寿司、朝日ビール、だいそ、ユニクロ、三越など。。。

It has been a difficult few weeks adjusting back to life in the UK. The added pressure of not having a job yet is starting to 1) send me stir crazy and 2) make me realise how much I miss Japan more than ever. However, despite my negativity I remain optimistic. Yesterday I had a very useful chat with a Careers Advisor locally who gave me some useful tips for my CV and gave me a few more avenues to explore to find work. There are jobs out there, it's just that the competition for each job is higher and more niche jobs are harder to come by. My Advisor even suggested I become a Recruitment Consultant myself due to the overwhelming current demand from people seeking work.... We'll see. After a knock back from a Travel company in Cambridge last week (probably a blessing in disguise) I am determined to get back on track and I am realistic enough to know that I might have to either accept a lower offer or I may have to consider other sectors to work in.

Last Friday I attended a careers event in London for returning JETs where I met a lovely old friend of mine that I was in Japan with. As well as some useful stands from a number of recruitment agencies, companies and other organisations, the short CV advisory session I booked was well the ten minutes it took. If nothing else I think I now have a killer CV which will soon be sent out by the lorry load to businesses and organisations up and down the country! It was an interesting and fun day out in London... after the seminar I decided to go to the Japan Centre (because I can't keep away!). To my surprise, attached to the Japan Centre on Picadilly is a new Daiso!! I was so excited to find Daiso in London. However, I was sorely dissapointed and let-down once inside. There were a few Daiso items (all of which I have seen on the shelves in Japan), but sadly all marked up to around double the price or more. I did buy some essentials from the small supermarket including dashi stock, miso, Japanese soy sauce, katsuobushi, wasabi dried peas, shiso and rice! I kinda hoped I would bump into an old friend from Yamaguchi who I had heard was working there, but he was not in. I missed the chance of buying a rice cooker as the lady in front of me took the last one, although I couldnt resist speaking a few words to the Japanese attendants in Japanese. No 「すげー。。。日本語上手」　tho and no shocked faces - not even pointing and staring at the 外人 - I was dissapointed!! For now I will still have to contend with cooking rice in the saucepan (which invaribly sticks and forms a hard crust)!

My shopping spree in "rip-off" Daiso was followed by a trip to Wagama Restaurant - a kinda fusion / Japanese chain. I love Wagamama because it is cheap and well cooked food - hard to come by in London! I had to have Asahi of course followed by toufu noodle salad with beans which was as good as expected. A side-dish of edamame and I was complete.

Wagama was followed by a trip to Uniqlo (to remind myself of my Ube roots) and a quick visit to Mitskoshi - YES.... we even have one of those too!

Having had my fix for the day I headed home on the last train with my bottle of unfinished Asahi in one hand and bag of Japanese food in the other.

Next week I begin Japanese lessons again and hopefully meet two Japanese students in Norwich.

もちろん日本がまだ超恋しいですけど、頑張りますよ！