Happy New Year 2013!

Have a classy Christmas! 聖誕節快樂

Job hunting in Japan 日本的就職活動

From the hair color to the number of buttons on your suit, everyone has to look the same for career events in Japan. I'm glad  that my country has the freedom and individualism to choose what we think is professional for events and interviews.

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Drunk in Japan 日本的醉漢

Somehow the drunk and crazy people are very well-dressed in Tokyo.
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Strategy for a Japanese "nomikai" party 日本酒會

That's why our foreigner parties end earlier than the Japanese, who can continue for hours and hours and hours... and still not get fat!!!!????
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Japanese sweets packaging 日本的甜點包裝

Japanese sweets & snacks is my premium choice for dieting XD (although I shouldn't have bought any in the first place orz...)

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Keeping left on escalators 在電動扶梯上靠左

I wish that there's an express lane in Singapore too...

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Kawaii ne 真可愛

"Kawaii" can be used for anything and everything in Japan :P

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Automation in Japan 日本的所謂自動

I guess Japanese companies love to communicate directly with their customers...

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High technology in Japan? 日本會很先進嗎？

Fortunately, my school decided to adopt technology this semester...

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The Japanese way of rejecting 日本人的拒絕台詞

Because Japan is a high-context culture, they do not reject you in the face. Instead, they will use all sorts of indirect ways to express their negative answer, such as... "I think it will be difficult", "Chances are slim", or any other reasons to suggest that "NO" is imminent. If it proves futile to deter the determined foreigner, they will become quiet and let you wait till you persist them with another irritating call a few weeks later. However, if the foreigner feigns ignorance and blows his/her top, approval might eventually be granted :P

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Buying clothes in Japan 在日本買衣服

I need to slim down...

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Japanese girls are just different 日本女生就是不一樣

Most Japanese girls are like walking cute dolls with high heels and slim legs. How did they even manage to have such slim legs??? The clothes here are either too cute (lots of ribbons, lots of lace, or lots of fur), or meant for slim petite figures. Great, nothing for pear-shaped women like myself, and I don't want to cosplay as a fairy and fly around in stilts.

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Food Packaging and size reflects Culture 食物包裝於份量反映出文化

A lot can be told from just a simple food packaging, like how the packaging was designed, to ease of opening. For example in Japan, sweets and snacks are packaged in small exquisite packs, making it easy for individuals to eat or for those who are more health-conscious to feel less guilty. On the other hand, Singapore sweets and snacks, which are typically sold in big packs, are meant to be shared among the whole family, reflecting a bigger family nucleus. Those who are familiar with Japanese products would know how easy they are to be unsealed due to good packaging design and material (although the waste generated is debatable). This probably reflects the Japanese emphasis on details. That's all for my BS for today :P

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Free Tissue in Japan but... 雖然面紙是免費的，但是...

I admit, I'm not attractive enough for those night club tissue papers...

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Tissue in Japan and Singapore 同面不同命

I think Singapore is the only country that uses facial tissue packs to reserve canteen seats :/

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Difference in family education 家庭教育的差別

This comic was based on actual encounter. Unfortunately, we don't teach our kids well to clean up their own trash after consuming and they grow up to assume that littering or creating a mess, creates jobs for the cleaners.

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Girls and their heels 女人愛美不要命

Japanese girls always seem to appear flawless with their full make-up, neat hair-style and their high heels. Unlike me, the foreigner, who goes out with my bizarre frizzy hair, spectacles and bland face without full make-up. I always thought, wow, these women are really remarkable... until witnessing a few flips (hee hee).

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Our Metal Grilles 鐵欄桿

Our metal door grilles are actually a brilliant design!

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Difference in Seasons 熱帶國家也有冷熱季節的！

Singapore may be a tropical country, but we still have two seasons: "Very Hot" and "Very Cold"!!! :P

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Why Singapore is still better than Tokyo Summer 新加坡還是比較涼爽的！

Although Singapore is a tropical country, it is still much cooler than Tokyo!
...and yes, that's why I can get a cold in Singapore...(=_=);;

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Be careful when you badmouth in your own language 要說壞話要小聲說喔！

This true story did not happen to me, but to my friend's friend (Though I did put on a big red flower on my head before XD)

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Japan should ban suits in Summer! 日本應該禁止夏天穿西裝！

Filled with oily goodness....toasted and turning black already!

As for Coolbiz... when you arrive into the office with sticky sweat and need to put on your suits, you won't want to wrap those damp cooling scarves round your neck to see clients (though that'd be literally "cool") With this heat and humidity, even going around naked won't help to dissipate the heat generated from walking...

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Difference between a Japanese Train station and a Singapore Train Station 日本電車站和新加坡地鐵站的差別

Not even plain water in Singapore MRT stations!

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Train breakdowns for different reasons 同是地鐵延誤但就是不一樣！

Whenever a train is delayed, it's most likely due to a personal injury accident: either because someone committed suicide or accidentally fell over. However, most train operators such as JR, said that it would cost too much money and cause too much service disruption should they build gate barriers. So be careful when you're waiting at the platform!

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Considerate Japanese Design 體貼的日本設計

Thanks to Japanese rail companies for "lowering their standard"! Too bad for tall people, the handrails will hit their face! Heh heh...

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Lining up to get into the train

Must bring my spotlights and red carpet back to Singapore next time! XD

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If it's crowded, it's the same 電車擁擠時，哪裡都是一樣的！

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Singapore MRT auntie and girl quarrel

I seldom do current affairs, but it was too interesting to give it a miss! Read more here if you don't understand:
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/what-is-buzzing/ah-lian-vs-auntie-clash-mrt-quarrel-093745529.html

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SMRT CEO Sedan Parody

 Happy Weekend everybody!

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Different Food, different effects! 不同國家的食物，不同的效果！

Typhoon in Tokyo now! So everyone in Japan should be at home, surfing the internet, and it's the perfect time to update :P

不同國家的食物，不同的效果！

I'll press close next time 下次按關！

Inspired by a friend's disappointment that when he held the buttons for a mother and son, but was totally ignored. Well, I experience that sometimes in shopping malls. What's worse is that children picks up the habit from their parents, so when they grow up... you can imagine how "gracious" our society will be...

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This is one banana I don't understand 不簡單的香蕉

Delicious Tokyo Bananas but made in Saitama prefecture -_-
http://www.tokyobanana.jp/

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Japanese style email 日式電郵就是非一般的長...

I always had to spend lots of time typing long Japanese emails to my office. When I type short emails, I had to apologize for being short-_- So after some time, I gave up and just typed in English.

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Happy Weekend everyone!

Will I cook or not to cook... that's a question to be answered in my Facebook page...
週末要煮什麼...可能在我的FB網頁揭曉吧？ XD

Local and Foreigners in Service sector 本地人和外國人

I welcome foreign talents, but I'm quite worried about the future. What if 50% of Singapore's total population are locals. Are we getting too "globalized"?

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Neverending Japanese Service 沒完沒了的日本鞠躬

To bow or not to bow, that is a question...

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Japan solar eclipse 2012 日本的金環日食2012

I woke up early at 6.45am to catch the first annular solar eclipse of my life! Without brushing my teeth and eating breakfast, I dashed downstairs to catch the sun and moon in action. Luckily it wasn't that cloudy. (photo taken with solar eclipse glasses)

今早6.45起床，沒刷牙，沒吃飯就換衣出門看日食了。還好家樓下就看得到，而且雲朵也沒那麼厚，真爽。（照片通過特製日食眼鏡拍的）

Japanese and Singapore service 日新的服務差別

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Annular Solar Eclipse Japan 2012 金環日食2012

Friends around me doesn't seem interested but I'm definitely looking forward to this solar eclipse!
真期待啊～但是周圍的朋友都好像都對這天文現象沒感到興趣...

Nobody wants my money Japanese Department Stores 日本百貨公司也不要我的錢

Singapore department stores close at 9pm or 9.30pm. It's either Japanese close too early or we're too hardworking. Alternatively, they need to get home early to make babies...

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Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 臥虎藏龍的關係

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Namja Town in Sushine City Ikebukuro

It's Golden Week and temperatures are getting more comfortable at around 22 degrees. Time to backtrack on places that I'd visited! First, introducing Namja Town in Sunshine City Ikebukuro. Admission fee was cheap, with an option to purchase a pass that will allow you to access rides.
不知不覺又到了日本的黃金週！天氣也終於沒那麼冷了！難得有空，就介紹之前去過的室內遊樂園Namja Town。入門費很便宜，但是要進入鬼屋或坐車的話就需要買昂貴的遊玩券。

Japanese Service is just different 日本服務就是不一樣！

There is one thing I admire very much about Japanese culture, that is their attitude to provide the best service for customers. Friends around me are getting 1000yen/hour (SG$15) to do part-time jobs like admin/sales/waiter, compared to only SG$5/hour in Singapore. Will you be willing to pay a bit more for better service???

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Close encounter with Sumo! 我和相撲手有個約會

Finally we got to see SUMO! Although not the actual contest, but it felt just as good to see them practice in their sumo stables within such close proximity!
Photo: With current Sekiwaki (Sumo 3rd rank) Aminishiki, 33 years old.

我的獎學金集團終於安排我們去看相撲了！雖然不是看真正的比賽，但是可以近距離看相撲手練習也是很精彩的！
照片：和很累的現關協（相撲界第3頭銜）安美錦33歲合照。

Blood sucking Japanese ATM 日本的吸血提款機

I think it's absurd to be charged for withdrawing your own money from an ATM that belongs to the same bank that you'd signed up with. Anybody knows if this happens in other countries too?

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Japanese Banks do not want my money 日本銀行不要我的錢

Japanese banks are only open between 9-3pm weekdays. What do they do with the rest of the time? Count cash notes one by one? Well, at least this is one service that I appreciate more back home in Singapore!

According to my Japanese professor, who used to be a consultant with banks, he said that the banks here are very rich and don't need regular customers like us to earn money. Another reason could be due to regulation that prohibits extended hours. That means no extension even in stations and malls!

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Romantic Season 2 浪漫季節二

I have a friend in Hokkaido, who is a fan of my dog Kopi. She would kill me if I don't bring him out, so here's part two!

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Japanese parks close early 早關門的日本公園

Parks close so early in Japan. Luckily, Sakura trees along the river and rail are open 24/7 ;)

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Tokyo sakura in full-bloom 東京的櫻花滿開了！

Sakura in Tokyo are "officially" in full-bloom today! This year was a bit later than previous years due to the abnormally long and cold winter. I didn't have money to travel and enter the parks, so I just walked 15 mins away from my apartment to Kanda River (canal?) to admire those roadside sakura. Here are a few scenic photos to share with everyone.
今天東京的櫻花正式盛開嘍！可能是因為今年的冬季比往年長命，所以“滿開”的時間稍微延遲了。因為（前）貴婦今年沒錢去公園，所以就散步15分鐘，到附近的小河(神田川)看免費的路邊櫻花。在此和大家欣賞欣賞這美麗的景色！