Naomi Arifin: Kuliah di Luar Negeri membentuk Pribadi Lebih Mandiri

Summary

The transcript details the experiences of Naomi, a foreigner living and working in Japan. She reflects on the challenges of adapting to Japanese culture, especially in terms of respect, language, and workplace hierarchy. Naomi shares her work experiences, including dealing with difficult customers and managing emotions in high-pressure environments. She discusses the cultural differences between Indonesia and Japan, especially in terms of communication and respect. Naomi also highlights her aspirations in voice acting, her desire to start an agency in Indonesia, and the supportive role her family has played in her journey.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker expresses frustration with the Japanese work culture, especially the high expectations and lack of understanding towards foreigners.
• 😀 In Japan, there’s a concept of ‘okyakusan’ (guest), where customers are treated as kings, which leads to employees tolerating harsh behavior.
• 😀 The speaker mentions dealing with emotional challenges while working in Japan, particularly in situations where mistakes were made by foreign employees.
• 😀 Handling frustration, especially when managing work-related stress, involves taking deep breaths and staying composed, even when criticized.
• 😀 The speaker highlights the importance of learning Japanese as a third language and using it to improve communication in the workplace.
• 😀 Issues of harassment on the subway in Japan are acknowledged, and the speaker shares awareness campaigns encouraging people to report such incidents.
• 😀 While living in Japan, the speaker learned the importance of respecting local customs and adjusting to the strict cultural norms, like bowing and using polite speech.
• 😀 The speaker reflects on the challenge of living away from family and how it shaped their independence and ability to respect Japanese society’s rules.
• 😀 There’s a desire to collaborate with major companies like Studio Ghibli and a dream to open a voice acting agency in Indonesia, recognizing the potential of Indonesian talent.
• 😀 The speaker’s experience with part-time jobs in Japan, including working at McDonald's and Burger King, taught them resilience, especially when dealing with demanding customers and stressful situations.

Q & A

What was Naomi's experience when she first arrived in Japan?

Naomi felt overwhelmed when she first arrived in Japan at 18, especially since she didn’t know the language. She started with a Japanese language school, initially relying on English or sign language to communicate. The experience was challenging, but it helped her learn how to adapt and survive in a foreign country.

How did Naomi handle the pressure at her part-time job in Japan?

Naomi experienced pressure and stress at her part-time jobs, especially in the food service industry, where she was scolded by customers in Japanese. Despite the difficult situations, she learned to accept the criticism and focused on gaining experience, even crying at times due to the emotional toll.

What does Naomi think about the concept of respect in Japan?

Naomi emphasizes the importance of respect in Japan. She explains that respect is fundamental in Japanese culture, and it manifests in various ways, such as bowing, using appropriate language levels, and acknowledging seniority in the workplace.

What is Naomi's perspective on the culture of seniority in Japanese companies?

Naomi highlights that seniority plays a significant role in Japanese companies. She mentions that younger employees must show respect to their superiors, and this is ingrained in the workplace culture. She finds this hierarchical system challenging at times, as it contrasts with her more casual background.

How does Naomi cope with the challenges of working in a foreign country?

Naomi uses breathing techniques to manage stress, especially in emotionally charged situations like when dealing with difficult customers or her boss. She also reflects on the need to maintain a calm and respectful demeanor, even when upset, as part of the Japanese work culture.

How does Naomi balance work with personal life in Japan?

Naomi admits that work can be overwhelming, with long hours and occasional overtime. However, she enjoys the benefits of working at a restaurant, such as receiving discounts and free meals. Despite the pressures, she maintains a positive attitude and values the experiences she gains from her job.

What cultural differences does Naomi mention between Japan and Indonesia?

Naomi compares the cultural differences between Japan and Indonesia, particularly in terms of respect. In Japan, there is a strong emphasis on showing respect through formalities like bowing and using specific levels of politeness in language. She contrasts this with the more relaxed nature of Indonesian culture, where these formalities are not as strictly observed.

What are Naomi's future aspirations in Japan?

Naomi dreams of collaborating with major Japanese companies like Studio Ghibli or becoming a voice actor in anime. She also aspires to open a voice acting agency in Indonesia, where she believes there is great potential for talented voice actors, especially given the country's connection to anime culture.

How does Naomi view her experience working at Burger King and other part-time jobs?

Naomi sees her part-time jobs, including at Burger King, as valuable learning experiences. She mentions that although she faced challenges, such as being scolded by customers in Japanese, these experiences helped her build resilience and taught her how to navigate difficult situations in the workplace.

What was Naomi's reaction when she was scolded by a customer in Japanese?

Naomi felt frustrated when she was scolded by a customer in Japanese for forgetting to bring a dish. However, she chose to remain calm and professional, accepting the criticism and continuing her work. This experience reinforced her understanding of the Japanese work culture and how to handle customer complaints.