Worked at Japanese Restaurant in USA among Koreans

It's been funny. I worked for Japanese Restaurant in my neighborhood for about five month. I still remember the first day I knocked on their door. I was so scared and nurvous dealing with first time job serch situation. I asked...are you hiring? Answer, yes, welcome! Then my second job on weekends were started.

No, for me, it seemed to be my first job, especially these two month. I worked as a nanny on Monday thru Wednesday, as a waitress Thursday thru Sunday. I rest my body when I was with at my home with kids...it was just like my off day. Anyway, I worked really hard there and saved up to 5000. Yey.

Well, what I actually want to write is my experience there was little funny. I really like the restaurant now but first couple month working there was my nightmare. That was exactry culture shock. I need to mention two points before starting to talk about the restaurant. First, I was the only one Japanese worker there. Everyone else was Korean. Japanese people know that most Korean don't like Japanese. This is the second point. This caused my hard days facing my lil war.

First day working there, I was 'the first Japanese worked there'. My coworkers were curious about Japan, they asked me a lot about Japan, it was good thing, I thought.
Next day, I was shocked at my owner's chenge. He started asking just like the first day. But it was a political probrem between Japan and Korea. Then started telling his thoughts how Japan is bad....every single day. The most popular thing for him was Dokuto. Dokuto is the islands located between Japan and Korea, both country says those are their own territory. He ask me how do I think about thr islands tons of times. I've been said 'I don't care about such a small islands', 'How about we go there together and explore those?' 'Oh if you care so much, you should save money and buy them'. He kept telling me those are Korean. So why he needed to ask? It made me sad everyday. I thought that if he hates Japan so much, he should sell this restaurant and start a Korean restaurant, or why he can drive a Japanese car hating my country, why Korean people are so jerk and stupid...these bad thinking.

Then I realized that they saw me as 'a Japanese' but Miyuki' and I saw them as 'a group of Koreans', this thinking makes war. It was a really really the war. Small small war between Japan and Korea in US. Okay, so I tried to ignore them when they started that kind of talk, I joined only their fun talk. Also I started to learn Korean a little. Tried to smile, say thank you and please. To be good as 'a person'. I chenged my name tag 'Miyuki' which used to say 'jessica'.
I am Miyuki, yes, I am a Japanese, but not the Japanese!

Then my hard life there changed little by little. They still talk about bad things about Japan which I hate. But I Think I am Miyuki for them now. And they are not Korean any more. They are my friends....

Today I'm going there to say good bye and thank them. They said They will make sushi for me. That is not a Japanese sushi, they are Japanese, Korean, and American.

You smiled at me, I know you did.

And you don't know how much it helped.

I spend all day being the brave face for everyone I love, and at the end of each day I go home wondering if I will ever learn to swallow my pride and ask for a little comfort of my own. I was tired of being strong, and I was worried that I was empty.

But it seems that when you're at your lowest, the world will find you and remind you that there is still a little bit of good, and that you are not forgotten. Sometimes, all that means is a little smile.

My heart is full. For that, thank you. Thank you to everyone who found a way to give someone a smile, today, and thank you to everyone who will find a way tomorrow. But especially thank you to the woman who smiled at me. I needed nothing more than that.


.....this is my bad habit going to NYC's Craig's list and pick the posts, i know.
Especially 'missing connection' is all my interest. This page is the chaos. Millions of junks are floating on this site. I'm neither live in the city nor looking for someone missing, but I really like to peek the site. Sometimes I run into the posts that fill my mind with happiness. Many in the city want something special in the busy city. They take subways and buses and see tons of people everyday. They don't need a big thing. They are looking for really really small changes in their routine life. When they find a tiny special thing, they drop it on the Craig's list. I love to see these pieces of someones happiness! They are so lovely and adorable. At the same time, I envy those people in the city.

Above is today's favorite. He was helped by someone who smile on him. He made me happy by posting this article. I decided to smile!

....So I can't stop this bad habit!

New Bartender!

I took a vacation last week and went to the Bartender school in Midtown.
I felt like I'm a city girl that wek. I stayed at my friend's house in Yonkers, took the packed subways every morning, got out from the underground at 42nd st/Bryant Park, Bought bagel and coffee for $1.50, have breakfast and study at the Bryant Park then went to the school. My friend and I went to the lottery for the musical 'In The Heights' (Unfortunately we couldn't get the tickets), hang out and then went home. Isn't that sounds fun? I really miss that life in nowhere in Upstate now.

The school was sooo much fun! It was rather hanging out with my friens than studying. Teachers were/are awesome, they are fun and kind. We were required to make 20 drinks in 6 minutes for graduate. I was little worried because my English is not so good, had no knowledge of alcohol, and my height is way short against the bar counter! Also we have only a week to learn everything!! I thought NO WAY! But I suddenly remembered that I like studying! I really love to organize then memorize the information. I forgot that for years. I studied in the subway to and from school. Also at the Bryant Park, my favorite place. Which was so fun! And I made it! I got a perfect score on the paper exam and made 20 drinks under 6 minutes! I proud of myself! And the same time, I'd love to say thank to teacher Dan and Max!!

My English Level

miyukiさんは、実家に帰省することを「実家に来日する」と言われるほどの　英語力です

It says "Miyuki's English level, She would be said 'She visits Japan' when she returns home."

hmmmmmmm......hard to translate!

Insomnia

How many musicians sang about this? I am dealing with insomnia right now.....even though only tonight. It's getting bright outside and birds started singing. Morning...clock tells me that 6:48 am now.

This is my first vigil in the US. Am I so stressed out? I don't think so. But I couldn't stop thinking a bunch of things and it was already 4:54 am when I realized the dawn. I was surprised, so I grabbed my camera and took picture of the time.

Well, what am I thinking is about various thigs. I don't want to think about them anymore by now, but I don't want to forget them, I article them;

• Reserve the hostel
  
• Learn how to make jewelry (make samples tomorrow)
  
• Fold origami
• Tell D about garage sale
• Ask D about summer time schedule
• Divide things I need from I don't need
• I might be able to sell my Japanese thigs to someone
• I don't have enough money!
• Send email to my Japanese friends
• Buy a charger
• Go to the restaurant

....OK, I won't forget......
Ooooooo! It's 7:04 now! I've gotta start my job at 7:30!