language

Soya or the Japanese term "tonyu". Seems I can't win. I go into Starbucks and ask for a "tonyu, ekusutora hotto latte" and get "soya, ekusutora hotto latte" called out in the back. Tonyu is the word for soya in Japanese, so why don't they use it? Seems that it is much more trendier to say Soya than Tonyu in Starbucks. Whether it depends on the staff that is on, but it still confuses me. Especially when I ask for a soy extra hot latte and then I get returned with a tonyu as a reply. Anyway, that was today's quirk that I came across today.

I have also figured out that the company purposely turns the air conditioners down (making them colder) just after lunch till around 3 and then they put the temperature back up again around 5. I am wondering if this is a ploy to stop making us workers feel sleepy after lunch and then making us feel very comfortable and warm, not willing us easily to leave work. One good thing about the summer is that the workers have a good excuse to leave the office after 7 as the company turns off the air conditioners, making the air very stifling and hot and unbearable. I remember staying in the company till around 8.30 in the middle of summer and was surprised that my brain cells were still able to function! It was that hot and could hardly concentrate on my work. I wonder how the other workers productivity are? Some still stay till late at night - seems that the air conditioners have no effect on them. (Or they are doing the "suffering" thing that they love to endure).

I met up with T for lunch today, one of my older friends in Tokyo. Quite a funny story really, as M and I were lost one day in Shibuya (having wanted to NOT catch the train for a couple of stations), and ended up getting very lost. We bumped into T who was billingual in English! He happened to be walking the same way as we were! Have stayed in touch ever since. Bow been around 5 years!

Mother is over here till June, the best month of the year is May, so it's great that she is over here to experience this wonderful time of the year. Already eating all the food that she has missed since last year. Natto, umeboshi, Seaweed, Daifuku (rice cakes with sweet bean filling), green tea (macha as well), udon, soba noodles, beautiful French pastries, Italian... the list goes on. Tokyo really has the best of all the world bounded into one city! The food selection is amazing! Will be going to check out a traditional tea ceremony at some posh hotel (once I find one). Will let you know how that goes..so stay tuned!

A thing of beauty is joy forever.
John Keats