono to a lot of school or University to show students Japanese culture. Many many girls tried wearing it. After 5 years, this Kimono is needed by someone in Ukraine. SHE must be happy and enjoy the life in Ukraine! :)

ムンバイの生活費

2011-11-26T22:17:00.001+09:00

高級住宅地域にある教会

インド滞在から一ヶ月経ったところで、インドのニューヨークと呼ばれるムンバイの生活費について書いてみる。

物価がインドで一番高いといわれる商業都市ムンバイ。しかし他の地域と比べて高いものは限られていて、なんといっても家賃がバカ高い。東京でマンションを借りるのと同じか、それ以上の家賃がかかる。
しかしそれ以外では、ほとんど物価は変わらないのではないかと思う。

まず食費。私は会社でお昼を取るときはほぼ毎日、地元のレストランにデリバリーを頼む。水餃子のようなモモ、インド版焼き飯のビリヤニ、ごはんとカレーはもちろん、チキンと野菜をアジア風味のソースからめた炒め物、インド版焼きそばのチョウミンや、その他シンガポールライスや、マレーシアヌードルなど、とにかくメニューは豊富で、一食だいたいRs90からRs150くらい。頼むと２人前のボリュームがあたりまえなので、お昼の残りを夕飯としてチンして食べたり、ちょっとアレンジを加えて食べたりするので、１日の食費は本当に、お昼代のみで十分なのだ。

交通費はべらぼーに安い。リキシャはアパートから２０分くらい離れたモールに行ってもだいたいRs40くらい。電車はAndheri駅から長距離バス乗り場のあるDaDarまでRs10しなかったような。バスはムンバイから４、５時間の道のりをRs230からRs300。

エンターテイメント。映画は一本Rs130からRs300。シートクラスが３種類くらいあるので好きなものを選べばよし。インドは映画と上映時間によって値段が違う。バーや、ちょっとおしゃれなレストランでビールやカクテルを飲むと、これは日本の値段よりちょっと安いくらいで、あまり大差はない。一回のみに行くと、Rs500から1000はあっさりなくなる。ちなみに明日は、同僚の外国人スタッフのみでプールサイドレストランを貸しきってのパーティーがあるけれど、これ、一人あたりRs1500で、こちらの生活の長い人間としては、日本人であれ、「高い！」という声が上がるくらいだ。

先の記事にも書いたヒンディー語のプライベートレッスン（自宅訪問型）は２０時間でRs7000。１レッスンRs350が相場らしい。

インターネット契約は、１Mbpsのワイヤレス半年契約でRs9000。ルーターがRs3200で設定費用がRs1000。携帯電話と同じ電波を使うUSBタイプのインターネットは月額Rs600からRs800くらい。携帯電話はかなりしゃべっても月にRs500いかないくらい。１分当たりRs0.14だったかな。

日本人社員は皆、「ビンボーだから」なんていいながら暮らしてるけど、それでもそれなり欲しいものは大概手に入るし、家賃以外は基本的に他の地域と同じく物価の安いインドなので、日常を楽しむには十分です。

Gadbad mat karo.

2011-11-26T16:17:00.001+09:00

"Gadbad matkaro" this is a sentence which I learnt in first Hindi class, means "Don't do mess". I can often use this word in India.

My daily schedule are almost fixed. Woke up 6:30 and work from 7:30 to 18:30. First one month, I cannot afford to make some changes on this routine days. I always had some schedule on weekend and only one day which I have nothing to do so far since I came here. But I strongly needed something extra except my working time on weekdays. Then, I decided to start Hindi class I wanted for a long time.

I'm not good to learn language. I don't want to say but one of the reason is because I'm Japanese. There is no opportunity to speak foreign language, we can live only by using mother tongue. Hence, I don't know how to learn another language. There is no good program in my brain about learning language. Here India, people can speak normally 3 or 4 languages. Language may not mean foreign language. It means the one in different states in India. They speak their own states language, Hindi, English at least. Their program to learn language is quite good, I guess.

"Why do you need Hindi? Everyone can speak English." some people said to me, on the other hand, people asked me "Can you speak Hindi?" The opinion about learning Hindi were different though, I want it. Because for entertainment, for fun. I like Bollywood movie, Bollywood song, TV program here. I'm surrounded by a lot of fun in this country but I can know a few part of it now because I cannot understand Hindi. What a shame, isn't it??

I want to be like native speaker and enjoy to say many kidding words with real Indian people. Let's see how short I can achieve my purpose.

I didn't expect the world when I was a girl

2011-11-20T14:37:00.001+09:00

When she was just a girl
She expected the world
But it flew away from her reach
And the bullets catch in her teeth

Life goes on
It gets so heavy
The wheel breaks the butterfly
Every tear, a waterfall

When I was just a girl, I did not expect the world. I was not curious about it. I had not known the way to enjoy this world well. But after 20 years old, I started to see different world, had fun by making myself be in different country which I had never imagined. I forgot how I started to dream seeing around the world by my own eyes. It was my treasure time, that 11 months. After one year, I could say the world can be paradise.

In this song, coldplay is singing opposite thought with mine. A girl was dreaming the world when she was young but it doesn't seem Paradise after she grew up. Life is heavier than she expected. At last, she is wondering if this is real paradise, it might be Paradise.

This PV reminds me time in Africa. I still remember clearly the moment I saw Africa first time in my life from air plane. That was really beautiful continent. And it scared me as well. Africa had been most far place for me at that time. But I got very good memories, good friend, very honest and pure, in Tanzania. That time cannot be compared with another memories. Africa was special place which has strongest free energy of life. I may never come to Africa again in rest of my life but the views which I saw will be kept until my last day. Earth showed me her beauty in that place and I felt earth is also living like any creatures.

This month, a boy whom I met in Zanzibar gave me a good news. He could enter University in Uganda. He loves Zanzibar and the life in Uganda is hard, he said. However, I was really glad to hear he started to learn what he wanted. At that time, he was searching the way to enter University and applied for scholarship in abroad but could not get it. It is second gift that I can hear someone I met through my trip made their dream come true.

I miss all people I spent time with even for a few days last one year. I'm sure they will find their own paradise wherever they are. Such a nice people I could meet. Anyhow, I will make this place my paradise.

Bollywood movie, Rockstar

2011-11-19T23:56:00.001+09:00

Second Bolllywood movie after "Love break up Zindagi", "Rockstar" with my Indian friend. She translated Hindi to English sometimes, it helped me a lot.

Anyway, the thought both of us had after watching it is that why second half became worse about structure of story. First half was quite nice. Beautiful view in North India and combination with the scene in Prague was also gave us new impression of Hindi Movie. Second half became strange. This girl became married but they started to love each other. Love and marriage seemed separated in this story. "How can they spend time like this even after she is married?"There is no way they can be together, suddenly she got cancer and became pregnant. The boy was going to mad even he became famous as a musician which he was dreaming. This story end with her death suddenly. I had been afraid of this kind of ending. It could be easily expected. I heard someone said "Oh, shit" when this story end with her death. I guess this love story can be strange even for native people.

So why this movie could be hit one? My friend told me because of this actor and actress, and also good music. Yes, music was really nice. The mix with classic and pop or India and Czech republic made good entertainment in this film. But story cannot be first priority about movie in this country? I would like to find any theme in story. Even in the hard situation for main characters, if they can overcome it, there can be hope or any theme witch author wanted to insist to audience . However in this story, situation which they could not overcome made just a bad ending. I expect next hit Bollywood movie.

見えないインド

2011-11-17T02:26:00.001+09:00

「海外に出て働くことと、旅行することは違う」という言葉をよく耳にした。それは多くの場合、「旅行ではいい部分しか見えないが、仕事をするということはその国により深いところまで関わるから嫌な経験もするよ」ということを意味していたように思う。

ムンバイで仕事を始めて一ヶ月。たしかに私にとってもコメントとしては同じことが言えるが、その意味合いはかなり違う。つまり、いきなり仕事でインドに来ても、ほぼ平日は仕事をして終わるし、休暇と行っても週末か、長く取れて一週間。そんな生活では、普段見えていないインドを見る機会が得られないからもったいないよ、ということを言いたいわけだ。

たしかにインド人と仕事をするというのは新しい経験だ。でも正直に言って、インドに来て働きはじめたからといって「ありえない～」というような驚きは今のところ皆無だ。それは、同僚たちが優秀であるからということもあるし、私が種類は違えど、海外で働くという経験をすでにしたことがあるからかもしれない。ストレスを抱えることがあるとすれば、それは海外だから、インドだからという理由ではない気がする。単純に誰もが経験する「仕事で抱えるストレス」であるはすだ。

ともかくこんなに大きなインドという異色な国に身を置いて、オフィスとアパートを往復するだけなんていう生活は、とてももったいない。プラットフォームがわからないところから始まる電車での長旅や、まるでボリウッド映画から抜け出てきたかのようなコミカルなインド人との出会いや、月給７０００ルピーで働く平均的インド人の生活に触れることや、意味も無く嘘をつきまくるインド人がいたかと思えば、驚くほど純粋なインド人との出会いなんかを、砂埃と異臭にまみれながら体に刻んでこそ、インドにいる意味があろうというものだ（と、私は思う）。そしてそれを体験せずして、「インド好き、嫌い」なんて結論は出すべきではないと思うのだ。

かくいう私も決してインド滞在が長いわけでもないので、まだまだ見えていないインドがたくさんあるはずで、いつかまた、そんなインドにあたって砕ける期間を持ちたいと思っているが、今のところはとりあえず仕事と日常生活をいかに充実させるかを考える期間に身を置いていることに満足している。ともかく１年間の世界一周旅行は私の「どこか知らないところへ行きたい、新しいものを見たい」という渇望を満たすには十分なものであったし、今は、そこで消費したのと同じエネルギーを再び湧き起こすことはとてもできない。

日常が定着してくると新しいことをはじめるのが億劫になったり、そこにハッとする何かを生み出すのが難しくなったりするものだが、そろそろ能動的なアクションをとりはじめてみようかな、というのが１ヶ月経ったところでの所感だ。

beginning of my day, 7:00 a.m.

2011-11-09T23:53:00.000+09:00

Slum in Mumbai

2011-11-09T01:25:00.002+09:00

I visited one of big slums in Mumbai last Sunday with my friend and I noticed I cannot say that is slum for me. People have gas or electric, TV or nice kitchen. The narrow streets were dirty but inside of the house, I could find similar things with middle layer people in India. I never felt danger when I was walking inside of their community. People smiled when I tried to take photos. That was not poor life, just different life.

I often found "Party goat" on their street...why...? A boy tried to make this goat see my side for me when I tried to take photo of it.

People were working hard. It was organized slum and they have job, buyer comes to get products which they made and it can be exported even for abroad. Government provides apartment for them but people just sell their room to get money. My friend said they are never poor if they can keep their original life in their place but everyone need money nowadays and moved to Mumbai to earn money from north.

"People believe working hard is only one way to get better life. From Monday to Friday, they just spend time for work. I know people can spend time for fun after 5:00 pm in Europe even during weekdays. But in India, we just work hard and try to get better life." It can be said not only people in Slum but also every people in India. I think they work much harder than Japanese.

I've never seen the country which have systems for each layer in one country. You can find layer which you should belong to. In Japan, people who don't have much money cannot survive by themselves. At least, they need any support from government. However in India, you can find the way to survive. And people who have money or not are always facing each other. It never happen in my country or another developed countries. Rich people live inside of gate and never face different life.

India always give me big surprise and curious things. How nice to see such a lot of different life only in one country, and they give me chance to learn something.

Big mall in Mumbai

2011-10-31T01:31:00.001+09:00

Actually, I've never expected I could find ZARA in India. I went to a big mall near my flat today, named Infinity mall Malad. One of the purposes is buying Indian style clothes. I could find any traditional clothes so easily in Goa, Delhi or Amritsar but not in Mumbai. There are some but not much like another cities. My roommate told me she found some shops in the mall few days ago.

This mall has amusement park and cinema at top floor. You can hear people are screaming from roller coaster. There are some brand shop from foreign countries like ZARA or Lacoste. But surely, people who can buy something from these shop belong to middle to high layer in India.

Band event at ground floor

Art for Diwali

In summer season, people spend time in mall and enjoy window shopping even in my country. Nothing is different from us in India now.

Then I got three new clothes here. Price was almost same with the case to buy one T-shirt in Japan (Rs 400-700) but I found some clothes cost Rs 3000 or more. It really depends on.

It was good to spend time there, I missed to see "Ra One" which is Bollywood movie this time. Next weekend I will go to Versova beach to see my friend. I enjoy weekend well so far.

Don’t do hitchhike in India

2011-10-27T02:04:00.001+09:00

I have no idea how people spend weekend inMumbai. “You should go to town (means south Mumbai which is tourist place) or “goto Bandra for shopping”. These suggestions are common to hear for first holiday.I’ve already been to both of places, so what about second plan? Then I triedvisiting Pune to see some friends on Saturday and Sunday. “Are you crazy?”Everyone, even my Indian manager said to me when I met him at office next daybecause it takes 5 hours from Andheri to Pune at least. “How is it possible goingthere for only two days?” But in my opinion, crazy thing was made by Indian,not by me as usual.

I woke up 5 a.m. on Saturday and tookRikisha to Andheri station which is closest station from my flat. It was stilldark in the early morning but once I reached station, I saw many people. Then, Itook train to Dadar station for 30 minutes and tried to find bus to Pune. Afterwalking few meters, there were many agencies which provide bus to Pune.Actually, the place was that I had come in July. Each bus has differentdestination in Pune. I had to find the one which go to Pune railway station. Aguy suggested me one bus and I was asked to go to the place where bus pick meup after buying a ticket. The bus seemed not same with photo which the agencyshowed me. Not so clean and A/C was not working well. But I have already beengetting used to this kind of situation. I just made sure the destination andthe bus left to Pune railway station as last bus stop. The bus had full ofcustomers.

After one hour, when the bus passed Vashi,a woman suddenly asked driver to stop the bus. She spoke in Hindi but I couldunderstand she was complaining about quality of bus. According to a girl who satnext to me, she claimed they had to return money and prepare another bus becausethis bus was totally different from the one she had been told from agency. Nogood seat and no A/C. The driver stopped the bus with full of customers. Peoplestarted to discuss something and checked their bus ticket each other. “Thisdriver and conductor are cheater!” Somebody said. People had differentcompanies bus ticket each other. The conductor collected our ticket and made usget on their original bus which has no good quality. I guess, they could getmoney from agency by showing them our ticket. I asked some guys what happenedexactly but the answer had never been expected. “The driver and conductor runaway.” We were on highway. Of course, nobody could drive the bus. “So whatshould we do?” I asked guys. “Another bus will come to pick us up after onehour later.”

So what will you decide if you face thissituation? You are on highway in India, you do not have enough time to enjoyyour holiday, and people said you have to wait for one hour. I decided not towait another bus. One hour is really dangerous sentence in India; it can be twohours or more. A young girl next to me said, “I need to reach Pune until 11 a.m.anyhow.” It was a moment I found a company to overcome this situation then Istart to get any car which was going to Pune on highway. A young guy told me “Ihave a car with A/C. I charge you Rs 250 (= 385 yen/ USD 5. The bus ticket was Rs220. My delivery lunch costs around Rs 100 every day.) for each.” I exactly didnot know where the guy came up from. “Do you think it is safe? We do not knowthat guy.” A girl said to me. But I was sure that I could find another companyfrom our bus. “We will go with you but you can get other guys who want you totake them to Pune as well. Why don’t you get back to our bus and find anotherpeople?” I suggested to him. Then we could get more two guys and it meant gooddeal for him for money and for us for safety. Of course, A/C was not working inhis car as I expected, he had said his car had though. My first priority wasclear, getting to Pune without any waste of time. I bought time but notquality.

We reached Pune railway station after twohours as the driver promised. He could get Rs 1000 as charge from us and wecould reach on time. “What an adventurous day!” Even an Indian guy who sharedthe car with me said at last. On Monday, my manager gave me a caution. “Kaori,Don’t do hitchhike in India. This is not Japan.” Well, but I’ve never donehitchhike in my country. I did not need to do in organized country like Japan.This thing happened because of India, didn’t it? After two weeks in Mumbai,this experience reminded me I’m in India now like last year…What a lovelycountry, here is???

外国人登録　結果

2011-10-21T10:54:00.002+09:00

確率５０パーセントと言われて運試しにムンバイの外国人登録へ行ってきました。結果的には住所登録証明の書類がなくても登録を終えることができました。

FRROへ赴いた後のプロセスは、

・フロアのレセプションでざっと書類をチェックされ、「給与はいくら？」という質問とともに、給与が書かれている契約書のページをチェックされてカウンター番号と呼び出し番号を教えてもらう

・住所や会社情報などをオンライン登録をする

・カウンター番号と呼び出し番号を電光掲示板でチェックして、自分の番が着たら別室のカウンターに書類を持って移動

・デスクの担当者に簡単なインタビューを受けるとともに、書類をチェックされる

（会社の業務概要や、自分の役職について口頭質問）

（書類は給与、役職、マネージャーのサインをしっかりチェックされるが、ほかの部分はわりとあっさり目にチェックされる）

・領収書を受け取って１５０Rs（登録料金＋Resistration Book（パスポートサイズのもの）代）を払いに行く

・Registration Bookに情報を記入し、終わったらそれを持ってカウンターに戻る

・再び内容をチェックされて、滞在許可期間のスタンプを押してもらう

・Registration Bookの数ページをコピーして提出して終了

といった流れでした。手続きは２時間くらいかかりましたが、係員の対応はよかったです。

やはり給料に関するチェックが一番厳しかったです。一番最初のレセプションで受けるチェックで条件を満たしてなかったらその先のプロセスには進めないのではないかという感じ。

会社に戻ったら人事は「よかったわねー」という感じであくまでも楽観的。結局、こういうことは自分でしっかり情報を得て、あとは運に任せるしかないのでしょうかね・・・。

今回のケースでも "This is India"というフレーズが何度も頭をよぎりました。

外国人登録へ行く。

2011-10-19T22:05:00.001+09:00

就労ビザを取得した場合、インド入国から１４日以内に外国人登録を済ませなければならない、というルールがあり、私もこのプロセスを踏まなければならないわけだが、明日で１４日目だと言うのに未だ登録が済んでいない。

なんでもアパートのオーナーからのサインが必要なのだが、オーナーがムンバイにおらず、その書類がまだ準備できていなくて、登録に行けない状況なのだそうだ。

「とりあえず明日で１４日目だから書類がそろっていなくても外国人登録にトライしてみてほしい。ただし登録完了のスタンプが貰える確率としては５０パーセント」というのが会社の人事からのコメント。

では、１４日以内に登録が完了しなかったらどうなるのか。
http://www.immihelp.com/nri/foreigner-registration/
によると、１４日以上経ってからの登録になる場合は、ペナルティーFeeを払う必要があるとのこと。実際に、私が勤めている会社にも、日本人社員のこのような前例があるそうだが、それは２年前のことで、今はどうなのか正直わからない、と言う。

就労ビザを取得するのに長い時間を費やした後で、「またしても」というのが正直な気持ちだ。

ともかく書類はそろっていないが、明日の朝一番に登録をしに行く。
その結果は神のみぞ知る、である。

Going on the right way

2011-10-16T21:01:00.005+09:00

One week has passed. I’m getting used to behere, also about my work. There are some challenges I have to overcome. Myco-workers said I will be going to crazy because of my job role. One of my teammembers left India suddenly and the other one will leave to another job roleone month later. After that, I have to take charge of everything instead ofthem only by myself. Actually, this time will be my hardest job experience sofar. But I’m feeling I’m on right way. I have good pressure about my future.Nothing is fixed but this pressure will make me do my best. If I did not seethe world I wanted to see last one year by traveling around the world, I might keepseeking free days without any pressure but I’m already satisfied to seedifferent world and this is a time to make evident progress in India for me. Igot good opportunity to make first step in India at least.

I talked with my friend’s sister who isfrom Nepal. She is 20 years old and came to India to get opportunity to keepstudying at University. She has to make money to enter University by herself.Her family is still in Nepal and they do not afford to support her new life inIndia. She takes bus for 1 and half hours every morning and works 12 hours fora day to earn money for her future and her present life. But she nevercomplained about it, trying to overcome things which she faces each moment. Thisis different life for me when I was in Japan. But it is not rare case here. Italways depends on your effort and luck if you can get good life or not. Nothingis ensured. If I am in Japan, I may be scared of this kind of life because itis usual for us to be ensured future (It is becoming not like that nowadaysthough) in Japan but I can be courage by people in India.

My choice has not been wrong. It’s notabout my career but simply life. I’m feeling I am living my life here. It isreally happy thing, isn’t it?

First impression of working in India, written on first working day

2011-10-14T22:11:00.003+09:00

Day 1, at an Indian company in Andheri, Mumbai, 3rd day in India this time, everything was fine. I’m wondering I’m really in India at this moment. All experiences I got by traveling this country were felt different memories in different country. I was little bit shocked now. Those memories are real India for me. Being with foreigners in India is totally different experience. I felt the layer of India. If I live in one layer, I may not see another layer. Most of my friends in India made community within native people and at that time, I never saw foreigner’s life in India. In this time, I am feeling that life I saw when I was traveling and be with native people were different world. However my co-workers who are from Japan and Korea, everyone said I will see “this is India”. It means it will be really hard to work with Indian people because of different culture. They are not on time, always have to push them if we want something, they are too optimistic. In fact, I have not really started to work yet, just taking some sessions by manager or chatted with co-workers.

However, the atmosphere was similar with the company I worked in Tokyo. “If you compare with your country’s company, you will suffer. But compare with another Indian company, this is really nice one.” A Korean girl who has worked here for 9 months said. “This is really good experience for me. If I can work with Indian people, I will be able to work with anyone. But one year in India is enough for me.” This company can be said exactly middle layer one. All employees can speak English very well and live in middle layer in India. And the style to work seems good as well as Japanese one. Office may have better quality than some Japanese one. But once I start to work with them, I must see their Indian way, every foreigner co-workers said.

About the quality of life, like apartment or living area are nicer than I expected. There are big malls nearby. The mall seems almost same with one in US or Europe. I can get almost everything even about imported foods. Only one thing, I felt this is India that I could not find beef at the supermarket. Only mutton and chicken were there. I went to cinema and saw “Love break ups Zindagi” with my roommate from Korea on Sunday. I’ve already seen some Bollywood movies and some sentences in English between conversations helped us to understand. Of course, the quality of cinema is good even comparing with Japanese one except too cold because of air conditioning. After the film, main actress, Dian Mirza, came up in front of screen. I shook hands with her. It was my first lucky moment in India this time. So far, so good. Let’s see what will happen after starting work here.

Sorry, but I love his speech much more than his products.

2011-10-06T23:42:00.000+09:00

One day in Kamakura

2011-10-02T02:32:00.000+09:00

Sense of value

2011-09-30T00:49:00.000+09:00

Which word is the best in English what I want to mean? "Concept of value", "philosophy", "sense of worth", I can find a lot of translations of "価値観" on the dictionary. Anyway, I learned how important to have my own sense of value for communication, especially between people who has different background.

I have thought people mind is not so different all over the world through my experiences, travel around the world for one year. Even if we have different looking, different culture, it doesn't become big problem to make friends. You can smile and make good memories which can be kept for whole your life. I still believe it is true.

However, understanding the difference is uneasy when you try to know someone well. This relationship is not like the one with a person whom you meet somewhere and spend a few days as a friend. It means the person whom you have to communicate for some purpose by taking for a long time. For instance, your business partner or your family. Frankly, traveling around the world and making new friends in each countries is not equal to understanding the differences of people, it may be a experience to "know" how is the differences of the people though. If you can overcome some issue which happens between people who is close to you, it may be nearly said you could "understand" the difference.

One day, I got some advice from my friends who have faced challenges because of some differences of people. One of my Japanese friends told me a good point. There are so many types of people around the world, that's why I have to keep my own sense of value clearly as a person to communicate with them. Another American friend who married Japanese guy told me, if I have to split the difference to get one happiness, it is not true one. You must have responsibility for your own happiness. The other happiness is his/her own responsibility but not mine. It is different with selfishness. If I become happy and the other also can be happy, it is true happiness. Another senior Japanese friend who lives in US said she faces differences everyday and upset sometimes. But she doesn't want to understand it. She just try to think it is their style and she has her own one.

Accepting or understanding differences cannot always be a good thing. It depends on situation and it can make good result and also bad sometimes. At least, having clear sense of value is necessary to live in this diversity and I need more practice to make it sure inside of me.

インド就労ビザ　最終章

2011-09-28T23:33:00.001+09:00

およそ２ヶ月を費やした結果、本日、ようやく就労ビザを取得しました。

今朝１０時頃にインド大使館へ修正したアプリケーションフォームを提出し、その時は、午後にはビザセンターでビザが受け取れます、という説明だったのですが、結局、のびのびになって、最終的に手元に来たのは、公式の受け取り時間である５時半を過ぎた、午後６時半でした。こういうことで一々不満を言っていては、インドでやって行けない、というのも尤もですが、「午後にはできる」と言っておきながら、受け取り時間の午後５時にもできあがっておらず、さらに、最後までビザが出来上がってくるのかどうかが、ビザセンターを通じて確認できないというのは、非常に不便でした。受領時間になっても受け取りができなかった申請者は２０名ほどいて、当然、中には自分のビザが遅れている原因や、本当に今日中に受け取りができるかなどを明確にしたいという声もあがっていましたが、ビザセンターは、あくまでインド大使館から連絡を「受ける」というのが基本姿勢のようで、個別の遅延原因などは、直接、インド大使館に問い合わせるしかないようです。最後まで、理由がわからないまま、結局約束されていた日時にビザを受け取れない人もいました。

ちなみに、今日、インド大使館からビザセンターへすべてのインドビザに対する新しい規定が下ったそうです。観光ビザ、学生ビザ、就労ビザ、ビジネスビザがメインのようですが、ビザセンターにいた旅行会社の方々には、近々詳細に関する説明会が開かれるという話がありました。日本での実際の新ルールの適用は来週の月曜日からを予定しているそうですが、公式な情報はビザセンターのホームページに近日中に更新されるとのことでした。

最後に、これからインドに渡航される方々が、ビザのトラブルなく、かつ、あったとしても、粘り強くできるだけのことをして、Incredible India!を楽しんでこられるよう祈っています。
なんといっても、私自身、ビザ問題でこれだけ苦しめられながら、やはり諦め切れなかったくらい不思議な魅力のある国、それがインドなのですから…。

インド就労ビザ　経過⑤

2011-09-27T16:31:00.002+09:00

前回のインド就労ビザ経過に関する記事からほぼ一ヶ月が経ちました。現状、まだビザは取れていません。

いろいろあって、結局、もともと申請していたビザはキャンセルせず、９月１５日に会社から修正書類を送ってもらい、それをビザアプリケーションセンターに提出しました。カウンターでは、連休をはさんでいたため、翌週の火曜日、９月２０日に一度電話でビザセンターに状況を確認して欲しいとのことで、問い合わせるも、進捗はまるで無し。翌日も、電話するが、何も進捗は無し。９月２２日、今度はインド大使館に直接電話をしてみた。すると、「アプリケーションフォームのビザ有効期限が、前回申請時の１２ヶ月のままになっているから、新契約条件の３年に書き換えて再提出してください」、とのこと。「それくらい大使館で書き直してくれればいいのに…」と思いつつも、同日午後に再度、ビザセンターに修正したアプリケーションフォームを提出。その後、３日間の連休を挟み、９月２６日午前中にインド大使館に連絡するが、「アプリケーションフォームの修正を頼んだはずだが、まだ大使館に届いてないです」とのこと。前週、午後提出だったから、まだ届いてないのかな、と思いつつ、その日は諦めて、９月２７日午後にインド大使館に再度電話すると、前日と同じ返答。さすがに、「２営業日経って、まだ届いてないのはおかしいじゃないですか？」と言って、ビザセンターに確認してもらうと同時に、自分からもビザセンターに問い合わせると、「その時どのカウンターに提出しましたか？」という質問。ビザセンターでは、順番待ち番号札にしたがってカウンターに行くのだが、そのときは「A」のカウンターで、職員に事情を説明して、大使館にアプリケーションフォームを届けてくれるように要請し、職員は、私が就労ビザをはじめて申請した際のレシートのコピーをとっていた。提出した日時、カウンターまでわかっているのに、大使館もビザセンターも、その書類の行方を明確にできない。あまりの対応の悪さに憤慨しながら待っていると、大使館から折り返しの電話がかかってきた。「大変申し訳ありませんが、今、書類を捜してもらっています。そこで提案なのですが、ご本人に明日の午前中に大使館に直接書類を持ってきていただけないでしょうか。その間に、平行してビザ発給の手続きを進めます」とのこと。「明日の午前中に持っていけば、同日発行してくださるんですね？」と、念を押すと、「はい」との返事だったので、明日、大使館に行くことになりました。

さて、明日本当に発給されるのか…？神のみぞ知る。

short film about future life in Tokyo

2011-09-11T15:49:00.001+09:00

This is 5 min film (with English subtitle) about Tokyo in the future. They showed me how our life can be changed because of radiation since 3.11. I cannot believe it all but also cannot deny it will never happen. I don't know what I should believe nowadays. But at least, I can say our government is too optimistic to take responsible for our future.

Learn from struggle month

2011-09-05T16:36:00.008+09:00

Last month was very hard one month for me. Or I felt so especially because July was perfect month for me. I can say I had the best days ever with my great friends. After coming back to Japan, almost all things were not going well as if I tried to fix it, there was a big power against my energy. I supposed it was just a challenge I got sometimes and would not keep for a long time. But things were not so easy. Have I ever had such a struggle month? Maybe, no. A trouble can happen any time and if I feel hurt, I still have energy to learn something from the experience. However, this time, I had to keep some pain for almost whole one month, could not control them well and still could not make sure what I should learn from these experiences.

My close friends often said to me "you are lucky". I did not remember why he/she thought so. But I guess he/she thought I had more opportunities on my hand than them to achieve something what I wanted. For instance, there are many people who have vision of their life and it was clear for them how they can achieve it. However, less money doesn't allow them even taking the first step for their future. After noticing it, I became more aggressive to get whatever I wanted. At least I have more opportunity than others, it is necessarily to get it instead of people who cannot make it easily. So far, I got everything. Some things were lost but I don't care about them because if I gave up to get it, it means those were not exactly the thing I really wanted. I almost cannot remember what those were after few months. In addition, actually, I felt not good against their words, "you are lucky", because it sounds like all things has been achieved because of only my luck except my effort.

One elder friend said to me when I was student, "You may not understand the feeling of people who lost something if you've never lost."Sometimes, I remember her words. I could not understand the meaning at that time. If I need to know the feeling, I cannot make me lose by myself. So I should just wait for the moment comes to my life. Recently, I think I was just lucky so far and I have started to learn how is the feeling "lost". And I'm wondering if I can be strong when I face "lost" like some friends who has already lost something and still keep being strong.

Things seem getting better than last month. But the energy against me lie down there and I am still trying to resist pressure from it. The door opened 60 % for me at least now. But it is very heavy and it will be closed soon when I left my hands from it. So I've not had energy to use for making sure what I should learn from last month yet. If I lose something important after long time in this month, it will be much harder for me to be patient than last month and I'm afraid I cannot stand up to open the door again. And yet, I want to believe I can get everything if I do my best, and if I lose, it just means I did not do the best.

Ganesh Festival

2011-09-01T20:52:00.005+09:00

Big festival week has started in Maharashtra in India. Unfortunately,I missed it this time because of delay joining a company in Mumbai.

India has some festivals which is related with each religions. I only participated in Diwali which is taken in October. That was second visit to India for me in last October and I went to Pune to see my friend. I had not have any information about Diwali. My friend invited some neighbors and we had beer or snack in their room. After sunset, the sound of firecracker and fireworks started everywhere. We went out to see it. Everyone had bunch or firecracker and lighter on their hands and turned fire on it, threw it away. Even a little child like 4 or 5 years old had it and enjoyed to throw it in front of people. Really, the sounds were crazy and I could not hear what were they talking even from person next to me. It was like a war...I was scared because spark and smoke made me hard walk around. However, all people except me seemed enjoying that crazy situation and asked me to make fire. That was kept until late at night.

Now, people in Maharashtra may be celebrating Ganesh Festival. I hope that is less crazy than Diwali which I saw in Pune. Indian way to do something is always more than I expected...

HAPPY GANESH CHARTURTHI!!

Note about Ganesh Charturthi:

Ganesha Chaturthi (Marathi: गणेश चतुर्थी, Tamil: விநாயகர் சதுர்த்தி Kannada: ಗಣೇಶ ಚತುರ್ಥೀ), also known asVinayaka Chaturthi is the Hindu festival of Ganesha also called Vinayagar in South India, the son of Shiva andParvati, who is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees in the duration of this festival. It is the day Shiva declared his elder son Ganesha as superior to all the gods. Ganesha is widely worshipped as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune and traditionally invoked at the beginning of any new venture or at the start of travel.

The festival is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). The date usually falls between 20 August and 15 September. The festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Anant Chaturdashi (fourteenth day of the waxing moon period).

While celebrated all over India, it is most elaborate in western and southern India. Outside India, it is celebrated widely in Nepal and by Hindus in the United States, Canada and Fiji. *Wikipedia

A popular song from a bollywood "Delhi Belly"

January 4th, 2011

2011-08-31T18:58:00.001+09:00

Why people still stay in Fukushima?

2011-08-31T11:23:00.005+09:00

"Why people are still staying in Fukushima even in such a dangerous situation?"

I was always wondering when I saw the news about Fukushima after 3.11. It is clear that that place is not safe to stay without any risk for their health, government allowed them who lived within 3km from nuclear plantation to go back their home at once last week though. "Do they believe information by government?" It was strange if they still trust the day will come soon they can get back to their usual days like before 3.11. because another media like twitter or SNS insist opposite opinions from government and it is worth to believe more than information from government for their future. Our government has kept saying "There is no danger which happen soon." It means it can be after 10 or 20 years, people can get cancer or any disease like Chernobyl victim.

My friend who was born in Fukushima, 21 years old boy, married in this home city left Fukushima to Kyoto for his two little children. He tweeted "I regret I did not make my family leave Fukushima before March 15." I asked him why and he told me it was raining included a lot of radiation on March 15. Then additionally, asked him what is exactly a reason people still keep staying in Fukushima, whether they believe official information by government or not.
"Actually they don't think they can go back home. But if they think so, it means they gave up their beloved home town. They just need something to believe in. Nobody trust information by government. People in Tohoku area love their home town strongly. Some people love the place more than their own life. It was happened same to me. Even for me, it was really hard decision to leave my home even for my children."

He knows it is better to evacuate from Fukushima.

"Because of our mind that is not easy to control by themselves, government have to force evacuation against people as a rule." I said "Government cannot grant their living after they left job in Fukushima. It may be a reason they have not made force." "...Economic or money are more important than people for politician? Nation cannot stand without citizen."

Our prime minister was changed again. Present prime minister will not be got on responsible for future of children in Fukushima 10 years later. So who can have responsible for our future if they left their position as a leader of one country so easily?

日本の放射能に関してドイツの番組（2011/8/29アップロード）

インド就労ビザ　経過④

2011-08-30T23:24:00.000+09:00

インド大使館に、就労ビザキャンセルに必要な書類は何かを問い合わせてみた。

事情を説明したら、上司に確認するから30分待ってくださいとのこと。2時間半後、折り返し電話があった。必要書類は、「内定を出した会社のキャンセレーションレターと代表者サイン」「申請者のキャンセレーションレター」の2通。

昨日、ビザ申請センターのインド人に、「キャンセルは簡単ではなく、かつ、一度キャンセルすると、それが履歴としてパスポートに残るから、次回申請時に不利になるという説明を受けた」と言ったら、「それ言ったの誰ですか？インド人？」と大使館の人に聞かれて、「そうです、じゃあ、対応どうしたらいいのか教えてっていっても、それは俺の仕事じゃないって無視されました」って言ったら、大使館の人も、それはちょっとなぁ、という反応だった。
キャンセレーションレターを大使館に提出し、今回のキャンセル理由が、不正なものでなく、申請者側の責任ではないと認められたら、次回の申請には問題はありませんよ、という説明だった。

ついでに、今回、ビザがおりなかった理由を再度聞いてみたら、「給与が低すぎる」が理由であり、さらに「その会社がIT企業であるとカテゴライズされているから」ということだった。つまり、「IT企業としては給与が低すぎる」ということらしい。
やはり、懸念していた通りの理由だった。

そんなわけで、インド大使館に問い合わせて、クリアにすべきことはクリアになったのでした。対応はビザ申請センターと違って、とても良かったです。

ひとまず、これで一連のインド就労ビザ問題も終結の光明が見えてきた。
やれやれ。

インド就労ビザ　経過③

2011-08-29T21:24:00.000+09:00

就労ビザ不給付から約1ヶ月・・・身分証明書としてのパスポートを返してもらうため、ビザ申請センターへ行きました。

前回の記事で、キャンセレーションレターが必要と書きましたが、その後、ビザ申請センターの別の職員から電話がかかってきて、「身分証を返して欲しいだけなのなら、ビザのプロセスはそのままに、パスポートの一時返却にしたほうがいい」と言われ、結局、CancelではなくBorrow Passportというステータスでパスポートを受け取りました。

ついでに、内定が取り消しになった場合を考慮して、就労ビザのプロセスを正式にキャンセルする場合、どうしたらいいのか、という質問をしたところ、「ビザのキャンセル？それは簡単じゃない。それに一度キャンセルというスタンプがパスポートに残ると、次回、インドのビザを申請しても、それが観光ビザであっても給付されなくなるかもしれないよ」と言われました。「それじゃあ、どうしたらいいのか」と切り替えしたら、「それは知らない。大使館に聞いてくれ」といって、そっぽを向く職員。

前回、電話で質問したときにはそんなリスクの説明はなかったし、職員の対応が悪くて頭にきた！インドの汚職抗議活動をしているアンナ・ナザレさんに負けず、抗議したいくらいだ！

…っていっても、もしここが日本じゃなくてインドだったら別に職員の対応の悪さなんか「ああ、いつものこと」と思って気にも留めないんだろうけどね。日本のサービスの良さの中では、不親切なインド人の態度は浮くのである。

そんなわけで、真意を知るべく、明日はインド大使館に電話する。

Dec 13, 2010

2011-08-28T13:56:00.000+09:00

Looks nothing happen in Japan on media

2011-08-26T10:54:00.003+09:00

On August 23, one of the most famous entertainers left TV industry. It was top news in Japan and you can still watch this news looks most important incident on TV. I have already been disappointed about the quality of Japanese media since I was University student. Until that time, I could not recognize how terrible our media was, especially the quality of news. When I talked with students who were same generation with me in Ukraine, I was shocked because they were interested in politics or international affair by not only TV but also internet. When I was in Malaysia, I could hear news about all over the world by different languages from radio. It was usual for them to know what is going on in our world. On the other hand, it is absolutely true that most important thing for Japanese TV station is getting good audience rate like entertainment program. They tie blindfold over our eyes from even the reality of our own country by showing something funny on TV.

It looks nothing happen in Japan now. The reality is far from our usual days. By the way, what about new clear plantation, radiation, the strategy by government to improve this situation? If you only watch TV or news on Internet in Japanese language, you may forget about that tragedy which happened only 6 months ago. Or you may say "We have to save the electricity! But actually what is for?" when you saw weather forecaster were explaining about percentage of electric power of tomorrow as if it had been informed everyday from long time ago. Why should we use the map of radiation forecast which was made by German? Because we don't have it, it means it is not so important for us.

"Be careful. When Japanese media is taking up only entertainment as top news, government is hiding something important behind them." This tweet was going around on twitter at the moment when the famous entertainer retired. They guess government is handling important information and we need to pay attention in this situation. Actually, our present prime minister, Mr. Kan will be retired soon and politicians are busy to decide new one. It looks important for us but I cannot make sure what they will do after repeating to change prime minister, nothing has been changed so far. Only people who are used to use SNS or YouTube can catch real news by informed by individual. Even if there is no evidence if the information is true or not, it must be much better to trust industrial media. At least, you can choose information what you want to know. On TV, you have no choice. Why can it be second news that a teacher in primary school kissed his student?

I know some foreign media were taking up that earthquake like the end of Japan and it was not reality at all. People wore mask not for radiation but for pollen. We were not in a panic, we helped each other. Foreigners who live in Japan tried to broadcast reality from our side to the world to stop spreading the false rumor. It is also not good to make it larger. However, it must be said we have to catch up with latest information without relying on domestic media. It is surely truth big matter happens right now and we should not accept our government without questioning.

"How many?"

2011-08-25T02:05:00.000+09:00

A sentence with a friend in India today.

Me: I cooked Japanese curry for dinner today.

Friend: Wow, I love Japanese curry. So how many did you make?

Me: ...How many? For 3 or 4 people...maybe.

Friend: No, no! I mean how many types of curry did you make?

Me: !

Note:

In India, people eat several types of curry at once.

Unfortunately, we eat only one type at once. THIS IS JAPAN.

インド就労ビザ　経過②

2011-08-23T20:10:00.000+09:00

「インド就労ビザ要再申請」と言い渡されてから３週間が経過しました。会社の方では、給与規定をクリアするために社内検討が必要になり、それに少なくとも１ヶ月かかるとのこと。さすがに１ヶ月も、唯一の身分証明書であるパスポート（免許証が無いので）をインド大使館に預けっぱなしというのもいい気分ではない。かといって、連日の暑さの中、茗荷谷まで行く気力もなく、ついつい今日まで過ごしてしまった。

今日、ビザセンターに電話。

「それってビザをキャンセルするってことですか？では、キャンセレーション・レターと領収書を持ってきてください」
「でもパスポートはインド大使館にあるんですよね？ってことは、そちらに持参しても当日は返してもらえないわけですよね？」
「・・・そうですね」
「・・・２回行くことになるわけですか？」
「・・・では、キャンセレーション・レターと領収書のコピーをビザセンターに郵送してください。投函から２、３日したらビザセンターに一度確認の電話をいただけますか？」

正直、電話一本で「返してください」って言えば済むかと思ってました。。会社の人も、「じゃあ、ビザセンターに提出したパスポートは回収していいですよ」って気軽に言ってたのに、こんな手続き必要なのか、と。

ちなみに、インドの某日本人求人紹介企業によると、現在、就労ビザには「年収230万円以上であること」、「インドに渡航して就業するだけの特別なスキルがあると証明できる書類があること」、の２つの基準があって、前者は必須、後者は給与ほど厳しい審査はない、とのことでした。

これからインドでの就業を考えている方々は、内定を貰ってから面倒な目に合わないように気をつけてください。

Costa Rica, country of natural beauty

2011-08-21T00:55:00.002+09:00

Park at central area in San Jose, Costa Rica

Best public University in Costa Rica

Lunch at the cafe in San Jose

cashew nut

Road of Mountain

Beach in Manuel Antonio

Shigoto-zukiai?

2011-08-18T13:58:00.000+09:00

"After five"means after the working time in Japan and people usually want to use this time as their own free time. But sometimes, it cannot be allowed. For example, if your client or boss, or some important person for your business, ask you to go for drink, you may not refuse it and you have to use after five with them for business. We call this situation "Tsukiai"and especially for business, we call it "shigoto-zukiai(dukiai?)".

In this early morning, 6:30 a.m. I got a call from a friend in India. It was 3:00 a.m. in local time.

"What happened? It's 6:30 here. Are you crazy? What are you doing?"

"I'm still working with my colleague ...so sleepy, I want to go home..."

"What's the matter of your work?"

"Actually, our boss started party after we closed and he doesn't allow us to go home."

"What? o.k. then, make him drunk and sleep, you can go home"

"No, he is already drunk and dancing...If I go home, he will get angry. What can I do?"

This situation was "work" for them to keep staying with their boss after their working time. I laughed when I heard about it because it is same situation that Japanese business men often face and suffer. It was exactly "Shigoto-zukiai" and I had thought it is kind of Japanese business culture. I'm curious that Indian people also do the same with us. I know all the employees there and laughed again when I imagined how they looked like in front of their boss at the moment.

Their "Shigoto-zukiai"had kept more one hour after that and they reached home around 4 a.m.. I felt sorry about that and also hoped it will not often happen to me when I start to work in India...really.

August 15

2011-08-17T23:19:00.000+09:00

Auschwitz, in Oswiecim Poland, 収容者を運んだ線路

August 15 was Independence day of India and Anniversary of end of world war two in Japan. On August 15 last year, I visited Auschwitz in Poland. It was raining when I reached nearest station of Auschwitz. I asked employee of the station how to get to Auschwitz but I could not understand which bus I should take. A guy told me we just had to take a walk to straight. Then I started to take a walk under the rain with a Japanese boy who was also going to the same destination. I still remember the smell of that place clearly. It was stench of death. 66 years has passed since world war two so you may think it is impossible to feel it but I could feel the atmosphere of death in that place under the rain.

ユダヤ人たちが収容されていた小屋

小屋の内部

An American friend who has also been there said Japanese think the end of world war two is August 15 but people think November 10, 1989, the wall of Berlin was broken, was exactly the end of war for European. I noticed that we tend to see the worst time from only our own side. A lot of people were separated because of that wall even after August 15, 1945. August 15 is also the day that Korea were freed from Japan. Any war and conflict become a struggle time for both of countries which was fighting each other.
"No war" is necessary for peace but it is not enough. My country has kept no war after world war two in Japan but we have a lot of challenges nowadays. Especially, after 3.11, we noticed we have to care another element for peace. Anniversary of the end of tragedy in our history makes us see the past and remind us we should not repeat the same thing again but we also should need to make sure what we should take care of to make our world better.

インド就労ビザ　経過

2011-08-13T01:13:00.000+09:00

【インド就職を考えている方々へ】

インド就労ビザ取得の経過をアップデートします。

今日、就職先のインド企業の代表に電話で状況を確認しました。問題となっているのは、1年半くらい前から新しく規定として加わった、「外国人就業者は年収230万円を給与として受け取らなければならない」というもので、私の就職先の給与はこの基準を満たしておらず、就労ビザが降りませんでした。

この規定は日本人のみならず、すべての外国人就業者に適応されるものとしてインド政府より施行されています。しかし、私と同じタイミング、条件で採用の決まっていた韓国人は、何の問題も無く、就労ビザが取れたとのことでした。

そもそもこの規定は、中国からの低賃金労働者を排斥するために作られたものであるという点では、ネット上や、就職先の会社からも同じ見解が出ています。しかし、韓国人には適応されずとも、日本人には適応されている事実がここにある。一体この違いが何なのか、理由は全くわかりません。

今日、就職先の会社から得た情報によると、新しい給与規定ができてからも、業界や職種によっては、給与が規定以下でも就労ビザが降りていたケースもあったそうです。具体的には、IT企業のエンジニアなどは適応されても、通訳、翻訳者などには適応されなかったりしていたそうです。ひとつ引っかかるのは、ビザを申請した際に、大使館側から「この会社はどういう事業をメインにしているのか。IT企業という認識でよいか」という質問を受けたことです。これはあくまで予想ですが、就職先の会社は100%IT企業とは言い切れず、翻訳もメイン事業のひとつとされているので、きちんと事業内容を書類に明記しておけば、規定適応外と判断されていたかもしれません。

就労ビザ意外に、インドでは日本には無い、インド政府によって認められているアイセック・ビザというものがあります。これはグローバルで海外インターンシップを運営しているアイセックという団体が、インドでは日本より認知度も高く台頭しているせいもあるでしょう。このアイセック・ビザには給与規定がないため、就労ビザのようなトラブルは起きていません。ただし、日本のアイセックでは、学生、及び卒業から2年以内の30歳未満の若者がインターン参加の対象とされているため、多くの場合、就労ビザの代替案として用いるのは厳しいかと思います。

そんなこんなで、就職先の会社は全外国人社員の給与を上げるか、他の案を考えるか選択を強いられており、私のインドへの渡航、及び入社は、半ば絶望的な状況となっています。

インドって何をするにも一筋縄では行かないんですよね。「これくらいでくたばるならインドに来るな」って、あの大国から試されている気がしてなりません。今回インドをいっしょに旅行したマレーシア人の友達がこんなことを言っていました。

"I was offended by the people there all the time - it is place to test your tolerance, patience and endurance..."

まったくそのとおりです。タフじゃないとやってけないよ。

Variety of food in India

2011-08-12T01:26:00.003+09:00

Dinner on the way to Delhi

This was a dinner which I had on the airplane from Tokyo Narita airport to Delhi international airport. Usually, I don't care about the quality of dish on any airplane but I could not stop feeling strange when this dish brought to me. How can I categorize this food? Curry, Sushi and bread came on the same plate...Indian Japanese European style...and it is non-veg food. I was curious what they prepared for vegetarian.

Biriyani

This is fried rice which is originated in South Asia in the kitchen of Muslim rulers. Indian often eat Biriyani and they have a lot of varieties in each region. Mostly, I preferred Chicken Biriyani and also easy to find vegetable or Mutton Biriyani in India. Some people may think Indian always eat curry and it can be said true but you can also find Tibetan or Nepali foods which are less spicy than Indian food. One dish is around Rs 200 (4 USD) in middle class restaurant that both of native people and foreigner often come. I ate breakfast at street restaurant every morning and it costed Rs 25 for one noodle plate.

Street restaurant in Pune

About meat, you can find Chicken, Beef, Mutton and Buffalo or frog sometimes. (Frog was called "Jumping chicken") However I've never found pork so far in India. A Nepali told me pork is dirty animal for them as we (Japanese) cannot eat dog, not sure the opinion from Indian though.

You can find any alcohol in India. Beer, wine, cocktail, vodka, whiskey. The price really depends on place. I got cheapest price about alcohol in Goa but the price can be almost same with Japan in big city in India.

Note; MacDonald is also available in India!

もっと変な食べ物もたくさんありますが、今回はまっとーなものしか紹介していません。追々、もっとローカルな食べ物も紹介していきたいと思います。

Drink & dance!

2011-08-10T00:25:00.015+09:00

【就労ビザの件】
就労ビザの記事がGoogle検索でヒットしやすいのか、この記事に関してだけアクセスが集中しています。
この件に関してはまだまだ絶賛調整中です！

Dance hall in Pune, India

I often went for drink with my friends when I was in Pune. Most of time we used restaurant named "Basho". Basho is a name of Japanese poet and I was surprised when I found the restaurant. The design of restaurant was like Japanese garden or Japanese room. We drank kingfisher beer there and go back home before 11 p.m..

But sometimes, we also went to pub. Most of pub has "lady's night" Girls can drink alcohol free. There is also dance hall and DJ makes good music. It become so crowded after 9 p.m..

One day, I went to pub with three friends. One of them was a student who was taking a course of MBA. Before going to pub, we drank some bottles of beer and took some snack in their room. We drank two bottles each at last but everyone did not look drunk yet. And the student boy still looked shy and quiet character. A few hours later, we took bike to a pub and kept drinking again. After 9 p.m. there became crowded and some people started to dance. For the student, it was first time to come such a nice pub. (Guest had to pay Rs1000 as entrance fee; almost 20 USD) Suddenly, he started to dance. It had not been imagined that he liked to dance a lot until the moment. Of course, he was totally drunk...After 3 hours, the pub was closed and we went out from there. However, two of my friends were drunk and the student boy started to vomit. It reminded me my student days. We also went for drink and stayed until late at night, some of friends became drunk and half of them had to care of them...There was no difference even in India.
It was heavy rain but they wanted to eat something and kept driving to find restaurant under heavy rain. The student boy were almost dead at that time. Finally, I could not patient and suggested them going back home. We were all wet and felt very cold...

I talked with one of friends (who was not drunk at that time) yesterday. It become funny memory for us now. But at last, he told me that the student boy could not stop vomiting until 6 a.m. after going back home. I felt sorry for that but also could not stop laughing in my mind...

西欧に比べてアジア人はあんまり踊らないイメージだけど、インド人は踊り狂います。ボリウッド映画が歌と踊りがあるせいで3時間超えるくらいだから、彼らの踊り好きは納得できますね。。

おまけ　Disco in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Boy's hobby

2011-08-08T15:02:00.008+09:00

先日、友人がエレキギターを買うというので、ギターショップが連なる御茶ノ水に行ってきました。元来、ギターというものには興味はなかったのですが、インドにいるネパール人が、会う人ほぼ100％、「ギター大好き！」という事実を目撃し、西欧のみならず、ワールドワイドで男の子が熱中する趣味の世界とはどんなものかいな、という興味がちょっと湧いて覗いて見る気になったのです。

Guitar shop in Ochanomizu, Tokyo

店に入るなり、びっくり。壁に隙間無く掛けられたギターたち。（まるで木に隙間なくとまっている蝉みたい・・・と思うとキモチ悪いが）。詳しいことはよくわからないけれど、ピアノ歴は長いこともあって、似たような型でも随分と音が違うんだなぁ、ということくらいは理解できたので、友人が試し弾きているのを横でみているのは面白かった。
せっかくだから、日本のギターショップというものを海外の友達にも見せてやろうと、フェイスブックに写真を載せたら、案の定、ギター好きの反応アリ。ネパール人はもちろん、タンザニア人、ブルガリア人からも、「ギター買ったの！？」という威勢の良いコメントが。私にとっては初エレキギターの世界、ということで一枚ギターを持っている写真を撮ってもらったのですが、その写真については、「様になっているようで持ち方が違う！」なんていう小賢しいツッコミもありました。それにしても、いろんな国で愛されてます、ギター。

その他、バイクもBoysの世界共通の趣味といえるでしょう。世界一周旅行中は、いろんな国で、「SUZUKI, HONDA, YAMAHAはいいよね」なんて声を多数聞きました。8ヵ月後にはインドでYAMAHAのバイクが90000ルピー（2000ドルくらい）で発売されるとかで、月収9000ルピーながらもコツコツ貯金に勤しんでいる友人もいます。

ビリヤードもわりと広い範囲でBoysの娯楽として好まれていました。これに関しては、インドよりタンザニアの方が盛んだったかもしれない。マサイ族と一戦交えたこともありました。一晩中、台にしがみついている様子には、人種が違えど共通する熱みたいなものを感じました。ただアジア、アフリカでは女の子がビリヤードをやっている姿は見なかった。西欧の女の子はやるのかもしれないけれど。

Zanzibar Island, Tanzania

Pune, India

こんな感じで、特に途上国では女の子が興味を持たない分野に興味を持ったり、女の子がやらないゲームに進んで参戦したりすると、喜ばれるものです。まぁ、最初は一生懸命教えてくれるんだけど、後半はやっぱりBoysの真剣勝負に熱中してこっちほったらかしなんて状況になるのも、だいたいどの国でも同じです…。

Golden temple in India

2011-08-06T16:28:00.001+09:00

The golden temple in Amritsar, India. 8 hours far from New Delhi by bus, is a city near the border between Pakistan and India. This temple is the place for Sikh religion. People from any religions can enter by free after taking off shoes at the gate. Very peaceful place and clean. You can hear religious music from stereo that is played inside of temple.

By the way, the trip to this place from New Delhi was terrible...I asked my guest house in Delhi night bus ticket before the day. The ticket included another option like Rikisha to bus station from guest house and A/C (air conditioning) bus. However, Rikisha driver brought us to another place and we could not find any bus there. The driver could not speak English at all so I called to guest house to explain this situation. They only said "Wait a minute" but I had already known the word "One minute" can be most dangerous word in India. It means one minute can be 30 min or more. I decided to go back to guest house. They were almost in panic and owner told me he would prepare his car to drop us at bus station. But at last, we took Rikisha again to get our bus with a hotel staff.
We could get on bus but the staff said we had to change bus at once. They had never told me about that and I was very upset. after 30 minutes, we got off the transfer bus and waited for next bus for 30 minutes. A guy came and brought us to somewhere. There was a bus but that was non A/C bus. I thought the hotel staff cheated us and called again and shouted them. That was a moment I got angry the most in this trip to India.
At last, we could get on another bus with A/C. But another problem happened. It was freezing bus...they could not change temperature and we had to patient whole night in the terrible bus. Next early morning, we reached Amritsar and tried to find any hotel but nobody could speak English unless we tried to find someone who can speak.

After that terrible trip from Delhi, finally we could see golden temple. These are the shots when I was really exhausted...anyway, good place.

インド就労ビザ

2011-08-03T22:15:00.005+09:00

インドでの就職を考えている方々へ、情報シェアです。

8月からムンバイに本社を置くインドの会社へ就職が決まっていて、先日、就労ビザ(Employee visa)申請のために、日本に帰国しました。8月1日にビザ申請を行い、本日、ビザ受け取りのために茗荷谷にあるビザセンターに行きましたが、給与が低すぎるという理由で就労ビザが取得できませんでした。

昨年から、インド政府により、年収230万円に満たない外国人労働者は受け入れない、という新規定ができて、インドで働く日本人の間でも、ビザが取れなくなったという話がネット上でも見られるようになっていました。今年に入って、制定時ほど、査定も厳しくなくなったという話も耳に入りましたが、やはり8月現在でも、しっかり機能しているみたいです。

具体的に、給与がいくらならパスできるのか、という質問をビザセンター職員にしたところ、最低でも、1ヶ月10万ルピー（約2500ドル）必要だそうです。

【関連記事】（わかりやすいです）
インド就労ビザの年収制限の真実
http://ameblo.jp/geocom-kawagomeblog/entry-10849190531.html

再申請にむけて絶賛調整中！進展がありましたら情報シェアします。

Heaven, Pune?

2011-08-02T19:29:00.002+09:00

Even in monsoon season in India, most of places where I have been this time kept hot weather, Mumbai, New Delhi, Amritsar, Aurangabad and Pune. I had thought every places had heavy rain this time because it was raining all day in Goa when I was there same season of last year. However, it was really hard to take walk in New Delhi and Amritsar (the border with Pakistan) because of strong sunshine. Mumbai also didn't have good weather, more humid under cloudy sky.
Pune was kind of heaven in that days. It is cool all season. Everyone who live in Pune love this city because of this good weather.

Pune, one of main road

Actually, Pune doesn't have special place to take sight seeing. Mainly, this is the place for education and business. There were many Universities or company from abroad. I could see some Japanese who live in Pune as a student or business man. There are big mall, market, cinema or disco. This place is good to live in. I also liked this place because of less people and good weather but only one thing I can complain is transportation. It may be necessary to have car or bike. Otherwise, I have to take Riksha to everywhere, it can be waste of money.

Pune Camp, totally local place!

Next city of Pune, Aurangabad is main point going to Ellora, world heritage big cave. This city has less foreigners who live in than Pune but also has good weather. It takes 5 hours from Pune by bus. So if you start travel from Mumbai, it may be good course to stop at Pune (4 hours from Mumbai) and Aurangabad.

Ellora, world heritage cave

Wake up together,early morning in Mumbai

2011-08-01T17:06:00.000+09:00

around 6 a.m.

crows

cats and dogs

Japanese curry for India

2011-07-31T15:07:00.000+09:00

I brought Japanese curry to my friends in India last month, which was chicken curry (boil-in-bag). They loved it as one of my Japanese friends had told me before. I was not with them when they were tasting that Japanese curry. So I asked some question another day.

"How did you know how to cook it?"
"I saw illustration on behind of bag, how to cook. Then we boiled the bag."
"Great. But how long did you boil it?"
"Half one hour..."
"...It's too long, you know? So how was that?"
"We really loved it! But I put some salt. After that, it was perfect!"

Japanese "spicy" chicken curry was not working for them??

Another Japanese food, I also brought SENBEI, which was Japanese snack made of rice. One of my friends were interested in it when I was eating it.

"What are you eating?"
"Japanese snack."
"Hmm...it is vegetarian or non-vegetarian?"
"Kya(What)??...well...there is shrimp inside, it means non-vegetarian food..."
"Then I will take it. Thanks."

I had never minded if SENBEI is vegetarian or non-veg food. And it was little bit strange that non-vegetarian asked me about it. I can understand if he was vegetarian and cared about inside of food though...

My Ukrainian friend were suffering from differences of food. He didn't like spice at all. Only few dishes he could eat were Momo (Nepali Dampring) and Tukpa (Also Nepali noodle). There were no spice inside. We could find these food easily in New Delhi but after left there, his food life got worse.
When we were in Amritsar, which was near the border of Pakistan, he had almost nothing to eat. Even vegetable soup was not accepted by him. He saw us, my Malaysian friends and me, as if he were looking at alien when we were eating spicy Indian food. He ordered "Non spicy" first few days but after that his way of order was changed to "No spice".
He was in Goa now. I hope he could find Nepali foods or continental one. (Surely, it must be easier to find them in Goa.) Good luck for his delicious food life.

No doubt

2011-07-30T18:36:00.003+09:00

gateway of India

That was rainy day in Mumbai. I was coming back from my new office in New Mumbai to Central Mumbai and got off train at CST station. Too much crowd and traffic with people who tried to go somewhere. I run to a building opposite side of station and standing for few minutes. That was a city view I saw first time in India, reminded me Tokyo. I caught taxi and jumped on to prevent from heavy rain. “How much to Colava area?” “Rs50” The driver was old man about 60 years old; he never tried to cheat me about price. “Are you working here?” He asked me with slow English. “You are from Japan?” Usually, I don’t like to be asked my nationality especially in India. Some people cheated me if I told them I was from Japan. However I could talk with him without any hesitation. “No problem! You live here and marry with Indian. Sometime go back to Japan. Life in India and Japan. Good life, No problem.” “Accha Zindagi? (Good life)” He looked happy when I used some Hindi.

This one month could be said really perfect. I can say I enjoyed days in India more than traveling around the world for one year. One of the reasons is that I could achieve re-union trip with my old friends from Ukraine and Malaysia. Only 3 days together in Mumbai and we left to different direction each other, I left to Pune, friends left to Goa and New Delhi. We promised to meet again in somewhere in this world again. The other reason is that I could get many new Indian friends. Time with them was always unexpected and full of fun. In addition, my feeling was changed a lot. Any emotions, happiness, sadness, angry were always 100%. I felt my life between them.

Mumbai C.S.T station

I also visited my new work place in New Mumbai this time. It was not long time but I could know the atmosphere of their office, co-workers looked nice and I think I can enjoy work with them.
There is no doubt that I chose India as a next stage of my life. When the air plane took off ground of India, I strongly felt about it.

Latest bollywood movie - Delhi Belly

2011-07-13T16:31:00.000+09:00

Amazing latest bollywood movie.

India for one month

2011-06-28T16:39:00.001+09:00

より大きな地図で無題を表示

Third visit India from June 29 to July 29, I'll go to Pune, Mumbai and Delhi, probably Agra to show my friend Taji Mahal. This is rainy season in India and first time for me to travel there in June and July, must be cooler but we should take care of ourselves more than high season, especially about foods in monsoon season.

I will meet up two friends of mine, from Ukraine and Malaysia this time. They are my good friends since I took part in internship program in Ukraine in 2006. The boy from Ukraine is excited to draw something in India. The other girl from Malaysia, she has been interested in India for a long time. I wish I can write some funny stories about our trip with some photos.

日本のみなさま、行って参ります。

Make a line

2011-06-27T01:24:00.001+09:00

I met up my friend in Eno-shima, one of my favorite places in Kanagawa prefecture, just one hour far from my home. It's rainy season in Japan now and this is best time to see a flower called Ajisai. Hase temple is great place to watch it and a lot of people visited there today. However we passed there and been to Enoshima by Eno-den, small local train. It was very crowded on the platform. There were three lines on several places of platform as a place waiting for next train. A family did not make a line and just stood next to me. Another people were waiting for train behind of us on the line.

"That family might be from Chiba prefecture." My friend said after getting off train.

"Why?"

"Because I saw many people don't make line at Chiba station when they are waiting for train."

"I see...but most of people did not make a line in abroad. You should not be so serious about it. We are minority in this world."

"Maybe. But you know, we are Japanese and it is better to keep our rule as a Japanese. Because it must be good part of Japanese, isn't it?"

Japanese sweets in Kamakura

Some foreigners say, "GAMAN 我慢"(being patient) is great thing of Japanese when they saw how Japanese people behave even in this hard situation by big earthquake. I totally agree that this is good thing of ours. But I think it is bit different from "being patient" but common sense for us from long time ago. Patient includes some stress to do something. As for me, I do not feel stress when I have to make a line to wait for train at least. That's why even at a crowded train station, people can make a line for every people not to feel bad each other. People who comes earlier have a right to get on train faster and who comes later should wait behind of them. We just do it, no wonder. And it really can be said this is good part of Japanese.

Ajisai parfait

3329 for one month

2011-06-21T16:32:00.003+09:00

This is totally different experience traveling foreign country and living abroad. I have lived in Japan, especially city area for 28 years and doesn't have experience living or working in foreign county (stay in one place for several years). I visited over 30 countries and the purpose to visit was sight seeing or meeting up friends. I think travel is good way to know good part of the country more than bad part. I met a lot of foreigners who have come to Japan as a traveler. They told me how nice country Japan is. However, no country is perfect. Japan is also not exception.

What does the number mean "3329 for one month"(in May 2011). It means the number of suicide last month in Japan. When I talked about this reality, the number of suicide, in my country to foreigners, they asked me "Why?". Some of them knew there are many people who kill themselves in Japan but they didn't know the reason. Actually, so am I. I can guess some reasons but not sure about truth. And also guess if I explain these reasons to them, they will not understand. For instance, business man are fired by company or students could not get job after graduating from university. I still remember a reaction of a Nepali guy and Brazilian boy I met in 2006 and last year after I talked about it. "Why do they give up their life so easily? I don't have regular job but I have never tried to die because of it." "I love Japan but if I live in Japan and I have to suffer like this, I do not want to live there. Japanese must come to Brazil and know how life is wonderful." "Japan is very nice country. Everything is clean and accurate. If I am waiting for train on the sign of 7 on the platform, 7th train car will be stopped in front of me. That's really amazing. But Japanese can be going mad because they are always so serious." An Italian girl said on TV program.

3329 is terrible number and painful incident. But I think this number cannot be equal to how terrible country Japan is. Because same situation or worse like losing job happen in another countries. I heard it is impossible to get even part time job not only being full-time employee in a developed country. But in Japan is not worse like that. So why do they kill themselves easily? Because of character of Japanese or system (common sense) in our community? I still do not know why they give up everything, there could be really terrible situation around them that I never knew. But Japanese should learn to be easy going, try to see outside of Japan and enjoy their life. No country is perfect but people can be happy depends on mind.

Funny CG art...Kety Perry E.T.

2011-06-20T12:37:00.000+09:00

浅草 Asakusa

2011-06-19T11:43:00.000+09:00

Rainy season in Japan. Still have problem after earthquake. But we do not only stay in house! There were many people and also foreign tourists in Aasakusa, Tokyo. Nothing looks different from days before earthquake. Look!

My friend bought Age-Manju

people drinking outside

Ganbarou(encouraging) Japan on the flag

祭　Summer festival

2011-06-17T17:45:00.000+09:00

Time for summer festival in Japan. Colorful strange foods is worth to see.

banana chocolate

???

Yaki-Soba with heart egg

kinngyo...don't eat them...

Lovely Oto-san!! Japanese mobile phone ads

2011-06-16T23:29:00.002+09:00

Softbank, one of big mobile phone company made a character, "Oto-san Ken", means, Father Dog. He is a white cute Japanese dog and father of a family. The strange thing is that his wife, son and daughter are human. Oto-san became quite popular character in Japan and his family story become series as advertisement on TV. This is one of them. Students learn English by playing dodge ball. This is my favorite one.

This is another one about iPhone (Japanese with English subtitle). Here you can see, Oto-san family. I am not sure if this one is used in USA, people like it or not. But surely, this family are contributing to sales in Japan.

Movie "Kites" from India

2011-06-15T22:57:00.003+09:00

This is a film I watched last June in India. This is not typical Bollywood movie with many songs or dance. The main character is Indian guy and Mexican girl, love story about them started from Las Vegas. So the main language is probably English but it is changed to Hindi or Spanish. It can be said Americanized Indian movie.

from part4 to part14 is from this link

My last journey with my best friends in my best country, then...

2011-06-13T00:42:00.000+09:00

How hard to be in freedom. I know decision have to be made by myself not by even my close people. However, how difficult it was. I still don't know this will be best decision for me but how I can know before taking action. Let it be...

My last journey will be taken with my best friends in my best country. After traveling around the world, i could not recognize where and when was my last moment of my long journey. Came back to Japan and went to Vietnam for one month...even after coming back Japan again last month, I was feeling not comfortable. Because I had not decided what I should do as a next step. The end will not come without beginning .

My brother in Ukraine and my great friend in Malaysia, both of them, who gave me opportunity to notice important thing about life 5 years ago in Ukraine will come to India with me. India will be a place of reunion for us.

After spending time with them, I will live in Mumbai, big city in India. The real end of my journey and beginning of my new life. I want to find next challenge during a year in Mumbai.

Safari

2011-06-10T02:28:00.003+09:00

from Pune to Kalingpong

2011-06-08T21:06:00.015+09:00

より大きな地図で無題を表示

Hardest thing I ever had was taking train trip in India. My first trip was from Delhi to Agra. It was easy to manage by myself. However, one night trip from Varanasi to Darjeeling was hard, I could see my friend at train station at last. Third trip from Darjeeling to Goa was 2 nights 3 days trip. I could lose my way if I was not with my Indian friend. This time, I have plan going to Kalingpong from Pune. Provably, 2 nights 3 days trip again. Fortunately, July is not high season so I hope the train will not be crowded. Surely, something I cannot guess will happen on this way though...

quantity or quality

2011-06-06T01:40:00.002+09:00

I read interesting sentence on a book.

-A guy asked someone which line he should take to his destination at train station in New York City.
"You should take A line. You can reach 4 minutes earlier than another line."
He thanked and asked one more question.
"By the way, what I should do by using the 4 minutes?"-

This story express the priority of quantity and quality. A guy who asked question is a person lives in the world of quality. The other one lives in the world of quantity.

I guess most of people who live in developed country care about quantity more than developing country. Time is passing faster than the other one everyday. I felt one day was much longer than Tokyo when I was some countries in Asia or Africa, South America last year. (Some people looked they didn't care both of quantity and quality...they were just lose...)

However it is also true that I have never found a country that had good balance both of quantity and quality except Japan. For instance, you can get delicious food on clean plate for a short time at Japanese restaurant. I could eat a lot of more wonderful local food than Japanese one in South east Asia but their quality never could be better than Japanese one. The restaurant or street shop were not clean like Japanese restaurant even if the food was excellent.
I met many great handy craft art in Africa or South America but they needed long time to finish each works. (Of course, their art had special thing which could be made only by hand work.) Japan keeps quantity and quality about everything.

On the other hand, I also want Japan to be more slowly. Or I can say so only about Tokyo. Okinawa has great balance of quantity and quality in Japan. I recommend to visit south of Japan when I am asked about good place to travel in Japan by foreigners.
If you are planning to visit my country someday, visit Miyako island near Okinawa. You will see a big difference between quantity and quality world in this small country.

calm

2011-06-04T20:13:00.002+09:00

2/12/2011

2011-06-03T02:42:00.002+09:00

Decision

2011-05-31T01:02:00.007+09:00

I got a message from a friend in Bulgaria. I met her last year when I was traveling in Budapest. We took sight seeing together at that time. She told me she is looking for best choice for her life, it means she is looking for the best way to move to Czech Republic. That country is her favorite place, she said when I met her in Budapest.
It is funny that I got her message this time because I'm trying to make decision about the way moving to India.

I have always chosen the way that I could satisfied 100%, especially on a tipping point about my life. When I entered University, participated in a project in Ukraine, job hunting and decided to quit job and took travel around the world. Some people were against my choice or could not understand. However, each choices were the one I could be really looking forward to going ahead. Fortunately, I've never regretted my decision so far. I have to be excited more than feeling fear or anxious when I make decision.

I need more few days but I'm sure I will be able to excited after making any decision. Otherwise, it must be wrong choice for me. I hope my friend in Bulgaria also can choose best way for herself.

Colorful city, somewhere in South America

2011-05-29T20:39:00.003+09:00

Buddha birthday

2011-05-19T23:02:00.002+09:00

May 17 was Buddha birthday. I had forgot about it but noticed one of my Nepali friends wrote "happy buddha jayenti" (Happy Buddha birthday) on Facebook. Just one year ago, I was in Goa, south west area in India. I often went to small restaurant on the beach at that time. One day, two Nepali friends said "Kaori, today is Buddha birthday." when I visited there. They thought I had already noticed about it because I'm also Buddhist. I told them I had not known about the day and it made them surprise. They were religious and that was a moment that I felt I have to know about my religion even if it is not popular topic in Japan.
After sunset, I was moving to another place to have dinner where my another new friends was working. I still remember big full moon I saw on the way. The restaurant was running by two Nepali elder couple and Indian people from Darjeeling. So I said to them "Happy Buddha birthday". However nobody noticed that days was the day. Some of they didn't know which was the day of it.
I can remember each day of just one year ago recently. Time flies. India must have more and more strange and interesting things. I'm dreaming the day coming back there.

Studying English when I was teenage.

2011-05-17T15:50:00.003+09:00

Junior high school was not good environment for me during my 16 years student time. It was 15 years ago, I was going to public school near my house and some students often made trouble with teachers. When I was 13 years old, I had English class first time in my life and this new subject was my favorite. (Art was my best subject though) At that time, I just wanted to be able to write cursive handwriting. I practiced a lot, wrote down A-Z on 3 notebooks. However, I hated grammar, could not understand the differences "am" and "do" in first few months.I didn't have any purpose learning English. Basically, I didn't (don't) like study and didn't find any meaning that I have to study, listened to English class program on radio but often skipped, wasted money to buy textbook.

I entered private hight school and my class teacher took charge of English class. Her pronunciation was good because she was studying in England for a couple of years when she was young. She was demanding teacher and made many examinations about new words, pronunciation and grammar. It was kind of game for me, remembered every example sentence to get good mark about grammar exam. If I made a mistake, (almost every time, it was careless mistake), my teacher complained about it when she returned paper. I studied English to beat her. Still there was not special purpose learning English when I was 17 years old.

After entering University, I got to know English is a way to communicate and English became mandatory for me. I participated in international conference in Singapore held by students organization. We had some sessions to discuss about culture differences or some strategy about our organization. A group consisted of people from each countries. Japanese was only one person in a group. I was be overwhelmed by them. They were same age with me but speaking English well, looked usual for them to use English. After that, I felt I never want to take part in session. That experience become trauma.

I forgot what erased my fear to speak English after that. Maybe activities in the organization. I met some foreigner intern and they were friendly, patient to understand what I wanted to tell them. Finally,I could know to enjoy speaking English and find the purpose to study it. I was interested in seeing another world through foreigner friends. I was 19 years old.
I still hate mathematic and cannot find reason I had to learn function or derivation in school. English, it will give you great present in your future even if you have not found any reason or purpose yet.

幸せの経済学 -The Economics of Happiness

2011-05-14T01:42:00.001+09:00

New documentary film, "The Economics of Happiness" based on a book　”Ancient Futures”

Spring in Yokohama city Japan and Ivano-Frankivsk Ukraine

2011-05-10T16:57:00.001+09:00

flowers in the park near Yokohama port

2 months has passed since that earthquake happened in north area in Japan and people has already spent days as usual in my city. I went out with my friend on last weekend, there were many people in the part near Yokohama port. It is general view here and looked nothing happened 2 months ago. Fortunately, my city didn't get big damage because of earthquake but people in north area are keeping uncomfortable days. My friend decided to move to west area from Fukushima because of radiation. Japan is so small country that some of my friends abroad thought all area in Japan has damaged by earthquake or radiation but surely it is not truth, we still have small quakes once in a day in my city though.

My brother in Ukraine canceled his trip to Japan this time that was planned from May 20 because I asked him to do so. He must be very disappointed but has done new project in his hometown recently.

100 m painting on the main road
Photos of art project in Ivano-Frankivsk

City lake in Ivano-Frankivsk

E-education system in Bangladesh by Japanese student

2011-05-10T16:23:00.002+09:00

https://readyfor.jp/projects/14 Related site only in Japanese

A Japanese University student made E-education system for high school students who has limited opportunity going to University in Bangladesh.

Hindi song "Sajda" from "My name is Khan"

2011-05-09T00:31:00.000+09:00

Purpose of traveling around the world

2011-05-08T23:59:00.001+09:00

My days in Japan is passing quietly,have time to remember each moments of my journey and noticed one important thing about it. That is the purpose of traveling. "Traveling around the world" sounds special thing and it is true not everyone can do it even if they want. But it is also true this kind of traveler isn't rare nowadays. So it must be needed to have any purpose if you use your time and money for it.
I met a lot of travelers who were keeping journey for long time, over one year sometimes. Some of them were very interesting but some people were not like that. What is the difference between them? The reason is whether they had purpose for their travel or not.
Even for me, I could give up my trip if I didn't have any purpose of my trip. I had problem about situation sometimes and my purpose "find one place I want to live in and work" helped me to make decision each moment. I needed to see every countries I was interested in to find the place. That's why I could complete my all plan. However, I met some people who lost their next step after traveling. They quited job and use a lot of time and money to achieve one dream "traveling around the world" but after achieving this dream, they lost next way and just stopped one place before reaching home. It was really sad situation. "I don't want to go back to home, I have no job and my own place, so I must go back to my parents house. But I know my parents will ask me what I want to do next. I have no idea. It's really hard to find job in my country now." A German girl who was traveling for over one year and had a lot of knowledge about each countries said when I was in Buenos Aires.
Traveling around the world may be special thing but it is also same with another experiences. Because it can be nothing if you don't have any purpose on the action. And I think it is also can be said the clever person can learn everything even if he (she) doesn't take long travel.
I never thought my journey was waste of my time but if I did not have any purpose and could not get any answer, my time for one year and experience could be nothing.
I hope "Traveling around the world" cannot be the way to run away from usual life or traveling itself become a purpose to achieve. This must be one of the ways to achieve something.

A moment of the Earth

2011-05-03T01:46:00.001+09:00

keep dream, then come true!

2011-04-22T03:42:00.004+09:00

My brother from Ukraine planned to visit Japan next month. But because of radiation and earthquake, I asked him not to come this time. He had already bought flight ticket and we were preparing for applying visa to Japanese embassy in Kiev. But the documents I sent to him for getting visa has never reached his home. It was lost...someone told me it was because of radiation. Some country post offices stopped delivery from Japan. Finally, we could not know reason.

I sent sms to his mobile late at night in Ukraine to ask him not to come to Japan this time. Because the situation in Japan did not get better after earthquake. I wanted him to come without any risk. He told me he could not sleep at all that night, he was disappointed. Because he has already waited for 5 years to come to Japan since he was only 17 years old. Visiting Japan is such a big dream for him.

He sent a picture today. It was drawn after he got my sms.
When I saw it, I thought he can keep his dream and make it come true. Even after few years, he will be able to come to Japan. (This picture is a memory we were walking around in Kiev to find space ship!!)

I'm really proud of him, He told me how important to keep dream and make it come true. Dream can make people strong even in bad situation.

Lost, keep and fix

2011-04-21T01:34:00.001+09:00

One month in Vietnam, I met some funny new people. But after 2nd time to visit somewhere, most wonderful thing is to meet old friends. I had five close friends in Vietnam. 4 people are from Vietnam and 1 person is from Japan. The Japanese friend is the owner of the hotel I worked this one month. I met him 3 years ago and he said his dream is to have his own hotel. I could see his dream came true this time. I was working at his dream of 3 years ago. He said "Suddenly the day came to me, actually it is far from my real dream." But anyway, I was happy to see him and his girl-friend and friends around him. About another 4 Vietnamese friends, I lost one old friend this time. He was my first friend in Vietnam. It was most sad thing but it was better to get over. I have never cut any friendship by myself in my whole life and it is first time to do so. I learned how difficult to keep relationship. 2nd and 3rd friend are his nieces. The one lives in Ho Chi Minh City and I could meet her. But she was in bad situation in her life this time. She told me sad story about last few months. I was sad to hear about that. The other girl is in Canada. I could not contact with her last 1 year but she caught me online 3 days ago. I could know she is happy in Canada at least. 4th friend is in Hanoi, I met her last May and she showed me around and really matured girl. She asked me to visit her again to Hanoi but I did not go there this time.
After 6 times visiting Vietnam, I lost, keep and fix old friendship. Vietnam is special country for me, close and like neighbor. But I think I will not visit them for a whole. If I will come again, it must be over 10 years later. Now I think my long journey was really finished in Vietnam, my neighbor country. SHE told me a lot of things about travel and life from 2008 when I came here first time. I have to say good-bye at once.
I will leave Vietnam and prepare for next step of my life, new life in India.

They are always thinking about money

2011-04-20T19:05:00.002+09:00

Not for all people but most of people, money is most important thing in Vietnam. Sometimes, I had to be surprise about their mind.

One day, An American guy who lost passport came to stay our hotel. It is necessary to have passport to check in. A Vietnamese girl came with him.
"He is my friend and I can have response for him. You only make him stay here for one night."
She looked she treated the American guy well. I thought he is her friend so she tried to help him. Next moment, she tried to tell me something from behind of him. The sign is "Money". I could not understand what she was saying. After few minutes, she came to me. "How much did you make him pay to stay here?"
"He paid normal price." I answered and she laughed.
"Most important thing is to keep him here without passport and get more money from him."
She meant, he did not have passport and it is special service to allow him to stay. So we can get extra money from him. I could say nothing to her. She looked helpful for her friend, but she was just thinking It was good chance to get more money from HER FRIEND.

Many Vietnamese girls try to get foreigner boy-friend because of money. i am not sure that boys know about it or not.

A German guy came to complain about system of our hotel.
"Why does your hotel change the price for rent room so often? If you find another customer who has more money, will you kick me out from this hotel?"
We have to make the price cheaper when we do not have enough customers. Now is low season and it is true that we changed price cheaper sometimes to get customer.
"Vietnamese are always thinking about money."He said.

Yes, they are always think of money. However here is not Japan or Germany. This is Vietnam and we have to be used to their mind, the way to think. And of course, they do not have enough money to live like Japan or Germany. This is a reason they always must think about money.

Actually, I don't like their way to get money but I am from Japan, I have never worried about money to live my life. If I was born in Vietnam, I also had same way with them. Most important thing is made by situation of life.

Yael Naim ”New Soul”

2011-04-18T03:40:00.000+09:00

I'm a new soul

I came to this strange world
Hoping I could learn a bit 'bout how to give and take
But since I came here, felt the joy and the fear
Finding myself making every possible mistake

La, la, la, la (21x)
La, la, la, la (21x)

See I'm a young soul in this very strange world
Hoping I could learn a bit 'bout what is true and fake
But why all this hate? try to communicate
Finding trust and love is not always easy to make

La, la, la, la (21x)
La, la, la, la (21x)
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/y/yael_naim/new_soul.html ]
This is a happy end
Cause you don't understand
Everything you have done
Why's everything so wrong

This is a happy end
Come and give me your hand
I'll take you far away

I'm a new soul
I came to this strange world
Hoping I could learn a bit 'bout how to give and take
But since I came here, felt the joy and the fear
Finding myself making every possible mistake

New soul... (la, la, la, la,...)
In this very strange world...
Every possible mistake
Possible mistake
Every possible mistake
Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes...

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/y/yael_naim/#share

How lazy they are...

2011-04-10T16:59:00.002+09:00

I went out with my friends after work last night, it was around 11:30 pm. We ate pho (Vietnamese noodle) and went around neighbor. Still busy in Ho Chi Minh City, people drink beer on the street and also in bars.
My Japanese friend found his friend in front of a building. He was also Japanese and lived here. We were chatting for a whole and after few minutes, he rang a bell of the building.
"Are you waiting for someone?"
"I'm waiting my owner of apartment open the door."
The building was his apartment and he rang the bell several times but his owner had not come to open the first floors door for him.
"Why? Is your owner going out?"
"No, he is inside. Maybe he is watching TV now."
I could not make sense at all. If he was there, he could come to down stair and open the door soon.
"Does't he notice the bell?"
"No, he must notice but watching drama. He will not come until commercial..."
"...Is he always like that?"
"Not always like this but once in ten times, he will not come soon. I have to wait for him."
"Why don't you ask him the key of this gate?"
"I asked before. But the person who lived here more than 2 years also could not get the key from him. I don't know why."
After around 20 minutes, an old guy came to open the door and he could come inside.
This is Vietnam. Our common sense does not work here...

Usual day

2011-04-09T17:56:00.000+09:00

After long journey, everything seems normal for me. Even in Vietnam, it is completely usual life like when I was working in Tokyo. Of course, days here are more lazy though. I wake up 10:30 am and study Hindi, have lunch 12 pm, chatting with some people, start work from 2:00 pm to 10:30 pm. Nothing special but it's ok for me. Just normal days are needed.

I have challenges next few months. From May to June, one of my friends will visit me from Ukraine. However, the situation in Japan is still not good. Even it is getting better or not, I cannot understand.

And about plan to live in India, it gonna be really hard way to achieve because of visa. It is easy to go there by taking 6 months tourist visa but I cannot extend more than 6 months. After 6 months I have to go out from India for 2 months at least until going back to there again. This is new system that Indian government decided for preventing terrorism.
And of course, I cannot get any job with tourist visa, must get employee visa. In addition, I have to earn more than 23000 USD in a year in India. Otherwise, I cannot be allowed to work and get employee visa. This system means Indian government doesn't need low budget employee, just need people who have good skill and can contribute to Indian economic. 23000 USD is almost same income with Japanese employee. I should find good company to get employee visa in India. Another option is to get business visa. Having my own business there. If I will make company by myself and resist it in Indian Government, I can get business visa.

"Anyway, you have to come again and find the best way." My friend said. Yes, it is better to go there and look for best way directly more than I stay in Japan and search on Internet. That country is complicated and almost impossible to know only by information.

I don't want to waste my time, want to finish my holiday. 8 months are left in this year. Until the end of 2011, I want to get my usual life there.

Vietnamese or Japanese

2011-04-04T16:15:00.001+09:00

Japanese don't think I'm from Japan.

Vietnamese think I'm from Japan.

Italian can't recognize the difference between Vietnamese and Japanese.

When I talk with Japanese here, they do NOT think I'm from Japan. Even when I talk in Japanese language. "本当に日本人だってば！Really, I'm Japanese (in Japanese)"
Then, they believe I'm from Japan after a few moment.

But Vietnamese knows I'm from Japan. (Or from Korea sometimes)

A Italian girl who stayed dormitory last night thought I'm Vietnamese.

"Can you recognize who is Vietnamese and Japanese?" She asked me.

"Sure. It's totally different!"

"So how?"

She was serious. An Australian guy said to her, "You can recognize about European nationality because you're from Europe, right? It is same. For Asian, easy to recognize Asian people."

"But European is more mixed. I think European is more difficult to know where are they from."

She was not satisfied with my answer though I explained physical differences between Vietnamese and Japanese.

"Yes, I can understand you are Japanese now. Because Vietnamese don't talk like you. And Vietnamese girl is shorter than you."

"Well...yes, generally, they are short. But my hight is not average of Japanese girl."

"ok. So, I am still not sure about difference each other by looking."

....Never mind. Nationality is not so important...

Cuba photos

2011-04-03T19:00:00.001+09:00

パキスタン人のおじさんと、中国人青年

2011-04-01T20:08:00.001+09:00

ヒンディー語を勉強するために近所のインド料理レストランに行った。
そこでビールを飲んでたパキスタン人のおじさんと仲良くなった。
そのおじさんは池袋に６ヶ月住んでいたことがあり、今は韓国のパスポートを持っていて、ホーチミンでベトナム語を勉強しながら仕事を探しているそうだ。

「日本人は本当にいい人だ。正直だし、時間を守るし、親切だし、人をきちんと信じる」

もう何回もいろんな国で聞いた評価。どの国の人も同じことを言う。

「今ではイスラム教徒を嫌う人がたくさんいるよね。イスラム教徒はテロを起こしかねないって。でも僕らは自分の国の自由のために戦っているんだ。僕らからすれば戦うイスラム教徒はヒーローなんだよ。でも外国人から見れば、たとえそれが自由のための戦いであっても、ただの危険なテロリストにしか見えてない。たとえば、日本が韓国に侵略されたら、君たちだって自由を取り戻すために戦うだろう？それが第三者の目からはテロを起こしているとしか見られない。不条理だと思わない？それが今のイスラム教徒に向けられている評価なんだよ」

昨日会った同い年の中国人青年も自分の国籍について話していた。

「マレーシアとかタイとかインドとか、アジアの国はいろいろいったけど、国籍が理由で嫌な目にあったことはたくさんある。みんなテレビとかインターネットの情報だけを見て、中国人に悪いイメージを持ってるんだ。本当の中国人はどういう人なのか、一度も中国にいったことはないのにレッテルを貼る人ってたくさんいる」

加えて、個人の中国人旅行者にはほとんどビザが下りないと言っていた。

「タイでたくさんの日本人にあったよ。彼らはタイからインドやマレーシアに陸路で移動できる。ぼくらはビザが下りたとしても、ほとんどの国に飛行機で行くことしか許されてない。香港国籍をとればビザもいらなくなるけれど、香港国籍をとるには香港に７年間住まないといけないんだ。本当に日本人がうらやましいよ」

「どの国の人は嫌いだ」という話はとてもよく耳にする。
たとえば、午前中に韓国人と仲良くなって、午後、仲良くなったパキスタン人は「韓国人は嫌いだ」といっていたり。
自分が日本人だから、面と向かって「日本人は嫌いだ」という言葉をきいたことがないだけかもしれないけれど、日本人であることがステータスであることは間違いないと思う。

「まあ、相変わらず話しかけると逃げていく日本人がいるけどね。もうちょっと外国人に対する免疫ができるといいよね」
パキスタン人のおじさんは笑って言っていた。

Japanese in Ho Chi Minh City

2011-03-31T20:09:00.001+09:00

I didn't meet many Japanese when I was traveling last one year but can meet some funny Japanese here, in Ho Chi Minh City.

On first day, I met two guys. The one was from Shimane, the other was from Akita. First guy was 32 years old and he was working in Shimane. One day, he decided to go out from Japan. He never told his company, family or girl friend about it. He took ferry to China, traveled for one month. On March 11th, that earthquake happened in Fukushima and he decided to go back to Japan to participate in volunteer by NGO. "I have choices now. I can keep traveling or going back to Japan. But I don't have any purpose for this travel. So it is better for me to go back and help people. I can be hero and may meet interesting people there." He bought a big military bag and instant noodle for next one month and left to Japan next morning.
The other guy from Akita, he was working as a assistant of fashion artist. However he could not get any salary. He decided to take travel and quit his job. "I don't know English. How should I say if I want to invite a girl for dinner?" He was really easy-going...not afraid anything. He went to Northern Vietnam by taking night bus.

Another day, I met two more Japanese, who is doctor and 31 years old, the other one is only 19 years old girl. They met here and went out for dinner together. One night, when I went to bed, they came back to hotel and said "I was so scared!"I went out for drink with them after 11:30 pm to hear their story. A taxi driver tried to rip them off and the door was locked by him. They could not get off and a Australian guy came to them to help. They appreciated to him and started to drink with him after the accident. He looked very kind but suddenly he shouted and the girl was gotten thrown out. They could not understand what happened at the moment but some Vietnamese asked them to run away.
"I took travel a lot from student time but it is worst experience I ever had." He had to change his flight to Japan earlier because of infection of nuclear plantation in Fukushima. "I will go to Fukushima for work. My co-worker said I should not come but I have to go there. Most important thing is present, not future for me." He left to Japan 2 days ago.
19 years old girl, who quited her University, had 2000 USD and will go to India after Thailand. "Did you travel like this before?" I asked her. She said "No. But I respect my brother. One day, he came back from middle east with wearing turban. Now he is working as carpenter and artist though he can not earn enough money, he is enjoying his life. I was influenced by my brother.".
She left to Cambodia.

I was with them only few hours but they looked enjoying their time with a lot of choices. Best wish for their road and hope they keep enjoying their life.

Days in Ho Chi Minh Ciry, again

2011-03-26T18:24:00.000+09:00

After staying Japan for one week, I came to Vietnam again.
I start to work at hostel that one of my friends started 3 months ago. This place is very close to me. I've been here 5 times before and always I can find some changes.
And Vietnam is the first country that I take travel by myself, it was 2008, just 3 years ago. After visiting Vietnam, I became crazy about traveling and knew how fun to travel alone. I could meet a lot of new people and got to know how to make friends where I do not have any friend.
I always visited somewhere last one year but I am waiting for visitor this time here.
I will stay here for one month. Let's see what will happen...

BROOKLYN Wall Art

2011-03-18T14:55:00.000+09:00

Map

2011-03-16T04:36:00.008+09:00

より大きな地図で around the world を表示

Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Jordan, Israel, Turkey, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, France, Morocco, Spain, England, Tanzania, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Mexico, Cuba, Costa Rica, New York City

25 countries / 11 month and 2 days

I'm home now!

different life

2011-03-16T04:27:00.002+09:00

I met two friends in New York City. One is a guy whom I met in Budapest in August, the other is from Ukriane I met in Ivano-Frankivsk 5 years ago when I participated in internship. They told me about their life this time.

"I decided to start traveling around the world in this year. I will quit my job in July,go to Poland to see my parents　and take examination to enter Universitry again for next year, then I will start!
So excited now but cannot believe this decision become true.I was sitting in front of PC for 4 years, enough for me...really cannot understand why my boss or co-workers can keep it for 20 years.　Hey, anyway if you will travel again, what will you do? Will you make any difference?"
I said to him, I don't need to travel any more, just want to stay one place and make something.
However if I did not take this journey, I would be still dreaming to go out from Japan and complain about my life. I am satisfied now. He said he may feel the same after his travel for one year.
We went to China town and drink Tapioka Ice tea. He had never tried but it became his favorite.
"I really like it. I can imagine how wonderful Asian food is. Wow, I'm sure I try to eat loal food and enjoy it in Asia!"
After that, he asked me what kind of backpack is good for travel in sports wear shop. He looked like little boy in toy shop. Right now, he is just excited to go out from his usual life and see different things. I was same with him before this journey.

The other friend from Ukraine, he is studying and working in New York City for 3 years. He showed me around as NYC is his own home city. He took a lot of photo for me as a last memories with great camera. Yes...it was the one for professional. As it happens,my camera was broken in my last day in Costa Rica. It was big luck for me that he suggested me taking photos.He has good camera, latest version iPhone, Apple lap top.
"I had never expected I live in NYC when I was in Ukraine. First few months were really terrible. I didn't have anyone I could rely on, could not speak English, could not find job."
"How did you find job?"
"Well, one day a woman were looking for a bus, I knew which bus should she take so I helped her.
She asked me where I was working and I told her i was looking for job. Then she said I could come to her restaurant.I started to work her place as a waiter. You know, good thing will return to yourself if you do something good. But first two months were hard. I could not remember a lot of menu and recognize the differences of each dishs. I called to my mother like a child. Mom, I cannot do anything here.But I got good friends here and they helped me a lot."
Finally,he got different life in NYC.
"Have you missed Ukraine? Which city is good to live in for you?" I asked him.
"Not really. I am fine here and you know life in Ukriane and here is totally different, impossible to compare but I can get money and get something I want here.
You will see a lot of new things even if you live here more than 10 years. Here is a lot of things to do. But I don't know after 2 years, I mean after University. I want to go to China but this time is hard to get job there,you know."
He gave me all photos he took that two days in NYC. "Come here again in Summer. I give you a room to stay and show you around more."

Both of my friends are enjoying to create their own life and they never afraid change that they cannot expect.They just cannot afford to be afraid because they are excited to face different life.
I am happy for them and appriciate to meet them again in last stop of this journey.
My journey was finshed but I also want to be like them in my whole life.

Is that really my country...?

2011-03-13T13:37:00.001+09:00

I'm in New York city right now. I had known about earthquake in my country when I was in Costa Rica and got information on Internet, just could not believe that is my country...Every bad memories on this journey were gone away, could it be worse than this disaster?

I am scared to go back to Japan but want to see my family and friends and make it sure they are all fine. They have already told me they are ok though.

And thanks for warm messages from each countries.
I got a lot of good memories last few days. I'll write about it soon.

Now just pray for people who died and their family. I will be home on 15th. See you soon everyone.

What are you feeling?

2011-03-09T12:36:00.001+09:00

I am in Manuel Antonio, south of Costa Rica today. Days in Costa Rica are very nice thanks to my friend and her family in San Jose. I left their house this morning and come here after three hours trip by bus. I was thinking a lot of things on the bus. Especially, about days after coming back to Japan. My journey will be finished soon. I will be home a week later.
"What are you feeling now? Do you want to go back to Japan or keep traveling more?" A girl I met here who is from Germany asked me. Last one month, I was asked same question by someone several times.
I am afraid to go back to Japan. I got a lot of energy from all people I met last 11 months. They showed me many things and told me how nice the world is and how is it important to achieve something what I want in my life. I want to do something before losing this energy. Traveling around the world is good experience but it can become nothing if I will do nothing after this journey. I just don't want to make me feel lazy to take action.
Tomorrow, I will go to the beach with that German girl and it will be last time to be on the beach on this journey. Some of my important memories were made in the place near the sea and ocean reminds me memories in each countries. I will be remembering these things tomorrow. After that I want to spend time to think about my future more than remembering my journey, before losing my energy.

Music from Costa Rica

2011-03-07T14:00:00.001+09:00

March 4th

2011-03-06T13:26:00.000+09:00

@ Cancun

2011-03-04T09:12:00.001+09:00

Wonder land, Cuba!

2011-03-03T18:07:00.000+09:00

My journey will be finished this month but Cuba and Costa Rica are the countries I have been really looking forward to visiting for a long time. Especially, about Cuba, many people recommended me to go. I have been there from Feb 25 to March 2nd. This country was wonder land for me. At first, I had a question about their economic system.

They have two types of money in Cuba. One is CUP and the other is CUC. CUP is domestic currency which local people use. CUC is for foreigners. You need to use CUC when you travel in this country. 24CUP=1CUP (1CUP=3yen/1CUC=89yen) Actually, it is not cheap to travel in Cuba. Because even about transportation, the price is separated between foreigners and Cuban.

For example, about CASA, that is a house you can stay with Cuban family (It can be called homestay) costs 20-30 CUC for one night. Hotel is expensive so most of backpackers prefer to stay in CASA with friend or partner. Because if you share a room with someone, the price can be half. I shared a room in Havana and Trinidad with a Japanese girl whom I met at the airport and we paid 10 CUC each for one night. But we decided to eat breakfast outside. Because breakfast in CASA costs 4-5CUC. There were some shops we could buy bread or coffee. Many local people go to there and eat breakfast in front of shop. Then we had to be surprised because of the price of menu. One sandwich costs about 1.5 CUP...(it means 3yen) We could also find differences about price in restaurant. We usually went to local restaurant and one meal costed 2.5CUC, included Chicken or fish, pork, beef and rice, salad and fried banana. But if you go to restaurant for tourist or the one belongs to CASA, it costs 5-10CUC. You can imagine how big profit they can get in CASA or restaurant. We paid 24 CUC for bus from Havana to Trinidad, it took 6 hours. But we could also find private taxi from Trinidad to Havana and price was same with bus. Taxi is bit faster than bus and around trip gonna be 8 hours but the price is 24 CUC. I cannot imagine this price in my country...I was wondering how much does gas for car cost...

As you know,Cuba is communism country and government gives citizen basic budget for their life. I guess people can live without any work if they don't need extra money. And it was really strange that most of CASA was really good house. The CASA we stayed had 7 rooms and beautiful garden in the middle of house. The furnitures also looked nice and beautiful pictures on the wall. The owner of CASA told me not everyone can have that kind of house and the house has belonged to their family for a long time. It might be true that their house was better quality than another houses but we found a lot of large and beautiful houses in Trinidad.

Cuba is famous place for backpackers about no Internet access. As I wrote before, Internet is one of the important tools for backpackers recently. However there is no cyber cafe or Wifi. I didn't have any guide book and always relied on information via Internet. Maybe it was first time for me to take guide book that my Japanese friend brought from Japan on this journey.

Cuba has totally different system as I had heard before visiting there. It was wonder land for me.
Another things about Cuba I had heard was about unique people and wonderful music. It was also truth as everyone who have been there said. Cuban people are very polite and friendly and their looking is different, some people are black and another is white or mixed. All people are together and also welcome tourists. It was fantastic to see Salsa because every different looking people were dancing together. Music was very energetic. I cannot explain how nice it was. Even over 60 years old couple looked very young when they were dancing Salsa. Actually, most of people who were dancing Salsa were over 40 years old!

In such a peaceful country, I asked myself if I want to live in Cubaor not.But the answer is "No". I am used to belong to capitalism or information society. More than anything else, I cannot imagine not to communicate with my friends all over the world whom I met last 10 months. Internet has already became necessary for our friendship.

Well, it is very hard to explain about this wonder land. Surely, it is worth to visit Cuba at once in your life. At least, this country make you notice some important thing about life that we have already forgot.

Isla Mujeres

2011-02-24T13:28:00.001+09:00

After holidays of vacation (taking rest for first 3 days in Cancun) I started to do something funny in Mexico. I went to Isla Mujeres with a new friend from Korea today. It took only 1 hour from Cancun by bus and ferry. Beautiful ocean and colorful houses there. My best beach is Paje in Zanzibar island so far but the color of ocean in Isla Mujeres was very beautiful. How is it possible to make this color? I want to believe god when I see the beauty of nature. Today, I wanted to ask Him in front of this beauty, "How did he make this beautiful ocean, and what for?"