Annual Concert

Last Saturday and Sunday were concerts of my chorus. This is the second year for me and I thought about last year one. At that time I didn't have any friend in the chorus members although everybody was kind in general. In audience, I saw no familiar face there, however this year, I saw my friend's face on Saturday and another friend found me on stage by chance on Sunday.
After the concert my friend from chorus gave me a pretty present. I was impressed by her kindness and this wrapping. She is a piano teacher and this present remind me of her very much.

Paris 2

I was traveling Paris last weekend. I saw beautiful Christmas lighting up.



Inside the department store, there is a huge Christmas tree and fancy presents are hang down from the dome shaped ceiling.



Outside the department store, there are many fancy window displays. The theme of this year is "ginger bread". All displays have ginger breads.




BTW, did you know there is a "Statue of Liberty" in Paris?

WHY?

I keep working as a marketing researcher on phone. Last Thursday I ringed a world famous company; at first my phone connected to “customer service” and she put me through “human resource” and she told me she put me through “communication service”. I didn’t get why “communication service” so I asked “I’m doing marketing research and do I have to speak with communication service?” then she said “I’m afraid so” and she put me through there. “Communication service” told me that I should contact "fleet service" and hung it up. Oh dear, I didn't know the phone or extension number of "fleet service" so I ringed “customer service” once again and asked to put me through "fleet service" then she said she could put me through "switch board" and I could ask him/her to put me through "fleet service" so I did it eventually my phone connected to a fleet manager however it was a voice message service. It was wasting time.

Halloween the third year

It’s been the third time for me to spend Halloween in Manchester. I’m gradually getting used to this custom and finally I was invited Halloween party this year.
Unfortunately I didn’t bring my favourite Ninja costume which I put on at Halloween party in Japan and in America. I needed to find something and went to “One pound shop”. I bought a “Glitter Fashion Poncho” which wasn’t scary but it was matching with my funny sun glasses very well.
One of participants put some boxes in the following photo on his shirt. At first sight I didn’t get the meaning. Do you have any clue?

It’s a serial killer (cereal killer). I like it!

Before and After

Before I went back to Japan, I got temporary work which was marketing research in UK. My work was making a phone call to UK companies and filling out the survey in Japanese. It wasn’t easy for me to talk with native English speakers on phone in addition no one wants to cooperate with the survey which isn’t profitable for them. So it was very difficult to avoid hearing “I don’t have time.” or “As the company’s policy, I can’t answer your questions.” After being rejected by 20 companies, I was almost giving up my work but my boss trusted me to do it and somehow I could manage this work and got enough money for my travel expense to Japan.
I like work not just because of income but because I can have a link to real world. Through any kinds of job I can learn how the society works and get new knowledge. After coming back from Japan, I got new kind of temporally work from the same boss. It was a translation work from Japanese to English. I enjoyed it very much. I didn’t need to make a phone call so I can work till late at night if I want to. I could do it with my own pace and to the level which I feel comfortable. If I would get this kind of job, I can do it anytime however the work finished in one week. It’s irony but when I work, I wish I would finish it as soon as possible on the other hand once I finished it I feel I would like to get a new work to do. I had been waiting a new job and got email from my boss last week. My new job is again marketing research on phone! Although I waited translation work I have no choice. My challenge will start and will be continued.

OKONOMIYAKI

During my stay in Japan, I didn't have a chance to eat Okonomiyaki. Instead I bought some ingredients for it and cooked it in Manchester. I haven't had a proper Okonomiyaki more than two years so I couldn't evaluate it well but I thought this was OK.
Since I came back from Japan, I keep writing just about foods. I'll write something else in my next post I promise.

Apple Crumble

My English teacher gave me cooking apples from his garden. They were fresh and looked very tasty however I didn't know how to cook cooking apples.
My friend brought caster sugar, a scales in ounce and a pyrex dish for baking and helped me to make typical English sweets "Apple Crumble" in my place. It was very tasty! My friend told me it's easy to make but I didn't think so. Hum... I'm not sure whether I can taste this once again or not.