Working holiday in New Zealand

I could hardly imagine reaching the final day of this year when I first arrived in New Zealand. I vividly recall my initial day here, which marked the beginning of my homestay experience. Back then, I quickly realized the limitations of my English skills, especially since I had previously scored well on the TOEIC Listening and Reading Test. It became clear to me that I needed to adapt to real-life situations rather than relying solely on textbook learning. One of my friends had advised me to develop a combination of skills, integrating English proficiency, body language, conversational techniques, and eye contact. While I didn’t fully understand his advice at the start of my working holiday, my experiences at language school and in the workplace gradually helped me comprehend its significance. Reflecting on the past year, I find that every experience has been meaningful. I am especially grateful for the unwavering support of my wife.

My coworkers are all Japanese, meaning there are no people from other nationalities in my workplace. Some people have said to me, "You ended up in a safe environment, not in a local job where you have to use English all the time." I used to think the same way before coming to New Zealand, but I’ve changed my perspective. This is because I realized that we can maintain and even improve our English skills, even when working with people from the same nationality. While communicating with locals in English is certainly one main reason to improve language skills, I’ve found that I sometimes develop the ability to translate things from Japanese into English quickly, especially when solving complicated issues. The ability to translate quickly is an essential skill when I return to Japan, so I think my current situation is very beneficial from my own perspective. The important thing is to make the best use of the environment we are in. Working with Japanese people is by no means a ba...

I found an intriguing article about securing affordable energy in Japan.  https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/japan-targets-40-50-power-supply-renewable-energy-by-2040-2024-12-17/?utm According to the article, Japan aims for renewable energy to account for up to 50% of its electricity mix by fiscal year 2040, with nuclear power contributing another 20%. Japan is known as the world's second-largest importer of liquefied natural gas and a major consumer of Middle Eastern oil. The new energy plan, revealed by the government, includes building innovative next-generation reactors. These reactors will be constructed at nuclear power sites owned by operators who have decided to decommission existing reactors. As you all know, Japan experienced the Fukushima disaster in 2011. However, given Japan's geographic and energy challenges, it may be difficult to significantly reduce reliance on nuclear power in the near future.

With just four days left in the year, I feel as though I’ve already spent a significant amount of time here, given how fruitful this experience has been. Each day has brought something new, offering me opportunities to handle various issues independently. Although I have faced numerous challenges in my previous jobs, the challenges during my working holiday have been of a completely different nature. I’ve been reflecting on the differences between Japan and New Zealand from my own perspective, and while this is by no means an exhaustive list, here are a few that stand out: Many restaurants and shops in New Zealand close early in the evening, especially on weekends. Public buses occasionally depart earlier than their scheduled time. There are no braille blocks in Auckland. Tattoos are widely accepted and are often a cultural expression, particularly among the Māori people. Of these, I find the fourth point particularly intriguing, as tattoos often carry a negative stigma in Japan. Here ...

Today, I visited Shakespear Regional Park, located in the northern part of Auckland. The journey took two hours from my home, requiring three bus transfers. It might have been the longest travel time I’ve spent reaching a destination during my trips so far. Despite the long journey, the lush green landscapes along the way made the journey relaxing. Upon arrival, my first stop was the Picture Frame, where I captured some unique photos by positioning myself within the frame. Afterward, I walked for 20 minutes and discovered a beautiful waterfall. The soothing sound of the flowing water felt like nature's voice, helping me unwind and relieving my fatigue. Finally, I made my way to the top of the park to watch sheep grazing. It was my first time seeing such a large number of sheep in one place, which made me feel fortunate to experience this quintessential aspect of New Zealand.

I have encountered so much new vocabulary through my work during December. I understand that my customer service performance still does not fully meet customers' requests, but I want to compliment myself on my decision to try something new. Although I struggle with everything each day, I also feel that I have gradually become tougher. Today, I am writing down the meaning of each number related to tyres and wheels as follows: Tyre Size: 175/54R14 175: The width of the tyre in millimeters. 54: The aspect ratio, meaning the height of the tyre's sidewall as a percentage of its width. Multiply this ratio by 100 to get the percentage. R14: The wheel size (diameter) in inches that matches the tyre. Wheel Size: PCD 114.3 x 5 Studs, 18 x 7.5J, Offset +55, Centre Bore 73mm PCD (Pitch Circle Diameter):  114.3 mm with 5 studs. It fits a vehicle with a 5-bolt pattern and a 114.3 mm bolt circle diameter. 18 x 7.5J: 18:  The diameter of the wheel in inches. 7.5J:  The width of the rim i...

I went to watch the sunrise from the top of Mount Eden because I happened to wake up very early. It had been something I wanted to experience for a long time, so I was glad to finally make it happen. The view, blending darkness and light, was even more breathtaking than I had imagined. Although Auckland is one of the largest cities in New Zealand, I could enjoy an expansive and unobstructed panorama, as there are relatively few tall buildings in the area. Starting today, my workplace will be closed until January 5th. During this break, I plan to focus on resting and recharging so that I can welcome 2025 with a positive mindset.

When I was younger, especially during high school, I often felt reluctant to attend school daily. This was largely because I struggled to adapt to the rigid and structured atmosphere, where I was constantly expected to follow teachers’ instructions without question. Additionally, some teachers would often say things like, “Working adults are always under immense pressure. Life outside school is much tougher, and we frequently encounter situations beyond our control.” At the time, I found these statements discouraging, as they seemed to suggest that school life was the final opportunity to experience enjoyment. Now that I am an adult approaching 30, I find myself disagreeing with this perspective. While it’s true that adults face challenges both in the workplace and in daily life, it doesn’t mean life lacks moments of joy. Through work, we have opportunities to build meaningful relationships, share rewarding experiences with colleagues, and create lasting memories. Moreover, adulthood g...

I came to New Zealand alone for a working holiday, and I understand this might seem unusual to some. However, this experience is essential for my personal growth and development. My wife and I discussed this decision many times beforehand. Both of our parents were surprised by our plan and initially disagreed with it. I miss my wife every day, but I believe that trying something new in New Zealand is crucial for my future. I have deliberately chosen not to return to Japan because I feel it would be very hard to regain my motivation and focus if I went back. Thankfully, my wife understands and supports my decision.

I have only two working days left this year, next Monday and Tuesday. From 29 July to 29 November, I attended language school, and I started my current job immediately after graduating. As a result, I’ve been consistently active until now. This is why prioritizing my physical health is especially important. I make it a point to neither stay up late nor oversleep, as maintaining a stable routine contributes significantly to my overall well-being. In addition, I do stretching exercises before bed to recover from fatigue. The number of relaxation facilities here is much lower than in Japan, so it’s essential to take personal responsibility for maintaining good physical condition. While I occasionally find life in New Zealand inconvenient in this regard, it also gives me an opportunity to reflect on how to sustain a high quality of life.

It has been almost five months since I arrived in New Zealand. Some of the medicine I brought from Japan ran out last week, so I had to purchase replacements. I bought two types of medicine: an ice gel for relieving pain and a bottle of eye drops to lubricate my eyes. The latter is particularly important because I spend a lot of time looking at a computer screen, both at work and while studying at home. Although I have experience working in a pharmaceutical company, my knowledge is limited to clinical trials. Therefore, I decided to consult a pharmacy assistant before making my purchase. This experience gave me a valuable opportunity to ask questions and interact in English. I believe that everything I encounter in my daily life here is both meaningful and enriching.

My third working week has just finished. Today was the first day I handled all tasks entirely on my own. I was a bit nervous during the first hour, but I gradually got used to the situation as the day went on. The owner and my colleague remained calm and supportive, which really helped me. I also had some casual conversations with them. Of course, staying focused on my tasks is crucial, but building personal connections and understanding each other's personalities is also important. I’m not very good at talking about myself proactively, but they help me relax and listen carefully to my ideas. There are still many things I’m unfamiliar with, but I feel my path is becoming clearer than ever before.

My predecessor finally left our workplace today, which means I have to handle all tasks on my own starting tomorrow. I confirmed as many things as possible with him, so I will do my best to manage them anyway. Unexpected situations might arise, but I will work on handling them step by step while asking for support from my colleagues. My knowledge and skills in the car parts field are still a work in progress. However, I have many experiences that I have built through my previous jobs in Japan. These should help me solve the challenges I might face in my workplace.

I received a variety of inquiries from customers over the phone as usual. I felt a bit confused by some of the situations and struggled to handle certain issues, even those I had dealt with before. Perhaps my brain is exhausted, so I plan to prioritize rest after returning home. I understand that I sometimes take longer to adapt to new situations compared to others. However, I believe this isn't entirely a disadvantage, as it allows me to deeply understand each matter step by step. I sometimes drop by this cafe before working.

Today, I encountered a challenge while communicating with a customer. He inquired about a steering rack, but as our shop primarily specializes in automotive exterior components, I was unfamiliar with the part. His frustration was evident as he exclaimed, "Why can’t you understand my question? Aren’t you a car parts shop staff member?" Reflecting on my experience, I recall similar moments during my time working in Japan. While I occasionally experienced a sense of disappointment in my performance, I consistently maintained composure and proactively sought clarification when necessary. I acknowledge that my current level of customer service proficiency remains a work in progress, and I am fully aware that I have yet to reach the professional standard I strive for. However, I approach each day with a determination to improve, conducting thorough reviews of my tasks and responsibilities. My employer recognized my limited expertise in the automotive field when hiring me, which ser...

I just finished my work for today. Many emails and orders had accumulated over the weekend. I couldn’t proceed with my original plans because I had to take time to respond to each message while being supported by my colleague. I understand I need to rush to complete everything, but I still require time to finish tasks one by one. Trying something in a new field I have never experienced before is quite difficult. It is beyond what I initially imagined. However, I wouldn’t have been able to do this if I hadn’t come to New Zealand. So, these days have been precious and meaningful.

My third week at work will start tomorrow. I have already experienced many situations, but I know they are not enough to reach the level I want to achieve. In fact, I still cannot fully understand what customers say on the first try. However, they never blame me for my performance. This might be because most people in New Zealand are calm and respectful toward Japanese people. I truly appreciate their patience and kindness, but I also feel the need to strive harder to achieve my goals. By this, I mean not only improving my English skills but also developing multiple customer service skills, such as effective use of body language and logical communication. I don’t want to rely solely on the respect and patience of customers. I know that simply following my employer's instructions is not enough, so I will continue to try new approaches in my current workplace, as I have been doing so far.

Today, I visited the Christmas Concert held by Coca-Cola in Auckland Domain. It was spectacular and amazing. I felt that Christmas is coming soon, but I have not gotten used to summer Christmas yet because I have been familiar with winter Christmas for a long time in Japan. As shown in my photos, most of the paths were filled with a large number of people, showing that residents here in New Zealand love such events. When I was working in Japan, I was so rigid with myself and spent a long time studying various things to deepen my understanding of my work. Maybe I forced myself to always be perfect, such as dealing with issues quickly and not leaving anything unfinished each week. Of course, such an attitude was crucial, but I burnt myself out at that time. I have now come to think that taking a rest is one of my tasks, as I know refreshing my body and brain helps me improve my performance for the following week. So, I  have been keeping this in mind.

I have recently noticed the advantages of daylight saving time in New Zealand. When I worked as an office worker in Japan, it was difficult to exercise or engage in activities in parks without lighting facilities at night after work. However, I can now do these activities even after 7 or 8 p.m., thanks to daylight saving time. I think this system is effective for organizing our free time and maintaining physical health because it allows us to spend more time in natural sunlight. I took this photo near my home yesterday.

Yesterday, I bought new shoes because my old ones had some holes and were worn out. They had been with me for a long time, and we had shared various experiences together. So, I am truly grateful to them. By the way, the price of my new ones was twenty-two New Zealand dollars. I feel this cost is reasonable since their appearance and functionality seem fine.  Recently, I have been feeling exhausted because I have to memorize a lot of things, most of which are new to me. Additionally, my previous coworker will leave next week, so I will have to manage everything on my own after that. However, I have gradually started to gain confidence in myself through solving issues and communicating with customers. I have no choice but to keep moving forward.

I have started to reflect deeply on my daily life rhythm since I began working here in New Zealand. At my current workplace, we are not allowed to work beyond our designated working hours, so we must complete everything within a limited time. Sometimes, it feels challenging, but I believe this is a crucial aspect of any job because we need to generate profit in the shortest time possible. This principle should be the same in both Japan and New Zealand. This experience has reminded me of the importance of maintaining both our physical and mental well-being to focus on each task effectively during working hours.

I use trains and buses equally often to commute halfway to my workplace throughout the week. I prefer using trains over buses because of their speed and comfort, but there are risks of choosing trains. One of the risks is that only a few trains go in that direction, so I might be late if I miss even one of them. In fact, I once made a mistake about the station where I should have gotten off, and I had to run 3 kilometers to the correct station at that time. I never want to experience the same situation again. Anyway, I have to pay close attention to transportation in New Zealand.

My second working week started today. I had to communicate with customers and a shipping company many times over the phone. I was not actually afraid of calling them because I concentrated on the tasks at hand and didn’t have time to think about anything else. I only worried about making mistakes since I was rushing. However, I did everything I could. I know that experiences like this make me tougher and stronger, so I will keep trying new things.

There are a lot of things that have felt out of my control since I came to New Zealand. One of them was the waiting period to obtain my working holiday visa. When I was struggling with it, I felt frustrated every day. This was because I missed many opportunities to find a job due to the delay. I was seriously considering going back to Japan right after graduating from language school, as having nothing to do in New Zealand felt like a waste of time and money. However, I was fortunate to receive both my working holiday visa and a full-time customer service job at the last minute. If the delay had lasted more than two weeks, I would have decided not to stay here any longer. Securing a desirable role was particularly meaningful to me. If I had received my visa earlier, I would likely be working in a different workplace now. So, the timing turned out to be perfect, and I realized that I’ve always been a lucky person. For that reason, I can now say that not rushing to do something can somet...

Why do I like science? This might turn into a long story if I try to write everything, so I’ll keep my answer as short as possible. It's simple: the more science-related knowledge I learn, the more ways I discover to control myself. For example, we know that moderate exercise helps us relax and improves our ability to memorize things. But how many people actually try to understand the mechanism behind it? Maybe only a few. Similarly, why is it more important to drink water than tea or coffee? These questions may seem simple, and most of us understand 60 to 70 percent of the reasoning, but rarely 100 percent. I never want to gain knowledge just to show it off to others. Instead, by absorbing science-based information, I can create a healthier daily routine and maintain the good condition of both my body and mind. That’s why I’ve always liked learning science. I took these photos near my home.

I have finished my first week at work. It felt like a meaningful experience, as though I had spent a month working. Everything is new to me because I have not worked in the car-related industry before. I made some mistakes, but my coworker kindly supported me, for which I am really grateful. I understand that reviewing my mistakes and deeply considering solutions to avoid repeating them are important, especially during the first one or two weeks. Tonight, I will organize and review my notes, and then fully refresh myself this weekend.

I have just finished my fourth working day. Today, I experienced something that made me realize the importance of customer service. A customer asked us to lower the price of some items below the displayed price. However, our owner and another staff member explained our current financial situation to him and convinced him that we could not lower the price any further. If I had handled this issue on my own, I would not have been able to explain the situation in such detail or with enough conviction. This experience helped me understand how crucial our role is and how to manage such situations. Customer service staff not only listen carefully to customers' opinions, but we also have to handle and manage any kind of issues. It was a meaningful day. I  found a kiwi on the bus on my way to work.

I have experienced every task over the past three days. I still need to learn how to address various issues, but I have no choice but to memorize solutions as I face each problem. Anyway, I feel a little relieved compared to the high pressure I felt on my first working day. The scenery on my way home seems clearer than it did yesterday. Maybe this is because I have gradually gained confidence in myself. I will continue studying car-related knowledge to improve my customer service skills.

I felt less pressure than yesterday thanks to reviewing my tasks. Of course, I still do not have enough knowledge about car parts, but I can maintain a positive mindset toward this challenge. This is because I truly believe this experience will definitely make me stronger and tougher than ever before. Also, I already know that understanding an overview of the workflow is more crucial than focusing on each task separately, especially in the first week. Once I grasp the overview, I can associate one task with another. Anyway, I will reflect on my behavior and tasks and keep studying new vocabulary. I took some photos on my way home.

I started working here in New Zealand today. There are a lot of things I need to remember, so I am very tired. Of course, I received some phone calls, but I couldn’t fully understand what the customers were saying. The main reason is that I don’t have enough knowledge about car parts. I will review my tasks and study car-related vocabulary more.

We have just one month left this year. I feel time has passed so quickly, which is a sign that I have spent my time meaningfully so far. I know nobody feels completely comfortable the day before starting a new job. I already understand that I should not show off my previous career and skills, as the most crucial factor in building good relationships in a new environment is maintaining a polite and cooperative attitude. Anyway, greeting everyone with a smile will be my first task tomorrow.