I’m not talking about the music I listen in the train (which helps me wake up) but the fact is that they play some music at work in the morning. My work isn’t supposed to start until 8:30 but I usually arrive at 8:15. By that time all the office is dark and there are already some sleepy people clicking the keyboard keys.

At about 8:10 some relaxing melody begins. It has a combination of faint classical music with some bird sounds.

Once this song finishes it is exercise time! So another funny music starts and some guy gives instructions about exercises. Fortunately you don’t have to do exercise, it depends on how much group pressure is applied on you. I my case no one in my two teams takes exercise, so it is ok for me. But poor Gerardo is in a very sporty team. They are the only ones in all the big office who actually do some exercise so he has to follow them. It is usually very stupid, some stretching and upper body worm-up. I must take them a video but I think I am not supposed to do so.

When it finishes the Omron Song begins (I don’t really know if it’s the Omron Song but Nan is pretty sure). It is like some kind of hymn, a strong voice is singing proudly and some chorus accompany it. Trumpets and drums marc the melody and when it finishes another melody begins. This new melody hasn’t got any lyrics and it reminds me of some military song. It is plaid by flutes and drums and when it reaches its climax a whole orchestra joins it. Everyone knows this melody and when they can sense that the end is coming they all leave what they are doing and stand up ready for the “bare-bare” thing.

The “bare-bare” thing is a kind of ritual they have to start working. They all stand up and look at the boss in one side of the room. Then from the speakers it comes a voice that says some phrase and then everybody repeats it. After three phrases the spokesman says “IIO!” and everybody bows and we can finally start working. People usually mutter those phrases (even so no one is completely silent) but especially my college, Okuda-san shouts. It seems that he really feels it. I don’t know exactly what they say but they say something like “working today for a better tomorrow”. Again, say hello to Big Brother…

They have this “Ware-Ware” ritual every single day except for Friday. I was quite surprised because on Friday no one was getting up (but me). The reason they gave me is that it is a way to break the routine and prepare for the weekend. They are so simple!

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