I was walking around between classes on a short coffee break today and I struck up a conversation with a guy that I have seen around the office lately. It turns out the guy is an American expat working as a contractor with a company in the USA as an inspector of the equipment being built here. He lives in Yokohama and commutes in every week via bullet train to various factories. It seemed like an interesting job, and he must be in demand if they pay him to take the train halfway across the country twice a week.
But actually this guy was really interested in my job. As I talked about what I do I recognized what I saw in this guy – it was fear. I’ve been around people that have needed jobs before (and I certainly have been in that position a little more often than I’d like to admit) but the smell of fear on this guy was palpable. He was concerned for his job situation, and looking to jump ship. Weird dude.
I read in an article on the internet yesterday that Wendy’s is pulling out of the Japan market, and they expect to have all their stores closed by the end of the year. I like Wendy’s, I don’t love it, but tonight I am doing a little shopping in Kobe after work so I’ll swing by the store in Sannomiya and see if it is still open. It might be my last chance for some Wendy’s food until I visit the USA again, and if I go all the way to the USA I probably will want to go to nicer places (like In N’ Out Burger or Hodads). Tonight might be my last meal ever at Wendy’s.
Once the shopping is done I’ll head home and relax before my big day of teaching tomorrow. It is my last day at Kobe University, and we have a full schedule of presentations that should keep me on my toes through the evening.
