What's Next?

Tuition to study for U.S. CPA exams, $5,000

Fee to take the exams, $800 plus

A cup of drip coffee to jumpstart my brain, $3

Friendship, support, love and self-esteem, PRICELESS

---

a Master Card?

Today my certificate has arrived at last. To be honest, it costed a lot more than I listed above. The whole application process was so cumbersome as well. I had been to a prep school for an year. It took another couple years to earn college credits of business and accounting to complete the State's educational requirement, which is equivalent of graduate school level. Then, needed my academic credits to be checked and certified. Every time I took an exam, I had to acquire State board's approval, book a testing center, flight and hotel. What is worse, with oil prices peaked last summer, had to pay that ridiculous, extra fuel surcharge.

So, how much is the value of the certificate I acquired after all? Is it the opportunity cost I gave up earning at my previous job last several months? Or an incremental salary I will earn from now on? Whatever the value is, this isn't a goal, but just a new beginning. How to use this "Master Card" is, up to me.

Now, what's next?

The Pursuit of Happiness

A friend of mine told me the following quotation last week. (Something like this at best. My memory ain't so bad, I hope)

人は判断力を失い結婚し
Those who lose their minds get married
忍耐力を失い離婚し
Those who lose their temper get divorced, and
記憶力を失い再婚する
Those who lose their memory get married again

"Getting divorced is like changing a job" said Kazuyo Katsuma, an economist. When I first heard her analogy, I did not really buy it. As learning the opening quotation later, however, I realized there are some truths in it. That is, sound decision-making is very important at some life stages. So are patience and the humbleness to learn from the past failures.

These words are reminders to me. I had a dream. Working hard and getting busier, however, I lost it. To start a new job, I watched Will Smith's "Pursuit of Happiness", but it's more important to remember why I chose this job, and what I wanna do in the future.

My Bible

Last year I met a book: Jeffrey Sachs's "the End of Poverty". I remembered him as an "cold-hearted" economist who implemented so-called "shock therapy" to transform the post-communist Polish economy to market capitalism in 1990s. But, as reading the book, was surprised to learn that now he works for ending poverty in the world by initiating the UN Millennium Development Project, in which I really wanna join.

As meeting HR consultants and attending seminars of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and so forth, they all reminded me of the old feelings: the excitement during college and the reality of my African friends. Although I haven't gotten one this time, I won't give up. Everything that has happened to me only solidified my career vision.

I should admit I wasn't competitive enough. Hence, I have some lessons to be learned. The lessons that I haven't planned well, that I didn't keep studying for the career, and that I only sought the reasons why I can't do it rather than how I can. The new job ain't the one I really wanted to get, but I do believe it helps build up my career path, and in line with my dream.

So, if I lose myself again, remind me of watching "The Pursuit of Happiness" and reading "The End of Poverty" (and perhaps this piece of my blog as well).

---
btw, the friend who mentioned the first quote is getting married soon. Congrats!! It's funny that a soon-to-be bride says such words, but I guess it's just her way to conceal her joy and happiness. And I'm so positive that she and her husband will live happily ever after.

スタバカ日誌 - Daydream -

So, are we gonna get the new breakfast deals of coffee and sandwich at 355 Japanese Yen ($3.95 x 90) in Tokyo starting next month as well?
"Starbucks Says Hello to a New Day With Pairings at $3.95"

If so, that would be so sweet, given that today's Tall Coffee costs at 340 Yen and Tall Caffè Latte at 370 Yen respectively!! Starbucks raised its beverages and foods by 10 to 20 Yen last July, by the way. Remember?

"Bittersweet Poetry" (by Kanye West feat. John Mayer)

Valentine's Day is coming soon.

It seems to me that this annual event in Japan hasn't been so commercialized as much as Christmas. Perhaps it is because only commodities retailers can exploit are flower, card and chocolate. There are also some compilation records of sweet love songs released around this time of a year. But, as Forrest Gump's mother said, "Life is like a box of chocolate. You never know what you're gonna get." And you never know what you're getting is a piece, a whole box or nothing at all.

Hope for the best, but good to expect the worst as well.

So, what happens to those left out? Koreans have the Black Day. On April 14, those who spent unhappy Valentine's Day alone get together and eat a bowl of noodle with black bean sauce. If you aren't living in Korea, I recommend listening to Kanye West's latest album, "808s & Heartbreak", especially songs like "Hearless" and "Love Lockdown". Oh, and "Bittersweet Poetry" is a great song as well. Also, order a cup of espresso shot at Starbucks, or that of "bittersweet" Double Mocha (Mocha with an additional espresso shot) if espresso shot is too bitter. Happy couples won't need Caramel Macchiato and Honey Orange Latte, aren't they? Oh, these "sleepless in Tokyo" (NOT this one) folks won't need caffeine to stay awake in the first place!!

Happy Valentine's Day.

"Grammy Family" (by Consequence)

This must be a proof that I'm good at predicting the unpredictable. Or that I just prefer catchy, pop music?

This year's Grammy Winners and Nominees from my collection

After the 51st Grammy Awards last Sunday, thinking 'bout purchasing the albums of Lil Wayne and Jazmine.

Sleepless in Tokyo (Not Seattle)

Notice of Night Construction Work

Oh, no. They're coming back 2 work 2... a Sarah Palin and a Joe the Plumber.
Working from 8pm through 6am next week. Nice.

Back 2 Work

It's been 2 weeks since I started a new job. To simply put, my job is to predict the unpredictable. It ain't fortune-telling, though! In other words, the mission of my company is, to promote international trade and investment by helping customers, mostly Japanese enterprises, manage political and commercial risks in international business.

c'est la vie. et les affaires aussi.

It's great to be working such a company when the world economy is in a once-in-a-century trouble and the importance of risk management is mounted more than ever. I haven't yet analyzed such risks as do my colleagues, but so far I have found more similarities than differences from my previous job. And my previous employer is one of the biggest customers.

After the first two weeks, I still have a lot to learn. Need more time and effort to enhance my expertise. What I have learned so far is how to cope with sleepiness. I've been getting back my acting skills as well. Wonder what the skills are for? Well, it's useful for pretending to be working hard! :)

Now I'm thinking to start learning tarot card or casino. :P
Any suggestions?

Still talking 'bout Steel

The world has been keeping its eyes on those "Steelers" at the Capitol Hill who try to make the last minute touchdown by including a Buy-American (iron and steel) provision in its economic stimulus package. We'll wait and see whether they are as good as Pittsburgh Steelers that made it at last Sunday's Super Bowl. If the bill includes such a provision, other countries are most likely to retaliate with "Bye American". They are neither "Bestbuy" nor "Good-bye".

The shifts to protectionism is mounted all over the world. The increases in tariff and of government loan/guarantee are here and there. Professor Paul Krugman, a laureate of the latest Nobel prize in Economics, also discusses the benefits of "protectionism", but only when some specifications (contained, short-run one during a global liquidity trap) meet. The news reports from Davos in the past one week were colored by the criticisms on American capitalism for spreading the financial crisis.

Yet, fewer reports highlighted Putin's speech in his blame on the U.S. than in his remarks on the importance of economic liberalization. Interestingly enough, the premier emphasized the importance of free trade and so on. It's a bit self-contradictory while observing his country having increased its tariff on car imports and the state interventions in Sakhalin gas projects. Still, it's obvious the world needs market economy and the U.S. to come back with a solid, economic growth.

It's been a while since the Iron Maiden has gone. Now where is the "Iron Man" who save the world?