salary(wo)man

Spelling and Grammar: A Rant

2008-08-25T11:47:00.004+09:00

I am not the best speller in the world. I mean, I just checked whether grammar was spelled with an "ar" or "er" (And I was wrong!). Duh. Luckily, though, there is a simple solution for this issue of mine: automated spellcheck.

Now this isn't some new invention, I think even Word 1992 had the dang program. But what did I just spend 1.5 hours doing? Correcting a document (granted it was in excel and not word) for friggin spelling errors. Like "warrnty" and "manigement". Yes, there were some translation errors as well, and some grammar problems, but seriously, spelling?

How do people not know about this? Why am I spending my time checking this? When I finally finished the dang thing, I met with the colleague who had done the work (whose English is crap and who has been assigned this task as a means of improving it) and told him from now on he needs to put the document through a spell checker, even if it means importing it into word. And he seemed to think that this should not be his job.

grr...

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OK, rant over. In other news, I have been back in Japan for a little while now, but sorry, the beach was way more interesting than this blog. I am sure you would agree! :)

Oh, and I am thinking about going backwards - from in-house to a biglaw position. More on that another time.

- LS

A Short Hiatus

2008-05-28T16:46:00.001+09:00

Work is sending me to Europe for the summer! Well, 6 weeks of the summer anyway. I mean, I have to "work" or whatever while I'm there.

But. Europe. Summer.

I love my job.

-LS

What I miss...

2008-05-09T09:22:00.002+09:00

My perfect way to celebrate, back in my LA-living days, was to drink and go shopping. In that order. Some of my favorite memories are of times spent skipping out on school/work on Friday afternoons. My friends and I would order margaritas, or in later years, dirty martinis, at lunchtime, and then go shopping while tipsy/drunk.

Two problems with doing that in my current situation. (1) No margaritas or dirty martinis, and (2) no shopping.

The thing is, if I lived in a normal metropolitan area of Japan, this would not be a problem. There must be nearly as many GAPs per capita in Japan as in the US, as well as Zaras and Banana Republics,* and I have seen some pretty cool local stores in both Tokyo and Osaka. In those areas, there are also Mexican food places and western bars that serve decent dirty martinis.

However, I live in bum-f$%& Japan, or as the Japanese call it, "inaka." You can't even get here by bullet train - It is a good 3 hours from a major metropolitan area, and doesn't even have a Starbucks or Peets Coffee.

Now, there are good things about this. Like how I can experience "the real" Japan, how I am forced to actually speak Japanese when I go out, and the great opportunities for hiking, camping, skiing, and even surfing. And how Starbucks has not completely taken over the world quite yet.

BUT, as much as all those outdoor things are great, I MISS SHOPPING! Yes, there are shops, but honestly not with anything that suits me. The clothes are styled for 5 ft. 2 in., 100 lb. country women with no curves. I am no giant, but that does not describe me.

And even worse, I can't wear the shoes here! They generally go up to a size 8 US, and I am a size 9. I actually had to buy MENS golf shoes the other day. Ugh. For a woman who once had a shoe calender on her office wall, this is a Very Bad Thing.

It is good for my wallet, I am sure. But definately something that I miss. Of course, it means that when I do go to a big city, or even better, go to Europe/US, I tend to go a little crazy shopping.

*Banana Republic sucks here, though - they only carry up to a US size 4. Boo.

Mistakes...

2008-05-08T11:37:00.002+09:00

Reviewing last months pay stub, I was surprised to notice that the usual $200 I pay for rent on my big beautiful house (my company pays the rest), $330 had been deducted. I resolved to do something about this change, raise a fuss, demand my money back....and promptly forgot about it.

This morning, I was sitting at my desk trying to stay awake reviewing a contract when two men came to my desk. With much low bowing, the older man told me in Japanese that his department made a mistake in the rent for last month. While he was talking, the younger man translated.

Then they gave me a memo - written in excellect English - expressing their "sincere apologies" and explaining how the steps they are taking to make sure this doesn't happen in the future.

I am loving Japan right now. If this were the States, I would maybe have gotten an email. Maybe.

Annual Review

2008-04-13T18:35:00.003+09:00

My first work review was last week. I was quite worried about it; my boss speaks no English and is 59 years old - needless to say we do not have much interaction. I try my best to make sure to have casual conversation in Japanese with him so that he realizes that I am (hopefully!) improving my language skills, and to try to form some sort of relationship, but I had no idea whether it was working or not. Since work-related issues always go through the filter of a co-worker, it is easy for things to get lost in translation.

I am glad to report that on the whole I had a very positive review. There wasn't much to it when we started - I got a raise, I should work on communicating better. Then I started to ask questions - is this the normal raise? Well, no it is actually twice the normal amount. Why is that? Well, we want you to work hard this upcoming year, and you have done your job properly this past year. Is there anything you would like me to improve? No. And by the way I noticed that you are helpful in the X project.

Basically, what I finally figured out was that my boss doesn't "do" compliments...But he does think that I am doing well.

No Rest for the Wicked!

2008-03-13T14:55:00.002+09:00

Well, it has been a while since I have posted. Here are some highlights of why:

1. Husband out of town! Must cook for myself! Understand the plight of 1950s men everywhere!

2. End of snowboarding season! Must master red slopes and get use out of cute new gear!

3. Legal conference = must go drinking with other lawyers 4 nights straight!

4. Legal conference = must get into arguments about how to handle legal issues! Must feel attacked and want to quit!

5. Legal Conference = must drink to forget the stress of work! Cannot drink alone, must go out with friends and get pissed!

6. After going to bars, must sing karaoke until 4 am! Must sleep at all other possible times to support new late-night singing career!

- LS

What to do...

2008-02-08T11:17:00.000+09:00

I was thinking about blogging about my trip last weekend, when I went ice-fishing with some people from work. Or about how I am learning to snowboard. But then this happened...

I am at our weekly telephone conference with our in-house legal department in the States.
I need to talk about an upcoming project, which I, and one other legal department member, had been put in charge of. While working on the project this week, he and I realized that we needed to add some tasks to the original request we had given our US counsel.

The other person assigned to the project is out of the office, so it fell to me to make it clear that the original task assignments were being changed. I start explaining this, when suddenly, one of the US-based attorneys (who is Japanese) piped up, in Japanese, that this was not what had previously been decided. Now first of all, it is inappropriate to speak in Japanese during these meetings since not everyone understands Japanese. Secondly, I was at that very point explaining the change.

As I try to explain this, our team leader here in Japan then realizes that he also did not know about this change. It should have been irrelevant - I am in charge of the project, and do not need him to sign off on changes. Nonetheless, he began (also in Japanese) to state how he did not know of this change and is not sure if it is correct, etc. etc. Even worse, when I try to explain, he tells the local counsel that we will have to get back to him on the issue and ends the telephone call.

I am furious. I looked like an idiot, and what's worse, I looked like I did not have the trust of those around me. I am certain that this would not have happened if I was a male Japanese employee. But this is Japan, where direct confrontations are just not done. So do I say something, and possibly make it worse, or do I let it lie, and by doing so, possibly acquiesce to such behavior?

My gut instinct is that if I don't say something, this person will continue to act in a similar manner. So, dear reader(s), what do you suggest? Do I let him have it? (In a polite and respectful manner, of course?) Or do I suck it up? Or something in between??

- LS

Seating Chart

2008-01-29T11:15:00.001+09:00

Have I mentioned that not only do I not have an office here in Japan, but I don't even have a cubicle? NO? Oh yes, it is one of the main joys and wonders of working in Japan. Part of being on the "team" means there is absolutely no need for personal space.

The extent of "privacy" here is (1) a locker to put our papers away at the end of the day (no dirty desks here!), and (2) having a cloudy 1-foot piece of glass on the desk between me and the person across from me. So as long as I stare only at my computer screen, I don't see her desk. Of course, if we happen to look up at the same time we can still see each other. But hey, why look up? You need to be working, people!

Oh, and it gets better.

Are you sitting at a desk right now? OK. Now put your left arm out parallel to your body. See where the end of your hand is? And where your shoulder is? Hand to shoulder = the length of my "desk". Now. Put your right arm out in the opposite direction. Touching anyone? Two people, perhaps? Well, if I did that, I would be. Touching two people. (On the shoulder! Get your head out of the gutter!)

BUT. Did I mention I am an honest-to-goodness lawyer? All law schooled and bar passaged and sworn? So I get a special treat, unlike my colleagues. I get a chair (wait for it)....with (drum roll please) arm rests!! Yes indeedy folks. Arm. Rest. s. Jealous?

Now. The current problem. Pretty soon we are gonna hire a few new folks and make Legal a bigger department. Only problem is that then we won't all fit in our row. So. Guess who gets to go sit in a different row next to the the department head and not surf the net any more ever ever ever (unless he is gone)? Yes, folks. That is correct - yours truly. Cause I am an important attorney, thats why. At least the other attorney has to sit directly across from him and not me. That would really be scary.

- LS

PS - I just got linked, by one of my favorite new (to me) blogs, Think Like a Woman! Now once I can figure out how to put up a list, I will return the favor. Thanks Ana!

Us vs. Them

2008-01-23T12:43:00.000+09:00

I ran across a blog the other day written by an American midwestern college student who is living in Germany. She was making comments - completely correct - about the funny things that some Germans do. Having lived there myself for 3 years, Germany doesn't feel "foreign" to me anymore - and while I found her observations amusing, they were definately written from the perspective of an outsider.

Which made me wonder - is that how my blog would look to someone who has lived in Japan for a longer period of time? The answer to that is probably yes. I don't know if that is because I haven't been here as long, because I generally do my work and my socializing in English, or if Japan truly is "more different."

My new goal, before I leave Japan, is that it no longer feels "foreign" to me.

- LS

Go Home On Time Day

2008-01-17T09:25:00.000+09:00

It is a well-documented fact that people in Japan work insane hours. I've heard - but never witnessed - that the department a few tables over are all there till 11 pm nearly every night.

Anyway, in order to combat the crazy schedule that most people here put themselves through, some clever clogs came up with "Go Home on Time Day."

So every Wednesday, just after the 5 pm bell, a song comes on to encourage people to leave. I have tried to search down the lyrics but no such luck...So here are some excerpts: "If you run away, and I had to live my life without you...stay...I just don't know what I'm gonna do...All my life...something run away something something."

And it even kind-of works. The Office Ladies generally take off a few minutes after 5, and by 6 more people than usual have left.

And all due to some cheesy lyrics chosen for the phrase "run away".

Japanese Public Holidays...

2008-01-15T14:02:00.000+09:00

...Are great! I know I have complained about the fact that people here don't take their personal vacation, but that must equal out somehow with the fact that we have all sorts of crazy days off. Besides the big 3 of New Years, Obon, and Golden Week - each a full week - there are all sorts of Mondays and Fridays (and random Tuesday and Wednesdays) as well.

Luckily, yesterday was one of those Monday holidays. Just one week back after New Years and already an extra vacation day! What holiday? Well, as my intense 30 seconds of research just uncovered, it was "Adult Day," where everyone turning 20 celebrates their becoming an adult by getting dressed up in fancy kimonos and going to the temple/shrine.

This was especially lucky for me as I went snowboarding for the first time on Sunday and could not move yesterday. Seriously. Could. Not. Move. It is better today, but don't ask me to pass you anything. Yeah, thats right. My arms hurt. Go figure.

I rocked the snowboarding though. A natural. And the bruises on my knees (and left ass cheek) prove it. ;)

-LS

New Year's Observance...

2008-01-10T09:33:00.000+09:00

...Is a big thing here in the land of the rising sun. As I may have mentioned, the office is closed the entire first week of January to allow people to observe the holidays. Much like Christmas, the time off allows people to spend time with their family - most travel home - as well as watching the first sunrise (considered very lucky) and going to the appropriate shrines/temples. Part of the shrine/temple visit* is to ask for good luck in the coming year.

The above is the basic "knowledge of Japan" information. What I didn't know, however, is what companies do at the beginning of the year. In short, the company also asks for good luck. Here's how it went down on our first day back to the office in 2008...

7:45 am - Announcement comes on over the loudspeaker that all employees should report to the cafeteria for the New Year's Ceremony. This announcement is repeated at 5 minute intervals until 8:15, when everyone finally leaves their desks.

8:15 - People file into the cafeteria, where all the tables and chairs have been removed. They line up in tightly packed rows facing a low podium and some Japanese drums which have been set up close to the far wall. No one except the people in the first 2 rows can see a thing, so large screens which show what is happening are also up on that wall, hanging from the ceiling.

8:20 - The drums start. This is actually pretty cool, since the drummers are decent and they do a nice traditional drumming thing.

8:22 - The drummers stop and some super-cheesy music plays over the loudspeaker while the executive board and CEO come in.

8:25 - The CEO gives a mindnumbing speech about this year's goals

8:30 - Another executive gets up and gets the crowd going with some cheers. I realize that the place is 99% men and thus the "banzai"'s are very manly-sounding. Don't think I have been in a crowd of only men cheering before, it is odd-sounding.

8:32 - More executives speak. They are boring. I spot a female co-worker and spend some time trying to make eye contact with her. She is being good though and stares straight ahead at the person in front of her's back.

8:34 - Still speaking. I realize that at 5 ft. 10 in. in (low!) heels, I am among the tallest people in the room. If someone took a picture I would ruin it with my non-similarity. No work uniform, female, tall...

8:38 - The highlight of the event. Two employees with traditional Japanese jackets over their uniforms (bearing the company logo, natch) come to the podium. One is bearing what looks like a large gift. The gift is handed to the CEO (when did he get back up there?), and he hands it to the other employee. The employee now holding the package takes off. This is the ceremonial "first shipment/delivery."

8:40 - After the executives file out (again with the cheesy music playing), all 2000 or so of us try to simultaneously exit through the same set of double doors.

And then it is back to our desks, where it is back to work as usual.

*So there is Shintoism and Buddhism, and most people in Japan observe both religions. One has temples, the other has shrines. You go to temples for some occasions and shrines for others. Only I don't remember which is which.

Vacation Time

2007-12-20T09:35:00.000+09:00

When I first saw my employment contract, one of the things that I was very excited about was the 20 days vacation. Add this to the 3 weeks in Japan where all offices are closed (New Years, Golden Week, and Obon in August), and I was looking at enough vacation to visit the fam and still have time leftover for travelling through Asia...

Only - and I guess I should have realized this - no one takes their vacation time for vacation!! Several reasons exist for this craziness:

It seems that "vacation time" and "sick time" are the same thing. I.e. if you are sick you have to use vacation days to be at home. I.e. frigging everyone around me is sick right now and still at work. Wonder why I keep getting colds? I digress.
A person who takes vacation is considered to be a slacker. Yeah, good old Japanese hard working mentality. Must...continue...working...for 45 years....without ever taking a day off...Seriously, that is the goal of some people here.
NOT a reason - they are too busy. Seriously. They aren't.

Luckily for me, I have some gaijin smash power. Like the batting of the eyelashes to get my husband to do my bidding ;), it is something that should not be overused. Basically, the idea** is that Japanese people consider foreigners to be very different anyway, and will accept the things you do as the actions of a foreigner and allow you to do it.

Vacation is important though. So coworkers may not like it, and think I am a slacker, but I get my vacation time approved. I use my vacation days. As vacation. For example, I will be gone the ENTIRE WEEK next week. And I was gone THE ENTIRE WEEK in October when friends came to visit. Scandalous, でしょう？

By the way, getting vacation time approved is not a given! A friend of mine (who worked for the known most evil boss of the company - notice I said worked), asked for ONE DAY off after Golden Week to travel back to Japan since all the weekend flights were booked. ONE DAY. 1. He said no. Just 'cause. She had to cancel her entire vacation.

**I must acknowledge that the great Az came up with this term and explained it on his website in a much more humorous manner than I. Check out www.gaijinsmash.net.

Party Postscript

2007-12-18T13:10:00.000+09:00

It wasn't that bad. Yes, everyone was wearing yukatas*, and yes, I got a glimpse of more than one co-workers underoos, but it was actually (other than the underwear sighting) kind-of fun. It helps that I won the trivia game...yay for a gift certificate!!

*A kind of Japanese robe, like a kimono but cotton, and provided by the Inn.

Party Plans, Updated

2007-12-14T16:01:00.000+09:00

So tonight is the big "end of the year" (忘年会) party. From what I can figure out, the Legal Department here is pretty "special"-instead of just going out for a few hours and then drunkenly stumble about trying to catch the last subway home - we actually "get" to go to an overnight party.

Yes, thats right. Overnight. How would you like to share a room with your 45-year-old (female, thank god) colleague after a night of drinking? Yeah, didn't think so. Turns out Mr. Head of Department loves him some Onsen (that is public bath for you non-Japanese speakers) and this hotel has a great one.

Oh wait, didn't I mention that yet? Yes, indeedy. A public bath. As in, naked bathing with the people you have to see all year long. At least the public baths here are separated by sex. But still. Naked. How will I look at Ms. 45 again?

And the best part? There are actually 5 women in the Legal Department (out of 20, and 3 are secretaries, but still.) Of them, the 3 that have been here longer than a year (i.e. were here for last year's party) are not going.

Should I be worried??

"Voluntary" Parties

2007-12-13T14:36:00.000+09:00

Work Parties in the US:
Time: a few hours
Occurance: once a year
Cost: free

Work Parties in Japan:
Time: at least 3 hours. Overnight stay (without significant others) at an inn for the holiday party.
Occurance: at least 6 times a year.
Cost: $30 a month, plus $30-50 per person per party

Which would you choose? And guess what I "get" to do this Friday?

Ugh.

Contract Review

2007-12-11T12:50:00.000+09:00

Officially, I am "International Corporate Counsel" - how cool does that sound? :) And although I have some pretty cool sh** that I get to do, most of my job is contract review.

In the states, I think, corporate counsel will directly negotiate a contract. Here, however, that is rarely done. Rather, Mr. X from Y department gets a contract from Company Z. I look at it, revise it, and give it back to Mr. X (and yes, it is always a Mr.). Then he goes to Company Z, which hands it off to their in-house counsel, etc etc.

I actually got an email today explaining the appropriate process to have a contract received from a subsidiary signed by someone here at HQ. It involved no less than 8 people. 8. And this is after the dang thing has already been negotiated, reviewed, edited, etc.

I think the biggest thing I am learning is how a big company - especially a big Japanese company - works. Heaven forbid we actually insult No. 3 of 8 and go directly to No. 4 instead. horrors! loss of face! impropriety to the extreme!

And people wonder why it takes us so long to get things done...

Morning Exercises

2007-12-10T09:46:00.000+09:00

Every morning at 8:15, the 300-odd people in my section all stand up as tinny piano music begins to play over the loudspeakers. A female voice gives polite encouragement. All around me, people stare off into space and - with varying degrees of enthusiasm - begin the exercises.

The first few months, I pretended I was too busy - urgent emails, memos, anything so that I could stay seated and hide my laughs at my colleagues. I even made a surreptitious video to show my friends.

Now, however, I stand up as well. I reach for my toes, then reach to the sky. I swing my arms back and forth to stretch my back. I even do jumping jacks. And I wonder why, when the exercise music starts up again at 2 pm, when we could all use something to wake us from out post-luncheon stupor, no one stands up.

Group exercises - a caricature of Japanese working life, the life of a "Salaryman" - is now among the things that occupy my days. So welcome to my new blog - a place for me to document, when the mood strikes, the strangeness working in Japan - as a woman, an American attorney, and especially, as a foreigner.