Earnings - expenses = savings

For some time now, I have been 'evaluating' which of the places I've lived in offers the best deal when it comes to monthly savings. I base my evaluation on savings instead of earnings because the cost of living also differs from one place to another.

For the purpose of comparison, I will present everything in Japanese yen (JPY). Here are the rough estimates between different currencies for your reference:

1 Philippine peso (PHP) = 2 JPY

1 US dollar (USD) = 100 JPY

1 Taiwan dollar (TWD) = 3 JPY

The average monthly pay for college graduates (rough estimates) in

the Philippines is JPY 16,000

Taiwan is JPY 54,000

Japan is JPY 180,000

The price of a coke in can (350 ml) in

the Philippines is JPY 25 (0.16% of earnings)
Taiwan is JPY 45 (0.08% of earnings)
Japan is JPY 100 (0.06% of earnings)

The price of a Big Mac meal (at McDonald's) in
the Philippines is JPY 124 (0.78% of earnings)

Taiwan is JPY 315 (0.58% of earnings)

Japan is JPY 620 (0.34% of earnings)

Anyway, the list could go on and on...

It's clear from the figures, though, that by the end of the month, people can save more money if they work and live in Japan, as opposed to living in Taiwan, and much less (or almost nothing) if they live in the Philippines.

And that's where things stand right about now, and it says a lot about the country's economy.

Back to the Philippines

Seeing relatives I haven't seen for years under the circumstance of my grandmother's passing away was a bitter-sweet experience. Although the gathering may seem to be a joyous affair from the outside looking in, it still cannot hide the fact that the reason we were gathered together was one of sorrow. Regardless, few days we spent together during the wake was, at least to me, emotionally comforting.

During those few days, we mostly survived on fast food takeout

My cousin Jocelyn and her daughter, Georgette

My brother, James, and my mom

It has been so long since we last sat down together for dinenr

Thoughts

Going back to the Philippines, attending my grandmother's funeral, seeing long-lost family, talking to my friends here in Japan has got me, and having too much time in my hands during my two-week trip has got me thinking a lot.

First off, it has gotten me thinking about what I want in life and how I am living it. My brother mentioned that once, someone asked him why our family isn't living together (I live in Kagoshima now; my mom is in Taipei; my brother is in Manila; and my dad is in Baguio, Philippines) and that he didn't had an answer to that question. I told my brother then that it was all because of work and money. But then I thought: if I were to win the lottery and no longer have to worry about finances, what would I do? In that case, I probably would still not settle in the Philippines, but would instead try to convince my family to relocate to another country with me. The reason being that I cannot put up with the heat, pollution, corruption, and overall chaos that has worsen through the years.

On that note, while talking to Tienchi today, it also dawned on me that I don't really feel like I truly belong anywhere, that I don't truly call anyplace home. I feel like a foreigner in all three places I've lived in: the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan. (And it doesn't help that I hold alien registration cards for all three countries)

Any thoughts?

Reading material

I woke up at around noon today and was trying to force myself to wake up so I lied down on my carpet and that brought my attention to the pile of reading materials waiting to be read (see picture). I categorized them into three classifications: (left to right) pleasure reading (mostly in English), Japanese, and research-related.

I counted down the remaining months I have left in Kagoshima (around four months... sob) and was filled with a determination to plow through the three piles of reading materials before the end of my stay. That way I can bring back with me those that I still need and discard those that I don't need.

That surge of energy got me through three hours of reading various materials. Lol, I haven't gone this long without going online for quite some time now.

I'm proud of myself :P

I hate people who talk behind other people's backs...

I don't want to name names because I'm not 100% sure of the validity of my hunch but I have to get this off my chest.



A certain someone is quite a character.
Let me start with two recent examples that directly affects me:

A couple of weeks ago, I sent this certain someone an email inviting him for a bowling night with our friends
(I invited him out of kindness, since I didn't want him to feel left out)
Guess what? I didn't receive a reply at all.
It's common courtesy to reply to direct questions, isn't it?
Geez...

Then, a couple of days ago, I accidentally let slip that he's working part time over the break
It turned out he didn't apply for a permit, which is required for us to work
(Who would've thought that he was keeping his work secret?
And, how could you keep such work secret?
And, who would've thought that he would be stupid enough not to apply for a permit?)

By the way, I sent him another email that time informing him of a certain piece of good news and warning him that he should apply for a permit soon.
Guess what? No reply again.
But! Big BUT! He wrote a blog entry *hinting* that me letting slip that he had no permit would probably cause him to lose his job and what not...

Geez, can you just say it directly?
Stop being a hypocrite!
We accidentally ran across one another last week at school and he pretended that nothing was going on (hello? what about your replies to my emails?!) and made plenty of small talk.

Geez, what a faker...

Reunion

About a month ago, Marie, Trisha, and I came up with this idea that we should hold regular (say, annual) trips with the friends that we made in Japan at a different location each time

Sounds tempting
Even though it sounds like hard work, I hope that we can follow through with this

Culture bubble

I was on the train the other day and started thinking about what I have been noticing all throughout my stay here: people keep their distance from other passengers when they're taking the local transportation

Case in point: there are two types of trains where I live (in Sakanoue).
One type of train come in two-seater benches while the other type has long benches (cushioned, of course) on both sides of the train.
In both types, passengers tend to sit a bit apart from other passengers
It is especially evident in the trains with two-seater benches (I don't know how else to call it)
Although each bench can seat two people, not many strangers share the same bench in the train
I remember one time I was sitting in one of these benches and the seat next to mine and the two seats in front of me were unoccupied. Still, the high school student who boarded the train after me chose to sit on the floor instead of occupying any of the empty seats.

Ever heard of the term "culture bubble?"
I'm not sure if I got the term right, but the term essentially describes the distance a certain culture of people feel comfortable with when they deal with other people
For instance, if it were the same train in Taiwan, all the seats will be filled
If it were the same train in the Philippines, the two-seater benches would seat three to four people. LOL

I'm not exaggerating.
One time I went back to the Philippines, I was waiting in line at the airport and the person behind me was practically leaning on me!
I took a few steps forward and again she came closer to me like bees on honey!

I guess I have a way bigger bubble than most Filipinos after living outside the Philippines for so long...

More thoughts

Amidst the flurry of activity all throughout the month, I was left with little time to think. It was seriously one event after another to the point that I started losing track of dates and going to sleep when people are ready to get up.

But at the end of the day I realized that I've formed relationships with people, something I didn't think would happen before I came here. This blog serves as a chronicle to capture this year in my memory.

Sometimes I'm wondering if this year is just like an "alternative reality." I hope the dream lasts even after my trip ends.
(Yeah, it's half a year away but the first half of my stay is gone in a split second so I'm starting to freak out...)

February...

Yet another friend has finished her exchange in Kagoshima and packed up her bags and left.
We sent Trisha off at 5.40am on February 21.

I do not yet know what to think and feel as I watch our number grow smaller; actually I did not really have time to sit down and think as we have been making the most of the time we have left together in Kagoshima to go out on trips and gatherings.

Which is perfect, actually.

I thought January was wild enough. February bags the prize.



More on February on future posts.

January highlights

January has been really busy, what with the semester coming to an end and many of my friends either graduating or finishing up their stay in Kagoshima. It's been one event after another, leaving little room to think and making it seem like the month just zapped by in a second.

In the following posts, I will revisit these gatherings and look back at the great time that we shared. Sad as parting is, I'm really glad I got to know everyone and had such a grand time with all of you!

Four months

Four months in Kagoshima and...

- I can no longer smell the distinct smell of Kagoshima I used to sense when I first arrived (don't worry, it's a good smell)
- I can find my way around Tenmonkan (downtown) by instinct (okay, just sometimes)
- I no longer find the prices ridiculously expensive (now that's scary)
- some of my friends are coming towards the end of their stay (sniff)
- I now have four students!
- I can now understand announcements (on trains, etc.)... although not completely
- I've finally seen snow!
- I still don't understand why the father (Otosan) in the Softbank commercial is a dog
- I'm starting to write more about what I feel instead of what I see (things don't stand out like they used to)
- the email inbox on my phone has reached capacity several times and I had to delete some of the older emails (I sent the emails to my gmail for backup before I deleted them)
- I am starting to dread leaving Japan (which is about six months away)
- I am starting to dread having to go back to a life without email on my phone :P
- I still can't pluck up the courage to apply for a Japanese-speaking job
- I'm starting to slurp my noodles (hehe)
- I've tried natto (fermented beans) and don't like it
- I'm starting to miss food in Taiwan and the Philippines :(
- I now drink alcohol (don't worry, I'm not becoming an alcoholic)
- I now have a favorite drink: Kahlua and milk!
- I'm missing Crunchyroll (a site where one can watch free movies and TV shows) cuz the site is blocked in Japan... T_T
- I now know that "Kagoshima is warm" is a myth
- I now cook my meals instead of eating out (most of the time)
- I'm starting to think that the food I cook is pretty tasty
- pulling all-nighters no longer feel impossible (either for Karaoke or work)
- I have several more publications under my belt
- I have a better understanding of what a haiku is
- I've been to izakayas (Japanese taverns) several times
- I now have countless print club photo stickers
- I have ran out of poses when taking pictures at the print club (photo sticker booth)
- I have stopped keeping tabs on how much money I spend each day (sad but true)
- I still forget sometimes that cars drive on the left
- I think Canada should grant me a citizenship because I'm now a permanent fixture with the Canada Project (just kidding, hehe)
- I now wear skirts!
- I now have around 50 names in my address book (on my phone)
- paying for the rent doesn't hurt as much as it did when I first arrived
- this is the most socially active I've been in all my life
- we are now finishing up the semester at IUK
- I no longer feel that the classes here are slow-paced
- I'm getting used to 1.5-hour class periods (instead of the 3-hour class periods we have at NTNU)
- Sorting the trash is no longer such a stressful chore
- my Leo Palace apartment is starting to feel like home
- I'm getting used to living alone in such a spacious setting
- I've met the Kagoshima city mayor face to face twice
- I still haven't been to Sakurajima (Kagoshima's very own active volcano)
- I now understand the fun of going out in large groups
- having three children no longer look so scary
- the clouds and the night sky in Kagoshima continue to look really beautiful
- I no longer yearn so much for city life
- my Japanese is still just halfway ok
- I wanna be as well-rounded as many of the Japanese friends I met :D
- I now have over 100 entries on my blog
- I joined my first Japanese speech contest (and lost...)
- I've done my first volunteer work and enjoyed it!



I'm sure I missed a lot of stuff, but there you go, a sum of the four months I've been here.
I'm looking forward to the rest of my stay and hope that time would stop passing by so quickly.

The age factor

I noticed that people in Japan like asking other people their age. I wouldn't say it's annoying but I think it's a bit weird, Like one time I met a Japanese guy and no one was making introductions and so I said, "Hi, I'm Jenny."



Just a bow; no response.



"What's your name?" I prodded.
"My name is XXX. How old are you?"

What the...?



Baffled, I tried looking for the logic behind the manical affixation the Japanese have for age.
One couldn't quite explain himself; another said that way he can decide how to address and talk to the person he meets (formal, casual, polite, etc)



Okay, that makes sense.

Although I'm still trying to memorize how to say, "I'm whatever age you want me to be" in Japanese.

Hehe.

Been thinking lately...

Society has a way of imposing pressure on people. The society we live in dictates what kind of life we should lead; at what age we should get married and have kids and so on.

I want to break free from these restrictions. First I need to really know myself, who I am and what I really want in life.



Then I'll go from there.