Working holiday in New Zealand

I went to watch the NPC match between Auckland and Waikato right after work. Auckland was winning with under one minute left in the game, but Waikato came from behind and won. Although I had hoped Auckland would win, it was fun anyway.

I noticed the main cause of my recent bad condition was not having enough lunch. Although my body should have required more energy due to the recent cold weather, I have not had a nutritious meal at lunchtime. I need to reflect on my routine and meals for maintaining health.

I have almost finished reconciling the inventory and our actual stock. I was glad about that, since another container arrived today and we have to remove all items from it by tomorrow. I found the importance of inventory check because it contributes to the service quality of our shop. 

I have recently felt pressured to learn more, which ends up eliminating flexibility. I have to study very hard every day and need to improve my English skills, among other things. Such an attitude might light a fire of motivation; however, it is not always. I learned it through my past experiences.

I have recently contacted my former colleagues and asked for their advice, as I am concerned about my career after returning to Japan. Although they might not give me straight answers about my worries, I can get hints. Additionally, I realized the importance of asking for help while I was in New Zealand. 

Time has passed so quickly. It has been exactly one year since I came here. I still remember the look on my wife's face when she saw me off. I never forget appreciating her understanding and support without a single day. I recalled a lot of memories while seeing the night view near Britomart station.

Recently, I've been feeling unsettled about my next career step, as if something uncomfortable is lodged in my mind. To gain clarity, I sent an email to my previous boss seeking advice and sharing some areas I’m considering exploring. While I can’t disclose his full response here, the exchange made me realize that my current vision is still vague and somewhat disorganized. Moving forward, I intend to reflect more deeply on my situation and explore how I can build upon my past career experience.

I was so surprised by today's situation that I received numerous orders throughout the day. I know it is essential to pay closer attention to each task, especially when I have to handle several tasks simultaneously. 

I finally got full marks on the PROGOS test, which assesses speaking skills in business settings. I didn't expect the result, as I struggled to speak smoothly during the test. I'll keep practicing while focusing on phrase chunks and intonation.

I still cannot determine which area I will dive into after my working holiday. Thanks to my current job, I’ve realized that I have the ability to adapt to unfamiliar environments. Therefore, it might be possible for me to try something new.

I have recently taken exams evaluating my current speaking level, followed by CEFR. I struggle to explain what graphs show. I will try it next time by following the flow below. Overview This graph show the change in .... over time / among different categories. Key Trends The most noticeable trend is.... There was a sharp increase / gradual decline in.... Specific Data Points In 2020, the number reached.... Compared to 2015, the figure doubled.... Possible Reasons or Implications This may be due to.... This suggests that....

The Japan League One is a professional rugby league where many players of other nationalities currently compete. Thanks to their contributions, the overall standard of play has likely improved in recent years. However, it was officially announced that players of other nationalities will face reduced opportunities due to recent changes to the League One regulations. I was deeply shocked by this decision, as Japan's rugby development has clearly benefited from the presence of outstanding international talent. I worry that this shift could cause Japan’s rugby quality to regress, potentially returning to the level it was 15 years ago.

I went swimming at the nearest pool from home, as I had a stiff neck and felt exhausted due to the recent unstable weather. I had a relaxing time while staying there and was able to release fatigue from my whole body. 

I went to watch the rugby match as mentioned in the title today. Although both teams' strengths were at the same level 2 or 3 years ago, today's game was somewhat different from what I anticipated. The result was almost determined only in the first half since Scotland got many tries consecutively. 

As I mentioned in the title, I took some free exams to determine my current English level. Although I should not be satisfied with the result, it turned out that I could stay between the B2 and C1 levels. I will keep studying to reach a solid C1 level by returning to Japan.

My original plan after work was to join the MeetUp event. Unfortunately, all seats had been occupied when I arrived. It was inevitable, given that I had to work until 5 pm, which was 15 km away from the venue.

My current challenge is that I can't explain some graphs smoothly. When I was attending language school, I compiled some key phrases into one file. I’ll review it and practice repeatedly.

Regarding how to release stress, we all have unique methods respectively. For me, it is swimming gently or running at a moderate pace. Such exercise not only improves my whole body's blood circulation but also gives me time to think about nothing. Thanks to the current environment, I can easily try to do those every day. 

I focus on studying car industry-related vocabulary on weekdays. However, I change the way on weekdays since I feel pressure by only study literally.  This is why I recently watched the Titanic, created in the 1900s. I think I can get more natural phrases by doing it repeatedly. 

Japan lost the international match against Wales today. I was shocked by the result, especially since Japan had beaten the same team just last week. Their world ranking will likely drop tomorrow because of it. Still, I’ll continue to cheer for Japan no matter what.

It rained heavily all the time yesterday. This was why it was very hard to walk from my workplace to the nearest bus stop after work. My coworker took me to one bus stop having a roof. Thanks to him, I almost didn't get wet. I appreciated his help. I want to help someone one day just like he did for me. 

I have been in touch with some people I met at my previous workplace or in certain communities. Of course, such people are limited. Sharing the same moment with them is important for expanding horizon and shaping my personality. I will maintain my relationship with them from now on.

It crossed my mind that I sometimes struggle to explain car parts using my current vocabulary. For example, wheel balancing is easy to imagine, however, it is hard to explain only by text.

I couldn’t help but feel annoyed while talking to a rude customer yesterday. She asked me if I could speak her native language. When I said no, she started speaking English slowly. I didn’t mind that at all—I understood she was doing her best as an English learner. However, she suddenly became irritated, and after I asked her to clarify her request several times because she had only said a few unclear words, she finally said, “I feel tired. Other staff, please.” I honestly didn’t understand what she wanted. I admit my support wasn’t perfect, and I could have tried harder to understand her intention, but I couldn’t tolerate her attitude.

I was discussing with my wife the process of finding my next job in Japan. I tended to browse recruitment-related company site, like Rikunavi and Mynavi. However, she suggested searching one by one based on what I want to try, rather than using a huge search engine. 

The draws for determining each pool for the Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia will take place in December this year. Teams will be allocated to bands A through D based on their latest world rankings. Each pool will consist of four teams, with one team from each band. Consequently, all test matches this year are crucial for securing the best possible band placement.

I watched an international match between Japan and Wales yesterday. The quality of both teams' play was not good. However, I was relieved that Japan's winless run against Tier 1 countries was over.   Reference:  WalesOnline

When customers walk into our shop, I usually ask them to post their comments and feedback about our service. Their review not only allows me to reflect on my attitude, but it  can also be one factor in expanding our products to as many people as possible. Our shop is located a bit far from the center of Auckland City. For this reason, I believe that  accumulating customers' reviews is crucial for accelerating our profit .

It rained all day and the wind blew strongly. I felt down in the morning because of the bad weather, but later I had a casual conversation with the owner and was able to reconcile the actual stock and inventory. So, today wasn’t entirely a bad day. From now on, I’ll maintain the quality of my work regardless of the weather.

I received many inquiries and requests from customers via email and over the phone two days ago and yesterday. I felt more exhausted than usual and ended up making a mistake due to mental fatigue. When I worked in Japan, I experienced similar situations. However, I lost my cool over the past two days, which I hadn't done in a long time.

I sometimes come across rude customers who are bossy or try to negotiate the price too much. When dealing with them, I try to explain the current market trends and the reasons why we cannot lower the price, using a moderate tone. Of course, speaking firmly is one option for handling such situations. However, I feel it is better to resolve each inquiry in as calm an atmosphere as possible, as this might eventually lead to a purchase.