#4 Creating Your Perfect Home

Activate Your Japanese!

What would you do
if you were Xuan?

"My first day off since I started　
working in Japan."

"Work has been overwhelming
with so much to learn, but I think I'm getting used to it."

"It's just..."

"My room looks so bland!"

"This is what I'd had in mind."

"All I have now is this wooden bear
that one of the guests gave me."

"And that funny key chain."

"Being stuck in a room like this makes me
long for Vietnam and my family."

Xuan?

Hey... You need to be more careful!

The door's unlocked.

What's the matter?

Ota-san...!

...I see. And now you feel homesick.

I guess your room does feel empty.

It does.

Ota-san, why are you here today?

You don't remember?

We're going shopping together
because it's your first day off.

That's right! I'm sorry.

Well... It's just as well.

I know the perfect person
to help you out.

And I've asked her to come with us.

What?

Hi, you two.

Monica-san!

You live on the first floor?

What do you think? Isn't her room nice?

It really is.

Monica-san, where did you buy all these things?

The "hyakkin" store.

What?

The store that sells nearly
everything for 100 yen.

Then was this 100 yen?

How about this?

What about this?

The grid and the tension rod cost
100 yen each.

"Tension rod?"

Remember to pay "attention"
when you choose one, since it's "a tension" rod.

I don't understand.

You didn't get the pun?

It was supposed to be a Japanese joke.

You got it?

Is this 100 yen too?

You should get toilet paper
and towels here too.

There are so many things here!

– Lots of things.
– Wow!

I've got this and I've got that and...

That thing.

Um... Where do I find it?

Excuse me.

Can I help you?

Uh, yes.

"What is it called...?"

Yes?

I'm sorry, I'm good.

Tell me if you need anything.

"I wanted that thing, but never mind."

Yansu!

You wanted to buy something,
but you gave up.

I couldn't remember what it's called.

You don't remember at all?

"Ra..." That's not it.

"Rod"?

A rod?

Uh-huh. A rod.

I can't remember anything else.

A rod...

Okay...

Why don't we watch those two
over there?

There's something
I was supposed to buy.

What?

I've forgotten what it's called.
It's a sheet.

Huh?

You know...
A "nantoka" sheet.

"Nantoka" sheet?

- Cooling gel sheet?
- Nope.

No, a "nantoka" sheet.

"Nantoka" sheet?

- Picnic sheet?
- That's not it.

"Nantoka" sheet.

Then how about...

A decoration sheet?

That's it! You've got it!

A decoration sheet!

What did you think?

So...

I say "nantoka"
for the part I don't remember.

That's right.

I think I could do that.

I'll try, Yansu.

Xuan, are you still looking
for something?

There's something I want.

A "nantoka" rod.

"Nantoka..."?

A tension rod?

Yes, that's it!

They're over there.

I'm glad I didn't give up.

Good for you.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

You bought a lot.

Everything's so cheap.

And there's something I need to make.

Something you need to make?

There!

This is much better.

So this is what you like.

You like it?

I'm ready too.

Wow!

I thought you might like to try
a Japanese meal.

Ta-da!

Tempura soba noodles.

This looks delicious!

You'll love it.

I'll give you the kitchen items
I bought today, so you can try cooking
Japanese food too.

I'd like that. Thank you.

You should get Rei to teach you.

Good idea. Why not?

But I'm scared of Rei-san.

Come on, we should eat.

Okay then. Let's enjoy our meal!

This smells so good!

Thanks to Monica and Ota-san, I'm a little closer to the life
I'd dreamed of in Japan.

This gives me strength for tomorrow.

"Today's Strategy!"

I would have liked some
tempura soba noodles myself.

There are times when you
can't fully remember the name of a thing,
person or place.

What will you do if that happens?

Let's look at the strategy Xuan used.

There's something I want.

A "nantoka" rod.

"Nantoka..."?

A tension rod?

Yes, that's it!

Replace the part you cannot
recall with "nantoka."

Xuan happened to remember
the "rod" part of "tension rod."

So she said "nantoka rod."

If you say the bit you remember, the other person may be able to
figure it out and tell you.

"Nantoka" Athletic Park.

Nihongo "Nantoka" Center.

Tanaka "Nantoka"-san.

Try using it when you can't remember
a name in full.

Goodbye for now.

Meet senpai from all over Japan, Tsutsu Uraura!

Let's hear about their lives.

Today's senpai is Garcia Kristine Gordula, from the Philippines.

She works at a senior care facility in Nagoya City in Aichi.

In the Philippines, she worked at a care facility for Japanese people.

She studied Japanese there before coming to Japan.

Kristine works as a care worker.

Care workers assist seniors with meals, bathing, and hygiene.

They provide support in daily life.

- How is it? Good?
- It's good.

It is? I'm glad.

- She's so lovely.
- Thank you.

- She truly is.
- Really? Thank you.

I'm so happy when I hear them
say thank you.

So no matter how busy I am,
I try to reach out to them.

It's important to talk and
interact with them.

Kristine was inspired by her mother.

She cared for Kristine's grandmother, who had dementia.

I saw how hard it was.

But if you know how to interact
with dementia patients, it helps.

That knowledge allows you
to provide the right care.

Japan has more care facilities than the Philippines.

So Kristine decided to become an EPA Certified Care Worker in Japan.

She received a scholarship that allowed her to study Japanese and care work for three years.

She was able to obtain a national qualification for care workers.

Twelve years after moving to Japan, she obtained permanent residency.

At her workplace, there are 11 other staff members from abroad.

They also came to Japan aspiring to become EPA Certified Care Workers.

Kristine uses both Japanese and Tagalog to instruct them.

She's valued as a leader who provides careful instructions.

Even if things are hard,
Kristine is always cheerful.

It makes me feel like
I can keep going.

Kristine lives in Nagoya in Aichi.

Nagoya is one of the largest cities in Japan, and it's known for its ties to warlords in centuries past.

Today, Kristine visits Nagoya Castle with her coworkers.

It has a history of more than 400 years.

Kristine began visiting castles to serve as a talking point with the seniors she cares for.

It's become a hobby, and she now visits castles all around Japan.

Kristine is a skilled chef.

She loves Japanese food that uses akamiso.

Miso, made from fermented soybeans, varies in flavor by region.

Akamiso is a Nagoya specialty.

She simmers vegetables and more in soup stock, then adds akamiso.

Wonder how it tastes.

It's good.

Compared to regular miso, it has
more flavor and depth. I love it.

These are Kristine's favorite words.

Treasure every encounter.

"Ichigo" means "one life," and "ichie" is "one meeting."

These words tell us to treasure each and every encounter we have.

I want to treasure each encounter I
have, and treat them all with care.

I always keep that in mind.

To increase the scope of care she can give, Kristine is studying to be a care manager.

She hopes to provide support to as many people as possible.

Good luck, Kristine!