[The Office]
The office is a typical american place I believe. With two metal doors requiring a special key to unlock before you enter (I dont work for a japanese company. I work for the worldwide leader in games. Hint the company name has only two letters)

The athmosphere is very laid back. Everyone looks so friendly. I like it here so much, I could see myself spending the next five years of my life here. This place makes me happy.

There are also two girls among my officemates who makes your heart go bump in the night. Just the other day, one of them walked and unintentionally stared looked at me. There and then, I melted into jelly and forsworn my vows of celebacy--ok, this is a joke. I'm not celebate. I have two kids :) Anyway, the point is that this two is really beautiful. Pretty enough to stop a room full of guys.

But they are not the first ones I noticed when I came to work here during that first day. No siree. No matter how beautiful they are, I only had eyes for--

Oh my gosh! My very own cubicle!!!

How I wept for joy. Ehehehe. If you have ever worked for a typical japanese company, you would understand how I feel (Its difficult to explain it, but think of china and sweat shops and your imagination wont be far behind)

Ahhh, the leg room, feel the leg room.

One can find me deep into the night, my face pressed besides my beloved cubicle. I keep telling it things like "Ohhh baby, I wont let you go"

Do you love me cubie? Because I love you. I.love.you. Never let me go. Mwah3x!!

You know, Japan is a pretty good place to live in. The people are courteous and tries to keep one welcome. However, sometimes part of me feels as if underneath all that, there is somewhere deep within the minds of the japanese people a part that resents foreigners.

There is nothing you can see. No hard proof that it exists. But I could site a hundred "small, unintended" things that makes you go "hmm". Although, they try hard to make appearances and make it appear there is no such thing.

However, there is one area where keeping appearances is forgotten and japanese xenophobia is in full bloom.

It is in the real-estate industry.

There are a lot of vacant apartments here. A lot. You can find all kinds, in all shapes, in all the colors of the rainbow. In every city, you can see realtor offices camping besides train stations like a bunch of spiders. Hoping to snag an unwitting soul to go and rent an apartment.

Too bad they wont rent it to foreigners though.

I keep asking myself why? Is our soul so tainted that even our money can't be accepted!? "Yeah you leper. Go git your money and shove it. Kapow!"

Dang Japanese. Are you guys aware that your population is actually shrinking!? Who may I ask will rent all those rows of houses? The next generation!?

Hehe!

Ok, Alright -- I'm just blowing off steam here because I got turned down for the nth time trying to rent an apartment.

Yeah well, you can refuse me and my money anytime. I will take my revenge someday. In fact I will take my revenge now by throwing this empty bottle I hold in my hand into the "for plastics" garbage bin. There, how do you like that huh!? Wont rent to me ey! Take that bottle you you.. xenophobic you.

Bah humbug!

[I'm getting Old]
You know why I know I'm getting old? Its not because my hair is starting to show whites. Or how pain mysteriously appears at the back of my body. Or how, I find I can't ride roller coasters anymore. These things can be explained . I mean, I can still lie to myself and find a hundred different excuses why I'm suddenly avoiding such thrills.

But the other day, I was walking down the isle inside an electronics store. Stopped for a moment to gather my breath, looked to my left absent-mindedly and lo! the most stunning sight that ever graced my eyes was reveled.

There in all its multi-colored glory is a 37inch Bravia TV.

Oh My Goodness!!! Hubba2x. My tongue practically touched the ground. Saliva oozzing all over. Yup, I fell in love with a plain old vanilla television.

I still remember a time when I would throw a tantrum just so my mother wont bring me to go window shopping appliances. And here I am, doing the exact same thing. Now if that wasnt a sign of old age, I dont know what is.

[My First Salary]
Hey guys, do you know what today is?

Today is my very first salary for this company!!

Yess, Kiyai! Kampai!!! (Fist pump)

I'm gonna buy me a Wii, a Ps3 and a bravia TV. Mwahahaha! But no XBox - Gosh I hate Microsoft.

Then I'm gonna buy a polisher and go polish my cubie.

Anyway dont tell this to my wife. I told her I aint got no'mo money :)

All my money is for my cubie. Everything for my cubie.

- fin -