Something to keep you entertained...

until I have internet access again...
I am moving today to a new, awesome place...but that means I will not have the internets for 2 weeks...it takes forever for them to come hook it up in Japan. So, 2 things until I can be back online:

1. I have gotten a lot of questions about "How do you move in Japan?" Well, they have moving companies just like in the States, so it is basically exactly the same. But for how I move...well since I had to pay over 2 grand for move in fees (1st months rent + security deposit + "reikin," which is money that you have to pay the landlord for the privilege of behind allowed to pay them rent and you never get back + realtor fees (yes, the person moving pays them in Japan, not the seller) so, four months rent up front) Plus I had to buy a fridge, washing machine, bed. So, I do not use the moving company...I move a super heavy suitcase on my own, and then send the rest of my stuff with the cheapest package delivery system. Unfortunately couldn't get boxes big enough to fit my TV and shelves, so had to fashiong some Franken-boxes out of cut-up cardboard and lots and lots of packing tape...So that is how I move...with lots of sweat and sore muscles to save a few bucks. (In the US, this is actually how a lot of ppl move I think, but aparently not so in Japan, because everyone was staring at me like I was a crazy person as I lugged my suitcase down the street to my new apartment...whatever, either get out my way or help!)

2. I was reading through some English resumes written by Japanese people at work and thought I would share some of the hilarity. (note, any personally defining information has been removed, so it is NOT illegal for me to post this)

Aggressive and hungry sales activities to get sales quota and actually DID it.

To make your worldwide service valuable, suitable and useful for Japanese market, my experience and skills working in localization team as Translation Project Manager (TPM) would be of intrinsic value.
--Aparently this person has already been working there?...intrinsic?

Graduated from (name deleted) 8th elemental school
--is that like the sequal to The Fifth Element?

Passed 2rd Class Bookkeeper

This last guy has the best resume EVER-- he could totally turn this into a metal song or one of those '80s fantasy movies:

With a burning desire, seeking a breakthrough opportunity to get my feet on the real career ladder—a position exciting and rewarding enough to fully wield my potential. To make it happen, invincibly determined to:
1. Valiantly launch my new career in any given, challenging fields of business;
2. Truly commit myself to success with significance for the company;
3. Eagerly fulfill loyalty to and trust in success of the company.

I. Can develop and drive to execution an ambitious scale of projects. The following are to epitomize my aptitude and power making me unrivaled:

· An innate sense of absolute commitment with an avid passion for making things happen;
· A resourceful and hardheaded, strategic mind for mapping out the roadmap to the best result possible;
· High-caliber leadership ability in integrating, motivating and driving a group of selected people to a single objective.

What all the above have yielded can be illustrated with the following accomplishments during my past profession as Commander-in-Chief as well as a front-line soldier.

--Wait, is this George Bushes resume? He does need to get a new job now...

OK, so that is all until after Sept. 13th. If you need to contact me, please note that I will only be able to check my email at work, so if you send a message on the weekend, I will not get it until the following Monday.

I have been really busy lately, starting my new job and apartment hunting (I am moving on the 30th...need to pack!) So just a quick update with a couple things.

First, my friend was in Hokkaido for the G8 summit and she brought me back a souvenier:

It is a lighter with a picture of all the heads of state who attended naked, washing eachother's backs before getting into the bath. Did i mention they are naked (with little towels covering their junk, but still) and please remember that Germany's is a woman. Oh if you can't tell because the picture is a bit blurry, that is GW in the front of the line being washed by Japan's PM Fukuda...political statement by the lighter?

Also, my new job is going well-- I like going to work and coming home at the same time everyday, and I LOVE having Saturday off and being able to wear casual clothes to work. I also like when my boss tells me that I don't have to lock the office door when I am leaving because he will lock it after me, but what is says is, "Sarah, you don't have to rock." Well, I'm sorry sir but yes, yes I do. I do have to rock, and rock hard...I can't help it, that is just what I do.