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http://highfarsighted.wordpress.com/

Missed Connection

This is how I feel every day...

iPhone4S Siri Japanese style English test.

UPDATE: The Pressures On...!

I confronted management on what I believed was going wrong. They supported me.
Hopefully its not just talk, but actual changes will be made.

Stephanie - 1
Corp - 0

The Pressures On...!

16:05High, Stephanie

im slightly freaking out

16:05Anonymous

because...

16:05High, Stephanie

i just stood up to upper management

and tomorrow we will have a three hour meeting about it

16:05Anonymous

uhhh

like a disciplinary hearing?

what did you do? poison someone?

or stab them with a pen?

16:06High, Stephanie

basically i asked my mentor for advice

and it ended with me saying that i agree we cant please everyone but right now we are not pleasing anyone

16:13Anonymous

sorry, I'm still confused. how is that "standing up to upper management"? Sounds like talking to your mentor is a private conversation or was that in a big round? 

16:14High, Stephanie

my mentor is my bosses bosses boss.

16:18Anonymous

what's the purpose of the meeting? 

16:24High, Stephanie

how we can take action before the ship sinks

16:24Anonymous

sounds like a good thing?

16:27High, Stephanie

its an amazing thing

do you remember anything from friday?

especially the part where people were saying to me that im their last hope?

well thats where it came from... i feel like i have to do this because everyone is counting on me

i feel like im going to be responsible for making the needed changes

but im terrified

:-/

I have been in the office for 10 hours and I feel guilty leaving because I would be the first of my team to walk out for the day.
...There's something wrong with this picture.

What's In A Name?

In Japanese my name is ステフアニー　
Let me spell that out for you... sutefuani


You must have a vowel at the end of each consonant.
Most of the language is similar to Spanglish. 




Silly language!

Japan: Duh... Winning!

ATM - Maximum withdrawal
US: $400
Japan: Not sure... but I just pulled out ¥100,000 (~$1,300)

Twenty-Five

I am blessed!

As many of those who know me might think that it is pretty weird for me to say so since I do not follow any organized religion. However lately that’s the only way I know how to describe where I’m at in life.

I have been living in Tokyo for three months now. I have some amazing friends here, I like my job very much (its challenging all the time and I’m making things happen!), and my apartment is finally coming together and feeling like home! I even had some friends over for dinner last night! Yes, I cooked!! I have been to three different countries; one each month! I have an amazing life and I’m just beginning to understand that fully.

At this point, you may be wondering why this entry is called 25. Well... I’m one week away from my 25^th birthday. Yes, you heard me right! I will be the big two-five in a week! I never thought in a billion years that I would be spending my 25^th birthday in Tokyo, Japan! But here I am! 

long working hours...

Yes, we are here working for long hours. I put in about 12 hours each day no questions asked. (yikes, I know!) After that, I throw in the towel. On Wed. and Fri. we have ‘short’ days to conserve energy. I quote ‘short’ because although we are supposed to be done by 6 each night, I don’t think I have actually seen anyone leave at that time. Let alone it is mandatory that we get here by 8:30 every morning.; another energy saving tactic.

I have broken down the average day as follows:

Time away from Desk (80%)

• Meetings – It is customary for people who are not involved in meetings to attend as a sign of respect, unity, and moral support; even if you are not paying attention, on your computer or, in rare cases, asleep in your chair.
•  At someone else’s desk – discussion is a big part of the culture here. Getting feedback and including others in the process is very important.
• Outside of work – ‘most business decisions are done over drinks’ Although I would like this to be true, it doesn't happen as often as expected. On the rare occasion that you do go out for drinks with coworkers, its main intention is for group bonding, which is also very important in the environment. Comradery is viewed highly.

Time at Desk (20%)

• It is rare to see many people alone at their desk during the 9-5 due to all of the meetings…! It typically takes place after about 6:30 at night.

Keeping in mind that the HQ in Tokyo has to service the whole world; we need to be available to every region. This is vertually a 24 hour/day job, its not just cultural. But could anyone else outside of the Japanese do this?!?!

Shake Rattle and Roll

I keep getting questions about the earthquakes… Are you okay? Did you feel it? Are they bad? Etc, etc…

In the past 24 hours we have had three shakes close by (6.2 - 5.2 – 5.1) all of which I have felt one way or another. Because of this I am keeping watch through an app called QuakeWatch. This app uses different databases to compile a list of earthquakes around the world. As I watch to see the size of the quake I just experienced, I have grown to notice that there are many many quakes and the world on a regular basis. Most may say, ‘well duh’, but there are many more than I ever considered.

Example:

In the last 24 hours there have been three earthquakes in Japan which are over 5.0, so we have felt them… However, in the last 24 hours there have also been over 18 earthquakes in Southern California. What??? You say. Yes, but they are all under 2.0 in size so you don’t really feel them.

The bottom line is that the world is constantly moving. No matter where you live in the world, there you are! Although it is very strange to wake up in the middle of the night because you’re in the middle of a 5.2 quake, you don’t let it disturb the rest of your life. It will pass like most things. You still have to go to work in a few hours so you might as well go back to sleep! J

For more earthquake related information visit: 

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/

Ways to donate: CLICK HERE

First Times a Charm!

I had my first Japanese lesson today!! I can read/write some Hiragana.

Let me explain…

The Japanese language is made up of three different written languages; Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. Most people have heard of Kanji because that comes from the Chinese language. However Hiragana is original to the Japanese language and Katakana comes from foreign languages (i.e. words that are not original to Japanese).

Get it?

Lesson for you:

こんにちは

Konnichiwa

(ko-ni-chi-wa)

Hello

If that’s too easy…

おはようございます

Ohayou Gozaimasu

(Ohio-gozi-mas)

Good Morning!

Try using it with one of your Japanese coworkers! Let me know how you do! 

Kids Say The Darnedest Things

The other day one of my coworker said, "Just continue to be you!"

Another one of my coworkers told me today, "Thank you for being Stephanie."


It sounds even cuter in a Japanese accent!

Going Green..!

Many of my family and friends have asked me about radiation. More or less they have said, ‘don’t come back green’ or ‘you may never have children if you drink the water’. Although these things are very scary to consider they need to be, especially with everything that has happened in the past months here.

Last weekend I spent Saturday at the beach with the Brazilians (IA’s)! They were BBQing it up like rock stars! The beach was just as crowed as it is in California! People swimming and playing… drinking, eating, and having a good time!  

A few of my friends headed into the water, which led to the question, IS THE WATER SAFE? It’s one thing to go to the beach and hang out but it’s another to go into water that you know could be filled with radiation.

I talked it over with one of the Brazilians which has lived here, in Japan, for the past 16 years. Her daughter wanted to get into the water and she seemed okay with it. I was concerned. After some discussion, and past conversation with some doctor friends, as long as you don’t drink the ocean water you are okay.

The thing about radiation is that you can walk through an environment with radiation (i.e. ocean, air, etc…), take a shower and it will wash off. The time to be extremely cautions is if you drink it, eat it or digest it in anyway. Once it’s in your system, it’s hard to get out.

The purpose of this post, simply, is to say, life continues after trauma.. People are not letting the tsunami or earthquakes dictate how they live their lives. Yes, you have to be cautious and concerned but it should never stand in the way of life going on. 

Fact or Fiction

Everyone is shorter.

Fiction: I was in line at lunch and couldn’t see over anyone… even on my tippy toes!

(For reference, I’m 5’4 and there are plenty of cuties that are way taller than me! Actually I think when it comes to men, most people are taller than me!)

Everyone looks exactly the same.

Fact and Fiction: According to modern psychology it is easier to recognize differences in your own culture then you can in other cultures. So, yes, everyone may look very similar, but I challenged you to find two strangers who look exactly the same!

Everything is smaller.

Fact: Duh, everything is smaller! ...there is practically no obesity here!

When ordering coffee, there is small, medium, large, and American large! You take one look at a tray of food from Japan and think, well this is a nice snack, but it’s so filling. There is rice or noodles with every meal.

Worlds smallest iced mocha! Or at least it is to me!

 *Please note that the majority of this information is based off of my personal experience. 

Best Quote Ever!

From one International Assignee to another...


" Edgar… in Luxembourg it works when you say “the tall building”… but here… we need a bit more detail… It’s as if you say, 'near the karaoke/ behind the sushi place, on top of 7/11…' that can be ANYWHERE :) "

Initial Questions

As Seen On SEL Source:
Depressed most of my good jokes didn't make the final cut... :(

Dear SEL,

I was given a list of question to answer about going on international assignment to Sony Corporation in Tokyo. Well, I found that rather boring, and I think you would too! So, here is my version of those questions…!

I’m outta here..!

I live in Tokyo. (Holy cow, that’s a scary thing for me to put down in writing!) …for the next three years, working out of the Osaki building. Many of you are saying, where’s that? Well, Google Maps is a fantastic tool, check it out sometime! And my division just moved from the HQ office in Shinagawa. Yes, they like to move us around here just as much as in SEL!

Who is your daddy and what does he do?

(Please tell me you know that reference!)

Past: Well my title was TV Content Creation Manager but I’m not really sure exactly what that means... It was more like asset syndication plus product information, with a hint of creativity to give it a little flavor.

Future: Now, I’m working within the Product Communications team. I don’t have a title because we all work together on the same level. It’s this great concept where everyone is responsible as a team. (I have one big word for you, team ACCOUNTABILITY!!!... aaah!) One man goes down, they all go down; shared success! (Great success! *spoken like Borat* )

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?!?

I ask this of myself on a daily basis…! Honest answer. I have no clue! One day I was looking at the global job site and the next I was packing my things. Honestly, I didn’t put much thought into it because I know I would have chickened out.

The only question I had to ask myself was, ‘why not?’

Answer: ‘because I’m scared…!’.

A wise person once told me, ‘if you’re not scared, it’s not worth it’. That fear is what’s going to make you grow. 

Please leave questions/comments below, I’ll make sure to answer them in future post!

Taken at Taipei 101 (Taiwan)

Used to be the tallest building in the world, still has the fastest elevator in the world. 

Blog Naming

Main Entry:	far-sighted
Part of Speech:	adjective
Definition:	looking ahead wisely
Synonyms:	acute, canny, cautious, clairvoyant, commonsensical, cool-headed, discerning, judicious, levelheaded, perceptive, politic, prescient, provident, prudent, sagacious, sage, shrewd, well-balanced, wise
Antonyms:	incautious, rash, shortsighted, uncareful, unthinking, unwise