When words need actions, or "how I got an extra part time job"

[nayama]

That I'm always in need of money is nothing new. However, the problem has gotten serious, mostly because I need to move, and moving requires lots of money here in Japan due to all the stupid deposit and random fees you have to pay when you make the contract. Also, I won't just blame the world because of this, since it's also my fault for wasting so

Comments

[sleepcat_00]

Huh, the register survey thing is really very interesting. I never thought about being tracked that way.

[nayama]

Yeah, I also had no idea they were doing that! I wonder if the other conbinis do the same, but I guess they do...

[nekobaba]

Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really interesting to read about conbini work, especially from a foreigner's point of view. Bravo on your Japanese language skills. Customers would have been curious too since you didn't look Asian?

I was a short while in Japan, and felt also that many Japanese don't take well to foreign Asians workers who couldn't speak the language well enough. It can be blatant sometimes, so even when nothing is said, the dislike is clearly shown and felt. There is a demand for the foreign labour but the people hired aren't exactly welcomed. But this kind of thing is not really confined to just Japan, but unfortunately happens elsewhere too.

[nayama]

Well, yeah, unfortunately it's not just a Japanese thing. In Italy too I cannot say that all people are welcoming towards foreigners, especially the ones who can't speak Italian very well... Or more precisely, they are OK with tourists but harsh towards all people that are considered "immigrants", like people from Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia. In Japan they seem to be unwelcoming to *any* foreigner, even Asian people... But yeah, some people are just blatantly rude. I must say so far I didn't have any issue, on the contrary some people seemed amused and were nice to me. The only rude ones I've met so far kind of looked rude by default, not because I'm a foreigner...

[dilettantka]

I've thought about getting a part-time job at Starbucks because they often hire foreigners as well and I like coffee (lol, simple minds...) and this may actually happen because my hours at work are going to be reduced starting in April. I never thought about all the kinds of cigarettes at the combini but now I realise many times the staff have had to ask "this one? this one?" before pulling out the right pack for the person in front of me lol. but yeah Lawson, Mister Donuts and Starbucks are the main places I've seen non-Asian foreigners working around Tokyo.

[nayama]

Lol yeah Starbucks would be nice I guess, you probably wouldn't have to do many things except for preparing drinks, staying at the counter and doing some cleaning. In conbinis there are actually heaps of things to do beside the counter, the last time I worked I barely stood behind the cash register actually @_@ One place I would never work at are fast foods though, because I don't think I could stand the smell of frying oil and food the whole day :/ I'd probably never want to see that stuff ever again...
I don't smoke, so I never even paid attention to the cigarettes, but yeah, it turned out to be a hassle, though you just get used I guess. I'd gladly work somewhere like Animate or some manga shops, but I doubt they'd hire a foreigner there, and also the shifts wouldn't probably be compatible with my normal job :/

[katsu]

Glad for you that you got a job there! I hope that you will be able to keep it, too. I've heard stories of western people working at conbinis and then being laid off because customers started to complain (never mind the person working there spoke fluent Japanese and accurate keigo and all that) simply because the sight of a non Asian person made them feel intimidated into using English. Super silly I know.