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.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
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..
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..
Monday, November 05, 2007
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?
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?
Monday, September 24, 2007
Floating....
As he leaves the airport in a car driven by his other half he saw a plane hovering, almost floating approaching the airport. It is amazing to see such a big chunk of object floating in the air with perhaps 400 or more people on board each with luggage on the average of say 30 kg.
Nakamora is in his way back to his home after being away for 10 days. He remembers how small things were while in the plane in the air. Everything looks small. He remembers looking at a passenger plane flying just above a layer of an expanse of clouds and a host of other planes as the one he is in approaches Heathrow airport.
Heathrow airport is one large complex. Getting from one terminal to another is quite a journey and an experience by itself.
Nakamora is in his way back to his home after being away for 10 days. He remembers how small things were while in the plane in the air. Everything looks small. He remembers looking at a passenger plane flying just above a layer of an expanse of clouds and a host of other planes as the one he is in approaches Heathrow airport.
Heathrow airport is one large complex. Getting from one terminal to another is quite a journey and an experience by itself.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Away
Nakamora has been wanting to have at least an entry in his blog done at some faraway places, away from where he usually resides. This time he has the opportunity. This entry of his was written and posted from a place where the sun rises a full six hours late compared to his usual place of residence. He is happy...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)