Working holiday in New Zealand

I went to a clinic this morning because my skin was itchy and had several rashes. I have visited medical institutes several times so far, so I was not nervous when talking with the medical staff and focused on using as simple phrases as possible. Also, there was nothing I couldn’t understand. Maybe this is thanks to my customer service experience.

Daylight Saving Time started yesterday. The clock moved forward 1 hour. I feel like time has passed so quickly because this is my second time experiencing the summer time in New Zealand. I recall that I was extremely nervous on the same day last year, as I was deeply concerned about my wife's situation in Japan and struggled to establish new relationships with locals here. Today, I find myself in an opposite emotional state, thanks to friends, my colleagues, and especially my reliable flatmate. I will keep moving forward with great appreciation for everything around me.

Last night, I went to watch the international rugby match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies. The atmosphere at Eden Park was amazing. Nearly 47,000 spectators were there, and we all reacted excitedly to each play. I will never forget this experience.

As everyone knows, it's very hard to respond quickly in a second language, especially when you're exhausted. Although I've been learning English for a while, I sometimes struggle to explain things precisely when speaking on the phone. I think this is inevitable, but we can ease the situation by speaking slowly. The most important thing is helping customers understand my explanation, which means it doesn't matter how fast I speak. Since I keep this in mind, I've been able to stay relaxed in any situation.

When I hold a working holiday visa, I usually think about what I can do. There are at least two things: first, working without restrictions; second, immersing myself in local communities. I’ve already accomplished both, and I’ve become less preoccupied with many things than I was before.

According to the weather forecast, Auckland is expected to have unstable weather this week, including a temporary strong shower. Although a bit of rain is fine, I feel tired because it takes a long time to get home after work due to traffic jams.

I haven't been sleeping well recently due to a shortage of exercise. Although I was tired after work yesterday as well, I went outside for a 3km run. I could refresh, and my brain is clearer than before, once waking up this morning. I have one month exactly left in my current workplace. The boss will start to look for a new person who will take over my role. I am looking forward to seeing him/her soon. 

My answer to the question mentioned in the title is very simple: 'I want to express my thoughts and ideas as clearly as possible.' Also, I try to find suitable phrases and sentences again and again when writing my blog. This is a good way of training my English skills without pressure.

I usually secure around 1 hour to have breakfast and study English. Regarding the latter, I focus on reading my blog aloud and recording my voice, as I need to switch my brain to English mode before starting my role. Otherwise, I can not speak English smoothly when receiving calls from customers.

I listen to the same podcast that I have used recently again and again so that I can improve my listening skills and catch the latest news. AI chatbots are commonly used by young people who are digital natives and are happy to go online. AI often strikes a chord with some users and brings them comfort. However, if we rely heavily on such tools, our capacity to tolerate discomfort may weaken, as we can easily get reassuring answers.

I had lunch with my friend from Taiwan, whom I had not met in 5 months. I had not anticipated seeing her again, as she had already left Auckland before. However, she had finished some seasonal jobs in the countryside and then returned here. I was happy to know that she is fine and enjoys her life.

I have listened to a podcast discussing how AI chatbots could replace human therapists. I summarized the first 5 minutes discussion. As we develop information technology, we could rely heavily on chatbots when we seek support for personal concerns or anxiety. AI chatbots get us to think about what we currently ruminate on in the same way that we keep a diary.　One key feature is that there are no waiting lists—AI chatbots offer immediate guidance we can follow. They're often more empathetic than real humans, making generic chatbots feel like personal cheerleaders in our pockets. Reference:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjtQ30DOrcg

As I mentioned in the title, I use different tools depending on what style of English I want to learn. When I want to learn formal and business-related sentences, I mainly listen to podcasts created by the BBC World Service. On the other hand, if I want to absorb as many casual phrases as possible, I take advantage of meetup events. It is essential to strike a balance between them and incorporate elements into the study approach to prevent boredom.

I picked three sentences up from one podcast uploaded by BBC World Service. Where AI has sort of started to cross over is the fact that there's a major problem in many countries about accessing mental health care. Psychiatrists and therapists are both really expensive to train. There's not enough of them. And it takes years when you get people who do want to sign up. So it means there's a real shortfall. Generic AI, so the one that you might go, like a search chat bot.

I was thrilled to see Japan secure their spot in the Pacific Nations Cup final with a 62–24 win over Tonga yesterday. At first glance, the score suggests an easy victory, but the first half was genuinely thrilling. I want to express deep respect for Tonga—their physical strength is undoubtedly among the best in the world. Their intensity added real excitement to the match. Now, I’m looking forward to the final against Fiji with great anticipation. Reference:  https://www.world.rugby/pacific-nations-cup/en/match/d263abb8-3978-444c-8920-8fc96985f2fc

Eco-friendly action is undeniably important for our future. Some tour programs outlined by travel agencies are truly mind-blowing in their creativity and environmental commitment. However, we must ask—does this risk excluding people who can't afford such experiences due to financial constraints? If we weigh all of this up, it's clear that accessibility matters just as much as innovation. We need to consider alternative approaches that allow as many people as possible to participate in sustainable travel. After all, environmental responsibility should be a shared journey, not a privilege.

Although I may have described it before, I have a problem with my back due to excessive training when I was a high school student. I certainly feel, 'If I could have an option of moving to another school which had coaches who did not insult me and allowed me to take a rest, my physical condition may be excellent at the moment.' However, it does not mean that I should have never played rugby. I met some reliable people, including my current flatmate, thanks to rugby.  

Fortunately, I still have a few friends from my working holiday stay in Auckland. Today, I had breakfast and lunch with one of them, as she had invited me. I was happy to hear about her plans, and it seems she’s currently in a good relationship with her boyfriend.

Eco-tourism has both advantages and drawbacks. This industry offers us the opportunity to appreciate the natural environment and reflect on our daily lives. Additionally, many countries rely heavily on tourism as a source of income. According to some data, one in ten jobs globally last year was in the tourism sector. However, we must also ask: What issues can tourism cause? As more people travel, greater amounts of carbon dioxide and other pollutants may be produced—especially due to excessive air travel and related activities.

Time has passed so quickly. I have only one and a half months left in my current workplace. Our boss will officially open a recruitment advertisement within a week. One of my colleagues said that she feels like I have stayed for a longer time than the actual duration. I was happy to hear that from her since it is a sign that I have worked hard with enthusiasm.

Yesterday, I spoke with my flatmate about my stay in New Zealand so far and the progress I've made with my English. He told me that my English has definitely improved compared to the first day. Although I sometimes don't have the opportunity to chat with him after work, I have been practicing English. Also, I have been able to adjust to various accents and intonations through my current role.

Yesterday, I walked to the next station from the one I usually use, since I had enough time before it got dark. Walking is a gentle way to warm up my body and refresh myself after work. I discovered new places and streets along the way.

There are two things I do to maintain good sleep quality. First, I place a wet towel beside my pillow to keep my throat moist. Second, I take deep breaths just before falling asleep, which helps regulate both my emotional state and physical condition.

Yesterday, I visited Orewa Beach that is the northern part of Auckland. It took around 1 hour from the central city by public transportation. I had never seen such a spectacular spot which I can easily access. Although the population is smaller compared to the center of Auckland, many people were there. I could not see anything in the distance from the beach.

As I mentioned in the title, I usually read the same sentences related to my role aloud repeatedly so that I can explain anything smoothly when a customer inquires. I have recently paid attention to the way I speak to customers, using some polite phrases. Although I have only 2 months left here in New Zealand, I will try as many things as possible.

Do you need screws to install the headlight on your car? Unfortunately, we do not have the maker's original ones. However, there are many scrap ones in the store. We would appreciate it if you could visit our shop to confirm which screws are compatible with your car. <My Past Articles Related to Customer Service> I will review my past articles and keep practicing every day. Day 166 Phrases in Customer Service (1) Day 168 Phrases in Customer Service (2) Day 169 Phrases in Customer Service (3) Day 175 Phrases in Customer Service (4) Day 174 Inquiries from Customers Day 178 Phrases in Customer Service (5) Day 199 Phrases in Customer Service (6) Day 203 Phrases in Customer Service (7) Day 204 Phrases in Customer Service (8) Day 220 Phrases in Customer Service (9) Day 255 Phrases in Customer Service (10) Day 389 Phrases in Customer Service (11)

Working, Looking For a Job in Japan, Participating in Local Communities and Learning English. Although it is ideal to progress all of them simultaneously, it is not realistic to do so. Therefore, I had already set the minimum tasks for each and have been keeping to them so far. I do not have to mind others' opinions and critics any more.

I formed several sentences using phrases from a BBC World Service podcast. If we look at SNS's impact on children's education, we can see that they lose their concentration on studying. This is really at odds with the idea of accelerating education. Now that we use our smartphones in our daily lives, we can easily access to internet anywhere, at any time. In some countries, sewage was being leaked into the rivers. There were also issues of light pollution and noise pollution, which might impact the wildlife you're seeing.

Spring began yesterday, and I've noticed the temperature in Auckland rising day by day. I suppose I won’t need a jacket within a month. It also means my return to Japan is approaching. Emotionally, I feel a mix of sadness and happiness—sadness to leave, and happiness to see my wife again.

Although I was disappointed by the result of this game, I want to say: well played. I believe Japan has a strong chance of winning the next match against Spain. Based on their recent head-to-head performance and the latest world rankings, Japan is expected to come out on top. That said, as one of the New Zealand players mentioned in a pre-match interview, everyone is here to win . In the World Cup, past achievements and rankings mean little once the whistle blows. Every team steps onto the pitch with the same goal—and anything can happen. Still, I’ll keep cheering for my country with pride and hope. Go Japan! Reference:  https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2025/en/match/new-zealand-v-japan-pool-c