It wasn’t so long ago that I was pulled into a quiet room and not expecting too much, was asked if I wanted to go on a trip (for business) to Japan. I was very surprised but of course jumped at the opportunity. And it wasn’t just one trip – it was 2 trips over a period of 6 months. And it was a project.

I’ve been saying to everyone that my boss is ‘sending me away’ (you know, like when a spoilt child is sent to boarding school because his or her parents can’t discipline them) but officially it was for my own personal (career) development and because Japan genuinely need help (“Hellloooooo… is there anybody out there?”). Unofficially… well, I better not say.

I arrived on Sunday morning at around 4:30 AM. So I am not caring what people think of me “wasting” my points on an upgrade. To me, it was worth every single point!!! Lounge access, dining before boarding and getting some sleep way more important than being cramped in the back on a full flight! So have gathered the name ‘princess’. Haha, tell me something I don’t know! I got a cab to my serviced apartment (it is a tiny studio about 30 square metres) – thank goodness it is self check-in and 24 hours. I got my keys and crashed for a few hours. So good – and I think that’s how I managed to beat jetlag. I spent the rest of the day walking around the city visiting Harajuku and Ometesando which is like a trendy area. Tried to get set up for the week by picking up a few groceries but they are so expensive. The only supermarket around my area was one that specialised in imported products. Imported = expensive.

So I’d had my first work week in Tokyo working Monday to Friday in the office. And I have to say that a lot of the belief around the Japanese culture is simply untrue. They come in late (between 9 and 10) and many of them leave around 6-7. This means that I consistently work 2 hours more everyday in Sydney. Granted, there are some who have stayed later (since the latest I’ve stayed so far in the office is 7:20 PM). I’m beginning to think there is a “Japanese Culture” and a “Company Specific Japanese Culture” for where I work… “flexible” working hours indeed. Also, I am still trying to understand (and this is my project here) why it takes 3 times the manpower to do something that one person in ANZ can do.

Loving my morning runs – about a 6 km loop around the Imperial Palace and it’s great! Its flat – one side is water and parkland and the other side is the road. There are a lot of expats who run this route in the wee hours of the morning (like 7 AM) when I suspect many Japanese are still snuggled in bed after their late nights drinking (or working?). I am absolutely love love loving living a few hundred metres away from the office – in terms of getting to work anyway. It’s a 7 minute walk. There’s no need to get all stressed about transport in the morning and evenings and I get in so early that no one else is in the office. It also lets me have enough sleep whilst also being able to fit in an hour of exercise and do some laundry if I have to. On the other hand, where we’re located isn’t so convenient. Sure, it is the middle of city (literally the most central ward) however it isn’t so populated and there are no big brand shops or department stores. I have to save my shopping for the weekend but I am finding many things quite expensive here with the dollar not doing so well. Nevertheless, I look forward to Saturday, Sundays and the two Public Holidays I scored during my time here! Day trips!

I’m learning to eat out by myself! For those of you who don’t know me so well – I have serious issues of doing anything of the like back home. I just don’t feel like it is that normal in Sydney. But it is totally and absolutely the norm here so I’m pretty comfortable doing it. I’ve had lunch out and managed to order off a Japanese menu a few times now. Woohoo! Haven’t tried to ramen vending machines yet but it is definitely on my list. And I am so going to hunt down some takoyaki! Ironically, as I’m in an ‘expat’ district, there are more foreign and Western style food than your typical Japanese cuisine like sushi, ramen, udon, tempura, tonkatsu, etc. I think I even saw a store selling Hainan Chicken Rice. I’ve had Italian twice with my colleagues – I don’t even like Italian at home. Having said that, I have had a few really good Japanese meals. And I also paid almost $10 AUD for a kilo of rice… BUT the alcohol here is so cheap. So cheap. I pretty much picked one of the more expensive bottles of wine and it still didn’t break the budget. It was a good bottle too.

And to top it off, I get to go to Osaka for the last week! As the CFO here says (and he’s the one sending me there…), even he in his 12-month tenure here hasn’t been done there yet. Haha get a move on! I love Osaka so I’m super excited to go. I’ll get to go to Kyoto for a day or something on the weekend. Going to have an awesome time and my mummy’s coming to visit since she’s in HK at the moment anyway. Yay!