My last day at Odawara
Today was my final day at Odawara. I was met by Toru-san on the Shinkansen on my way in on a rather bright and sunny morning (the first!). We arrived at the plant and I did my usual thing of sitting around for a bit. Then a little later on in the morning I gave my talk for the 4th time in 8 working days! As you can guess by this point I was working on auto-pilot. This talk was a little different though as the people I was presenting to were more on the development side. They had a different appreciation for what I was doing, how and why. I was further flattered when Takamura-san (who is really my counterpart in Japan) asked me afterwards how long I had been with the company - only a year - only a year? Then how do you know so much? I could only smile and thank him for flattering me. The rest of the day I met with various people and learned about various aspects of technology that I was not so familiar with.
I also had my first curry for lunch! We went to a Denny's...yes...a DENNY'S which apart from the server being a cute young Japanese girl as opposed to a pierced, spotty and bored teeny-goth was no different from the American version. Except the food was much better. It was also the first time I was given a knife and fork to eat with!
In the latter part of the evening Fujii-san said that we would go out for a final meal. This was a unique experience for a couple of reasons. First of all the place was just like a bar, but merged with a traditional japanese establishment with the low tables and tatami. Food began arriving, mostly some form of meat on a stick (yacky tory). I was told that one kind was "soft bone" which I can only assume was cartlidge and it tasted that way too! The conversation was free and much beer flowed. I was asked how I met Karen, what my hobbies were (as usual), if I had children etc., But I also got answers from them about their hobies.
One guy was quite a character. His name was Takeshi, but with some play on words that I do not understand he was referred to at the plant as Mr Erotic. Takeshi thought this was hilarious and told me that Takamura and Chouda were both single and I should give them some advice. So...I taught them to say
"How you doin'" a la Joey from Friends.
After I explained that it was a colloquial way of say "hello, how are you?" Takeshi instantly asked if the next thing I should ask was "how about it?" Clearly he was quite good at his English conversation.
Eventually Fujii-san asked what an appropriate response would be to this question...
"I'm doin' fine baby. How you doin'" followed by a wink, I explained.
"Then do you get to it?" asked Takeshi. Man that boy needs a cold shower!
The rest is just a blur really. Lots of questions and answers. I had some unagi on a bed of rice for my meal which was served in a stainless bowl which was in a wooden box. It was really good! I love unagi! At some point I was asked if I liked Japanese o-sake. Well duh! What other kind is there? I'll have some Welsh Sake please! Takeshi also told me that it was good for getting women drunk (or so he had heard). When someone asked me about my hobbies and I said karate, someone (can you guess who) looked at me and said "You like karaoke?"
After the 2h slot had expired we left and walked out into the rain. But the night wasn't over yet although some people had to leave. Lots of bowing, shaking hands and saying how good it was to meet them. Next thing I know 6 of us are going into a Karaoke bar which Kawai-san explained meant "Singing place." Well this wasn't you standard bar...it was like an apartment complex and had rooms of varying size with recliners, sofas etc., and a TV on the wall and the latest high tech karaoke machine. Of course all this came with beer as well, which was promptly ordered.
The karaoke machine itself was a small handset which could be worked in Japanese or English (except people kept forgetting I couldn't read Japanese). I forget who started I think it was Mr Erotic singing Bette Middler's "From a distance." Next thing I know I am expected to sing! I don't sing! Even Karen has rarely caught me singing. But I am drunk and there's only 5 other people there and I do speak the language. I started out with Queen "Bicycle race." Afterwards Fujii-san asked me what the song was all about...um bicycling? A couple of other songs and then I remember singing Tom Jones "It's not Unusual." Afterwards some score came up (I can only assume that there was a standard bar where people could listen in) of 85. Chouda-san said that was very good. It was all round very fun. I have to say those guys were the most fun out of everyone I met. Not that everyone wasn't wonderful, these ones were just a bit more relaxed and they (nearly) all spoke very good English. I guess that makes it easier for things to come naturally.
Next thing I know BOOM time to run for the train. Takeshi said he's pay and then gives me his number and offers to be our guide at the weekend. I'm running fast and breathing heavy because of the rain, Fujii and Toru-sans (both smokers) do the run and have no problems! We chatted some more on the 40 minute train ride into Tokyo and I got to see pictures of their families on the camera-phones. I found out that I had a lot in common with Fujii-san in terms of our approach to work and attitude to progression. Many Japanese appeared to do what the company wants, when they are told, because they know nothing else, the peg which stands up is the first peg knocked down. He has some drive and we both agreed if we grow, the company grows.
That was the end of my business in Japan. The next few entries will be our few days of tourism!
I also had my first curry for lunch! We went to a Denny's...yes...a DENNY'S which apart from the server being a cute young Japanese girl as opposed to a pierced, spotty and bored teeny-goth was no different from the American version. Except the food was much better. It was also the first time I was given a knife and fork to eat with!
In the latter part of the evening Fujii-san said that we would go out for a final meal. This was a unique experience for a couple of reasons. First of all the place was just like a bar, but merged with a traditional japanese establishment with the low tables and tatami. Food began arriving, mostly some form of meat on a stick (yacky tory). I was told that one kind was "soft bone" which I can only assume was cartlidge and it tasted that way too! The conversation was free and much beer flowed. I was asked how I met Karen, what my hobbies were (as usual), if I had children etc., But I also got answers from them about their hobies.
One guy was quite a character. His name was Takeshi, but with some play on words that I do not understand he was referred to at the plant as Mr Erotic. Takeshi thought this was hilarious and told me that Takamura and Chouda were both single and I should give them some advice. So...I taught them to say
"How you doin'" a la Joey from Friends.
After I explained that it was a colloquial way of say "hello, how are you?" Takeshi instantly asked if the next thing I should ask was "how about it?" Clearly he was quite good at his English conversation.
Eventually Fujii-san asked what an appropriate response would be to this question...
"I'm doin' fine baby. How you doin'" followed by a wink, I explained.
"Then do you get to it?" asked Takeshi. Man that boy needs a cold shower!
The rest is just a blur really. Lots of questions and answers. I had some unagi on a bed of rice for my meal which was served in a stainless bowl which was in a wooden box. It was really good! I love unagi! At some point I was asked if I liked Japanese o-sake. Well duh! What other kind is there? I'll have some Welsh Sake please! Takeshi also told me that it was good for getting women drunk (or so he had heard). When someone asked me about my hobbies and I said karate, someone (can you guess who) looked at me and said "You like karaoke?"
After the 2h slot had expired we left and walked out into the rain. But the night wasn't over yet although some people had to leave. Lots of bowing, shaking hands and saying how good it was to meet them. Next thing I know 6 of us are going into a Karaoke bar which Kawai-san explained meant "Singing place." Well this wasn't you standard bar...it was like an apartment complex and had rooms of varying size with recliners, sofas etc., and a TV on the wall and the latest high tech karaoke machine. Of course all this came with beer as well, which was promptly ordered.
The karaoke machine itself was a small handset which could be worked in Japanese or English (except people kept forgetting I couldn't read Japanese). I forget who started I think it was Mr Erotic singing Bette Middler's "From a distance." Next thing I know I am expected to sing! I don't sing! Even Karen has rarely caught me singing. But I am drunk and there's only 5 other people there and I do speak the language. I started out with Queen "Bicycle race." Afterwards Fujii-san asked me what the song was all about...um bicycling? A couple of other songs and then I remember singing Tom Jones "It's not Unusual." Afterwards some score came up (I can only assume that there was a standard bar where people could listen in) of 85. Chouda-san said that was very good. It was all round very fun. I have to say those guys were the most fun out of everyone I met. Not that everyone wasn't wonderful, these ones were just a bit more relaxed and they (nearly) all spoke very good English. I guess that makes it easier for things to come naturally.
Next thing I know BOOM time to run for the train. Takeshi said he's pay and then gives me his number and offers to be our guide at the weekend. I'm running fast and breathing heavy because of the rain, Fujii and Toru-sans (both smokers) do the run and have no problems! We chatted some more on the 40 minute train ride into Tokyo and I got to see pictures of their families on the camera-phones. I found out that I had a lot in common with Fujii-san in terms of our approach to work and attitude to progression. Many Japanese appeared to do what the company wants, when they are told, because they know nothing else, the peg which stands up is the first peg knocked down. He has some drive and we both agreed if we grow, the company grows.
That was the end of my business in Japan. The next few entries will be our few days of tourism!