こんにちは, konnichiwa dear ebi(s) (shrimps),
I haven’t found much time to draw or post anything lately, and the absence of a scanner does not make things any easier. Plus, I have been very busy - moving, midterms, and the start of a new part time job have taken up a lot of my free time. This is a time of changes and I will soon draw and post about all these new adventures.
One interesting new experience came up completely out of the blue. When you are a gaijin (literally, outside person, outsider. The politically correct word for this is gaikokujin, and this term is already pretty self-explanatory - person from a foreign country) in Japan, it is fairly typical to get stared at or asked questions such as “where from” (Japanese people and English are very incompatible) or the more likely “America?” It is also common to be approached by advertising/modeling agencies. Being fairly short and a “common” looking gaijin, I was very surprised to be approached by Hollister/A&F scouts looking for staff for their new store. I knew nothing about the brand and to be honest did not really care for it (though the latest controversy about A&F’s “selecting” of its customers based on size and weight did make me roll my eyes), but I still went to the interview, for the heck of it, with a girl friend. Surprisingly enough, considering our fairly intermediate Japanese level, we got hired. I started work this Sunday and it’s a blast. I never would have expected liking working in retail, but hey, there is a start to everything. There is an interesting vibe in the store (which doesn’t open until December 19th), as it is a melting pot of Japanese newly hired staff, that know as much English that I know Chinese (more than limited) and American managers, expatriated to orchestrate the opening of a new store in Tokyo, and therefore unfamiliar with Japanese. And by unfamiliar I mean they don’t speak a word. Not one (oh one of them did say “sushi” at some point). And there I am in the middle of this cocktail. Instructions are given in English to Japanese natives, that of course understand a fourth of what is asked of them. You can imagine the hilarious situations this generates. Moreover, Hollister being an all-American brand, spirit in the store is of the essence, and we are asked to “rehearse” the tag line in view of the grand opening new week. Trust me, it takes a lot of energy and patience to get Japanese staff members to cheer and be spirited. Lastly, it’s the best possible experience to speak Japanese. As we are currently getting the store ready for the opening, there are numerous opportunities to chat and listen to conversations. Even if conversations are currently very limited, my French side + the fact that I speak a clumsy Japanese usually does the trick to win people over, and I’m having a lot of fun attempting to have constructive exchanges with my Hollister fellows.
Another less shiny detail of this job experience is commuting. I live in the center of Tokyo, and unfortunately the store is opening in Shin-Misato, way way way outside of the city. It takes me about one hour and a half to get to the mall, and allows me experience the joys of long train rides. That moment when buildings start lowering to 10, then 5, then 2 floors, giving the space to houses and factories and malls, and I finally see the horizon, always brings up mixed feelings. First, joy of seeing sky, sky, sky and only sky. But also, “what am I doing here”. Most of the time, I’ll also meet about 3-4 people during my trip that will stare at me, big-eyed, or talk about me (teehee, what they don’t know is, I understand), which usually gets on my nerves. I find it strange that this still happens in 2013, although nobody touches my hair and they probably are wondering what I am doing adventuring so far outside the touristic borders (outside the city center), and not at all on my way to Kamakura or Hakone (famous cool places to be a tourist around Tokyo). And alone ! But I find it all worth the long rides and stares: it’s all a great adventure!
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| Cute newly married couple strolling in Omotesando |
