The Student Part-Time Experience
Hands down, an experience that so profoundly informed my almost four-year journey and growth in Japan has been my part-time work experience. I assert this with tremendous surprise since I never anticipated it. Admittedly, part-time work was primarily a source of income to sponsor the well-known student lifestyle: ramen with friends, transportation, phone bill, etc. But as with almost every depth-filled phenomenon, work was sure to pull me into a deeper experience of its meaning and possibilities, through a most gentle and gradual process.
[My part-time work experience includes modeling. Me, at the PUMA store]
Straight out of the gate, work quickly previewed me to the relational and communal possibilities it holds with the wider society and people from diverse backgrounds. It was unbeknownst to me how easy it is for especially international students to get wrapped in a student bubble, having little to no interaction outside of it. Part-time work quickly exposed me to people who have four kids, a mortgage, visa issues, and have no idea or care about who John Calvin is.
Our conversations, therefore, proved different from those with college mates, often dominated by talks of a new crush, etc. It widened the possibility for friendship with people from such distinct cultures, beliefs, and languages, helping me think very practically about how the message of the cross can be shared in not just words, but mere presence and action, thereby informing my theological studies. Notably, a workmate from the Philippines whom I met and grew incredibly close with at my first part-time job in a warehouse, requested me to be godfather to his son who was then yet to be born. My heart almost busted open. Our friendship is now sealed for many years to come, though I have since switched jobs.
[My beloved godson and I]
Part-time work was never all rosy, however. After just weeks of committing to the experience, I quickly realized the level of challenge it unavoidably presents. At first, the more physical and logistical challenges of waking up early, lifting cartoons, and managing my time between that and school became evident, quickly producing days when I easily dreaded the reality of having to show up again and again. Additionally, I quickly realized that work challenges and grow the Christian values one holds dear. You think you have developed humility and or patience, until a workmate or senior staff speaks to you in a tone past what you consider the appropriate decibel, raising often unspoken resentment for which one has to repent and let go. This, ultimately, inspired my thesis topic and decision. It examines work, an enterprise that holds recognizable benefits but also much toil, and asks: is it something truly enjoyable that everyone—young people especially—can anticipate participating in? The thesis is titled “Cursed Yet Divine: Work Under the Sun.”
I was curious about the experiences of other TCU international students in the part-time workspace, and they were gracious enough to share their experiences, as presented below:
Brian Sibo, Kenya:
Hi. My name is Brian from Kenya, and I graduated from TCU last year. While studying at TCU, I worked part time at Narita Airport for about two years. Three things were a highlight for me during this time:
- Working with Japanese people helped me learn a lot about the culture in general and improved my Japanese significantly—functional Japanese that people use every day.
- As TCU is a nice warm Christian community, work was the place where I got to interact with non-Christians. I got opportunities to share the Gospel and be a light and salt among the Japanese. On a few occasions, I invited some co-workers to church and they showed up!
- Working part-time at the airport rekindled my passion for aviation. As a result, I decided to pursue aviation after graduating from TCU. Now, I am doing pilot training in Kenya. I intend to leverage my aviation skills for ministry purposes.
[Brian at Narita Airport w/ colleagues]
[At current flight school in Kenya]
Sharon Anil, India:
Work life in Japan for me was something I dreaded, with the language barrier being the prime concern. I currently work part-time as an after-school teacher at a Christian organization, and looking back, I’m glad I didn’t give in to the pressure to quit when things got rough—which they did at times. By grace, through faith, I’m now at a place where I enjoy being able to contribute in little big ways.
My biggest takeaway: don’t give up too soon—things always work out for good (Rom 8:28).
Crusoe Chapman, USA:
I work as a part time teacher at an after-school English School program. This work has truly been a huge blessing to me in many ways. For one, it has linked me to many non-Christian co-workers, with whom I have enjoyed building relationships, and have been able to start sharing my faith. I also have loved getting to know the kids in my classes. Their carefree playfulness truly fills me with joy and makes the workday go by so quickly, leaving me mentally refreshed because of their pureness and simplicity. My boss is Christian, affording me a well-run, relaxed work environment, with the occasional opportunity for Christian fellowship. My work experience has been better than I could have expected here in Japan.
Written by B. John M’baaday
