1985/7 Japan

Japan
28 December 1985

Well, Xmas is over and 1986 approaches. It was good to talk to you on the 25th. Sorry I wasn’t in when you first phoned. On the Friday before Xmas I had decided to go out in search of other work to supplement my teaching income. At the fourth hotel I tried I was seated in the lounge with the personnel manager and an interpreter. They asked me a couple of questions, talked to each other for about 15 minutes and then asked if I would like to start the following day in the bakery. I just grinned and nodded. And was then taken down to meet the surprised bakery staff, given a uniform, a locker and a name tag and told to report at 8am.

And I absolutely LOVE it. I earn only ¥600 per hour as opposed to ¥4,000 for teaching, but this is apparently the going wage for unskilled work in Japan. God knows how they can afford to live. I am working with eight men who have very little English between them. But they have been incredibly kind to me and actually enjoy spoiling me. They brought a dictionary to work on my first day and baked me a bread shaped like a tiger face – with stripes and a bowtie and cherries for eyes. Each morning when I get to work there is a cup of coffee waiting for me and sometimes a bacon sandwich. On Xmas day I was given an elaborately decorated cake to bring home. Every tea time I learn a few words of Japanese and reciprocate with some English. I think the bakery is currently the envy of every other department in the hotel and people are always coming in to look me over and practise their English. Even the vice-president came down one afternoon. I had no idea who he was and chatted away quite comfortably for about five minutes. Only vaguely aware of the frozen stances and stares of my fellow bakers. The Japanese are very aware of hierarchies and authority figures. Eventually he left and the chef dashed up to tell me who I had been talking to and everyone grinned and relaxed – somewhat proud I think of their new TRAINEE. Each day I work with a different man and do a variety of jobs from slicing kiwi fruit to pouring out custard cups to decorating with strawberries to packing individual slices of cake. The other day the chef said: Miss Gail, you are almighty baker!!

Anyway – as I had just started working I didn’t want to take the whole of Xmas day off and thought if I just worked until midday I would be back in time for your call. I had no idea you would be up and about at 5am!! About 15 people came round for a late lunch. Tracey and I spent both the evening of the 23rd and 24th preparing food to feed them all. A nice crowd and a nice day – even though it didn’t feel much like Xmas.

Thanks for the offer to cancel my debt, but I would like to pay you what I owe. Although perhaps at a later date. I am planning a trip to Hokkaido in early February and I could do with an extra $35 then – OK?

Mom – make it a RETURN ticket and I might consider your offer!! Come visit me rather. How about April in Hong Kong. Much cheaper than Japan.

You have no idea how complicated Japanese numbers are. They each have a basic name to which is added an additional suffix to describe the shape or size of whatever you are counting: eg 3 = san. For counting ‘thin’ things like paper or plates you add ‘mae’, therefore sanmae plates; sanmae pages. For any kind of machinery add ‘dai’, therefore sandai telephones; sandai cars. When counting anything that comes in pairs there is a special suffix. And different suffixes for rabbits, fish or elephants. The variety is endless. And unless one intends to make a SERIOUS study of Japanese – pointless and/or impossible to learn.

The red thing enclosed is an ORIGAMI crane – the Japanese symbol of happiness. Pull gently on the wings and blow into the base and it should sit properly.

That’s all
Lotsaluv
Gail