Japan 1989
Three Months Overseas Training Experiences:
(February to May 1989)
First Airplane Flight:
Who would have thought that the first job I applied for would give me a chance to go to Japan? It was surreal that I was going to Japan, and to think I had only seen this country in pictures. Reality check: I mean, this first overseas training has allowed me to work in Japan.
This was my first time riding in an airplane; some say the feeling is like riding an elevator. You will feel a sudden push going up. Oh no! I have motion sickness. What should I do? Okay, so I am both nervous and excited about this first-time experience. I hope I will be assigned to something other than the window seat, where you can see the clouds. Good thing I was in the aisle seat. I'll just pretend to sleep so I won't feel dizzy.
Trivia:
Do you know why Japan is known as "The Land of the Rising Sun"? From China, it appears that the sun rises from the direction of Japan. The Japanese people call their country "Nippon" or "Nihon," which literally means "source of the sun". It is loosely translated into English as "land of the rising sun". (Credits to Google)
Favorite Memory of Japan:
My first memory of Japan was the "icy breath". This is natural when you speak or breathe in a cool environment. It is smoke-like that comes from your warm breath when speaking or breathing in cold weather - that's my version.
According to Google, it is this liquid form of your breath - minuscule droplets of water - that creates the fleeting misty clouds we see when breathing in cold weather.
My batchmates and I played like kids while talking with this "icy breath".
Work Experiences in a Nutshell:
Our batch had a one-day lecture using handbooks to help familiarize ourselves with the different parts of an automobile wiring harness. Sir Fidel Frani, our instructor, is a Filipino, and we understood his instructions.
We were assigned to a gym that will serve as our training center for three months. Our batch #29 consisted of 17 female and 3 male trainees. The previous batch will teach us personally about our assigned work before we replace them, through the buddy-buddy system.
It was difficult because we had to cope with the conveyor speed. The jig board where we lay out the wires is connected to a conveyor belt, and we have to adjust our speed to achieve the target.
Apartment Chores/Assignment:
In one apartment room are 4 or 5 people who will share two bedrooms, a kitchen, a toilet, and a shower room, so it's like a boarding house. My roommates were Jonalyn, Emmie, Lileth, and Vilma.
I was the only person who didn't know how to cook, so my responsibility was to wash our dishes and take out the trash at night. This is fine with me, I love washing the dishes. It is my favorite chore.
Taking out the trash is a different story. Whenever I take out the trash at night, no one is outside. Flashback to the scary scenes in movies that I watched. Our room was located on the 4th floor of the apartment. After placing the trash bag in its designated place, I walked as fast as I could back to our room.
In the Philippines, many people gather in the streets or in front of stores. So, which is scarier? Many people outside, or no one in sight?
Favorite Activity with Batchmates:
Our favorite activity during our rest day is to entertain ourselves by singing Filipino songs by the singer Rey Valera. We sing our hearts out to his famous ballads.
While some batch mates cook Filipino food like "sinigang" and adobo. This helps us overcome our homesickness because most of us are experiencing the complex emotion of being separated from our families.
Most Memorable Batch Outing:
Our batch was treated to an outing at Nihonland, which was an amusement park near Mt. Fuji. It was our first-hand experience with snow sledding and roller coaster rides.
So this is what snow feels like. It's the same as the crushed ice we put in our drinks. We took pictures, solo and group photos. Our batch enjoyed the entire day.
Gotemba, Shizuoka-Ken:
During our three-month contract, Gotemba, a city in Central Japan, became our residence.
This Japanese prefecture is home to the iconic Mt. Fuji. That is why we can always see Mt. Fuji in the background of our pictures.
According to Oxford Learner's Dictionaries, "a prefecture in Japan is a local government area".
Japanese Traditions and Habits:
- Japanese people are modest and humble. As a form of greeting and respect, even if they don't know you, they bow their heads to convey this message.
- You have to take your shoes off before you enter a house. This is a practical habit for hygienic purposes.
- Saying "itadakimasu" is a polite phrase that expresses thanks to whoever prepares the meal before eating your food.
- If you are crossing the pedestrian lanes, the vehicle stops to let you pass, for safety.
- I also recall that they have this "taiso" exercise before work.
These are a few of the habits and traditions I admire about the Japanese. I am grateful to experience it while I was in Japan. Our batch has mixed emotions about going back to the Philippines.
Wait. There's More...
Unexpected Detour in Thailand:
Our batch was to return to the Philippines on May 18, but the plane could not land at the airport because of a storm. I remember two batches of trainees from Yaisu and Ohama had the same departure date.
We were stranded for three days and two nights in Thailand and were put into an Airport Hotel by Egypt Air. The airline treated all the inconvenienced passengers of a delayed flight going home with a free tour of Thailand.
We visited Thailand's Sacred Shrines and Temples. Unfortunately, no photographs were taken because my camera ran out of film. But after four years, I took many pictures in Thailand.
Please read the personal blog about the overseas training, Thailand 1993.
We're going back to the Philippines...
Finally, after the unexpected detour, the plane landed on Philippine soil. Everyone on the flight cheered and clapped their hands because we had no communication with our families for three days. Thank God we returned safely.
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