[samIamsad]

Mhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh chinese.

I can't believe it! I crashed the second car in three days. No major damage, mind you, but damage nonetheless. Two days ago I hit a stone on the side of the road I hadn't seen due to hedges blocking my sight, today I touched a car that was awkwardly parking outside the company's hq, that is, more or less it was almost blocking the front gate which I tried to pass. Two-way traffic caused me to steer just a little to the right while doing so and... sigh. First car was a company car, second car a rental car...

I hope this doesn't affect my relationship with that company in a negative way... The first time I did this job was five or six years ago, and I used to work there during semester holidays.

Everything sucks, I'm going to bed, over and out.

[bulldog]

Originally Posted by samIamsad

Mhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh chinese.

I can't believe it! I crashed the second car in three days. No major damage, mind you, but damage nonetheless. Two days ago I hit a stone on the side of the road I hadn't seen due to hedges blocking my sight, today I touched a car that was awkwardly parking outside the company's hq, that is, more or less it was almost blocking the front gate which I tried to pass. Two-way traffic caused me to steer just a little to the right while doing so and... sigh. First car was a company car, second car a rental car...

I hope this doesn't affect my relationship with that company in a negative way... The first time I did this job was five or six years ago, and I used to work there during semester holidays.

Everything sucks, I'm going to bed, over and out.

Sorry to hear about your car troubles Sam, I'm glad that you’re ok though, you know no bodily harm that is.

[Not A Speck Of Cereal]

In the morning, you must face the Insurance Deities. I pity you.

[Not A Speck Of Cereal]

My life at work is hell. Do I have Job security? Yes. Can they live without me? No.

But I still have a type A boss who not only gives me too many unreasonable directives, but tells me how to do it. He doesn't know how to do it. Too often do I have to say "um, that won't work".

Please, just get the fuck out of my world and let me do my job.

[Jatsie]

Hehe, you're living in a Dilbert cartoon.

[Squinky]

Don't let them take your red Swingline stapler.

[Giligan]

If he rests his hand on the edge of your cubicle, paint his fingernails with white-out.

[lumi]

My brother left to Japan again, this time to teach English. Now I've got an excuse to take a trip there again, not that one needs an excuse to go there. Also a reason to start improving my Japanese.

[Jatsie]

May I come with you?

[lumi]

If I take you, I'd have to take everyone else too. But...since I like everyone here, sure! I think you'll have to bring tents and sleeping bags, because the house would be too small for everyone.

[Giligan]

I don't speak Japanese, but count me in.

In fact, I only speak English. And there aren't any places around here to take classes for me. Arggh! *rips hair out*

Yeah, it'll be software for me if anything.

[Jatsie]

Speaking Japanese really isn't important. My father once had to work in Japan, he made the effort to learn how to say konnichiwa when he first greeted them, and they treated him like a king during his entire stay, as no other foreigner they had encountered had made such an effort.

[Giligan]

Still, the mere thought that a large percentage of the world can speak multiple languages while I can't is enough to motivate me, or shame me, which will motivate me. And being able to speak the language would make a visit that much more enjoyable.

[Jatsie]

But you're an American, the prospect of you leaving your own continent is so minimal...

[Giligan]

I'm a Minnesotan. The rest of the US is just... okay. Except for New York City and California.

No, I really would like to see the world. If nothing else, I'm stuck on this spaceship with six billion other crewmates, so I might as well get to know as many of them as possible, and visit their crew compartments, so to speak.

[pinkgothic]

Meh! My deity is now officially owned by a woman called Deborah.

As such, I'm going to need permission to continue having him as my deity.

Now I just have to summon the courage to ask.

Right.

Any moment now.

*stares at screen*

...tomorrow. Surely.

[Melanie68]

Originally Posted by lumi

If I take you, I'd have to take everyone else too. But...since I like everyone here, sure! I think you'll have to bring tents and sleeping bags, because the house would be too small for everyone.

Hmm, I have a two-man tent and a lightweight sleeping bag along with some cooking gear and a backpack. I'm set!

[Giligan]

With six days to go until I... go, disaster has struck.

My duffle bag is too big.

Waaayyy too big. In fact, as I stand here, staring into the gaping black maw that is The Bag, it seems to be getting wider. How did I ever think this would work? How?!?!

A ten-pound, 30"x50" canvas monstrosity?

My clothing and gear was numerous. I could barely fit it into a single large drawer. No sweat, I thought. But when I put the stuff into The Bag, I came to a realization.

The stuff would barely cover the bottom, while the top remained limp. Most unwieldy. When I carried it by the shoulder strap, the bottom of The Bag dragged on the floor. Buying it was a bad idea. Mix-magnesium-with-aluminum style bad idea. I'll look like I'm toting a body or two through an international airport, for blog's sake. And the worst thing is, I need a headlamp to find anything in there. But my headlamp is in there. First a bag fit for Goliath, now a vicious cycle.

[Not A Speck Of Cereal]

I've been to several non-English speaking (as a first language) countries and have never learned a non-English language. This has led me to the theory that it's possible to go to most countries and pick up the necessary terms through osmisis. They invariably boil down to these terms: heated, toilet, whiskey, airport, please, thank you, receipt, carbonated, and menu.

The rest can be dealt with via grunts and gestures.

[Jelena]

I find that being able to cope abroad without knowing the language is part of the fun travelling. Sure, I've been able to rely on English in most countries I've visited, specially in the tourist areas. And in areas frequently visited by many Swedes there are also menues in Swedish and sometimes the restaurant staff speaks Swedish as well. That is no fun at all.
Last Christmas we went to Spain/Gran Canaria and rented a car to see the non-tourist areas. We had to -just as Speckisie explained- use gestures and single words to order a lunch or ask directions. Afterwards we all confessed to finding that day the most fun day of the whole trip.