Sunflower 3 ~ Meeting

Continuing the story of Sunflower.

This 3rd story is the back ground story of Sunflower 4, so you will not find

any sunflower in this story today.

It was 1999 August when I came to Canada for the first time. Directly from

Nagasaki, Japan to Chilliwack, BC. Despite having to face so many cultural shocks, 

it has been already 14th year, now it is 2012.

The reason I came to Canada was to teach gymnastics to children, and I was 

planned to stay only 1 year.

  English was one of my favourite subject in school, but I was one of the typical

Japanese who could read and write English but wasn't so good at having actual conversation. 

Once I landed to Canada and started to teach gymnastics with my limited English,

I thought

"Oh, No.  Maybe I was too brave... But,,, there is no going back, so I just have to

do what I can do..." 

My life in Canada started with challenges, 

with no other choice and no escape. 

Back then, Chilliwack still looked like pure Canadian society. I did not see any

Asian people. Small children stared at me in super markets, and when 

I join some sort of parties, I could feel awkwardness from others, and I could only

imagine what they were thinking,,,

   "I wonder if this person speaks English. I don't know what to say, so I'm going 

to sit far from her ..."  A-W-K-W-A-R-D...

Even though I finally joined in a circle, I couldn't catch up with the native

English conversation, so I could only nod and smile, without understanding what

they were talking about... 

　

As you can see, it was difficult to make friends. I went to the movie by myself, 

shopping by myself and bike ride adventure in a town,,, by myself. 

My life was like this for about 5 months, but I was OK with it. 

Even though I didn't have any people whom I could call "a friend", I was getting used to

this life in Chilliwack, and I was able to go anywhere as long as I have my bicycle.

I was also getting used to teaching gymnastics in my second language, and my life 

and my heart started to have little more space. 

                             "I wonder if I can find a job ... "

Suddenly I thought about it, and went to a Japanese Restaurant that was close 

to my apartment.

"Are you hiring?" I asked with my limited English.

"Do you have resume?" ,the owner asked.

----- I was thinking, 

"What does resume mean? "

Then the owner asked me "Are you Japanese?"

So I answered,"Yes, I am."

The owner said "Oh,then, you are hired. Can you start tomorrow? "

I said, "O, OK. I will come tomorrow."

"That's it???  Is that simple to look for a job???"

Scratching my head, and went home. 

I thought, 

"Oh anyway, what does resume mean? 

I got to check in my English Japanese dictionary."

"Ohhhhh, resume means resume~~~~! Dumb me."

--- Of course, when you look for a job, you need to bring a resume, 

it's a common sense. But I didn't even think of it, and jump into a job hunting 

and found a job with a single shot.  Such a lucky girl I was !

  It was a new Japanese restaurant owned by Korean people. That is why they 

hired me right away just by being a Japanese, because it was helpful for them 

to have a Japanese who can show them how to prepare Japanese food. 

I felt such a freedom to have a job.  I worked there only lunch time as a waitress, but I was so happy !

 When I was in Japan, I was working for a Mitsubishi Corporation, a biggest company 

in Japan (back then). Some time it became a stressful job by making a mistake, 

or being late for the order especially when I was handing a million dollar contract. 

But still, I enjoyed working and I learned a lot. 

However, one thing I didn't learn with this company is to respect money. 

The monthly wage was higher than most of the other companies and I was earning 

more than I needed, so I was spoiled and numb for the value of money. 

 The wage of being a waitress at Japanese restaurant was $7/hour. Working only 

lunch time and adding small amount of tips, I earned about $25~$30 per day.  

It wasn't a big amount, but I was so happy and also I learn the value of the money.

 The other waitress would invite me to go to the pub for a drink, but I didn't 

want to spend money for a glass of drink!  

"I worked SO HARD to earn this $25 today. I don't wantto spend it to just get 

into the pub and two drinks! I spend enough money on drinks in my life !"

 I found I was acting completely opposite than I was in Japan.  

I felt so much appreciation for the money that I spent on numbers of 

parties, karaoke, drinks etc...  Thank you, Mr.Money.

Anyways, back to the story of the restaurant.

A guy came to this restaurant. 

Who would know he would be a love of my life. 

I still remember clearly. He was wearing a sky blue T-shirt, and he was by himself.

His gentle smile hasn't change a bit, still now. 

"I would like to place a takeout order for my lunch." He said.

"Here is the menu", I passed him a menu.

"OK, I would like to have a nabeyaki udon. (Hot Pot Udon noodle in soup)" 

In my head, I was going through another cultural shock, 

   "Why in the world this guy is ordering a nabeyaki udon for take out! 

   The beauty of the nabeyaki udon is to eat when it is very hot with sweating

   forehead! If you takeout the nabeyaki udon, the noodle will be soggy and 

   it would be  no longer hot. It would wrack the flavour ! "  

  

But I said,

"OK!" 

   

He said,

"I'll pay now and wait for the food here." and he looked for his wallet only to find out that he left it in his car.

"I left my wallet in my car, I'll be right back!" and he left the restaurant.

He came back right away and told me,

"I changed my mind. I will eat nabeyaki udon here, so please make it for dine-in." 

I said,

"OK!" with smile, but I thought in my head,

"You got it!  Of course, you HAVE TO eat nabeyaki udon here. " 

I brought the nabeyaki udon in a super hot pot to his table and told him

"It's very hot, so please be careful!" with my limited English. 

He had one bite and said in Japanese,

"Atsui desu. (It's hot)."

I was so surprised to hear a Japanese word came out from his mouth ! 

I said, "Y,, You speak Japanese?" 

He said "Chotto dake. (A little bit)"

OK, the story continues to Sunflower 4. Please look forward to the next one !! 

P.S.　This lucky day was the year 2000, February(2nd month) 2nd, around 2pm. 

Many "2", my lucky number. Also, Tuesday lunch wasn't my shift date, but the other waitress called sick, so I had to be there on Tuesday. This was the only Tuesday lunch time that I worked for this restaurant, and I met my love of my life.   

Universe always lead us to the destiny....