Taking City Page 2, Finished VM Postcard
Two things. The latest page of the filler short story is up today on Girlamatic.com. Go read nothing, as the page has no dialogue! But you can gaze at it, I guess, if you're into that sort of thing.
Second, the VM postcards for Anime Expo Long Beach this weekend came, and since I have a small number of them, hopefully I can get rid of them. As long as my sister doesn't flake, I have a chance. If she does, I'm not going, and then these will sit on my desk languishing.
So, I've started my new job. I've learned: my Japanese is RIDICULOUSLY rusty. I'm actually brushing up on my vocabulary and grammar as we speak, because I'm having a hard time with it. Second, it's very interesting working for a Japanese company. Everyone shows up on time. Everyone eats lunch at the same time in an extremely large room. There are like half a dozen rice cookers making rice all day. There are the largest tea kettles I have ever SEEN on the stove constantly making tea. The newest Japanese version of a kit kat has raspberry inbetween the wafers. Yummy! Every morning a snack delivery service comes by with onigiri, spam musibi, and other fun asian foods. The interesting dichotomy is the different people. Korean, Chinese, mostly Japanese, and Spanish. Everyone speaks two or three languages. English is relatively universal for those who don't speak Japanese. Everyone goofs off for EXACTLY the duration of their break. As soon as it is over, the turn into working people. They keep having to remind me when lunch is because I am so used to going whenever I want, or not gettting a lunch at all. The most interesting thing is how relaxed it is. I'm SOOO not used to that. Having worked in entertainment, I'm used to the NOW NOW NOW kind of pressure. With them, its "Take your time. Don't rush. Relax."
Hopefully I can wrap my thick skull around the Japanese, because I know I'm getting a deer in the headlights thing going on sometimes. I hate beginning new jobs-you never know what they think of you or your work, and it's incredibly awkward the whole time.
Oi. Gotta go to bed.
posted by Michelle Mauk at
11:12 PM
4 Comments:
Wait, what? New job? Japanese company? Giant tea kettles? Did I miss the part where you fell down the rabbit hole or something?
Hmm...well, apparently I did just that. But, um, I still don't get how working for a Japanese food company means working more on web design etc. Also, just HOW long is "a VERY long time"? Remember that the Japanese have a written history that goes back well before our entire country was even named, so things are always a bit older there (yeah, I'm overly fascinated with most things Yamato, but hey, sic semper otaku...or something ;)
Ha! Fair enough. I never described my last job, but I worked in television for a production house that is well known, and I worked as a production gear manager, which meant...wait for it...no art. Sad. My job was to outfit production teams going into the field and research and buy cameras and all the equipment. So, this company does shows like Deadliest Catch on Discovery, and Ice Road Truckers on History, which is a show I completely outfitted...(and they didn't give me a screen credit, dammit!) As challenging as that job was, I wanted something different and with SOME elment of design, so I ended up getting a job as a web designer/product & logo designer for Nishimoto, which is entering it's 95th year of business...I think? It's been around awhile. So, I was brought on board to help a significantly Japanese company branch it's corporate and line identities more into the English and American market. Interestingly, I find American companies and Americans are extremely fascinated with Japanese culture, and Japanese want very much for Americans to understand their culture and food, and are constantly thinking about how they can approach and make themselves more accessible to the English market. They're actually fascinated by the fact that Americans are fascinated with them. Oh, BTW, don't look at their website until I fix it. :)
Asou... (I think that's right, but the spacing on that's a real bitch) As for the whole fascinating fascination thing, I can't really speak for anyone else, but the big draw for me can be summed up in a single name: Miyamoto Musashi. If you don't know who that is, then 1) What are you doing working for a Japanese company, and B) Try asking your coworkers about him.
Post a Comment
<< Home