Eight-Month Study

Oh, my goodness. I have not written my diary for a long time. What have I been doing?

I got a job last December on a contract that will end next February, because the permanent employee who is currently on maternity leave will be back. Therefore, I decided to pass the book-keeping examination to help get a new job next year. So, why bookkeeping?

First of all, I have been interested in it since I was working as an income tax and return service agent in Vancouver. Secondly, the agency told me that having a bookkeeping skill is useful all over the world. Thirdly, the tuition fee is not so expensive compared with other examinations in Japan.

I started to go to school in March, and passed the third grade of the exam in June. I kept going to school to pass the second grade, and took it yesterday. The test result will be announced on December 14th. According to the example answer by the school, I think I have managed to pass it! I can't wait for the result.

Studying new things is interesting. I think I can enjoy it more than when I was a student. Of course, it is much harder to master things than when I was younger, but much more fun. I really hope that I have passed yesterday's exam and will get a good job next year!

Job Seeker

I am a job seeker now. My ex-workplace gave me notice that they would not renew my contract again in July, and my contract finished at the end of September. I have applied to some companies and registered with some employment agencies. However, it is really hard to get a good job.

First of all, since this financial crisis occurred last year, there are very few job offers, especially in local cities. Thus, there is a lot of competition for one position.

Secondly, there is still an age limit at some companies. One company told me not to apply for them because I am over 30. In spite of which, they want experienced workers in their industry. Huh? They don't know the real world, do they?

Not only I, but also many people are looking for a job now. Whenever I go to "Hello Work", which is a government employment office, there are many people in there. Even at the employment agencies, I see many male job seekers whom I had never seen before. (I had seen female job seekers only at employment agencies.) Every time I go such places, I realize there are many job seekers.

However, American executives at companies bailed out with taxpayer's money still get a huge salary. Many people have lost their jobs even in their country. Therefore, I think the US government made the right decision to order pay cuts.

Anyway, I really want to get a new job soon…!

We Are Not Disposable!

Due to the global financial crisis, cutting jobs is a big problem in Japan. According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, 30,000 people will lose their jobs in a few months. However, it is much more serious.

CANON's 1,100 term employees got laid off at the end of last month and were forced to move out of their dormitory. Thus, they are complaining and asking the company to let them stay until they find a new job. Some companies withdrew employment offers so that some students cannot start working from next April. In addition, those companies forced them to sign documents that they had declined the offers because of personal circumstances, which is definitely illegal.

This is only a part of the problem. At my workplace, some temporary workers will be laid off at the end of this month. I was able to renew my job contract until next March, but I have no idea if I can continue to work here after that. God only knows.

The thing is the government has not taken any effective action yet about it, although we had already predicted such circumstances since the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers. I personally do not care who the Prime Minister is and which party takes over the administration. We just need politicians who seriously carry out politics for the benefit of the people. We do not need politics at play. Also, we are not disposable workers!

IF THE WORLD COULD VOTE?

A few days ago, my American friend e-mailed me to tell me about an interesting website called "If The World Could Vote?" On this website, we can cast a vote for the next president of the United States of America even though we are not American citizens! It is a virtual one, of course, but we are able to see the result from each country.

According to the result, Barack Obama will be elected with overwhelming support in most countries, except for Macedonia, Albania and Lesotho. I would vote for Obama as well as other Japanese people. The reason why is that the first African-American president must be a symbol of the beginning of a new age for people in the world. On the other hand, if John McCain wins, I personally think that the stock markets could plunge again because his policy seems not so different from Bush's one on the economy.

Well, let's get back to the subject. I think that the website is the proof of world interest in the election. We wish we could vote. Seriously. This is because the president of the United States has enormous influence in the world.

The world would vote for Barack Obama, and who will American citizens vote for? All the people in the world are waiting with breathless interest who will be the next president of the United States of America.

Nightmare

I had a nightmare a few days ago. When I was walking on a street, I saw a lot of dead, bloody, cats and big dogs. I did not know why black ones only. It was a little scary, but I kept walking down the street. I usually forget what I dream. However, when I saw a headless pigeon, which was real and shocking to me, it brought back a memory.

I have heard that dreams we see sometimes have a message to us. Therefore, I checked out a few websites about oneirocritics.

First of all, black cats mean that something bad could happen to me. However, it also means that I could meet someone of the opposite sex. Secondly, hurt or old dogs mean that something bad could happen, and especially big dogs mean people around me. Thirdly, although black means that something bad could happen, I have a strong power to get over it. Fourthly, dead animals mean that I have a low self-e steem now, which is actually true. Finally, bleeding means spending money or a signal of a disease.

From all of the above, I guess that something bad could happen to me or to the people around me, but I could get over it. Of course, I am not sure but I should be careful of. As it happens, I was going to visit a few temples with my friend on that day. Thus, I prayed for my happiness very much. I really hope that it works!

Peace Thinking Month

August is an important month for Japanese when we think about war and peace. The reason why is that two atomic bombs were dropped by the United States on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on the 6th and 9th of August in 1945 leading Japan surrendered on the 15th of the month.

Every year a peace memorial service for atomic-bomb victims takes place in each city on each memorial day. Each mayor of the city makes a peace declaration, which is a remarkable statement each time. I was especially impressed by the speech of Nagasaki City’s mayor.

He asked the United States and Russia by name to try hard to decrease nuclear weapons because they have 95 percent of these weapons. In addition, he asked the Japanese government to legislate for three non-nuclear principles and to act as a global leader for elimination of all nuclear weapons.

However, I wonder if his speech really reached the ears of the United States and Russia. The United States has not attended the ceremony, although they are invited every year. The US President, Bush, was in Beijing this year but he was just watching the Olympic Games. Russia attended this time but they have just started taking military action in Georgia.

I really want them to know how terrible it was and how many people are still suffering from the after effects. They should try to decrease such terrible wars and weapons.

Elderly Lech

I went to a drinking party with some people, including my friend last weekend. It was a kind of matchmaking party so that I met all the guys for the first time. One of them saw me off when I had to take the last train, but he held my hand and slipped his arm around my waist, which made me sick. I was NOT interested in him at all and we even did NOT hit it off with each other! I immediately e-mailed my friend that I loathed him.

However, he called me many times. I have not answered, of course, but he is persistent. Therefore, I told my friend about him by e-mail and she e-mailed me back that he did the same things to another girl and asked her for her phone number many times after I went home. In addition, he did not want to pay for drinks although he was the host of this party. What a lecherous and rude man! While we were e-mailing about him, he called to our cell phones alternately. Ew! We should have kicked his ass.

Obviously I do not think that he respects women. Thus I personally do not think that he respects others as well. I really loathe such a person and never want to see his face anymore. We will ignore him for the rest of our lives.

Now, let's put him out of our mind. We should focus on finding out a nice and gentle guy!