The Humble Man

"That's our owner's phone number, can you contact him directly?", the guy said in fluent Japanese through a phone when I called Melbourne's Japanese restaurant about job hiring.

Now, I struggle to find a job. Until I realized I hardly got any positive reply from the employers, I'd applied to jobs only online. That was time to try another way. I started looking up restaurants along with Google map. I picked up some, calling them and trying to talk with the manager in person. Some of them already had enough staffs and the other told me to bring them my resume. At one pizza restaurant, the staff kindly told me the manager's address but I failed to send as I couldn't catch properly what he said. I was terrible. I felt like the whole world refused my approach and left me behind. 

 During the darkness where I was disappointed all myself, I called one Japanese restaurant whose name is Kenji's Japanese Restaurant. I asked a guy, "I'm looking for a job, is it possible I talk to your manager?." The guy answered in Japnese, "You could speak Japanese, right?...  The manager isn't here right now but I can tell you our owner's phone number." Therefore, I got Mr. Kenji's phone number by chance.

Although I got another chance for a job, I wasn't happy so much. I was nervous. More I asked the unseen persons about jobs, the distance between me and them appeared to get larger. I wasn't sure I could speak well with Mr.Kenji even in Japanese, so I prepared a script what I should say and ask before calling him. I became too nervous to stay still on a chair, going back and forth in a room repeatedly.

I started speaking in Japanese, "Is this Kenji-san's phone number?" The guy answered a phone, his voice sounds his mid fifties to sixties and has a western Japanese accent, and said, "Yes, who is this?." I introduced myself, explaining how I got his number and the situation of job seeking. He listened to my explanation calmly. From his voice, I could feel he never stopped showing respect to this young folk. I could imagine the scene he nodded firmly and repeatedly, paying attention to my voice. Once I finished, he said "We're not looking for someone right now, but we might need in June or July. Could I ask you at that time?" I thanked for his offer and sparing his time then hung up the phone. 

His humble and respectful attitude amazed me. As an owner, he must've been busy but he treated me fairly and kindly. I assumed his such attitude was unwavering and equal to anyone. I wished to become a man like him, fair to everyone, never forget to show respect, and keep improving himself. I couldn't get a job and I don't know what I'd get but now I know what kind of man I want to be.

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid. One who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory. Give him humility so that he always remembers the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, and the weakness of the true strength.

-Douglas MacArthur-