-
|
30 Dec 2000 first day of rest for me... after 8 days of work.... i still woke up early today... but i made myself sleep till 8am... then i had breakfast.... breakfast was toast... half-boiled eggs... coffee... it has been months since i last had a proper breakfast... i do feel good now.... then i cleaned up my room... it was in a mess... when i come home every day... i cannot be bothered to keep my room tidy... i left things lying around.... i did not have the energy to put things in their proper places... finally today... i get to do what i need to do....
|
||
|
28 Dec 2000 i have been working for a week already... i learnt so much on the job... it is not just about riding the snowmobile.... that is only the fundamentals... it is only when you are confident of riding the snowmobile... then you are able to bring people up and down the mountain.... i have to remember the way up and down the mountain... but that is easy for me... i was trained to navigate... so that is of no problem to me... i have to be able to communicate with the people following me.... this is the service industry.... it is also not all about bringing customers up and down the mountains... i did learn a bit or two about politics.... at the workplace.... i do not like stuff like this... but it is omnipresent.... i have to get used to it... on a lighter side... i get to make friends... learn japanese... improve my cantonese.... take pictures.... all in all.... it is a good experience.... wish that i could do all that without the cold weather.....
|
||
|
27 Dec 2000 i am very tired... i need to sleep now....
|
||
|
26 Dec 2000 i guess i have nothing to talk about except my working experience these days... today... was my debut... finally i lead customers up and down the course... after we finished the course.... they wanted to take a photo with them... initially all of them are surprised... why this japanese guy can speak cantonese.... all of them tell me that i speak good cantonese... some of them ask me if i am japanese... i like this job... it allows me to soicalize... and i have a certain degree of freedom... lunch is provided.... i get paid to enjoy myself... isn't this an ideal job? .... i think i will work as much as i can during the winter break... once term starts... i will work only on weekends... till spring break starts... then i will work for about 2 weeks... and leave for the states... traveling !
|
||
|
25 Dec 2000 merry christmas!!!!!! it was just like any other day for me.... i was not able to update my pages for the past 2 days... because i was so tired after coming back from work.... it is a tough job.... let me describe the nature of my job... the day usually starts at 6am for me... i wake up and get ready to leave for work... i leave my place at about 6:30... taking the subway and then another bus... it take about an hour to reach my workplace... which is near the mountains... work starts at 7:30.... we take out all the snowmobile from the sheds into the 'parade square'.... get ready and wait for the tour buses to come... once the tourist arrive.... they go to the reception area and get their helmets and gloves... then when they come out to the parade square... we... the snowmobile instructors begin work... we guide them to their snowmobiles... and when the briefing starts.. we teach them how to drive the snowmobile.... then when the safety briefing ends... we lead them out to the mountains.... one lap takes about 45 minutes.... we have to ensure that we bring them up and down safely... stress.... but it is interesting... most of them are hong kong groups... so i get to practice my cantonese.... but our job is not just bring people up and down the mountains... we have to also maintain the mobiles... do things like refueling... removing snow.... but the toughest thing that i encountered was to kick start the engine of the snowmobile... i have to pull a cord... just like generators... it takes quite a bit of time to get used to it... today was my 5th day... i am getting used to starting the engine already... i estimate that i have to start the engine at least 100 times a day.... anyway... the day ends when all the customers leave... then we have to refuel all the mobiles and send them back to the shed.... we will have a debriefing.... and leave at around 6pm.... i do get a lift back home from one of my friends... when i reach home... i feel so tired... i wash up... cook my dinner... eat.... sleep.... this is a what happens every day in the life of nelson... until 15th january...
|
||
|
22 Dec 2000 i officially started work today... started at 0730 and ended at 1930... almost 12 hours of work... spent quite a bit of time on the snowmobile... i had to practice on the snowmobile and also try to remember the route which we have to take... it seems like there are a lot of hong kong tourist... i even met one group of singaporeans... all i can say... that i was a long and tiring day.. i have to go rest now.... by the way... is anyone interested in japanese manga....
|
||
|
21 Dec 2000 last day of school for me today... woke up in time to attend my last physics class for this century... after my lessons ended... i went off to snowmobile land sapporo.... it was tough... trying to get there... i had to take the subway.... and then take a bus.. all in all.. it took me about one and a half hours.... and it was snowing heavily... venturing into uncharted territory... then i got to meet with the boss... and everyone else working there... it seems pretty fun.... every one seems to be friendly and easy-going.... my first go at the snowmobile... it is a powerful machine.... just like a motor bike... i was not able to control the snowmobile well enough.... then i had to get a lift from one of the members of the staff... and he went really really fast... like 60km/h.... really really fast.... i think i need practice on the snowmobile... i think i will be fine in a few days time.... anyway... i got a lift back home from one of the members... luckily... otherwise i would have taken another one and a half hours to get back.... after that... went partying with some of my friends.... busy day that i have had... from tomorrow.... it will be just like today... busy.... working.... i guess i will have to sleep now... have to wake up at around 0530 later.... so that i will be punctual for work.... work starts at 0730... i have to make it on time............
|
||
|
20 Dec 2000 so many people where looking for me today... i think it is better for me to be busy then just bumming around aimlessly... from today... i will be busy... from tomorrow... it will be the winter break... for almost 3 weeks.. i will be working at the snowmobile site almost everyday during my winter break... taking some days off to go snowboarding... try out skiing also... maybe even go to some onsen (hot springs)... really looking forward to this 3 weeks break away from school... anyway tomorrow is a long day... have to sleep now....
|
||
|
19 Dec 2000 this morning... through the help of the people from the office in the place i am staying in... i went down to sapporo international plaza... they have got a job for me.. apparently.. snowmobile land sapporo... needs someone who can speak cantonese.... because they get a lot of tourist from hong kong... so i am going to be a snowmobile instructor for this winter... boy i am excited... i will be going down there this coming thursday... supposed to have an interview... but i think it is just formalities... they are just going to ask me some questions... to get some background information about me... and will start training me on the job.... i am going to be paid for riding on a snowmobile from 9am to 5pm.... teaching hong kong tourist how to ride... boy am i lucky or what? .. will tell you more when i start working...
|
||
|
18 Dec 2000 i did not have to sit for my french test this morning... because our tutor was not around... so it is postponed to the next millennium... which is january next year.... but i have another french class this wednesday... which is going to be another test.... can you believe it.. i am supposed to have 2 french tests in a week... because i have 2 different french tutors... how exciting... well.... good news to all non-manchester supporters.... they have finally lost at home ....1-0 to liverpool... thanks to a beautifully taken free-kick by danny murphy.... liverpool's win ended manchester's 36 match unbeaten run at home in the premiership... proud 2 year unbeaten home record finally ended by my favourite team... finally after 10 years.... liverpool beat manchester at old trafford... liverpool's last win at old trafford was 2-1 on 18th march 1990... courtesy of two john barnes goals... including a penalty... well... next weekend.. is going to be another tough match... against arsenal.... currently 2nd in the premiership... will they be consistent ? ... they have to do that if they want to win some honours... i am looking forward to the 4th round uefa cup tie against roma on 15 feb... that will be really exciting.... i hope that it will be shown on tv here in japan... i just have to hope that nakata hidetoshi plays for roma.. then i am sure that they will show it live over here... liverpool will be the underdogs... considering roma is now 6 points clear at the top of the serie a... but that is one match i will be looking forward to next year...
|
||
17 Dec 2000 pauvre nelson... il va passer un examen de francais demain...
|
||
|
16 Dec 2000 the whole of today i was at home... i was just bumming around... i did nothing constructive at all today... not that i am proud of it... but i guess i need some planning.... so that i will not feel that my day has been wasted... i realized that i have been writing pretty long entries of late... i have decided to keep this one short... tomorrow... i will work on the faq section.... today... i will sleep early... as i promised myself....
|
||
|
15 Dec 2000 it is 3 am in the morning... it seems like it has become a habit for me to stay up... hope that this will be the last time this millennium that i will be doing this.. i have to sleep early... so that i can wake up early.... but no school for me tomorrow... so i can afford to stay up... for the last time though... anyway... chatting with some friends over icq at the same time.... it was a long day for me... i had just one lesson... from 10:30am to 12 noon... had my lunch with my class mates.... then went to play pool with them... it was pretty cheap... S$3.20 an hour... how about that... i think i might visit that place more often... watch out... i might become good at it... cs.. better maintain your regular training schedule alright... after that... me went to do some shopping... got myself guitar strings.... 1st string on my electric broke.... also bought 2 rings... for that somebody... after that... went to karaoke... sang till my heart's contend... then came home... got my string fixed ... practiced 2 hours on the guitar.... then went for my regular soccer session... i have been playing twice a week... good training for me.. this is about the only thing that makes me sweat and my heart beats faster.... no.... soccer is the 2nd thing.... what am i talking about here ? has anyone seen american pie ? .... check out shannon elizabeth .... by the way.... people have been telling me that i am watching all the old movies... but you people have to know that i am in japan.. i do not spend the money to go to the cinema... it is too expensive.... read this... one movie cost S$24... do you think i will spend that kind of money... so i get all the movies via hotline... pardon me... anyway.... i will be doing a faq on how to make home pages ... and also a brief introduction on how to use hotline.... also a little something about firetalk for those who want to hear my voice over the net... have to get some sleep now....
|
||
|
13 Dec 2000 it is 2:30am... somehow i still feel wide awake... recently i have not been sleeping early... usually because i am surfing the net... sometimes i wonder how much time do i actually spend on the net... well.. my pc is almost 24 hours on... downloading one thing or another... on the other hand... when i am in my room... almost all the time spent will be in front of the monitor if i am alone... what do i do with the pc then? .... update my pages.... surf the net for interesting stuff... read my mails... chat on icq... listen to mp3's... watch movies... do school work... i practically use my pc for every thing.... can't get it to feed me though.... one day i should try ordering pizza online... but i seriously wonder if there is online delivery service over here in japan... or for that matter... i doubt they have pizza hut in sapporo... i have been watching movies again... this time... all the old movies... alien resurrection....it has got Sigourney Weaver and Winona Ryder... probably many of you people have watched it already... i just cannot tell you how much i love this movie... full of action and suspence.. humorous at the same time..... erin brockovich... Julia Roberts at her best... she is a twice-divorced mother of three who is struggling to remain afloat...after she is involved in a car accident... she loses what should have been a lucrative settlement. ...jobless and pressured... Erin convinces the attorney from her case... to hire her as a lawyer's assistant.... then she goes on to take a big case... watch it if you have not... well.. i am taking a class on law in uni now.... my tutor is american...and i get comparisons of american and japanese law.... so i can sort of relate to the movie... but even if you have no idea what law and lawyers are all about.. watch it for julia roberts.... next.... boys and girls...... romantic comedy... by unknown people... at least i do not recognize any of the cast... but good lookers... about university of california students in love... watch it to feel how it is like falling in love.. in the movies... lastly.... 2 animation movies... fantasia2000 and heavy metal 2000... fantasia is some disney thingy... only for those who love this kind of stuff... heavy metal is for people who like japanese anime... i love it... nice graphics... story is a bit thin though... but the soundtrack.... rocks.... lots of pantera for you... i would like to intro my favourite hong kong director to all you people... wong kar wai... never heard of him... remember movies like tears go by... days of being wild... chunking express.. ashes of time... fallen angels... happy together.... oopppsss... the last one was banned back home.... due to subject matter... well check out the latest one.... in the mood of love.... also tony leong got a best actor awardin this year's Cannes Film Festival for his role in that movie... hope that i get to watch it soon... is there someone out there kind enough to send me the vcd?
|
||
|
10 Dec 2000 i went for a "steamboat" dinner last night... it is actually called nabe in japanese.... went to my student's friend's place... got to meet new people... and the usual... telling me how good my japanese is... but in fact... i am still nowhere.... during the whole conversation... i can only say that i could only understand half of what was being said... i guess i still need more time... in learning japanese.. maybe another 2 years.... i was watching movies again.... charlie's angels was pretty good... just like mi... matrix.... kung-fu hollywood style... nothing much in here... just babes in action.... the grinch was another movie that i watched... just in time for the chrismas season i guess.... i just feel that jim carrey has made better movies than this.... well.. i didn't get to see his beautiful face... so i am slightly disappointed.... there is one more... fallen..... a movie starring denzel washington.... this movie.. i recommend you to watch....it has something to do with fallen angels... i like the cinematography and the story... kind of reminds me of seven at the start of the movie... then it became like bless the child... finally turned to devil's avocate.... tell me about any good movies that you have watched... or good pc games that you have played... shared the good stuff alright!
|
||
|
8 Dec 2000 it has been almost more than a week since i last updated my pages... it was a busy week for me... i have had to prepare for my french and chemistry mid-term exams.... well.... it's all over... i feel so relieved now.... i can now officially enjoy my weekends.... do you know that the weekend starts on friday... because i have no lessons on friday... it is a 4 day week for me... well... i did clear my credits in the first term... so now i do not have that many lessons... want to know what winter is ? .... come on down to sapporo.... snow here... is real snow.... and you get it for half a year... so it is 6 months of green... and 6 months of white.... by the way... have you heard of a snow management planning section ? i have been playing a number of pc games recently... fifa2000.... starwars pod racer.... need for speed 5.... and age of empires 2.... i have always been playing the shoot-them-all and racing games.... because it is easy.... play it for the adrenalin.... for kicks... i was never into strategy and role-playing games... they take too much of my time... but now that i have tried.... i realized that it is fun ! ..... to build up an empire from almost zilch and going on to conquer the other empires.... simply makes you feel powerful....
|
||
|
|
1 Dec 2000 1st day of the last month of the year... i will have my holidays in 3 weeks time.. plan to go snowboarding somewhere in sapporo then... have to get some friends to go with me.... i was watching the movie... american history x on my pc few weeks ago... it was a really good movie... i can still remember that i wanted to watch it 2 years ago.... but it was RA... and i was still under-aged then... we still bought the tickets at picturehouse... i always went to lido and riverside point where i could get in easily... but apparently they were checking the id's of people watching that movie at picturehouse... so eventually.. we exchanged the tickets for another movie... ranson... anyway.... american history x is worth spending the 2 hours of your life... watch it and you would understand what i mean....
i received a limp bizkit cd on my birthday.... chocolate starfish and the hot god flavored water...i have not being listening to their music at all... well... thanks to my friend... now i can enjoy limp bizkit... and wake up my neighbours.... if you want to know what is one of my favourite album.... that has to be rage against the machine.... read what they have to say....
i have a friend who have got into the finals of a songwriting competition ... voting deadline is already over... though you can still listen to his song...it is song number 2... the one written by joel foo.... i have been trying to play the guitar.... but obviously i don't play every day... so i cannot really improve... maybe i should make a new year resolution next year....
|
|
