A couple of months ago I received a great work opportunity. But I knew taking the job would mean working my fingers to the bone for a few months, how did I know that? Well, let just say that I just know how the dragons fly in this part of the world.
In this new job, I had to speak Japanese and explain things in Japanese to a certain group of students who like me arrived in these islands to learn, to live, to work and to forge a new future for themselves. Yes, immigrants like myself. Helping immigrants to start their lives and to improve their skills to work in Japan. What a great opportunity!! I just simply had to take the job. And I did. I took it.
There are young people from many parts of the world: Vietnam, Nepal, India, Uzbekistan, Cambodia, Nepal and so many others I can’t even recall them now. It’s being a learning curve for me. But I have enjoyed the ride of this particular dragon. Because this dragon was unknown, wild, unwelcoming, and untamed. Moreover, this dragon has given me the opportunity to help immigrants like me, who don’t know how to start their lives in this new place but who, at the same time, have great hopes for the future. And have proven, once more, that immigrants are a force for good.
Yoneko: Writer and consultant 