STRESS!

Posted on 2006/09/13 24:58:24 (September 2006).

[Monday 11th September]
Actually the title is a reference to the weekend before last - in one of the bars we went to in Shinjuku we got a guy to take our picture, and rather than the usual "Cheeeeese!" he shouted "Streeeeeeeeess!", which we all rather liked.

Comparatively speaking today wasn't quite the most stressful day I've ever had at work, but I did find myself getting increasingly wound up as the day wore on. Three of the management team (including my direct manager) were supposed to be over from the US for a round of meetings this week. I was very keen to take the opportunity to have a good chat with my manager about my future (or lack thereof) at the company. However, whilst the other two guys arrived as expected, my manager had to cancel at the last minute. So I'd sort of built myself up for a big speech, and then wasn't able to deliver it... which was pretty frustrating.

It seems Shig was also feeling the strain a little, so we decided after work to try and let off some steam. We went to a couple of izakayas first, and then went for something of a karaoke blow-out - I think we went well beyond the usual hour, and possibly it was more than two in the end.

It was interesting to me to analyse the difference in choices of songs that me and Shig chose for the purposes of relieving stress. Mine were all pretty shouty and occasionally angry (Nirvana's Lithium, Blur's Song 2, etc etc) whereas Shig chose songs that were energetic but, without wanting to put them down, of the "feel good" variety. Not sure if this is a cultural difference or just because we like different types of music, but now I think about it I don't think I've ever really heard any shouty angry music in Japan - most people here just don't seem to go in for that sort of thing.

Oh, and I sang "Puff the Magic Dragon", just to even up the karmic balance a bit.

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