Depression and Stress: A direct correlation?

I recently self-diagnose myself as suffering from mild depression. My symptom, a total lack of initiative to devote myself for social activities. I remembered it wasn't like that 4 years ago when I first came to Japan. Somehow, the situation slowly degraded and I am now just a pile of slime oozing out a sorry existence doing the absolutely minimum to survive. I am thinking that stress at work has plenty to do with this condition. And folks living and working in the city has plenty of that. Why is it that we hear people say that although staying close by in highly concentrated apartments, yet hardly know their neighbors. Is it an indication that these highly dense dwellings of convenience actually crosses the boundary threshold for comfortable living. Wait a minute, I think there is two issues here that are somewhat interconnected.

1. Depression from Stress.
2. Close-up living quarters from apartments.

People suffer from depression for a variety of reasons. I know that women who are taking care of their children constantly without reprieve do sometimes develop symptoms of depression and in the critical state, feel the urge to commit suicide. You hear stories about 'salarymen', school children, etc feeling depressed. I know there must be numerous studies by shrinks to diagnose and cure these people. I also heard somewhere that you can take medication for it. Wouldn't it be nice to take a pill, and then you feel that you can give a presidential speech the next day, join in 'gotong-royong', or perhaps be the star used-car salesman. I guess, depression is a disease of the mind. Somehow, the chemicals in the brain is not in equilibrium, or the wiring is screwed-up. The best way to beat it is perhaps to get a hold of the brain and tell it who's boss.

I am staying in an apartment in a huge living area called "danchi". Here in Japan, people respect each other's privacy so much that they end-up not talking too much to each other. I know when I was in Singapore and was staying in the HDB apartments. Things wasn't that bad. Of course, you can't throw a rock party and expect your neighbors not call 991, unless ofcourse if you're staying in the university dorm. But people open their doors at least and play their favorite Hokkien songs, Malay prayers, Indian songs what have you and people don't mind too much. Here, in the danchi apartments, you shouldn't talk too loudly, let the kids run around, turn up your TV volume, do repair work etc. And if you need to, you'll have to give prior notice to the entire block. Which explains the proliferation of love hotels. The walls have ears so to speak. So, there special places for people to 「作世界」.

I guess you noticed the lack of coherence in my blog. The reason for this is, I started this topic in February only to pick up the pieces now in October. Anyway, I would like to sum up by saying that, if you have the means, go and get a proper landed house. That will ease your stress having to deal with neighbors. And if you are stressed up from work, let somebody close to you know about it, talking does help to balance your brain. I know it helped me.

Japan's Peanut Butter

I recently tried peanut butter spread after a long abstinence period. Guess, what, the Japanese version of peanut butter taste nothing like what I was used to in Malaysia. Frankly, I do not dislike it, but it's just different. The non-chunky version of it tastes like kaya in syrup. Here's a picture of the peanut butter that I am talking about. See, even the texture look's like kaya.

To be on-time or not on-time

I sent my daugther out to kindergarten this morning. Like always, we were the last

one to get there. But like clockwork, the bus arrived right on time, 9.03 am sharp on the dot. In Japan, the public transportation is always on-time. The buses, trains and airplanes arrive and depart right on-time. Coming from another country, you may think that it is almost like magic how the bus drivers, train drivers and pilot keep to their schedule. And many a time, I have come to appreciate the fact that they do.

Japanese people, I realized, pay almost obsessive attention to time. Take a look at a typical train time table schedule. Can you believe that this is a time table. The first time I looked at a train time table, I almost blanked out. It looked more like an assembly language code that machines generate that no mere mortal can understand. It still baffles me how the Japanese people use these time table. Or do they?

Anyway, back to the topic. I marvel at the value that Japanese people place on time. I tell myself that if Malaysians place the same emphasize on time as the Japanese people do, there will be higher productivity across all levels. There will no longer be 2 hour waits for wedding dinners to start, no queueing up for MyKad renewal, no more traffic jams (OK, I'm exaggerating). Think of all the increase in efficiency and productivity, not to mentioned the time saved.

On the other hand, it's not all good news to be on-time. Recently there was a tragedy involving a train caused by human misjudgement. The train driver must be thinking of the repercussions of not being in time and not too much on passenger safety when he oversped and caused the train to derail. Although this is one example that depicts the devil of being on-time. I can vouch that 99.9% of the good things that do happen when things are on-time are almost taken for granted in Japan.

I learnt that Japanese have been constantly reminded of the virtue of being on time. Parents, teachers, strangers would tell their young ones that 一刻千金(いっこくせんきん）in other words, time is money. And being on-time is being able to keep a promise. I know for one, I am lousy at being on time. The clock in my room is always running 15 minutes faster. So that I would have ample time to catch up on in case I run out of time. It's really a bad habit, I know. But having been in Japan for quite sometime already, and having appreciate the fact that everybody else is on-time, I am beginning to feel that I too should start to run like clockwork. Less, I run out of time.

Boney M sang a song about money. And so does Sam Hui and many other artistes, but I have not heard a song that tells the importance of time. When you think about it, everybody has 24 hours at the start of the day. No more and no less. And how one use their time (wisely) is entirely up to them. I know for sure, the Japanese use it wisely.

Can't live fast enough

Have you even wondered why students in Japan find job a year before they graduate. I was flabbergasted when I first heard about this. My initial reaction when I heard about this was, Wow! Occasionally, this strange custom would drift in and out as a conversational topic during 忘年会s or クリスマスパーティs. The fact that a student should start looking for a job long before they graduate was a strange concept to me, then, and I am sure to those who live outside of Japan too (please tell me otherwise). I never really thought much about it apart from the fact that Japanese are, well different. That is until I went to the immigration department this morning. I believe I am a little more enlightened now. Let me tell you why. I am pretty sure you'll appreciate the fact too.

Yesterday, I learnt that I was to receive an award to continue my research work in Japan for another year starting next April. The condition was, I had to graduate in time. No problem, I thought. In fact I'm just roughing out the edges of my thesis right now. So, then I thought, maybe I should go an apply to for a change of visa since it'll expire next April. So off I went happily to the Immigration office together with the letter confirming my award. Everything was pretty smooth until at the end of the procedure, the officer in charge told me that, they could change my status provided I can show them a 卒業見込み証明書. Aha!, that was when I realized why there's always a catch to everything. No, I realized that long ago, when the lady over the counter wouldn't give me the softcream I ordered when I didn't hand over 100 yen. I realized the speed and efficiency at which Japanese do things. I mean I saw how fast they build a mega shopping mall over Chritmas. I was impressed with the way they handled my check-in at the hotel. But it just hit upon me that these people, are just way too efficient, compared the folks back home in Bolehland. I mean, they still accepted my application without me producing the complete required documents. I was half expecting, OK, come again dude, when you got all your stuff readied like how I was accustomed to throughout my measly 20 year experience with government staff in Bolehland. But no, they cheerfully accepted my application. Gave me a confirmation number and told me to send then the rest of the stuff when I have it. Now, how's that for efficiency.

Which got me into thinking, the reason students here start looking for a job so soon is, well, just being prepared. No last minute applications rush etc. Or am I missing the whole picture here. Maybe, it's just the governments plan to make sure all their graduates get employed. And foreigners just get what's left over. Either way, I still think that they have a great system running here and other countries should come over and learn how things should/could be done differently.

Now, all this talking about efficiency has go me into thinking. Japanese people just can't live fast enough. They have the fastest train, the fastest lunch break, heck, the fastest delivery service, and heck even the fastest toilet flush (OK, I'm exaggerating here). These people are like, lean mean, efficient machines. No waste of time here. Trains run on right on schedules, movie shows are never late, and most of all, people look at you funny if you're late for an appointment. Which goes to show, the values the Japanese hold dear. Something great which I think would be good to rub-off of.

Santa-san(s)

Tell, me how do you like your Santa. A potbellied, whitebearded, cheerful old man, who hands out presents from his giant magic sack. Or a skinny, no-beard, but still cheerful young girl who throws you kisses. Now, these Santas, you won't ever find in Malaysia. By the way, if you happen to visit the Everland amusement park in South Korea this Christmas where these photos were taken, remember to take shots of these Santas.

Oh, by the way, they do have ligers there you know. It's a strange half lion, half tiger hybrid. You may want to take a couple shots of those too on the way to Santa's pool. Want more, here's the link.

Of course, there are seasonal magic performance featuring tigers at the Genting's City of Entertainment too.

OK, animal lovers might know more about ligers and a whole lot of strange hybrid cats. Of course, you don't see these animals in Zoo Negara. Too controversial. By the way has Zoo Negara moved yet?

Blog title changed

I thought I wanted to write about things in Japan. But I guess the pull for comparing things to my homeland in Malaysia is just too great. So, in the end, I changed the blog title from "Here in Japan, things are different..." to "No, not in Malaysia you d(w)on't..."

It used to be a blog about stuff I wanted to say about Japan or in the description of the blog "...or at least, done, viewed, cooked, talked about and played differently. So how do we foreigners address the age old question of adepting in the land of the rising sun. Here's my version of it."

But, I can't help but make comparisons at every turn. Putting in my own point of view in all the things that I see. So in this blog, I will include things that I experience or see that an ordinary Malaysian staying in Malaysia won't see, be it in Japan or anywhere else. Like they say, "Jauh perjalanan, luas permandangan (pengalaman)."

Message Contest (Seika Global Network)

Just now, I was one of the 6 contestants who took part in the message contest held at the seika city hall "kouryuu" room. It was titled "マレーシア人の挨拶の仕方.” It was not a bad experience. Although I could have done better. Needs more practice I would say. Anyway, got a congratulatory cert. for my effort too. Made some new friends and it all ended on a pretty note. Maybe I will try again next time.

(by the way: my name is written デビッド　ン in japanese).

2006.10.17 after consulting with a Japanese friend, I think I will rewrite my name to be more Japanese friendly. As such from today I will be refered to as デイビッド　グ

For those who read Japanese

I was asked to prepare something to say for a speech contest organised by a local volunteer group. I wanted to write about ほう・れん・そう, the Japanese way of doing things at work. But I ended up writing about the way Malaysians greet one another. I apologize for my 'koyak' Japanese, though. OK here goes...

　皆さん外国人と外国語で話したことはありませんか？その時、話を始める前にその人とどう挨拶されましたか？日本人同士だとお辞儀をして「こんにちは」と挨拶するのが普通だと思います。マレーシア人はどのように挨拶すると思いますか？実はマレーシアには主に3種類の民族がいます。それはマレー系、中国系、それからインド系です。マレーシアではそれぞれの民族によって挨拶の仕方は異なります。マレー系の人の場合は、年配や身分が高い人の片手を両手で軽く持って“apa khabar”（アパー・カバー）、日本語で言うと「いかがですか」と言ってから右手を自分の胸を触ります。この挨拶はマレー語で言うと“salam”（サラム）と言います。中国系の人は欧米人と同じく握手してから“你好”（ニーハウー）「いかがですか」とお互いに言い合います。インド系の人は相手と少し離れて合掌しながら“vanakam”（ヴァナカム）「いかがですか」と言います。これらがマレーシアでの一般的な挨拶の仕方です。
　また、友人などの親しい人とは別の挨拶の仕方があります。私は中国系の友達と会うときは“吃了馬”（チェレマー）「もうご飯食べた？」と挨拶します。あるいはマレー語では“sudah makan？”（スダ・マカン）と挨拶します。なぜ中国人はそのように挨拶し合うと思いますか？皆さんは何処かで「中国人はテーブル以外足が4本の物を何でも食べる」と聞いたことがありませんか？これは勿論冗談ですが、中国では昔から食事がとても重要だと考えられています。医食同源という言葉もあるように食事を薬として考えています。中華街を歩くときっと漢方などの薬として用いる食材を売っている薬局を見かける事でしょう。中国人は食べ物には薬理作用があると考えています。意外と思われるかもしれませんが、例えば、スイカには体温を上げる“湿熱”という働きがあります。それに対して、キュウリやメロンは体温を下げる働きがあり、風邪を引いた時に一番いいと言われています。また、私は母親から、「一日経ったゆで卵を食べると男性の体のある部分が大きくなる」、「ドリアンとビールを一緒に食べると死ぬよ」と聞かされました。このように中国人は健康の為にも食事をとても大切に考えていて、もしかすると起きている時間の8割は食事の事を考えているかもしれません。一緒にマレーシアに住んでいる他の民族も今では中国人の影響を受け、同じように挨拶するようになっています。と言うわけで、仲の良いマレーシア人同士は挨拶するとき相手に「もう食事をされましたか」と聞くのが普通です。
　このように挨拶などの人々の何気ない表情や動作も、実は民族固有の文化や伝統に深く根差しています。挨拶1つで相手が受ける印象も変わります。皆さんが今後、マレーシアに行く機会があったら是非“吃了馬”（チェレマー）あるいは“sudah makan？”（スダ・マカン）と挨拶してみてください。きっと相手は喜び、普通よりも仲良くなれると思います。

As for ほう・れん・そう. I will surely pen down a little something once I get inspired again. As much as I hate to say it, a dateline can be inspiring too, sometimes. Have you ever tried it or should I say 締め切りにさせられた. Works wonders.

Salam sejahtera Jepun

After looking at posts of fellow Malaysians in Japan leaving their thoughts on their blog, it kinda made me want to put up my own blog. I wonder how much stamina I have left in me to do this.

I guess it's part of my 気分転換, a pathetic escapade attempt from the comfort of the armchair. Damn, it doesn't even have arms.

Anyway, you could say that I am just trying to fill in the little void I have in me, the feeling that I wanted to say what I always wanted to say.

Heck, let's see what happens tomorrow.

I should remember to update my blog links to these pages.

http://lronglim.blogspot.com/

http://phototravel.blogspot.com/

They are who inspired me in the first place.