In Japan...

... there was a Taifun the day I arrived. I was quite scared. ...there was also a rather strong earthquake at night just as I tried to get to sleep. That was scary, too., ...the interview was quite hard and I can't reallz predict the outcome. Will know on Monday. ....I also had to take a psychological test and as I hadn't reallz slept during the 11 hour flight and prior to that I was at my "best" crazy behaviour. ...when I reached my hotel room later that day, I was so dead I couldn' t sleep at all any more. (My day: Flight landed at 8 am. Bus leaving Narita at 9.10 am, reaching destination at 11.05, taking taxi to final destination. waiting at the firm, getting my transportation money back, waiting, some more waiting, stress interview with mean questions in English and Japanese - duration one hour, psycho test 50 min (every minute of which I cursed certain people...), some waiting, getting send to hotel via taxi at around 4 pm.) ...I decided to eat something, but couldn`t go out to buy something as the taifun was raging outside. ...Then I slept a little bit, but was woken by some sounds and thought there was someone knocking on my door. I thought we would have to evacute or something (I was on the 7th floor of a 13 floor hotel!). ...at night I watched the new episode of The Princess` Man. ...because of the air con I couldn't really sleep well and ended up to have a cold the next morning (but my throat had been hurting during the flight, so it wasn`t really a surprise.) ...the next day I decided to check out and go to my friends in Gunma. I persuaded the hotel to give me the paid nights (which where more than I thought) the next week as I am supposed to be back at the firm on monday. Hopefully this is going to be no problem. I`ll know tomorrow. ...it took me 3 hours by local trains (but only two) to reach my friends house. ...I changed trains in Ueno, Tokyo and really wanted to stay a lillte bit and explore (even though I know Ueno very well already) , but my suitcase is really heavy and there are lot of (non-moving) stairs on the way. ...I really was sick the next day and slept the whole day. ...I got better a little bit and went to the onsen bath at night to warm my body up. ...today I'll meet another friend and eat at their house. More news soon. Greetings from Japan!

Crazy about...

Currently I'm absolutely in love with the korean drama "The Princess' Man" which is described as korean Romeo and Juliette story. Against all odds I'm hoping that there is a happy end in some way. The heroine is quite suffering at the moment because 1) she thought her beloved was dead and 2) he came back but kidnapped her (but not in a romantic way) and even wanted to kill her as her father had killed his family. (Yes, it is complicated.) But she still loves him and is doing a lot of dangerous things for him and he starts to realize that he is being a total a**hole, but when she begged him in the last episode to run away with her, he still couldn't say yes. Ahh - the tragedy. Unfortunately, when one is a specialist about Asian popular culture one knows that the ending "both dead" also counts as Happy End in most Asian Culture

BIG News (in every way)

Sorry for my long absence! First of all, I enjoyed some vacation time with my family (even my half sister and her family dropped by) on the beach. And I had a second telephone interview with a German firm in Japan. After which I was invited to fly to Japan to meet up in person!! After trying to get a cheap ticket (even though the firm will pay the fare) and realizing that SAS isn't offering cheap tickets to Japan these days, I ended up getting a ticket for a Lufthansa A 380! Unbelievable - and there I was thinking I wouldn't be able to sit in that gigantic plane for some years to come. And unbelievable still that I will be able to see Japan after just having been there last year in March. I'm totally thrilled and end up screaming every other minute or so. My flight is on Tuesday, I'll land on Wednesday in Narita and will have the third interview right after that. I'm super excited as I'd really love to work and live in Japan. I might end up entering on the job training right away. If not, I'll enjoy my time in Japan till October 6th. Wish me luck!

Country Animals

So, what is the most terrible animal out there? These fluffy eared cows seem friendly enough as long as no one disturbs their meal of fresh green grass. (The little ones were very interested in my dog and kept following us. My dog was very terrified, though.)

This Western horse (is it a Dixi?) is a little bit shy, but friendly non the less.

This one is a horse fit for a king. He is so tall, that I feel like a dwarf. I would really never mount this horse out of fear of falling. (But then, I never really mount horses. I only admire them, when I'm at home. Many neighbors have horses in my little town and I remember the times when I - as a little girl - begged my parents to buy me one. We have old stables at our house - nowadays used for fire wood storage - but other than that we have no experience whatsoever. When I was 12 I was asked to join a riding circle. But I was prejudiced against "little spoiled princesses" who would fight to ride a special horse and I never joined. Even though I know some basics of riding I never learned it as a consequence and am a little bit sad about that.)

He really is my "special friend" as I am allowed to snuggle his super soft nose. Aren't his eyes telling you something?

Well, my dog's smile isn't really terrifying either. He's such a cutie pie.

That's more like it. My cat is one of the most horrible creatures wandering our country town. He was on the hunt for grasshoppers when I took the picture.

But really, most of the time, he is lying in my bed like this. Lately he has gotten used to come upstairs at 5 am (the dog will wake my mom and beg her to go downstairs with him - then he will not even go outside but turn as soon as the cat has entered the house - my mom is really pissed off by this behavior...)  and snuggle next to my legs. Obviously he is missing me, now that I left home again.

Well, well, finally: The most scary and aggressive animal out there at the moment: the wasp. Last year we had hornets, who would hunt down the wasps, sadly, a neighbor destroyed the hornet nest last winter . (That's  illegal, you know!) So this year we have wasps again...

Looking at my pictures I really wish for a new camera. Well, and better skills, I guess.

Greetings!

Hamburg recap

Sorry for the long absence! Time has been flying past like the new Shinkansen Hayabusa. my mother is feeling better now and I'll leave my little sleepy home town and go back to Heidelberg tomorrow.
Hamburg was great. I just love that city. Maybe it reminds me a lot of Tokyo? It may well be that the water right in the middle of the city gives the impression, but no, Hamburg has its own charm entirely. The weather wasn't welcoming, but I wasn't there for sightseeing anyway. (Even though I did, obviously.)
The interview on Friday was one of the best job interview I've ever had. The atmosphere was great from the beginning, no stress questions occurred and my Japanese was praised by the Japanese boss - a lovely middle aged Japanese women with style.
But even though we all liked it each other on the spot, I'll still have to wait for them to make a decision as they will also meet other applicants. Wish me luck (again)!
Afterwards I was lucky to enjoy a great afternoon in the city and visited the Urban Outfitters Store (for the very first time - liked it a lot!), Muji (the last time I was in Muji at Narita Airport to buy some useful things for the flight.) and a MAC store (I actually bought a lipgloss, even though I wasn't supposed to spent money.).
I spent the two nights in Hamburg at my sister's place. My little nephew didn't even recognize me anymore and wanted me to leave again! That's the curse when family doesn't live close by anymore.
Well, I really enjoyed the trip and am happy that the interview went so well.

Greetings to you all.

Off to Hamburg

I'm off to Hamburg as I was invited for a job interview. I'm so happy. Wish me luck!

August rushed in

Things have been crazy around here.
Today another job offer came in and since I didn't receive the call from Japan I've been waiting for, I'll definitely try to get this job. It's a job in Germany (in Hamburg - a city I totally adore!), but still I'd be able to speak and write and translate Japanese. And that is all I'm asking for at this point. (Well, and be able to pay my bills and if it is possible at all to work with nice people.)

My mom is in pain after surgery and reacts kind of mean. I guess I'll forgive her.
My cousin visited me today out of the blue. I was so happy! We bought flowers for my mum and talked a lot and had a latte and a piece of cake in the garden.

Later today a friend from Japan will arrive at my home town and we will have lots of fun together. At the moment she is still up in the sky. Have a safe flight!
I'm going to bed now.

Good night.

P.S.: Lately Korean Drama have kept me awake till late at night. I've enjoyed City Hunter very much and now I'm watching Secret Garden. I just can't go to bed without knowing how the story goes on. Unfortunately I'll look like crap in the morning after watching too long.