Good story, it resonates with me because for years I myself was one of those low-income workers, although I think that in my country, for cultural reasons, there is no real discrimination based on work, all jobs are respected and we all talk to everyone (except, like in any other part of the world, with those people who look down on everyone), unless there are orders that limit conversations with clients, users or anyone in general.
I have had conversations with cleaners, shop assistants, security guards, receptionists, etc. As you say, everyone usually has something interesting to tell, even things that officially cannot be told, and that they find out about because they are often "invisible" to their arrogant bosses or clients.
That’s a great point, Juan, and in Japan in particular, though also mostly in the United States, there is a lot of respect for low-paid workers. But in Japan ESPECIALLY. Uniquely in Asia, I think. ❤️
This is something some foreign workers have told me, in their countries depending on your job they treat you in a different way (sometimes in an arrogant one), but here people do not really care too much where you work. I know in the US, for example, lots of university students take low-income jobs to help pay their bills, and people respect them for it, but I didn't know it about Japan.
In Japan some students take jobs; but I was talking more about respect for regular workers (e.g. older workers who clean or drive or whatever). And perhaps that respect comes in part from the large number of small family businesses that have been everywhere forever, lining the shopping streets (which are now mostly abandoned).
That’s a great point, Juan, and in Japan in particular, though also mostly in the United States, there is a lot of respect for low-paid workers. But in Japan ESPECIALLY. Uniquely in Asia, I think. ❤️
Good story, it resonates with me because for years I myself was one of those low-income workers, although I think that in my country, for cultural reasons, there is no real discrimination based on work, all jobs are respected and we all talk to everyone (except, like in any other part of the world, with those people who look down on everyone), unless there are orders that limit conversations with clients, users or anyone in general.
I have had conversations with cleaners, shop assistants, security guards, receptionists, etc. As you say, everyone usually has something interesting to tell, even things that officially cannot be told, and that they find out about because they are often "invisible" to their arrogant bosses or clients.
That’s a great point, Juan, and in Japan in particular, though also mostly in the United States, there is a lot of respect for low-paid workers. But in Japan ESPECIALLY. Uniquely in Asia, I think. ❤️
This is something some foreign workers have told me, in their countries depending on your job they treat you in a different way (sometimes in an arrogant one), but here people do not really care too much where you work. I know in the US, for example, lots of university students take low-income jobs to help pay their bills, and people respect them for it, but I didn't know it about Japan.
In Japan some students take jobs; but I was talking more about respect for regular workers (e.g. older workers who clean or drive or whatever). And perhaps that respect comes in part from the large number of small family businesses that have been everywhere forever, lining the shopping streets (which are now mostly abandoned).
That’s a great point, Juan, and in Japan in particular, though also mostly in the United States, there is a lot of respect for low-paid workers. But in Japan ESPECIALLY. Uniquely in Asia, I think. ❤️
Great story!
Thanks! I wish I had taken that guy's contact details. I would love to have stayed in touch with him, and I wonder how his life turned out.