My PC became alive again.

Finally, finally my PC made a comeback!!

OS's reinstall was easy. However, after that, it took me a long time to setup several softwares and drivers. Some of drivers weren't working correctly, Norton software couldn't be installed, USB wasn't recognized... etc...

Now, it's mostly going well. I started to use Firefox. It works faster than IE.

Thank you for all of your advice!

I'll conduct a surgery on my PC (<-- exaggerated)

Yesterday, I was very tired after calling Microsoft Customer Support. I usually don't call any customer support centers. I always fixed something myself. So I decided that I'll do it myself this time, too.

1)
Fist, I need to back up my data. I bought a DVD-RW for that just now and will go home from now.

2)
After the back-up, I'll reinstall OS clean, which is a big surgery. (Sorry. I just wanted say it exaggeratedly.

Next, I have to install softwares and drivers I use. Those are many... I also need to set up some things.

3)
I'll download and install Firefox. I'm going to use it instead of IE.

I hope those go well.

Havarlan,
Thank you for your advice.
I have used Linux and UNIX a bit at work, but I don't feel like using them at home. haha.
My PC was pre-installed OS when I bought it. I see. I should have reinstalled it as soon as I bought it. I'll keep remember it and do it when I buy a new PC sometime.
Thank you for detailed explanation!

Fx Tio,
Thank you for your comment.
Yes, those happened suddenly.
I'll back up my data soon. It is very inconvenient that I can't access the Internet.(T_T) I hope everything will be fixed. Thank you!

Calling Microsoft Customer Support

I called Microsoft Customer Support. I tried many kinds of operations on my PC talking with a support engineer on the phone for about AN HOUR AND A HALF, but nothing was solved.

Do I need to call DELL next? Whew...

Pandamilk,
Thank you for your comment on my previous entry.
I can't read any comments on Lang-8 now because of IE problem, so it's nice of you to put your advice here. I'll try it. Thank you!

Damn Microsoft, again!!!!!!

Another problem happened on my PC. My PC is almost dying.

This morning, I tried to check a website but I couldn't that. At first I thought it the Internet access problem, but it was working. In spite of that, Internet Explorer didn't show anything as if my PC didn't connect with the Internet. Why? It was working last night.

Windows Update info shows a security patch for IE7 was installed on my PC during the night. Did it cause?

Anyway, now, there isn't MS-Office and I can't see any website on my PC. It means my PC isn't PC for me. It is just a piece of refuse. What a inconvenient situation!

I'm really disgusted with Microsoft! Give me back time which I will spend to fix those problems!! I wonder if they will be fixed for sure...

Is there anybody which has the same problem of MS-Office 2007 and IE 7 on Windows Vista?

Rick-san,
Thank you for your comment on my previous entry. As I'm putting this entry through my cell phone, I can't write anything in comment columns.
Things got worse, almost worst. I wonder if I should switch to Mac...

Damn Microsoft!

On my computer, MS-Office stopped working a few days ago. What a stupid software! Boo!

So, today, I tried recovery with CD-ROM. However it didn't work. Boo, boo!

As a last resort, I decided to try to re-install. At first, I deleted MS-Office. Then I had to get "Open Product key" first to install, but I had trouble finding the website where I got it. The place where Microsoft gave seemed to be changed and the websites related to the product keys were complicated. It's not user-friendly at all. Boo, boo, boo!

I finally found it and tried to install. However an error message appeared. What? It seems that some files in the CD-ROM were broken. Boo, boo, boo, boo!

So I tried to access Microsoft Help Center through the Microsfot website, but it was impossible. I don't know why, but when I tried to access the site, it took a long time, then it ended up hang up. I can't believe! Boo, boo, boo, boo, boo!

I have to call Microsoft tomorrow.

I was really disgusted! Microsoft sucks!

Do you like learning language?

I met a non-Japanese in business yesterday. He could speak Japanese fluently.

There are a lot of non-Japanese who can speak Japanese well, but his Japanese is a bit different from others'.
He spoke very slowly but used difficult business words perfectly, as well as native Japanese business people. I think that Japanese business words are distinctive and difficult for non-Japanese to use them. In fact, I haven't heard that non-Japanese speak having a good command of Japanese business words.

So, I couldn't help asking him how he mastered Japanese language.
He said he started learning it when he was 12 years old. He also studied Japanese at university in Japan. Several years after graduation, he came to Japan again and worked there for a couple of years with a working holiday visa. He came back to Japan and now is working.

Hmm... I think there is nothing special. There are a lot of people like him.
I bet that he is VERY interested in and REALLY likes learning Japanese language, so he has an inquiring mind of the language. Those are very important to improve language skills. I'm sure I'm lack in them.

The reason I am studying English is that I have to use it. Just it. I don't like English so much. On the contrary, I sometimes take a dislike it when my studying isn't going well. And I'm probably not interested in English. Those facts may be obstacles to improve my English... It may be just an excuse.

Anyway, I will get over them and improve my English for sure!

My bad listening comprehension #15

I was taking English dictation as usual.

One of the sentences is;

We saw that during the dot-com boom in the midnighty.

But, I haven't heard the word "midnighty" before. What does it mean? I wonder if it expresses the middle of midnight?? what relation are there between the dot-com boom and the midnight?

Then I checked my textbook. Oh, no! It's "mid-'90s."
How stupid of me! There was the word "the dot-com boom" in the sentence, so if I had have thought a little more, it would have been easy to figure out "mid-'90s." However, once I thought it was "midnighty", I couldn't hear it other words.

You should use your brain more usefully and flexibility, Sand!

My hearing wrong of the past:
http://sandfriend.blogspot.com/2008/08/my-bad-listening-comprehension-14.html

I'm really thankful to Lang-8 friends.

Many friends at Lang-8 were kind enough to care and worry about me while I was absent from Lang-8. I'm very impressed and thankful to them. It's difficult to describe how impressed I was.

I realized my poor English vocabulary and expressions. I wanted to express how thankful and happy I was, but I could say only cliches. Whew...

I've never met them but I'd like to cherish Lang-8 friends.

It has already been spring!

It's been for 3 months since I put the article on my blog last. Long time no see.

I hadn't access my blog for some reasons... not some... many reasons. Then I finally came back here!

I also haven't studied English for a while. Too bad. I rebuilt my English learning scheme and am going to start studying it again.

When I wrote the last article, it was in the middle of winter, but it's already spring! It's the season Japanese people love. It's the cherry blossoms season now!

I took this picture in my neighborhood this morning.

A touching letter to a mother

Today, I found the article about one letter to a mother. The letter was written by a university student, who died in the Great Hanshin Earthquake 14 years ago.
I'm very impressed by it.

He needed to move to Kobe because he would go to university. His mother came to Kobe to help his movement. When she was on the train to go back her home, she was in tears due to sorrow for living far from him. He saw her from the platform and conveyed with gestures to look in her jacket pocket. There was a letter from him in it.

After his death, his mother framed his letter and is treasuring it.
I think when touching words or phrases are translated into other languages, its impression is decreased. However I'll try to translate it because I want to you to know it.
--------------------
Dear my mother,

It's been already 20 years since you gave me a life. I never had any time which I didn't feel your kind, warm, great and strong love. I have been given a lot of feathers by you. To love people, to admonish myself, to be loved by people... Worthy feathers have gathered in my wings. Now, I'm going to take off with those wings which enable me to fly higher, stronger and freer than anybody else. I'll try to do them with my best. I'll try to keep flying as long as my strength lasts, not to bring your and everyone's hopes and expectations to naught. Please keep watching me.
I look forward to seeing you again. Finally, I'm thankful to God for giving me you as my mother.
--------------------
If you can speak Japanese, it's much better to read it in Japanese.

親愛なる母上様

あなたが私に生命を与えてくださってから、早いものでもう二十年になります。これまでに、ほんのひとときとして、あなたの優しく温かく大きく、そして強い愛を感じなかったことはありませんでした。　私はあなたから多くの羽根をいただいてきました。人を愛すること、自分を戒めること、人に愛されること……。この二十年で、私の翼には立派な羽根がそろってゆきました。そして今、私はこの翼で大空へ翔び立とうとしています。誰よりも高く、強く自在に飛べるこの翼で。　私は精一杯やってみるつもりです。あなたの、そしてみんなの希望と期待を無にしないためにも、力の続く限り翔び続けます。こんな私ですが、これからもしっかり見守っていてください。
また逢える日を心待ちにしております。最後に、あなたを母にしてくださった神様に感謝の意をこめて。

翼のはえた“うし”より

One sad affair

Yesterday, I visited some my favorite blogs as usual. One of the bloggers told that her nephew passed away.
He was 15 years old and suffered from cancer.

I had read the article about him just once in her blog before. Then I thought I would read the book written by him and wrote down its title "Hope and the Dragon". Just it. Although I read about him just that one, I was really shocked to hear his death, and I couldn't move my hand operating my PC for a moment. I was almost crying. I don't know why.

I grew up healthfully and am still health. I should be thankful for my current situation.

I was very impressed by the blogger's word, "after a hard and courageous battle with cancer".
He had been battling against cancer all his life, for 15 years. It must be terribly hard. However he was always smiling in his photos.
I believe that he is now enjoying life without cancer in heaven.

Happy New Year 2009

As I wrote, I might have moved to Okinawa for business. It was decided on 29th not to move, so it was the hectic year-end. Now I can relax on New Year's Days.

I made a New Year's visit to shrine today. I wanted to avoid terribly crowded shrines and temples. I can't move at all, jostling and shoving, taking for hours to reach a main hall. It's far situation from praying.
So I chose a neighborhood Kumano shrine. I guessed it was not so crowded.

When I was out of my apartment, the sky is very clear.
I think you can see such a beautiful sky every New Year in Tokyo.


This is the gate of Kumano shrine. Wow! I can't believe it! It's empty rather than uncrowded.


Look at this short line! Hmm... I predicted it was not crowded, but there are much fewer people than I expected. Even though it is not such a famous shrine, it's in the center of Shinjuku. (Shinjuku is one of the biggest towns in Tokyo.) I can't believe it.
I could reach the main hall soon.


This is a charm shop. In popular shrines, it's hard to reach a charm shop as well as a main hall. Buying a charm is always like a battle. I used to be worried about my obi of kimono. But here is... haha. I didn't buy any charm. I focused on my job for wishes of this year, but there were any charms for job luck.
It was good that I chose Kumano shrine! I might come here again next year.


It is my custom to drink amazake whenever I visit to shrine on New Year, I don't know why though. Although my family didn't drink it, I always drank it since I was a kid.
It's yummy. But I burnt my tongue. Uh... It's painful.

My favorite hairdresser is gone.

My hairdresser quit. I'm really disappointed. She was very good, but unfortunately she didn't move to her hair salon. She quit her hairdresser job. It's hard to find a favorite hair salon and a hairdresser.

It's time to have my hair cut. I have to find a hair salon and a hairdresser.
But, as I wrote on the last article, I might move to Okinawa. If so, it's no use finding a new hairdresser. So in this time, I will go to any hair salon in my neighborhood, I'm a bit anxious though.

Living in a place other than Tokyo... but in Japan

I might move to a place other than Tokyo. I don't know yet though. If so, it would be the first time I've lived in anywhere but Tokyo.
One start-up business is being launching in Okinawa. If I join it, I will move to and stay in Okinawa for about a year. It's like an extended business trip.

The new business sounds very fun and I'm interested in it, so it would be great to join in it. But I have a mixed feeling about it.

Tempting things are;
Above all, building something from scratch in business is in my line, and I like to do that very much.
Secondly, some staffs will go to Okinawa from Tokyo for this project, so of course, the company prepared for dwellings for them and the rent is free. It's a monthly apartment and very small room (TOO small!), but at least I don't need to pay the rent fee and utilities payments for a year.
Thirdly, I've wanted to visit Okinawa... but on sightseeing trip though.

Concerns are;
I LOVE my hometown Tokyo. I've always thought I never want to live anywhere but Tokyo. I've thought when I leave from Tokyo, it is when I live in a foreign country.
Fortunately, the office and the living place are in central Okinawa city. I was born and grew up in Tokyo and I also live in central Tokyo now. I feel it impossible for me to live in the country side.
One more concern is I will be apart from the English-speaking environment. The project will provide its service just for Japanese people and all staffs are Japanese. Analyzing my motivation for learning English so far, it wasn't that I wanted to do that, but I had to do it. It seems to become harder to keep my motivation.

Anyway, it will be clear whether I join in the project or not by this weekend. If it's decided to join, I will have to move early in the new year, and I will get busy.

The good English workshop by Oxfam

Today I attended an English workshop (an English lesson) held by a NPO, Oxfam Japan.
(Oxfam International website; http://www.oxfam.org)

When I put the article about humanitarian assistance on Lang-8, a member told me of Oxfam. I checked its website right away and applied for participation in the English workshop delivered by foreigner volunteers of Oxfam. The participation fees are used for donation.

The workshop was very useful not only in learning English but also in knowing activities of some organizations.
The workshop was for 2 hours and the participants were 9 people. One teacher is from England and the other is from India. I'm very bad at understanding English with an Indian accent, so I a bit worried but when the workshop started, I found it no problem.

The theme was "Making Poverty History: World Trade, Debt, and Aid".
First, we read a document about the theme, then we asked something we didn't know (both about English words/phrases and about contents itself).

The next, we were divided into three groups and discussed some issues.
For example;
- Are the World Bank and IMF fair institutions? Should they put economic conditions with aid or is this detrimental to the recipient countries?
- What role can civil societies, individuals and organizations play to "Making Poverty History"?
After discussing them, we expressed our opinions.

Lastly, we did a role play. We were supposed to attend an IMF meeting to discuss Mali loan. We were given a character card and acted the role. I was supposed to be the French representative. We insisted each opinion according to each situation written in the character card.
It was fun and useful.

I could get some information about activities of some organizations and various situations in some poor countries.
I think it was really good workshop. So far, they hold it once a month. If possible, I want to attend the next again.

The current job hunting situation 3

Unfortunately, the job opportunity I mentioned the other way didn't work, it was really ideal position though. But it's alright.

Actually, another agent introduced a new position to me. It requires much higher skills than mine, so I don't think it would be going well. But I decided to apply for it.

Today, the same agent contacted me and said; "I want to introduce a great position to you, and I think you would be interested in it". I read the job description. Huh? It's exactly the same as the position she introduced to me the other day. No way! It has been 12 days since the last introducing. She said sorry and would get back to me as soon as she gets the feedback from the company. Hmm... I doubt she has already sent my resume to the company. She doesn't seem to be able to manage her job at all. I said in my mind "Are you OK?

So, I don't expect it would go well.
I concentrate on my current job.

The challange to talking on Skype

One of members of Lang-8 offered me to talk on Skype.

She lives in the UK and is learning Japanese. She said that she wanted to improve not only her writing skill but also conversation skill because she was going to come to Japan on her trip next year.

I have installed Skype over a month ago. But I haven't used it. So it will be my first talking on Skype.

I'm getting nervous and excited.

The current job hunting situation 2

Today, an agent told me about the position I mentioned on the last article.

Although the company just started recruiting the position, many people applied for it. Sure enough.
So the company required the applicants to submit a paper of the motive for the application. I have wrote and sent it to my agent.

Hmm... The ideal position is very far---!

The current job hunting situation

A recruit agent introduced me a position the other day. I read the job description and I thought it was very close to my ideal. I want to expand my specialty from the learning and development to talent management. And as I wrote on this blog before, I want to work abroad sometime for a couple of years. The position seemed to have the possibility on both of them.

I was selected for the interview and the interview had been arranged. Unexpectedly, the 1st interview would be with a person abroad through a video conference. Wow!

But a week before the interview, the recruit agent brought the bad news. The position was closed.

It's a pity, but I can understand because it was one of the American biggest financial companies. I saw the recruit page on its web site. The last time I saw it, there were many positions but most of them had disappeared. I see. It can't be helped.

Today, another agent contacted me to introduce me a position. Surprisingly, it is also very close to my ideal. I'm not sure whether the position has the possibility to be able to work abroad, but at least the position would be required to work internationally. Good!

Recently not only financial companies but also all other industries step back from recruiting new people due to the current global financial crisis, so the number of new positions has been decreasing. According to many agents, positions are very few and many people apply for the same position, so competition is very keen.

Hmm... I want this position. First, I hope I can pass the resume screening.

My addiction to ALF

It has been about a month since I started watching the American sitcom "ALF".
As I wrote on this blog, I really like it and always look forward to watching the next story.
I even watch the same story repeatedly and I never get tired of doing that.

Finally, I set ALF's photo to the wallpaper of my cell phone.
It's almost ALF addiction!