Horsies
October 30, 2007
On Sunday, Thomas introduced me to the world of horse petting zoos.
We made our way to the Kyoto Horserace Track and he taught me how to pet the horses nicely and admire the sheen of their coats and their muscular tones.
It was my first time at a track and I had a lot of fun. I’m not exactly a gambler so I followed Thomas’ picks and bet the minimum 100 yen on a few races. Total winnings: 0. It was quite impressive to see the Tokyo Emperor’s Cup on the big ass TV in the middle of the track. One race netted 1,400,000 yen on a 100 yen bet for the triple something bet. (I don’t remember the jargon).
All in all, I spent a good afternoon with a good friend with some pretty ponies. I would go again but would try to take more pictures of silly old Japanese men who took their whole family here.
Thomas studying the stock indices
Closure
October 27, 2007
It just so happened that an informal MM center party was held at the big HUB on the same day Nova had its big d-day. Thoughts aside about the whole bankrupcy protection, it was a great party.
A lot more people came out than expected and I got a chance to thank and say goodbye to many people. It was a great rowdy night and I didn’t even drink a drop of beer! I made a realization that after tonight there would be a lot of people I would never see anymore and some people I might accidentally run into on the streets. I didn’t speak with my friends too much knowing full well I would see them, just as often as before.
For me it was closure to a fairly big part of my life in the past five years. I left quickly, abruptly, and definitely not publicly. Some people didn’t know I had quit since so many people were on “holidays” or were “sick”. Today, I was able to have my say with many good people that I will miss.
Thank you everyone. �疲れ様���.
D-Day
October 26, 2007
This is a huge day. Nova has filed for bankrupcy protection, ousted the president, and suspended operations. This is it.
Just on the news – the Hello Work office in Umeda has set up a counseling service for Nova employees. Enjoy!
Housewife
October 24, 2007
It has just been a week since I quit my job and it has just been a week of fun and games! It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to do whatever I want everyday for any extended amount of time.
So far I’ve been to one interview that I felt wasn’t as spectacular as I had hoped for but I’m hoping I’ll get a second interview. I’ve played a couple of Llorwyn sealeds – it’s a very nicely themed set with beautiful art. Some of the mechanics I don’t care for so much though. I’ve been hanging out and had a few drinks with various people.
5 packs of Llorywn and the pile that goes with it
Any level of stress I had has completely disappeared. I’m not sleeping very well though – I’m trying to stay up late but I can’t sleep in anymore. The early shift has broken my ability to sleep.
As most of you already know, I’ve been addicted to facebook.com. Seeing those little messages and that friend number go up little by little is quite satisfying. Now though, the friend count has lost steam and should I want to see the same kind of growth, I’d have to dig into the seamy past. Eww.
I’ve been taking my camera out wherever I go and trying to bike more around Osaka. I can’t believe that I didn’t bike so much before. I’ve missed out on strange shops and neighborhoods. Pictures will follow I’m sure.
Those in Japan: Da Ole HUB this Friday after 7pm for an informal MM center get-together!
It’s finally done
October 16, 2007
Today was my final day at Nova.
The bunny that fucked us all over
I decided yesterday that it was finally time to end this chapter of my life. Today I submitted my notice, had my holidays arranged, and said my goodbyes.
As expected, the amount of sick calls skyrocketed this week and today I essentially had a full schedule of lessons. It has truly been a long time since my last full-lesson day. I enjoyed each lesson and had good chats with some of them. During the whole time I couldn’t help but run through all five years and think about all the people I had met and interacted with.
I am very fortunate to be able to walk away from MM with only positive memories. Although I’ve seen my share of crap there, I have let it go and will truly remember my experience as one of learning and cooperation between people from so many walks of life.
I said goodbyes and thank yous to many today but my favorite was LS superstar Yumi. She was so shocked by the sudden news that she started crying a little! I didn’t know how to respond. I was touched that someone would have such an emotional response to my leaving.
I have no idea what the next few months will hold but I am very happy about starting a new chapter. My time at Nova has been wonderful and I sincerely hope that all instructors and staff will be able to come out of this with an experience as positive as mine.
The only original core group instructor from when I first started AND my meat shield
HFK! And/or Mr. Squigg Voice
Who could ever forget Billy Bastard?
My boss, the one who lets me run rampant
A few more pictures.
Don’t think; feel…
October 14, 2007
After something like a five year absence, I have begun some martial art training again.
I kind of mentioned Gerard in a previous update – he posted a punching bag for sale at work and that time being the worst week in history at Nova for me, I just had to buy it. He hauled the bag and stand over and we had a good chat about martial arts.
We’ve since did some sparring and technique training twice and we’re setting a mixed martial arts club. The first meeting will be on Friday the 26 at Celio’s Soho gallery. In the long run, I’d like to have a more martial arts-oriented venue but for now it will do. (I’ve been hangin out at Celio’s more and the place is awesome).
One thing I’ve noticed is that I am completely out of shape and my coordination is shot. My reflexes seem fairly good still and I can still pick out the glaring weaknesses quickly. The best part is that Gerard and I are trading ideas to help the other improve. So far he’s been pointing out my weaknesses way more often.
This is great though – it lets me kill some time and vent some stress out. The punching bag is saving lives.
The End
October 13, 2007
I’ve always refrained from writing about Nova for a lot of reasons but the crazy roller coaster ride that has been happening over the last couple of months has helped change my mind.
I am a Center Trainer (CT) at Nova. That’s equivalent to a Branch Trainer (BT), the next step above an Assistant Trainer (AT). At work I wear a dark green tag to differentiate us from the light green ATs, and the purple instructors. Just to let you know now, the colors mean nothing and really, the positions don’t exactly mean much neither. It is and always has just been a job. I hope I can say without a lot of people flaming me that I’ve always tried to keep it real. I never carried the “company line” and always called it as I saw it. I almost never gave bullshit to anyone and the times I did, well, those fuckers must have been really out of line.
I feel the end is nigh and I’m just about ready to close this chapter of my life.
So just a quick overview of the past couple of months:
- Japanese and Foreign staff (ie. permanent, salaried employees) had their salaries delayed each month since July.
- Titled Instructors (ATs, BTs, CTs) and many regular instructors outside of major cities had their August pay delayed for two weeks in September.
- Instructors living in apartments subleased by Nova have been evicted because Nova did not pay rents (the rent was deducted from instructor salaries).
- Branches have been closing all over the country – hundreds of schools are done.
- Rumors of a lot of people quitting in gaiji, payroll, everywhere “higher up”.
Just yesterday the useless president sent a fax to all branches saying that our salary on the 15th will be delayed until the 19th. This refers to ALL instructors now, across Japan. This will be the final straw.
This morning I woke up early and contacted LS (the administrative area at the MM) and confirmed the contents of the fax. Already then, I was told of 20 sick calls and this was at 6:40AM. I can only imagine the chaos happening right now as hundreds of branches across Japan will be unmanned and hundreds of lessons being cancelled. This will only continue all week until there’s nothing left.
Surprisingly, I am not at all angry right now. This has been expected and in fact, I’m looking forward to the end so that I can finally move on and start something else. When my salary was delayed last month, that really caught me by surprise. I didn’t think it would ever come to that because the instructors are the company’s final line. I was completely shocked that they crossed it. Now, the end is all but inevitable – it will be drawn out and ugly but I am glad.
I do want to say that I have really loved working with the people at MM over the last 5 years and 4 days (not that I’m counting). Many have become excellent friends and I have learned a lot from them and my position. The experience I gained working with people will last and I’ve made a fair bit of coin as well.
To friends and family back home, you need not worry about me. The lady and I have funds saved up, she’s still working, and hopefully I can get unemployment insurance in a timely manner. I have held out on job applications because there are literally hundreds of people applying for the same jobs right now. I am applying for the couple of jobs here and there that really appeal to me and skipping out on the crap. Worst comes to worst, I can bunker down and enjoy a bit of a holiday.
I’m on my weekend but I will be going in on Monday because that’s our scheduled pay day and technically they can still pay us on that day. I am planning to go in on Tuesday so that my pay will “officially” be late and also I will help out LS staff as much as I can. Wednesday… let’s leave Wednesday optional for now.
If anyone at Nova has questions feel free to contact me and I’ll try to answer them if I can.
Sports Day again!
October 07, 2007
Kiyomizu-dera
October 05, 2007
I went with my new buddy Gerard to see Kiyomizu-dera; one of the more beautiful and famous places in Kyoto. That temple sits on the side of a mountain and some of the structures are over 1200 years old!
The lack of updates is intentional. I have been going through a tough time at work. I’ll keep it brief but last month my salary came two weeks late and the company always seems to be on the brink of bankrupcy with staff salaries having been late for months now, teachers being evicted from their apartments because the company has not paid the rent, advertisers not having been paid, and branches being closed.
This has led to a mass exodus of teachers all over the country and floods of rumors coming in every day. The company has not exactly been forthcoming with any news. This is the worst part – being kept in the dark when motivation and confidence is at an all time low.
I am not having a fun time at work. It’s like climbing a mountain everyday just to get there and climbing it again to stay. I have some plans but basically I’m going to ride it out and try to get on the dole.
