Most of you probably quitted checking my blog after such long hibernation.
Well, many things have changed in during this time...
I went to Japan to meet my other half and due to that I am about to leave it all behind!!
I am leaving my job next 30th Sept, leaving family, friends and Europe behind.
And for what? For true love... it really exists and I am delighted to be [again] a lucky bastard.
I have found it in a bizarre way, for fun and with intentions only to perhaps make friends to help me out planing my initially intended trip to Japan in November.
In the end, not only I visited Japan in July, I just received my flight confirmation to Japan for next 11th November with intentions to settle down [please do not inform the JP authorities!!]
I am quitting/leaving everything with nothing else but LOVE in my heart [and 1 bag with 20Kg in my hand].
I have no visa differently from any random tourist, no job, no language knowledge, empty pockets,..
I will face the most difficult "adventure" of my life. I will have to "integrate" one of the most complex societies in the world, a country where I will always be seen as gaijin [foreigner] and where gajin face daily harsh and bureaucratic complications, besides what it considered by some the most difficult country to find a job for any foreigner.
One big difference between me and most of the other gaijin who decided to get adventurous moving to Japan is that I am well aware of what I will find in the far far East country of the rising sun.. I love a good challenge^^
Paris? I had enough!! I was wrong, Paris does not suffice! It is not what I expected it to be, the quality of life is far from being good.
I used to like the metro system, a metro every 3/4 min. Now, I find the delays, stations with endless works, dirty, ugly, smelly.. no stinky, uncomfortable, unfriendly, damn hot,... I better stop, still need to eat dinner and get some sleep tonight!
I am not being critical just because I am about to leave. Ask other people and most will confirm the same, Paris is great as long as you do not stay long enough to hate it!
Next stop: Osaka, JAPAN ^^
PS: Wish me luck, I will need a F@#$%& LOT!!
New blog coming up next November... Sorry for the lack of updates on this one.
My beloved country: Portugal
Some of you know already I will never live in Portugal again!
Following my return from 6 months studying in USA 4 years ago I felt like a foreigner in my own country. It all changed, I realised great, really great things about Portugal but there are others which make you wanna run away immediately..
This week, I was urging for a new passport otherwise I could not book my flight to Japan. Tuesday morning I arrived to the Portuguese Consulate here in Paris to get the new biometric one asap!
Everything seemed well organised there, and even reasonably fast too.
I order the fastest service possible.. Wednesday 3.30pm I was calling the Consulate and my new passport was already there!!! They took a bit more than 1 day to print and post it from Portugal to france.. WOW!! I was impressed.
Thursday morning I was there at 8.30am to pick it up. There was a small queue by the entrance..
I wait.. 5min ..and wait.. 15min ..and continue to wait.. 30min ..and start to get desperate .. 43min later, the lady announces the entrance ticket machine was facing problems and they could not let anyone in since all the service is computerised!!!
Less than 2min later the "technician" arrives to fix..
Guess what??! The technical problem was LACK OF PAPER and the lady did not know how to change it!!!! AAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!
This is a typical example of Portugal, it is capable of the best and the worst. The contrast between bright and intelligent people who develop create amazing things, and the illiteracy issues, lazyness and stiff hierarchic structures which allows older less educated people to relegate younger proactive pleople to the 'corner'. Fortunately it's getting better.
Here's another reason why I LOVE my country: read this article in the Wall Street Journal [Big-Time Barbecue]. It's about my favourite dish, tasty like no other.. There are really good things about our tradition I hope they will never change.
Following my return from 6 months studying in USA 4 years ago I felt like a foreigner in my own country. It all changed, I realised great, really great things about Portugal but there are others which make you wanna run away immediately..
This week, I was urging for a new passport otherwise I could not book my flight to Japan. Tuesday morning I arrived to the Portuguese Consulate here in Paris to get the new biometric one asap!
Everything seemed well organised there, and even reasonably fast too.
I order the fastest service possible.. Wednesday 3.30pm I was calling the Consulate and my new passport was already there!!! They took a bit more than 1 day to print and post it from Portugal to france.. WOW!! I was impressed.
Thursday morning I was there at 8.30am to pick it up. There was a small queue by the entrance..
I wait.. 5min ..and wait.. 15min ..and continue to wait.. 30min ..and start to get desperate .. 43min later, the lady announces the entrance ticket machine was facing problems and they could not let anyone in since all the service is computerised!!!
Less than 2min later the "technician" arrives to fix..
Guess what??! The technical problem was LACK OF PAPER and the lady did not know how to change it!!!! AAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!
This is a typical example of Portugal, it is capable of the best and the worst. The contrast between bright and intelligent people who develop create amazing things, and the illiteracy issues, lazyness and stiff hierarchic structures which allows older less educated people to relegate younger proactive pleople to the 'corner'. Fortunately it's getting better.
Here's another reason why I LOVE my country: read this article in the Wall Street Journal [Big-Time Barbecue]. It's about my favourite dish, tasty like no other.. There are really good things about our tradition I hope they will never change.
JAPAN
Life changes faster than you can imagine..
I am no longer going to Japan next September!
I am going in less than 20 days ^^
On the other hand, I still need a new passport and a plane ticket!! lol
I am no longer going to Japan next September!
I am going in less than 20 days ^^
On the other hand, I still need a new passport and a plane ticket!! lol
My watch collection is growing..
My packages have arrived safely to the destination :)The most wanted Russian Poljot Strela and German Aeromatic 1912.
Below upper left: the Russian brothers, the cheesy "Grandpa-look-alike" red Raketa, and Poljot Strela.
On the right: the German "Panzer" looking Aeromatic 1912
Below: my quite old Camel Active
Missing: my orange Beach Volley skin Swatch
Lately in my life..
will go to Japan around Set~Oct
work
has visits this weekend from London: Mr Carlos Veiga aka "Leitao", and Anita from Latvia
WORK..
Wedding in Germany [pics soon]
WORK
started learning Nihongo^^ [Japanese]
more work..
all my new watches have arrived, from Germany and Russia [pics soon]
a little bit more work!
found a really nice Japanese friend ^_^*
Overtime at work..
Still doesn't have proper internet at home :/
a lot of overtime at work!!
and other smaller or insignificant boring things.
work
has visits this weekend from London: Mr Carlos Veiga aka "Leitao", and Anita from Latvia
WORK..
Wedding in Germany [pics soon]
WORK
started learning Nihongo^^ [Japanese]
more work..
all my new watches have arrived, from Germany and Russia [pics soon]
a little bit more work!
found a really nice Japanese friend ^_^*
Overtime at work..
Still doesn't have proper internet at home :/
a lot of overtime at work!!
and other smaller or insignificant boring things.
Chez moi..
Someone [Robert] decided for me when to do a welcome party at my place, since it wasn't really working out my planning and agenda. So, 2 days before I invited a few closer friends with whom I usually go out.
Afterwork Party
Every Thursday after 7pm it is possible to find them scattered around Paris, 10~15Eur entrance and free champagne and snacks/pasta/salad until 9~10pm.
This time we have decided to go on board Le Quai, a boat on the Seine river.. and had a great time, lots of champagne, and later 2 bottles of vodka too!
The result was a bit catastrophic the next morning at work.. I was still drunk, due to the lack of food [dinner and breakfast].. but I survived :]
a fabulous long day..
It all started yesterday, a sunny day.. it then continued all night long at Lolia's [Russian] place [even included F@%#ING expensive extremely rare black Russian caviar]...
..and continued this morning [after 2h sleep on her balcony] in Park du Luxembourg [un vrai park deLUXe] for 3h of intense sun.
Already at home and with my "lobster tan" on my face and arms I had a great chat with an Asian friend [yes, I am pretty sure I'll end up living
there sooner than later :] instead of sleeping, and now I am ready to dive into my bed sheets [it's 6pm] and wake up tomorrow for a busy day at work [even though it is bank holiday in France!!].
A nice week to you all..
Btw, 70% Absinthe does burn.. both inside and outside!
PS: "The harvest and sale of black caviar have been banned in Russia since August 1, 2007." source: Wikipedia
..and continued this morning [after 2h sleep on her balcony] in Park du Luxembourg [un vrai park deLUXe] for 3h of intense sun.Already at home and with my "lobster tan" on my face and arms I had a great chat with an Asian friend [yes, I am pretty sure I'll end up living
there sooner than later :] instead of sleeping, and now I am ready to dive into my bed sheets [it's 6pm] and wake up tomorrow for a busy day at work [even though it is bank holiday in France!!].A nice week to you all..
Btw, 70% Absinthe does burn.. both inside and outside!
PS: "The harvest and sale of black caviar have been banned in Russia since August 1, 2007." source: Wikipedia
Workaholic me..
This week I think there was not a single day I didn't stay later than 8pm at the office!! Damn crisis, all companies are doing capital increases.. so many optional dividends.. they should all go bankrupt!! EHEHEH
So, after a busy week which finished leaving the office around 8pm and straight to a cafe/bar where i had 3 tasty Mojitos :D
Now, ready to go chillin out to Luxembourg park before heading to Lolia's place where there will be a party later tonight :D
See ya..
So, after a busy week which finished leaving the office around 8pm and straight to a cafe/bar where i had 3 tasty Mojitos :D
Now, ready to go chillin out to Luxembourg park before heading to Lolia's place where there will be a party later tonight :D
See ya..
there's Chemical in the air..
After a boring day locked at home.. No I am not joking, I was really locked at home from inside!! I know how it all sounds weird [something that normally happens to blondes :], but I was locked inside my own flat!!
How? I lost my keys inside somewhere.. I only noticed when was about to go for a cocktail with Marina after dinner.
I found them this morning due to the noise, they were on top of my bed but when I went to bed Friday I did not noticed and they ended up being thrown between the duvet and the blanket to keep my feet warm :D
So, as I was saying, contrarily to yesterday it is a great sunny day today am I am about to leave for a kind of pic-nic by the Seine :D
Gonna finish some stuff whilst listening to Chemical Bros and leave. Actually this music brought up memories from UK, many were the times I listened ALL NIGHT LONG all the albuns and live concerts and typing my papers. A great company indeed.. :D
How? I lost my keys inside somewhere.. I only noticed when was about to go for a cocktail with Marina after dinner.
I found them this morning due to the noise, they were on top of my bed but when I went to bed Friday I did not noticed and they ended up being thrown between the duvet and the blanket to keep my feet warm :D
So, as I was saying, contrarily to yesterday it is a great sunny day today am I am about to leave for a kind of pic-nic by the Seine :D
Gonna finish some stuff whilst listening to Chemical Bros and leave. Actually this music brought up memories from UK, many were the times I listened ALL NIGHT LONG all the albuns and live concerts and typing my papers. A great company indeed.. :D
1st package has arrived :D
My gorgeous Strela has arrived and looks even better than pics.
I even got a free pack of Russian sweets :D
One thing I did not know about my watch, besides the stopwatch and tachymeter also has a telemeter or something which is able to tell me how far is a thunderstorm!! LOL
The leather strap is black and seems to be ok [and made in Polska], but I am wondering how well it would look with a white leather strap..
I even got a free pack of Russian sweets :D
One thing I did not know about my watch, besides the stopwatch and tachymeter also has a telemeter or something which is able to tell me how far is a thunderstorm!! LOL
The leather strap is black and seems to be ok [and made in Polska], but I am wondering how well it would look with a white leather strap..
Long weekend
As many are aware off May is the month of the bank holidays in France.
I started my long weekend yesterday with Guillemette [FR], Nicolo' [IT] and Olga [RU] directly from the office to a nearby cafe for some beers and wine.
I then went to Julien's place [same I lived for over 2 wks] for some cocktails, try out his new XBox guitar and drums. He also got a new cocktail mini-bar, so there has been some changes since I left.
Today, I am hyperactive [used to be working at full power at this time], after cleaning the flat, I am now gonna get some groceries, cook lunch, hang the laundry clothes [should be ready by now], and finally a strawl in the park.
No further plans for the remaining except bureaucracy issues tomorrow, at least 4 that I recall, which should spread out throughout Friday's.
Ah! My lovely Russian watch has arrived to Paris. They wanted to leave the package in front of my door!!! NO WAY, come back Friday or Saturday lazy bastard :P
The other seem to be ready to be sent as well, the WWII German Panzer inspired' Aeromatic, and my very Russian Raketa.
There are 2/3 more I would like to get, the Russian Sturmanskie Gagarin is on the top of the list together with the Swiss Bell & Ross BR-01 92 Orange [probably the most gorgeous watch ever] but the latter costing close >4000 Eur!!
I started my long weekend yesterday with Guillemette [FR], Nicolo' [IT] and Olga [RU] directly from the office to a nearby cafe for some beers and wine.
I then went to Julien's place [same I lived for over 2 wks] for some cocktails, try out his new XBox guitar and drums. He also got a new cocktail mini-bar, so there has been some changes since I left.
Today, I am hyperactive [used to be working at full power at this time], after cleaning the flat, I am now gonna get some groceries, cook lunch, hang the laundry clothes [should be ready by now], and finally a strawl in the park.
No further plans for the remaining except bureaucracy issues tomorrow, at least 4 that I recall, which should spread out throughout Friday's.
Ah! My lovely Russian watch has arrived to Paris. They wanted to leave the package in front of my door!!! NO WAY, come back Friday or Saturday lazy bastard :P
The other seem to be ready to be sent as well, the WWII German Panzer inspired' Aeromatic, and my very Russian Raketa.
There are 2/3 more I would like to get, the Russian Sturmanskie Gagarin is on the top of the list together with the Swiss Bell & Ross BR-01 92 Orange [probably the most gorgeous watch ever] but the latter costing close >4000 Eur!!
Poljot Strela
If you are expecting me to tell you all about this watch history you are wrong, Google it and don't be lazy :P
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