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Post by momo black on Aug 31, 2016 14:15:16 GMT 9
I'm a first year CIR, and so I've been working for about a month now. I'm making this post because I just... can't... seem to figure out how to exist in the office.
This is my first job straight out of college, so it's my first time working in an office like this. There are only 10-12 people in my office at any given time, so we all see a lot of each other and only each other every day. Also, since there aren't a lot of people, it's easy to see what the people around you are doing. The other two CIRs in my office are about ten years older than me and neither of them speak English. (Only one of my coworkers speaks English and we don't overlap in our work much at all.)
My problem is that I frequently have nothing to do. I exhaust all the office-related things I can do to look busy, and end up either studying kanji or reading books in the office about Japanese laws. I wouldn't mind this so much if I felt like my coworkers didn't mind, but I feel like whenever my supervisor sees me doing one of those things, she doesn't like it. Like, she only tells me to do things if she sees me doing something like that.
If she tells me to do something I do it, but then I'm out of things to do again. Anytime I've tried to be proactive so far, she's basically told me, "it's too soon to do that," or "we need to discuss that in a group first," and so on. But then if I sit and wait to be told what to do, I feel like she's judging me or thinking I'm lazy or not working properly.
TL;DR: My office doesn't give me things to do but still wants me to be doing things. How can I leave a good impression on people while not getting in the way of them working...?
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Post by Caic on Aug 31, 2016 14:24:47 GMT 9
I am very bad at advice but my advice is to post lots on here.
Please don't look at my post count.
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Nurkiras
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Post by Nurkiras on Aug 31, 2016 14:30:59 GMT 9
Check out the Staying Motivated thread (should be under this one in the Conference Room)!
Otherwise: I just do translations of books and pamphlets to improve my Japanese and in case the need for it comes up you have practice working with local words/ are familiar with local-specific kanji etc. Plus you learn something! To be clear they haven't asked to do this, it's just for fun and improvement because I'm interested in translation.
Plan (food) events - I planned a sandwich-making event yesterday which gave me the excuse to "research" delicious sandwiches and recipes. This also makes you think realistically about logistics, prices, etc. so you can predict and prepare for potential challenges and criticisms and hopefully have a plan B or counterargument.
EDIT: obviously wasting time here increasing international understanding at a grass roots level is always a good idea
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Post by CaptainSeery on Aug 31, 2016 14:48:02 GMT 9
Even if your soup shoots you down, go on planning your events. Do the research. Figure out a date. Figure out every little detail, and then show it to her again. Best way to get something approved is to do all the legwork yourself.
I'm sure you've tried this already, but... if she's bothered by you not doing anything, bother her back. When you finish a task, ask her, "what should I do now?" "Is there anything I can help with?" Ask other people in your office. At least that way she can't say you're not trying.
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Post by momo black on Aug 31, 2016 14:55:38 GMT 9
Thanks everyone! This probably sounds lame but honestly it's just reassuring to know I'm not the only one with this issue, hue...
I have actually managed to get one event off the ground! Gonna read a picture book to some kids and draw pictures together. The difficulty I was having with that one was that it wasn't clear who the event 担当者 was, so even when she seemed like she liked the idea, I was stalling for my next step until today. I'll start looking into more details for a future event I want to do, too.
The reason I haven't bugged her back is that I'm easily intimidated and my supervisor has a spoopy way of getting mad... So, if I asked her if there was anything I could do and she was like "you should figure that out by yourself" I would feel bad. But maybe I'll work up courage and try at some point!
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Post by Caic on Aug 31, 2016 14:59:14 GMT 9
yeah, the getting used to people and getting confidence will just take a while. Just give it a few months and you will completely stop giving a shit. It's great fun all around then.
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Post by King Quailbee on Sept 1, 2016 9:22:44 GMT 9
Oh man. 1st year flashbacks hardcore.
My office intentionally made it so that I didn't have anything to do for the first month I was here - just so I could go exploring through old files and whatnot.
I took the time to write out event ideas and proposals - like practice my 公務員 writing style.
But yes, bother back. They may assume that you are already busy with whatever because you are practicing kanji when you really aren't. I also found that finding allies in the office ladies was especially helpful in spreading the news of "Hey. I'm bored. Let me do something."
Also, this sounds terrible and may not be the best, but once you figure out the connections and who it will be easier to work with, do things and then apologize later for it...
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Post by Shimanchu 2024 on Sept 1, 2016 14:34:01 GMT 9
Thanks everyone! This probably sounds lame but honestly it's just reassuring to know I'm not the only one with this issue, hue... I have actually managed to get one event off the ground! Gonna read a picture book to some kids and draw pictures together. The difficulty I was having with that one was that it wasn't clear who the event 担当者 was, so even when she seemed like she liked the idea, I was stalling for my next step until today. I'll start looking into more details for a future event I want to do, too. The reason I haven't bugged her back is that I'm easily intimidated and my supervisor has a spoopy way of getting mad... So, if I asked her if there was anything I could do and she was like "you should figure that out by yourself" I would feel bad. But maybe I'll work up courage and try at some point!
Yikes.
I've worked for 3 other Japanese companies before JET, and if I had a nickel for every time I've heard this phrase......
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Post by thelatter on Sept 2, 2016 8:51:41 GMT 9
I have a very similar problem. Where I am, there are things to do but it's all so spread out I have a lot of down time that I have no idea what to do with. I find myself reading books online about my culture(from Hawaii and Hawaiian) for presentation or article ideas. No one really cares if I'm on my phone, if I answer the office phones, or if I'm doing anything in general. I had to message my pred on a number of occasions to see if he had similar problems and he said he did but he's much more a self starter and personable than I am.
I'm a little lost everyday, but whatever I guess? It's nice to be paid to read and do some planning here and there.
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Nurkiras
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Post by Nurkiras on Sept 2, 2016 9:15:43 GMT 9
If you teach, plan fun and actually interesting/ different lessons that the kids will remember. Also, if you are involved with a school/ schools, try making an English corner where you post new words, pictures, really anything you want to share. The school I visit has one already but my pred was from a different country so I definitely can update it with pictures of my town, fun words, holidays etc.
If not, and you are interested in translation work, then like I mentioned above just translate tourist brochures, short stories on local history, forms around the office...anything really will improve your Japanese and translation ability. I am currently translating local short stories/ fairy tales and it's really interesting learning about the area this way.
I don't know where you are/ how big your city is etc., but if there is room for improvement on the English version of the website, talk to your supervisor about improving it! Or try making an English version if there isn't one (again, good translation practice plus website-building practice). They might be hesitant to o.k. this, though, so do some sample translations and have concrete suggestions ahead of time.
Just some ideas, hope this helps. Being bored at work is the worst.
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Post by no yark shark on Sept 5, 2016 13:16:18 GMT 9
Everything CaptainSeery said is spot on. I'd also add to read up as much as you can about your city online or in pamphlets, because you never know when it might come up or be useful in an interpretation or PR situation. It also doesn't hurt to start writing up a guide for your successor while things are still fresh on your mind. Events are a great way to spend time if you have the freedom to do things like that, especially if you really get into the nitty gritty details. My first event was Halloween, so I spent a lot of time reading up on Halloween on wikipedia, browsing for ideas for activities, going to stores to see what kind of supplies were available, writing up a summary/outline to show to my supervisor/the Exchange Association board and then making a chirashi and poster. Cooking events are also great because you can read about the history/culture of the dish on wikipedia, search for a recipe, write up an ingredients list/translate and convert the measurements in the recipe etc. My office will also let me do a practice run of my recipes during the work day before my events, so I'm lucky in that sense. |
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Post by momo black on Sept 5, 2016 14:54:04 GMT 9
My office has a very set schedule for how it does language courses and events, but I did manage to get them to make an exception for my November event, so I'll try to keep pushing those boundaries *^* without stepping on toes in the process hue Also, working one-on-one with a coworker on Sunday gave me a better idea of the office atmosphere since I could ask her some stuff I was concerned about, and it seems like for the most part it's not actually a problem if I just study when I've really got nothing else to do. I think I'm gonna try going super into the nitty gritty on an event idea like you suggested though, no yark shark ! Gonna see if I can pull together a cultural salon on American embroidery samplers. |
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Post by King Quailbee on Sept 5, 2016 15:06:06 GMT 9
My office has a very set schedule for how it does language courses and events, but I did manage to get them to make an exception for my November event, so I'll try to keep pushing those boundaries *^* without stepping on toes in the process hue Also, working one-on-one with a coworker on Sunday gave me a better idea of the office atmosphere since I could ask her some stuff I was concerned about, and it seems like for the most part it's not actually a problem if I just study when I've really got nothing else to do. I think I'm gonna try going super into the nitty gritty on an event idea like you suggested though, no yark shark ! Gonna see if I can pull together a cultural salon on American embroidery samplers. Wait. Wait. You do embroidery? 
(My mom is a cross stitch designer so I know how to do cross stitch...)
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Post by momo black on Sept 5, 2016 15:10:00 GMT 9
Wait. Wait. You do embroidery? :O (My mom is a cross stitch designer so I know how to do cross stitch...)
YOUR MOM WAS A CROSS STITCH DESIGNER? YO. YOOOOOO that's really cool. I do caaaaasual embroidery as a hobby. I'm trying to get into some more complicated stuff but it's difficult. Mostly I just do chain stitch with a little satin stitch here and there. But I'm trying to improve so I figure research for a salon (that's what we call our cultural events) would be a great excuse to do it! I think the best things I've made are a little bag saying feminist killjoy in cursive, and another which reads Sappho in Greek letters in satin stitch. That one took forever haha |
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Post by King Quailbee on Sept 5, 2016 15:18:12 GMT 9
Wait. Wait. You do embroidery?
(My mom is a cross stitch designer so I know how to do cross stitch...)
YOUR MOM WAS A CROSS STITCH DESIGNER? YO. YOOOOOO that's really cool. I do caaaaasual embroidery as a hobby. I'm trying to get into some more complicated stuff but it's difficult. Mostly I just do chain stitch with a little satin stitch here and there. But I'm trying to improve so I figure research for a salon (that's what we call our cultural events) would be a great excuse to do it! I think the best things I've made are a little bag saying feminist killjoy in cursive, and another which reads Sappho in Greek letters in satin stitch. That one took forever haha Yeah, you can check out some of her designs here: www.google.co.jp/search?q=cross+stitch+midsummer+night+designs&biw=790&bih=795&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjrj7r4yPfOAhWFp5QKHXSxCqoQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=_
She has some simple designs as well as some really intricate ones.
Cross-stitch is actually pretty popular in Japan as well. You can also introduce some of the pop-culture insult-y types.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2016 13:49:06 GMT 9
Actually Ainu embroidery has many distinct styles as well as cultural/spiritual significance for each shape. Might be fun to include in a cross-stitch event so Japanese attendees can learn about different cultures both abroad and at home? |
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kobebryantbeef
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CIR Experience: 5th year
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Post by kobebryantbeef on Sept 13, 2016 15:52:58 GMT 9
Reading a book or newspaper is announcing to everyone around you that have free time and aren't being productive to the office. Unless it's something directly related to you work, don't do it when your supervisor is around. If you have nothing to do, ask your supervisor what you can do or how you can help them. They will never say, "Sorry, there's nothing for you to do." Otherwise, ask other office members how you can help them. Since you just arrived, your supervisor and co-workers don't trust you enough to leave you on your own or start doing your own tasks. Like they said, it's too early. You just need to give it some time. As far as having to discuss everything in a meeting before doing it, this is just the way working in Japan is. Before anything is decided you should ask everyone who will be in the meeting if they think it's ok, then call a meeting to ask everyone together if it's ok. If you really have that much free time, download some books to read on your computer while making it look like you are doing work, or open up a Word Document and start grinding out that Space Opera you've always been dreaming about writing. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2016 16:06:54 GMT 9
Reading a book or newspaper is announcing to everyone around you that have free time and aren't being productive to the office. Unless it's something directly related to you work, don't do it when your supervisor is around. If you have nothing to do, ask your supervisor what you can do or how you can help them. They will never say, "Sorry, there's nothing for you to do." Otherwise, ask other office members how you can help them. Since you just arrived, your supervisor and co-workers don't trust you enough to leave you on your own or start doing your own tasks. Like they said, it's too early. You just need to give it some time. As far as having to discuss everything in a meeting before doing it, this is just the way working in Japan is. Before anything is decided you should ask everyone who will be in the meeting if they think it's ok, then call a meeting to ask everyone together if it's ok. If you really have that much free time, download some books to read on your computer while making it look like you are doing work, or open up a Word Document and start grinding out that Space Opera you've always been dreaming about writing. I have been told this nearly every day for the past week and a half.  |
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kobebryantbeef
Straight outta Narita
massive gohoubi of kobe bryant beef injection
Posts: 11
CIR Experience: 5th year
Location: Hyogo
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Post by kobebryantbeef on Sept 13, 2016 16:56:25 GMT 9
If you have nothing to do, ask your supervisor what you can do or how you can help them. They will never say, "Sorry, there's nothing for you to do." Otherwise, ask other office members how you can help them. I have been told this nearly every day for the past week and a half. Wow, in that case I'm not sure what to say. I've never had that experience. At my office there is always something, even it's filing documents in binders that nobody will ever look at and be liquidated after five years, or making excel files about the contents of the spam mail we get (Nigerian Prince anyone??). There are probably things that they can give you but are holding back due to trust. In that case I would relax and just be thankful that you aren't working overtime! Try asking everyone else in the office if they need help or if you can do something. |
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icaman
Straight outta Narita
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Post by icaman on Sept 20, 2016 15:44:12 GMT 9
I have been told this nearly every day for the past week and a half. Wow, in that case I'm not sure what to say. I've never had that experience. At my office there is always something, even it's filing documents in binders that nobody will ever look at and be liquidated after five years, or making excel files about the contents of the spam mail we get (Nigerian Prince anyone??). There are probably things that they can give you but are holding back due to trust. In that case I would relax and just be thankful that you aren't working overtime! Try asking everyone else in the office if they need help or if you can do something.
If there is nothing they want you to do, you could research ideas for a 広報 newsletter article ... and then convince your city to publish it in their newsletter. That's two time-eating tasks right there 
Also you could create a pamphlet in English about how to enjoy your city in autumn or winter.
You can also write in Japanese about Things That Surprised Me About [Your City] and put it on a CIR blog or in their newsletter. If there's no CIR blog or SNS account you could then create that.
Just a few ideas. You could also try getting out of the office to go around to the international center or city hall to introduce yourself.
Good luck!
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Post by miscreative on Sept 21, 2016 13:53:08 GMT 9
Hi. So I wasnt sure which thread to put this in but here we go
I have to submit my plan for next 年度's events... on tuesday... for budget purposes
This is my chance to do what i want suggest new things for me to do. I have free reign more or less (within reason)
Does anyone have ideas? these would run through the international center which is located in a community center.
I was thinking about doing more cooking classes (no lecture part), lectures on queer stuff (i am not sure how they would handle this but...),.... and that is pretty much all i have
Lectures are the easiest as they require no budget but i am not good at (read: i dont particularly like doing) lectures
よろしく
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2016 14:10:56 GMT 9
Hi. So I wasnt sure which thread to put this in but here we go I have to submit my plan for next 年度's events... on tuesday... for budget purposes This is my chance to do what i want suggest new things for me to do. I have free reign more or less (within reason) Does anyone have ideas? these would run through the international center which is located in a community center. I was thinking about doing more cooking classes (no lecture part), lectures on queer stuff (i am not sure how they would handle this but...),.... and that is pretty much all i have Lectures are the easiest as they require no budget but i am not good at (read: i dont particularly like doing) lectures よろしく Off the top of my head idea/response: I imagine that would be verrrryyy hard to get approval but maybe if it's phrased as part of a larger thing, like a series of lectures on how to provide support to groups more specific than just "foreigners," and queer visitors/residents could be part of that? You could sprinkle various hands-on activities related to empathy/breaking down stereotypes throughout the lecture part of it if that's more your cup of tea.
Also I love cooking so always in favor of more cooking classes. 0u0
Do you have any other skills/hobbies that you could turn into a program? You do cooking classes already but for example "Yoga in English" or something like that. My college always had yoga classes taught in French and they were really popular. Since you can mirror the instructor's actions you're never totally lost.
Collaborate with local library about a monthly storytime? Or just do your own at the international center?
I plan best with lots of copious notes and diagrams and tables, so if I were in this situation I would start with what type of people so I want to work with, what type of service do I want to/can I provide, what resources (budget, supplies, volunteers, location, etc.) would I need, one-time event or repeated program, etc. -- and keep building until you have concrete, detailed ideas.
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Post by marudate on Sept 21, 2016 15:22:06 GMT 9
As far as having to discuss everything in a meeting before doing it, this is just the way working in Japan is. Before anything is decided you should ask everyone who will be in the meeting if they think it's ok, then call a meeting to ask everyone together if it's ok. hue, I think we've had 5 meetings in the past 2 years here. They were nearly impossible to get scheduled, and got blown off once they were scheduled, so I stopped trying. The first few months here were pretty work-free, so I did a lot of planning, prepped documents, trainings, etc. and eventually got to do most of them. I just do things that I can do without assistance, and clue people into what I'm up to as it's underway or completed so they can take credit. If I need help on a project pitch it to coworkers and then get general approval from the bosses to proceed with it in a conversation. This won't work with places with stronger management, but if everyone is overwhelmed they may need you to figure out more and manage yourself, or you'll have nothing to do. You'll learn how to make your workplace function through trial and error. Perhaps ask other people how to get anything done in your office. It may have little to do with the org. chart of who is supposedly in charge. |
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kobebryantbeef
Straight outta Narita
massive gohoubi of kobe bryant beef injection
Posts: 11
CIR Experience: 5th year
Location: Hyogo
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Post by kobebryantbeef on Sept 23, 2016 10:27:49 GMT 9
The first few months here were pretty work-free, so I did a lot of planning, prepped documents, trainings, etc. and eventually got to do most of them. I just do things that I can do without assistance, and clue people into what I'm up to as it's underway or completed so they can take credit. If I need help on a project pitch it to coworkers and then get general approval from the bosses to proceed with it in a conversation. This won't work with places with stronger management, but if everyone is overwhelmed they may need you to figure out more and manage yourself, or you'll have nothing to do. You'll learn how to make your workplace function through trial and error. Perhaps ask other people how to get anything done in your office. It may have little to do with the org. chart of who is supposedly in charge. Ok, I guess every situation truly is different. I have at least one meeting (meaning talking with other people in my kakari together or from other departments for 30m-1hr+) a day, sometimes can have three or more, and also leave the office to meet with local organizations/companies depending on the day. I mean to say you should pitch it to everyone who has decision making power first before springing it on everyone in a meeting setting. |
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Post by momo black on Sept 26, 2016 10:13:06 GMT 9
As far as having to discuss everything in a meeting before doing it, this is just the way working in Japan is. Before anything is decided you should ask everyone who will be in the meeting if they think it's ok, then call a meeting to ask everyone together if it's ok. hue, I think we've had 5 meetings in the past 2 years here. They were nearly impossible to get scheduled, and got blown off once they were scheduled, so I stopped trying. The first few months here were pretty work-free, so I did a lot of planning, prepped documents, trainings, etc. and eventually got to do most of them. I just do things that I can do without assistance, and clue people into what I'm up to as it's underway or completed so they can take credit. If I need help on a project pitch it to coworkers and then get general approval from the bosses to proceed with it in a conversation. This won't work with places with stronger management, but if everyone is overwhelmed they may need you to figure out more and manage yourself, or you'll have nothing to do. You'll learn how to make your workplace function through trial and error. Perhaps ask other people how to get anything done in your office. It may have little to do with the org. chart of who is supposedly in charge. My office has one office-wide meeting per month, at the beginning of the month. Everything else is just one-on-one meetings with specific people involved, but it was initially really hard for me to tell how I was supposed to call such a meeting/how that sort of formal meeting differed from just talking stuff over with people. I had one meeting with my soup and the event tantousha where we literally just repeated stuff that we had already discussed together, but this time sitting at a meeting table and holding paperwork. I think I more or less have the hang of it now though. :) |
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