The eighth week

Sometimes it is astonishing how things change when setting forth on a journey in a far away country. So I’ve been here for two months now and already withstood the biggest culture shocks. So slowly the daily routine begins for me. My ass!

As I only have a part time job in a daycare I’m applying for further jobs. The most interesting job of all Brandon found for me. He is hosting me for the second time already but he seems to be pretty relaxed about it even though we are only sharing a 16 m² room. There are localising agencies that do bug and and linguistic testing for video games in their development state. Since I look back on several years experience in the video game industry I’m applying at two companies specialized in that field seeking German native speakers. In contrast to the teaching job I can understand that only native speakers can be considered in this case of course. In fact both agencies got back to me, sending me a German test which I have to complete within a weekend respectively two weeks and send it back.

Shortly after sending the completed test back on Monday morning I’m promptly being invited to a job interview the next day. I’m studying their web page and learning that their HQ is located in Canada and they also have a subsidiary in Madrid and of course one here close to Kawasaki.

In a short mail I am confirming the appointment and am asking for understanding to appear in more casual attire since my suit will still be on the way to Japan :) The answer is coming promptly and legitimises me to come to the job interview in a casual dress code.

It is hot and bright this Tuesday and I’m on my way from Kawagoe in Saitama prefecture to Kanagawa prefecture and on to Saginuma. For that I actually have to cross the whole of Tokyo (metropole and prefecture). Actually I am reaching the final destination on time but on my walk to the job interview I’m getting lost once again of course. Obviously I must be about ten minutes away from the office but according to the office’s directions it should only be two minutes. Well, actually I like hot weather but today it’s anything else than helpful. Wandering around in this heat gets me rather sweaty. I’m looking for a taxi as time is running out. Of course you’ll never see one when you need one. I’m supposed to be at the interview at 3 o’ clock/3 p.m. and it is five to 3. Wow, it seems that even here in Japan I live up to my standard: 10 Minutes after time is Simon’s prime. No … unfortunately I don’t comply with that this time. What is even cooler is the fact that I don’t have any cash with me and the taxi, which I just hailed, doesn’t accept credit cards. To inform them about my tardiness I’m calling the agency. In the meantime I’m thinking: In fact it would be best if a Japanese man could explain the directions to the taxi driver. So I am availing myself of this situation and asking the company manager if I may pass on my cell phone to the taxi driver so that he could explain the way to him. I’m passing on the cell phone, the taxi driver receives exact directions and passes the phone back to me. “Oh well, there would be one more thing,”, I’m telling the company manager, “could you please help me out with another problem? I don’t have any cash with me. Could you pay the taxi fare for me and I will pay it back later?” …

With a delay of 20 minutes I’m arriving for the job interview. Seemingly more amused than snubbed are the boss and his personal anager about the way of my advent. However, they are also a little shocked by my appearance. I’m completely soaked with sweat. My shirt is a complete wash rag! And I mean a not wringed out one! Not any dry spot can be spotted on my shirt. It is so wet that it sticks to my skin everywhere. Hm… I think drenched as I am I should keep the comment – “I thought I applied for a wet shirt contest.”, for myself. Also to answer the question if everything was all right in the Bruce Willis style: “Hm…? Ah well yeah today is laundry day!” too does not seem appropriate.

I am certainly aware this isn’t a story book beginning for a new job and after I’ve been informed about what my tasks would be it seems I have to explain another scurrility and seem to completely confuse the manager now: “Just a moment, you are in Japan for almost two months now, are registered to an address where you only live occasionally?”

“Er, yes or thereabouts.”, I’m answering.

“Well, then… As long as you don’t appear to work as late as you were today our company has no problems with that. But how do we calculate your commuting costs then which we would be willing to pay? And to what address are we supposed to send mail? And could you start immediately? You know it’s a full time position.”

“Just a moment. I thought it was a project based job which indicated to me flexible working hours like the language schools here are offering it.” I’m asking.

“No, we would hire you full time! There’s no way around it!” his answer comes pretty straight.

“Well, but I already signed a part time contract as an English teacher. And it’s valid until March next year… Okay. Let’s say I was willing to give up the job as an English teacher provided the daycare would accept the contract annulment. Could we find a solution this way?”, I’m asking.

“Well, as we are urgently looking for someone to fill this position we decide tonight and will let you know about our decision. Should we come down for you we would of course give you one to two days time to solve the problem regarding your part time job. For now we would put the other applicants on hold. Today is Tuesday could you start next Monday?”, he would like to know.

“Well as mentioned before I have to settle this with the daycare. But I’m sure I can give you an answer by tomorrow.”, I’m saying.

“Good, as we are urgently looking for somebody to fill this position as soon as possible we will decide tonight so that you can start to arrange things, should we decide on you. So then all the best!” he’s accompanying me to the door.

“They won’t take me anyway as clumsy, delayed and all sweaty I showed up there and under which criteria it would come to an engagement at all!”, I’m thinking to myself strolling through Shibuya’s metro station when my cell phone is ringing: “Hallo Pendzich San this is the Enzyme office. We would like to hire you…

Wow, pretty cool! What a cool job! But on the other hand… What about the kids at the daycare? They are really dear to my heart already also I don’t want to leave the forthcoming boss in a lurch. But actually lurching is something most Japanese people do every day after work anyway. So maybe they can adapt to this quite easily.

I don’t work at the daycare on Wednesdays but one should not ask the boss via phone, mail or text message to cancel a contract without the one month cancellation period after all. So I’m sallying to the daycare.

Arriving there I’m asking the boss for a confidential conversation. I’m explaining him my situation, that it wasn’t an easy decision for me but I’m asking him to annul the working contract without the cancellation period. As an additional bribery and apology I’m handing him a bottle of wine. So much for leaving him in the lurch. Well, I think this will make the lurching even stronger but what am I to do?

It’s plain to see that my boss Kuba San is not really thrilled that he now, after just one month, has to look for another teacher once again. With Japanese politeness Kuba San accepts my decision. I’m telling him that the linguistic testing agency offered me to avail myself of an interim period of two weeks. Kuba San asks me to work for these two weeks for him. “With pleasure!”, I’m agreeing, “and once again sorry.”

It seems I have to adopt to a new daily routine. I’m excited about what awaits me next week.

You traitor. You promised us to stay until March!

Good bye!

Special thanks to: Hubertus Neidhart from Webspace Provider Network for excellent web page hosting services; my boss Kuba San, Brandon Lamb, U.S.A.;