I think I have died and gone to heaven?!

God does answer prayers!!

'Cause look what I found!!

You guys have nooo idea how excited I am =)  this place is a brisk 5-8 minute walk from my new place.  They carry all sorts of stuff... for example:

All sorts of veggies (white asparagus and brussel sprouts included), even ones that I have never seen before.

Sausages, foie gras-- Various cuts of American Beef~ they even have giant turkeys!

Then there was mac & cheese, my favorite strawberry creme cheese spread, Snapple, organic milk... etc etc.

Then they have an entire floor dedicated to wine and liquor!

I walked through looking for the ones that I usually get.  I was amazed! They had it all. 

From regular reds & whites... to my favorite sparkling dessert wines, Asti, Rosso & Moscato... to...

Patron!

Can you believe it?! Patron in Japan!

They had the regular Silver 750ml for 7,500JPY and Gran Patron for 38,800JPY

Bit pricey... actually very pricey-- considering the same Silver Patron at the Duty Free Store is around USD50.

They have a small household goods section on the first floor.  This is their least impressive section.  Don't imagine myself picking up too many things there... BUT-- worth mentioning are :

Kirkland toilet paper! Shout, Tide, Downey--   You have No idea how happy I was when I first discovered Downey in Japan last year... made all my laundry smell like home!

Nissin World Delicatessen also delivers for free if you buy over 10,000JPY, which comes out to be around USD90.

Wanna know what really makes this store even more super duper?!

Well, I wanted to take a picture to show you all, but didn't get a chance to. Don't think we are allowed to take photos inside the store.  Maybe I'll sneak one in next time.  

But, I'll replicate the sticker they have over the price tags on the shelves of certain items.

tah-dah!!

This has made my shopping experience sooo much easier.  I no longer need to pick up an item and scour the fine print for the country of origin.  

Nissin World Delicatessen, you are too awesome! 

~ OH-- I forgot to mention that they have these bells, that you see sitting at the fronts of service desks.  Well, lets just say these bells are all over the place in the store.  So if you need assistance... Ding Ding Ding!!  At your service

Too awesome

~~~~~~~~one quick note is that I didn't buy anything this time ... today was just purely exploratory. Because... my fridge won't be coming till Friday!! Life w/o a fridge is difficult I tell you!  So... regular food shopping on Friday night.  I am very excited yo!

Moving is such a pain in the @%&*&^(*(%$%$#

Goodness... I am sooo tired. I feel like I've been through hours and hours of work out or something just dealing w/ all the nitty gritties of moving and starting a new job.

Cancelling gas, electricity,water,  internet.. .and starting new contracts at the new apartment...

Hours on the cellphone..

my bill will be crazy this month... I just know it.

On top of moving, I have to take care of all the nitty gritties of starting a new job.

Getting paid in USD or JPY? Which health plan? Which retirement plan? How to file taxes in both USA and Japan...

yeah.. I am tired... and so blah!!!

I need a vacation...

Oh nO!

They are shutting down Sony Imagestation on Feb 1!!  That means I have to find a new photo server...and grr... 

re-upload pictures...

and for some reason I have pictures on my site that I don't have on my computer.

GRRR...

Well...

any suggestions as to the new home of my pictures?

I heard Picasa works pretty well...

down the drain....



plans to LA is no more....      (well, i am going to triple check on Wednesday... but at this point... it's no more.. cause i don't even have tickets on hold anymore....AND thank Goodness I didn't pay for them.. that would have Sucked biiiiig time!)

the visa person from work told me that I need to be back by Sept 13th, since that is when my visa expires.

sniff sniff... sad.

then I doubled check my passport. 

Visa expires Aug 2010.  But the little Landing Permission thingy.. orange sticker for multiple reentries-- expires on Sept 13. 

I asked my friends.. and they've said that it's the little orange stickers that counts.

The visa person at work says if I don't come back by 9/13... then there would be a 2 month delay in getting my work permit...

then i wouldn't be able to work.

grr grr grr...

i guess... no LA this summer.....

Well... soon.
=)

Just booked my tickets.  Haven't forked over the money yet... but goodness... it's costing me an arm and a leg...
and since I haven't started working yet...
it's hurting me!! grr....

but I guess it's cheaper for me to fly than for my parents and grandparents to fly out.
yup... that means... sorry my fellow classmates...

I won't be attending the graduation.  But, I'll be back on the Monday after =)

So heres' the tentative schedule for over the next month.


9/4-9/6 Pack up my apartment and pack up for LA.

9/7 Tokyo to LA

9/23 Leave LA   9/24 Arrive in Tokyo

9/25 MOVE

9/25- 9/31 Settle in ...

OCT 1, 2007 Start Working!!!!

and right...

I still have to find that special apartment with an elevator near a nice super market to move into. 

Wish me luck!

To all my family, friends and loved ones, who have been with me thoughout this whole long drawn out process... Thank you soo much, because I couldn't have done it w/o you guys...

Especially Joe

I feel like in many cases, he has been the poor victim of all my emotional ups and downs-- and yet, through it all, he has been amazingly patient,  sweet, supportive and a source of  inspiration and guidance.

Thank you  !  

So yes, that means-- I got a Job!

I was tossing and turning in my bed on Friday morning.  I had resisted the urge to "follow-up" on Thursday, because I was totally afraid that they were just going to tell me that no decision has been made, and that next Monday, would be the Final day.  But anyway-- 

I spent the whole morning basically staring at my cell phone, refreshing my email screen, tossing and turning on my bed and praying.  11am.. 12am... 1pm... tic toc tic toc...

so by 2:30p.. I couldn't wait any more... I called the HR contact person and she finally told me in a awfully cherry voice that YES-- they finally have a Decision, but she isn't able to give it to me, because the manager has to do that.  So, she said that I should be getting a call in a little  while--- and just wait.

So heart was thumping thumping and thumping. 

I plugged my phone into charge.. hehe.. got my note pad out .. and just sat there staring at the phone.. and praying.

less than 1/2 hour later.. Yay! The phone rang!

So it was my future boss.  He is from Singapore, and like me, he speaks Mandarin Chinese, English, some Japanese... and Taiwanese!  I thought that was sooo neat.  But that also means I can't talk about him in front of him w/o him knowing... cause he'll understand....

I'll need to pick up a new language.   lol..

So-- yeah, it was basically:

1) We'd love to have you on board

2) September is a busy month for the company, so Early/Mid October would be good to start.

3) Japanese-- need to keep at it.  Pass the Level One Japanese Lanaguage Proficiency Test this coming December ( There's no way out of this one... cause he told me that he too is taking the exam... doh!)

4) HR person will call me and go over the nitty-gritty details w/ me.

So that was the end of our conversation.  I waited for the call, but phone didn't ring again.. so hopefully Monday morning I 'll get a call.. because,. I don't even know how much I am getting paid!!  But it's Ok.  Cause the important thing is that this is a great company~ I'll be able to learn lots and get experience, and that's what counts

So what's next on my agenda?

1) Wait for call-- Get details- set start date.

2) Ask to start process on Work Visa in Japan.

3) MOVE.  Yes, I've decided to move.  I love my little apartment, but it's no longer convenient 'cause of work.  To get to work right now, the commute is about an hour.  Which sounds like a fairly normal commute time-- BUt.... I would have to take the subway--change to train--and then hop back on the subway. Plus, in between the changes... i'd have to walk maybe 200 yards+.   grrr

4) Get a new cell phone =) <--- contract is up.. and just because... i've had my phone for two years now.. time for a refresher.  =D

5) Visit family & friends in the States!  Yup yup.  Hopefully I can squeeze in a two week trip back to the States before I start working.

Right now, the biggest thing is moving.  Gotta find a place.. cancel my current contract.. all the gas, water.. internet.. blah blah.. transfers..  Headache yo!

But I am glad.  I can't wait to start working-- and making some $$$. 

So sick and tired of the income-less life.

On to the next chapter in life~ 加油 加油 加油 ! !

hmm... well, that's what they said last week.  And today, they told me again... that they haven't made a decision, but they will surely let me know by end of next week.     I don't get it.  I mean, I guess it's a good sign, that they haven't just come out point blank and said... no, we regret at this time... blah blah blah...

So here I am... on what seems to be an endless wait. 

This is how it unfolded. 

After my so-called last interview, for the mannager that was out of the country on July 24-- I was told that they would have a decision for me by early next week. 

I said:  ok ---great.  Look forward to hearing from ya!

Monday whizzes by... so does Tuesday.   No email.. no phone call.  So of course, Wednesday noon, I call to follow up. 

They said: No decision yet, managers meeting tomorrow (Thursday), so they will have answer for me... For Sure.. by Friday afternoon. 

I said:  Great, looking forward to hearing from ya.

Same day night time:

Email from them--- another manager would like to meet me.  Could I drop by again on Friday for half an hour? 

I said:  Of course-- I'll be there.

Note** this is the 13th manager that I have interviewed with for this company alone!

After the interview, they told me, we'll let you know end of next week since there are still some recruiting activities going on. 

I said:  Ok, look forward to hearing from you next week. 

Tic-toc Tic-toc....

Today, Wednesday noon--- I called to follow up.

They said: [Same story.]  Managers will meet tomorrow, will have a decision by Friday. 

I said: Great! Look forward to hearing from you.

Same day-- afternoon. 

They said:  Moshi moshi-- Lin-san, gomen ne, I just sent you an email that might make you a little bit sad....

I said:           

They said: The last manager that I spoke with is still moving people around and still has to figure out a couple more things.. and they won't have a decision till end of next week...

I wanted to say:  -------->        ---------->  

but instead I said:  Ok, sure, just let me know.  Look forward to hearing from you next week.

-------

Is this normal for IB recruiting? I don't understand... it's been over a month since the first interview.. I've sooo patient.. aye...

Wish me luck. 

Until next week...

Happy Birthday Ziv~!

Hope for the Best &Prepare for the Worst.

Zemi 合宿 in 伊東~ be back tomorrow ^_^

急速冷凍

Wiiiii ~

左邊感冒了

Pilates 1045 on Monday-- anyone want to join me?

Don’t be mad… just remember the happy times…

只能繼續~努力愛~

Happy 28^th Birthday to Jerry (^)

Happy White Day!

看韓劇~ 害我想吃泡菜

Touring Tokyo with Family (l)

Prison Break Season 2 Season Finale Tonight!

Looking on the Bright side

Happy Birthday Stacy

Happy Birthday My Beautiful Niece Penny (^) (^)

我愛冰淇淋!! 我愛上卡路比!! Life is mmm mmm Great ^_^

Happy 7^th Birthday to my baby Yorkie!

Happy Birthday to Avery!  (^)

To Taiwan I go!

Back to Jp…

Thesis… thesis… thesis… no more fun for me…

i miss my son...  --Little brother.. where's my Wii? 

Lovely

dizzzzy

Counting Down… 10 more days

Counting Down… 9 more days

Happy Birthday Daddy!

面試加油中!!! HarryPotter終於送到了~yay!

Happy Birthday to Jean!

baking in 33 degree Tokyo sun...

grr ... waiting waiting waiting...

er… another interview?!

耐心等待~ 加油加油加油!

Many of you know, I've been boycotting China "bads"-- not "goods" -- for quite some time now.  Whether it is clothing, food, daily items--toothpaste.. what ever.

Unless of course... it's stuff that's being sold at the Disney store/ or Sanrio.  Tha's a different story. 

But anyway... everyone should boycott China, for the sake of you and your family's health... and political/humane reasons of course. 

See for yourself and then ask ... is it really worth it to buy "Made in China" just to save a couple of cents?

Key Dates in China Export Scares
August 2, 2007

An alarming series of health scares has prompted U.S. and European officials to increase their vigilance for Chinese imports, while Chinese authorities have tried to quickly repair the reputation of a country that supplies the world with goods from nearly every manufacturing and agricultural sector. Tainted pet food, toothpaste, seafood and toys have been among the products that made it to store shelves and consumers' homes in the U.S. Here's a timeline of some of the key events.

Aug. 2: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Mattel Inc.'s Fisher-Price unit will recall 967,000 toys that may contain hazardous levels of lead paint, including items featuring popular characters such as Elmo and Big Bird. The company said it would adjust second-quarter results by about $30 million to reflect the impact of the recall.

July 31: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sent a senior official to China to try to reach agreements aimed at improving the country's food and drug safety by the end of the year.

July 23: The European Union's top product safety cop, on her first official trip to China, said she has an "ambitious" agenda and is prepared to send a tough message to the Chinese government that it needs to crack down on producers of defective goods sold in the 27-nation bloc.

July 20: China said it had shut down several firms at the heart of food and drug safety scares. The country's quality supervision agency pulled the business license of Taixing Glycerin Factory, which has been accused of exporting diethylene glycol -- a thickening agent used in antifreeze -- and fraudulently passing it off as 99.5% pure glycerin. The mix of 15% diethylene glycol and other substances ended up in Panamanian medicines that killed at least 51 people. Also, two companies linked to melamine-tainted wheat gluten blamed for the deaths of 16 dogs and cats in North America had their licenses revoked.

July 19: The U.S. House Agriculture Committee agreed to require country-of-origin labels on meats beginning next year, but it softened penalties and record-keeping requirements that had concerned many food retailers and meatpackers who opposed the law.

July 10: Zheng Xiaoyu, the former head of China's State Food and Drug Administration, was executed for dereliction of duty and taking bribes from drug companies.

July 4: China's quality-control watchdog said that nearly one-fifth of the products sold in China that it studied failed to meet the country's quality standards.

July 2-5: American consumer-protection authorities recalled Chinese-made children's necklaces and earrings that were found to contain dangerously high levels of lead.

June 29: The European Union said it will follow the lead of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which is stepping up scrutiny of Chinese farm-raised seafood.

June 28: The FDA announced it would detain all Chinese shipments of shrimp, catfish, basa, dace and eel unless it is proven free of residues of illegal antibiotics and chemicals. An agency test of 89 samples from October 2006 to May 2007 showed 25% of the farm-raised seafood contained such residues.

June 27: The Chinese government said it closed 180 food manufacturers found to have used industrial chemicals and additives in food products.

June 25: About 450,000 Chinese-made tires sold in the U.S. were recalled after federal regulators and the U.S. tire distributor said the tires may lack an important safety feature designed to make them more durable.

June 14: Colgate-Palmolive Co. said counterfeit toothpaste falsely packaged as "Colgate" and possibly containing diethylene glycol was found in several discount stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

May 30: Beijing announced it will set up a food-recall system.

May 24: Responding to reports that diethylene glycol was found in toothpaste made in China, the FDA announced it will block Chinese imports of toothpaste until they can be tested. The action followed reports that authorities have found the chemical in toothpaste in Panama, the Dominican Republic and Australia.

May 10: The Chinese cabinet vowed to crack down on the food industry, saying it will promote organic agriculture, beef up inspections of farms and butchers and blacklist companies that make tainted products.

May 7: An invoice offered evidence that two Chinese corporations, Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. and Binzhou Futian Biology Technology Co., were linked to tainted wheat gluten found in the recalled pet food.

April 30: USDA and FDA officials said chickens on at least 30 Indiana poultry farms in February were fed remnants of pet food that was contaminated by poisoned wheat gluten imported from China. The officials said the farms had since processed the chickens, but added that the risk to humans is "very low." Officials earlier had revealed that the contaminated pet food was fed to hogs in at least six states. At least 6,000 hogs were quarantined and euthanized.

March 15: After consumer complaints prompted lab testing, Canada-based Menu Foods Inc., informed the FDA that it was recalling cat and dog food made with tainted wheat gluten. The recall included food sold under the Iams and Eukanuba labels.

Awwww... He is so super adorable! I'd so get in line and bring him home! (Although, at the point, I would prefer a female puppy...) 

Since this puppy is in Japan, I'll give it the benefit of the doubt that the markings are real... if the puppy were in China... I think the 'marking' would probably come off after several washes..

With the popularity of this puppy, I am sure we can expect to see "star" puppy... "clover" ... etc etc...

A male long-coated chihuahua named 'Heart-kun' with a heart-shapedpattern on his coat sits at Pucchin Dog's shop in Odate, northern JapanJuly 10, 2007. The one-and-a-half-month-old chihuahua was born on May18, 2007 as one of a litter. The shop owner Emiko Sakurada said thatthis is the first time a puppy with these marks has been born out of a1,000 that she has bred. She also said that she has no plans to sellthe puppy.

REUTERS/Issei Kato (JAPAN).