Aomori, How Could It Not Be Memorable?

Nakamora is back home now flipping the tourist brochures given to everyone in his group while they were in Japan. The cover exclaimed "A Memorable Journey, Aomori/Japan." How could it not be memorable, he thought. It was snowing starting from the day they arrived, and stopped only on the day they left.
It was indeed an interesting assignment. Yes, he went there on duty, not as a tourist. But he thought part of learning is to be sensitive and observant of any new surroundings.
Aomori is the northernmost prefecture of Japan on the Honshu Island. It is served by two airports: at Misawa and Aomori City. Every prefecture has regions, and in Aomori they are the Tsugaru, Nanbu, and Shimokita Regions. The Tsugaru Region makes the prefecture famous for its apples, and mount Iwaki, which is dubbed as the "Fujiyama of Tsugaru." It is also home to Shirakami Mountains, which is one of World Heritage Sites. The Shimokita Region, facing the Pacific Ocean is home to Rokkasho Village, or Rokkasho-mura, an important site for nuclear energy in Japan. It is called a village, but the village is a big one, measuring more than 250 square kilometers, with a population count of more than 11000 in 1998. Nuclear fuel reprocessing, uranium enrichment, and low level radioactive waste disposal centers are located in the village. The region has one BWR nuclear power plant operating at Higashidori, supplying 1100 Megawatts of electricity. Those are just technical details.

Swords Should Stay Alone

The three groups should unite, settle their differences and give Europe the leadership, said Sakawa. Chris couldn't agree more. His friend shares his view.
Nakamora just listens. He toys around the chopsticks. A range of Japanese food already laid out on the table. He marvels at the rich spectrum of taste in a Japanese meal - miso soup, tempura, kikkoman sauce, radish, wasabe. Ranging from something that is more or less tasteless to something that tastes good at first but gradually bites you like hot peppers. All are served in one serving, but each in small quantities.
This is the first time this Belgium guy, Chris, is in Japan. On chopstick he agrees that the Japanese ones are easier to operate than the generally lacquered, and hence slippery Chinese ones. He remarked how his other half lost weight while in China just by using chopstick when eating. The conversation moves on to about traveling, about seeing the world, learning from experience, and the many different peoples and cultures. Sometimes they are much more different, and the opposite of what we originally expected.
So, why is it that in Japan you drive on the left hand side of the road, asked Chris.
There are reasons for everything, quipped Sakawa. A sword worn by a Japanese should not touch another. It is an invitation to fight. Swords are worn on the left so that it can be drawn out easily using the right hand. To avoid accidentally touching other people's sword while passing each other, they walked on the left hand side. When we have cars, we just follow the convention. Sakawa explained, but did not confirm if that is the truth. Doesn't matter. There is always something new to learn. Nakamora too did not know that.

The Sun Rises There First

As the plane breaks through the layer of clouds the white snow covered landscape appears on sight. The plane hovers above the lake heading towards the runway before landing smoothly at Misawa airport. It's about an hour flight time from Haneda, the domestic airport in Tokyo, which is about 2 hours and 3000 yen away by bus from Narita International Airport.
It has been a long time since he last saw snow covered anything. He is delighted, but wary as the temperature is recorded at -1 degree Celcius.
Haneda is quite a busy airport. It has two terminals serving 5 airlines. Like most airports that he has seen, and unlike KLIA, the counters are all lined-up perpendicular to the entrance to the departure hall. KLIA is unique in that sense. The check in counters are in line with the entrance to the departure gate, which makes it looks smoother and compact.
Obviously Nakamora is in Japan, the country where the sun rises first, where persons with the name Nakamora would be more readily found. While stuck in his small hotel room, outside being cold and already dark, he recalls of not seeing any foreign workers cleaning the floor at the airport, replenishing the vending machines, loading the luggage into the bus, or serving the toast and coffee that he had for breakfast at the airport.

Who Could This Be?

The New Year is making a return visit soon. Nakamora realizes that not many months after that he has to leave the office to the care of someone else. He is leaving for good after serving his term in office.
He has started actually clearing up things in the office little by little, taking home his personal belongings that need not be at the office other than creating the atmosphere that it is a nice place to be all these years. He should not feel it that way come the day he is leaving. Otherwise it can be a problem. It is also to avoid the last minute rush of throwing everything into a box and do the sorting at home. No, he is not going to do that.
"Well, who could this be?" he murmured while scratching his head.
In front of him on his desk are three stacks of name or calling cards. He must have given the same number of his calling cards, in exchange for those that are in front of him now. One stack of cards are those he has sorted out, and would like to keep, at least until his last working day. The other is the one he has yet to work on. The third is the one he is working on. In his hand is name card that prompted him to blurt out the question to himself. He has forgotten, when and what occasion did he gave his name card for the one he is holding now; and who exactly is he. The name and designation and affiliations and all other details on a name card is there. But, his memory is failing him.
This probably happens to other people too. After keeping something for a while, or for a long while, we tend to forget about it all, especially if it is not or rarely used. Shall he keep the card until he can recall all pertinent details? or shall he just put it away. After all, he has not used then, would there be occasion he would be needing it again? He has no answer to that. The best bet, to his mind, is to keep it for the time being. May be while attending whatever official functions he has to attend, or while driving home and got stuck in the traffic jam, the memory will come back.
He remembered someone said, the mind wonders when the body is at rest, and the memory may want to pay a visit at that time.

Home Is The Office

Can we work at home and achieve the same productivity as we ought to be? Can all the technological gadgets and facilities that we have be set-up for working at home? Yes, and No. The answer depends on the type of work we do.
Those who are making sales, like salesmen, can definitely not work from home. They have to meet customers and create leads to sales and other new products offered by his company. Yes, there is e-business; products can be displayed and ordered on-line. Well, not all products fit that mode of selling. Books? Yes, Amazon.com proved that its is possible.
What about doctors? No.
What about teachers? No.
So, what would be the conditions to be fulfilled?
1. the work must not require physical interaction with another beings
2. does not require special equipment, jigs, or tools that are expensive and require special set-up
3. does not require handling or use of hazardous items, chemicals, gaseous, bacteria, or radioactive material
4. does not disturb the neighborhood; residential areas are place for people to relax at home
Perhaps those whose work mainly need to communicate with others, e.g. for consultation in meetings, etc. can operate from home.
While trying to think of some other criteria, Nakamora thought perhaps he ought to take a break. Really, today is his off day..

Writer's block?

It was six weeks ago since I wrote anything in this blog. It's not that there is nothing to record, there was.. but I guess I must be better able to manage my time.
Finally, Nakamora started writing one of the titles he wanted to write all along. He has only started thinking how to finish the book, how to have it published, promoted, and distributed. Who'd be possible sponsors? or should he fork money from his own pocket?