First experience of an airplane at the age of 24. It took about 8 hours and the time difference between Singapore and Japan is 1 hour.
In my hand there was a passport that I made also the first time 2 months before the departure. I started thinking about various things while looking at the sky above Japan.
First of all the language. When I read the most common guidebook that everyone always takes overseas at that time, the language in Singapore was English. However, they also use Singapore’s unique English Singlish mainly in ordinary conversation. I also had to learn the minimum Italian language that I could understand the Italian menu. I had never worked in a kitchen with a foreigner before, so I was wondering how to communicate with them.
The first Italian food, the unprecedented Italian food boom in Japan at that time, I was asking myself why they called me who had no experience of Italian food? Am I okay? Well whatever will be will be, but it is not the distance to complain like when I go to my friend’s house by bicycle saying “I couldn’t do it, so I’m going home.”
When I arrived at Changi International Airport, the most important hub in Southeast Asia, I first felt that the air was different and the air was heavy. I haven’t traveled the world so much, but don’t you think each country has its own unique scent? And there are many Westerners in the airport …
I was able to meet Chef Araki, who was wandering around and picking me up, and took a taxi to the apartment where I will live. It took about 20 minutes from the airport to the highway where palm trees lined up.
Chef Araki was trained at a old Italian restaurant in Kobe, and was trained mainly in northern Italy in the 1980s when it was rare for Japanese to work in Italy. Ok! I was excited to do my best. When I arrived at the apartment, I was greeted by Chef Araki’s wife and a cute daughter who was not yet two years old.
I remember feeling relieved when I talked to Japanese people, even though it was only 8 or 9 hours since I left Japan. We shared a large apartment and started living together from that day. But ” Where is my room? …” All 3LDK rooms are in occupied. After the discussion, I separated the living room with furniture, carried a bed, and yes! My room is done.
I can’t stand the cold, but Singapore just below the equator is warm all year round so it wasn’t a problem. Chef Araki told me that he was hungry, and we had him treat Hokkien Mee, one of Singapore’s national dishes, for the first time at a nearby food stall. delicious! After that, I returned to my room and learned about my future work and lifestyle in Singapore, and I will be working at a restaurant from the day after. I’ll do my best! Continue
