29
Jan
Maria’s Work at JBIC
Topic: Family and Friends, Japan 2007
Here’s another guest post from Maria, describing her work.
Michael asked me to post something about what I’m doing at JBIC (the Japan Bank for International Cooperation). Probably the best way is for me to do this is to let you know what my typical day is like. I chose to come to JBIC because I’m interested in looking at the ways in which financial globalization is affecting foreign aid. Since JBIC focuses on soft or concessional loans ( i.e., with heavily discounted interest rates for the poorest countries), and because it is about to undergo a major reorganization next year, I thought it would be a great vantage point to look at both the politics and economics of foreign aid in Japan.
My day at the office begins as I step through the sliding glass doors of the JBIC building in Takebashi (part of the Otemachi financial district). Everyone gets a snappy salute and ‘good morning’ by the security guards and receptionists in the lobby. Then up to the 8th floor where the project development section is located. I sit in the project evaluation department (hyoukasitsu) right across from the director. It’s a typical Japanese office, where everyone sits together in rows. There are short dividers between our desks. Ordinarily, my spot wouldn’t be considered that desirable. Too close to the director, and right next to the window, which signifies that you are being frozen out in the hopes that you might quit. But I really like my spot (and the director is great: from time to time he’ll hand me some interesting stuff to look at).
I’m furnished with a computer and the office has provided me a pile of materials to go through to familiarize me with the ongoing projects and the methodologies for evaluation. Most of the materials are in Japanese, aside from some contractual forms in English. I just got a new Canon wordtank (G55) so my reading of the Japanese materials is going a bit faster. The conversation here is mainly Japanese, though almost everyone here speaks excellent English: kind of a prerequisite for doing international development work, and nearly everyone here has spent substantial time abroad. I don’t mind since it really helps with my language skills. There are also a couple of JBIC libraries where I also get materials. So, I’m happily going through this stuff.
The really interesting tasks are just emerging. Aside from my own research, there is a chance for me to get an up-close experience with a JBIC ODA (official direct assistance) project. The director and deputy director met with me and suggested I visit power generation projects in Vietnam and financial projects in the Philippines. Very exciting stuff, and this might happen sometime in March. I’ve been given more materials to go through to familiarize myself with these areas, plus I collected some other papers to get some foundation on the main themes.
My office-mates are extremely collegial and inclusive. Many foreigners complain that it takes them forever to become integrated in the work environment and even then, they never feel included completely. I have lunch with a few coworkers everyday, unless I’m meeting someone else. I’m automatically included in all office communication and I can attend all the group meetings.
I’m usually among the first out the door around 5:30 pm. Most of the staffers here stay late despite the bells at 5:15 that tell you the day is done (don’t really know how late, since the latest I ever stayed was till 7:00pm). More than half are women, and yes, they are professional-track. (It’s not surprising that Japan has a demographic problem: who has any time for kids?) Almost every day there is some seminar or talk to attend either here or hosted at a university or think tank nearby. There’s just no way to attend all the ones I’d want to hear. But I try to go to one a week, or perhaps 2 if they are located here and the hour isn’t too late, and Michael isn’t feeling too crushed with kid-minding duties.
I’m having a great, stimulating time which I appreciate even more after a somewhat mind-numbing past year. Suburbia is definitely an easier place to raise kids, but spending 2 hours+ a day in the car and chasing Baby Godzilla (aka Eidan) around for most of the day (it’s a good thing for him he’s cute and lovable) didn’t do wonders for my research. Thanks to Michael, who is taking over these responsibilities for the next half year, I’m getting a chance to jumpstart my work.
Print
