Week6 10/21 What Does "Love" Mean to Me?

Fixed Topic: What Does "Love" Mean to Me?

For me, "love" means to sacrifice oneself for someone. For instance, when I care for my friend, I use my own time to think of the friend. This may not be a big sacrifice. But what about my parents? They work hard everyday in order to support me. Just for me, they sacrifice their time, labor, energy, and more! Why can they continue to work so hard? That's because there is their "love" to me.

I think it is difficult to sacrifice myself for someone, because I cannot always get something in return. Even if I make an effort to get compliment from someone, sometimes I cannot be rewarded at all. If I cannot pay back, I will be disappointed. So, to do something for someone is a very risky attempt. Such a hard risk make us hesitate to do something. From my view, when I can sacrifice myself for someone without hesitation, I can have "love" to someone.

Week6 10/20 The Success Story of Starbucks

Open Topic: The Success Story of Starbucks

I wrote a paper on the management style of Starbucks as a mid report of business class. When I gathered information of business style of Starbucks, I found there were amazing keys to their success. So I wanna tell the secrets even though briefly.

Starbucks was opened as a small coffee roasting and selling shop in Seattle in 1971. At that time, coffee was just poor-quality and dull beverage. But there, Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and chief executive officer, brought a thought that it would be better to establish a new fancy and romantic coffee house in European style, serving premium coffee. This idea revolutionized the coffee and cafe industry. Today, 40 years later, Starbucks has grown into one of the first-class corporations and has more than 17,000 shops in over 50 countries. 

Not only such innovative idea, but also its unique business concept is one of their recipes for success; "creating Starbucks Experience." Starbucks Experience is an experience that customers can get only at Starbucks. Specifically, customers can enjoy best coffee, best hospitality, and best environment when they visit Starbucks. All partners (all working staff are called "partners".) are given the mission to cherish the relationship with customers created through Starbucks Experience. So, partners treat a customer not as one of majority but as one precious individual. For instance, some partners remember the names of not only customers but also their children, and others saved a customer's life encouraging him. It seems that there are only a few companies which give highly place to the connection between customers and employees.

I did not know about that because I seldom go to Starbucks. But now I wanna go there and get Starbucks Experience.

Week5 10/16 What Is My Happiness?

Fixed Topic: What Is My Happiness?

I'm happy when I'm talking with my friends.

I'm happy when I get an e-mail from my family.

I'm happy when I go out with my partner.

I'm happy when I get acquainted with someone. 

But I'm not happy when I feel loneliness.

My happiness is to be involved with someone. I'm too shy and I cannot establish easily new relationship with someone. For this reason,  I feel so happy if I can make new human relationship, and I always think I have to cherish this relation and every moment to spend with people. Feeling I'm involved with somebody makes me happy.

But I do not know what is TRUE happiness for me. I think I have to continue to search for the answer in my life. I'm sure I can tell what my true happiness is when I finish my life.

Week5 10/13 What I Thought These Days

Open Topic: What I Thought These Days

When I went to grocery store in Tokyo, I saw a father and his child walking at the parking lot. The child was following his father, but the father looked aside and was absorbed in his cell phone. That day, the store was so crowded that there were many cars going in and out. I was so frustrated because the father completely looked away from his child even though there was a danger of a car hitting his child! It would be better if he held the hand of his child, but he just looked at his phone. I watched the child pass safely.......

Since I came to Tokyo, I faced such situations many times. I do not know what parents think who look aside from their children. Parents have the responsibility to watch their children. When I become a mother, I am sure of protecting my child at any cost...

Week4 10/9 What Is Necessary for Me

Open Topic: What Is Necessary for Me

I cannot live without music. That is to say, "no music, no life." 

Everyday I listen to music. Everyday I sing a song.  

I love listening to music while riding bicycle (even though a police officer sometimes tells me to stop.....) 

I love going to karaoke by myself (even though some of my friends say I am lonely.....)  

Whenever I am feeling good, music is always close to me.

Whenever I am feeling bad, music is always close to me. 

Music makes me happy. I wanna thank the first person to find music. 

But, strangely, 

music also makes me sad. I wanna blame the first person to find music.

Week4 10/4 What Are My Greatest Strengths and Weaknesses?

Fixed Topic: What Are My Greatest Strengths and Weaknesses?

My greatest weaknesses are…..

•  Lacking of Self Confidence (I mentioned it in my previous blog.)

•  Comparing Myself with Others

I tend to think I don't have greater ability to do anything compared with other people. Everyone, except for me, has some better abilities than others, but I don't have. I am just an ordinary person. I am always in average. I can never defeat anyone. This is my fundamental thought. (Tooooo negative! ) So, my thought starts with comparing with others. lol

•  Not Thinking Deeply

I seldom consider something. Despite reflecting on something, I always rely on instinct to make a decision. Sometimes it brings about good results, but mostly, it ends up in devastating consequences…. And because I’m not used to thinking deeply, I tend to make irresponsible comments as soon as I come up with it…. 

•  Hesitating to do something new

It takes too much time for me to take a new step, because I have no courage to do so. For me, it is so difficult to start a new part-time job, join new club activity, and speak to a new person….

• Being Short-Tempered

I cannot wait for someone for a long time. (My limit is waiting for about 10 minutes or so...) As soon as I notice someone getting in my way, I lose my temper a little bit….Be slow to anger, quick to be friend XO

As I have no self confidence, it is difficult to come upon with my strengths….hmm

My greatest strengths are…

•  Being Earnest (Sometimes)

I can devote myself to a challenge earnestly. The other day my friends said I was so earnest to do anything. But I don’t think so. I always think I mustn’t be a perfectionist, so I actually have intention to scamp my work, but….?

•  Longing for Something Different from Others

I don’t like the same things as others have. Even if there are good ideas, I try to come up with another idea. I think it is a kind of creativity. But it seems to be contradictory to my weakness I mentioned above….?  

•  Not Taking Too Seriously

It is a reverse side of my weakness, not thinking deeply. I seldom worry over anything, so I can think I have less stress than others. Such optimistic may be good now, but it may bring me danger in the future, I think…. (At that point, I’m not optimistic.)

• Having Strong Tie

I have just a few friends compared with others, but the relationship between the friends and me is so strong. I can open my heart to all the friends and they can, too. With my friends of kindergarten, elementary school, junior high, high school, preparatory school, ICU, and so on, I keep in touch now.

I cannot come up with my strengths any more!! I have to find them in my ICU life from now.....