wow, been a while.
So I started my six-month phase of the internship program, and I ended up in General Affairs/Personnel in Chemical Bloc. It was my second and only other real choice, since I wasn't as comfortable with people in any other bloc. I get a uniform, which if you haven't seen it on my Facebook profile yet, I suggest you look at it before I change it again. It's not bad as uniforms go, many people have said I look good in it, but I despise having to tuck in my shirt and button it up all the way (feels like I'm choking). The uniform looks better than the crap I had to wear in Catholic school, sure, but the rules about it are even stricter, and I feel not at all like myself in them. So, for someone to say I look good in it makes me, well, I say "thank you," but I still feel uncomfortable about the whole idea. I don't want anyone to start thinking I'm the good, quiet girl again just because I look good in the uniform (because that's what people thought of me in school, and they couldn't have been more mistaken).
Also, they make you change in and out of it at work, so I have to get there about ten minutes even earlier than I already do. >.< And then on certain days it's my turn to help clean the office (even though we have janitors) so I have to get there *even earlier than that.* On February 5th I have to get up an entire 45 minutes earlier (I already get up at 6.) because they are having several of us go all the way over to another building some ways away (I have to ride my bike there.) and clean that too. I knew the Japanese were big on cleanliness, but seriously, I've cleaned every space other than my own in this city and I'm getting really tired of it, especially when it all seems completely unnecessary.
As for actual work, they've put me on a few small tasks, like ordering bento lunches for the people who want them over the phone, and sending/distributing mail. The mail part is complicated, you get different kinds of mail, you have different slips to fill out on them, etc, etc, and this all happens several times a day at very specific times. So, if I'm working on a big project, I'm constantly interrupted to go do this or get that or hand stuff out to people, and that gets old really fast. Maybe once I get used to it it'll be okay, but at least for now I really can't concentrate on any real work, because I'm worried I'll forget. I know at Macy's you could set up little computer pop-up alarms to remind you when to go to this meeting, or whatever... I wonder if I could do something like that here? Anyone know of a way? As far as I know, the computer is mine to do with as I please as long as I undo it before I leave, so I could probably download a small program here and there. Anyway, for now I have someone doing it with me, to make sure I don't make any mistakes, but starting next month, I have to start doing it on my own. The thing that really annoyed me about the thing though was when she was explaining when to do stuff, she first said, "The mail is sent out at 10," then she added, "But, sometimes they come early, so it's actually best to go around 9:30." Then a few days later, she changed it to, "Better check around 9:15 to see if there's anything that needs to be sent first, so you make it to 9:30..." and I'm just like, "Why didn't you just say that in the first place???" Argh.
I also have to hand out mail to people personally when it arrives, which is a constant annoyance for me, not to mention I'm still really shy about just going up to people's desks, and interrupting their work to hand them more stuff. It seems rude to interrupt, but it's definitely rude to just unceremoniously drop the mail on top of whatever pile of stuff they're already working on. (I also don't know everyone's name for sure yet, though I'm learning quickly.)
Other than that, it looks like they're going to put me on several little projects throughout the six months, and I get to go on business trips with the recruiting people. I doubt they're going to have me do much but sit in on the whole thing and look pretty, but it should be interesting.
Thursday and yesterday, they got me started on doing the layouts for two articles in their newsletter, and that, at least, is generally enjoyable and keeps me busy. It would be worlds better if I could listen to music, but no one listens to me. For some reason, they seem to think that people work better when subjected to the constant barrage of phone calls going on around us. I don't take calls, I don't even have a phone at my desk, and hearing everyone else saying the same damn thing over the phone to people all day is actually a hell of a lot more distracting than any music I could put on.
Anyway, I worked really hard on editing pictures and putting in clip art and making the whole thing look pretty, and I was probably about halfway done with one page before calling it a day. Then, Friday morning, I go to my folder to open it, and... it's not there. I checked everywhere else, and nothing. I know I saved it, but I started from an attachment, and what must have happened was I opened it, and then worked on it from there, hit "save," and it saved to some internet or temporary files folder somewhere. I have a feeling I would have been able to find it were the computer in English, but since everything--all the commands, icons, messages, etc--are all in Japanese, I couldn't figure it out. But then, not even the two IT guys who came to help me could do it, so maybe the thing really is gone... several people suggested just searching for all documents accessed the day before, and even that didn't work... o.o Weird.
It was aggravating, and I was certainly upset, but really, the toughest part about it was just not being able to deal with it the way I normally would in America, in English. I needed to joke around about it a little, get a laugh about it. In America, I would've said something like, "Great... can I throw this thing out the window now?" and maybe gotten a laugh out of whoever it was helping me, and then I would be able to get over it a little faster. But sarcasm doesn't really exist in Japan, not as we know it, so even though I knew I could figure out how to say that phrase in Japanese, I knew they wouldn't get it. They'd be like, "What? No, that would be really bad..." ^_^;;;;;;;;; I couldn't even get a "That's too bad," out of them. All they could do was apologize for not being able to find it, and then one of my coworkers asked, "Well, do you think you can re-make it?" So, the first thing I had to do was go type the whole story out and send it to a friend, because then it felt at least a little like I had told someone, and hopefully her response would cheer me up later. Then I had my Japanese lesson, and I was able to tell it to my teacher, but again, not the same way I would've told someone in English, and I did my best at a re-try after lunch. I think it turned out better than the first, and I did it faster, since I already had an idea of what I was working with and stuff, so it's fine, but I still have to finish that, and I have one more to do by Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. I can do it, but I think it'll be a bit of a squeeze.
This weekend was supposed to be a big study weekend--since I've upped Japanese lessons to twice a week, I have twice the homework, and besides, we have to step it up in seriousness if I expect to pass ni-kyuu in July. I just don't know if that's going to happen, though. Since I haven't been online this week, I have so many people to catch up with, and then someone messaged me last night that there's going to be a small concert given by a mutual friend here today. I keep missing his shows for some reason or another, and I wanna see him perform! I hope I can make it this time, but it's definitely going to be hard to find time for myself, once again.
Oh, and I got to skype with my parents and Phillip for a long time last night. I am thrilled to report that he has decided to pursue photography now, and is considering moving to the main campus of the University of Cincinnati to enter their arts/planning department there. I find it amusing and a little unfair that my parents are completely on board with the idea of him becoming a pro photographer, but they never really encouraged me to pursue writing in college. Of course, it may just be out of relief that because of this, he seems to have given up on his idea of joining the Marines. I think this suits him far better. Besides, with him living on a college campus, he might be able to meet some new people and make some friends who don't suck. There's apparently lots of drama with the people he hangs out with now, and most of them are going nowhere--or into the army, that's where he got the Marines idea in the first place. It's not that I look down on soldiers per se, but I don't like how a lot of these boys who have nothing going on for them at home seem to think they'll magically become somebody special just by casually going to enlist. It's not something to be taken lightly, and most of them end up dropping out anyway.
So that was my week.
And, time for a meme, since I got tagged. Don't know if I can come up with seven, let's see...
A. List seven habits/quirks/facts about yourself.
B. Tag seven other people to do the same.
C. Don't tag the person who tagged you.
1. I have a thing for long hair. I've almost always had long hair, and a big factor of whether I'm attracted to a guy or not is his hairstyle. Usually, the longer the better, if it's properly taken care of, of course. (This becomes even more obvious when you take a look at my favorite video game/anime characters. XD)
2. When I'm sad, happy music makes it worse. If I need to cheer up, I listen to metal.
3. I feel great if I've slept four hours, or eight. Anything in between makes me feel like shit most of the time. Also, even though I try to make sure I get a lot of sleep, I feel like sleeping in more than eight hours is a waste of time. I don't nap, even if I'm tired.
4. I always have to have music playing here, even when I'm in the shower and I can't really hear it over the noise of the water.
5. I'm a weird sort of picky eater. I've liked exotic stuff like oysters and crab legs since I was three, but I never really liked pizza. (Until I discovered Adriatico's, anyway... XD)
6. I enjoy going to church in the gothiest outfits I can pull off, just to see people's reactions.
7. I still get way nervous when I have to give a speech/presentation, but I can sing in front of people with no problem at all. Also, I can give someone something of mine to read, but I get too embarrassed if I have to read it to them.
Um, I don't know how to do that lj-user name highlight trick, but I'll tag postingwhore and saruzake, and anyone else who wants to do it, feel free! <3