Something to adopt from the Japanese

We are vey much impressed by the service the Japanese provide. Almost everywhere we go, any Japanese we meet seem to have certain attitudes toward their work. Is it because they are wellpaid? Is it because they have 'pride' in doing their job?


In the 100 yen shop (similar to value dollar shop in S'pore or Jakarta) I found a set of Winnie the Pooh spoon, fork and chopstick for Wisnu. When my husband paid at the cashier, without asking our approval, the cashier rushed to change the item with the finely plastick wrapped. Not that I am not proud of being Indonesian, but perhaps the cashiers in our stores will not bother looking at it , let alone changing it with the one in the better condition.

Last week we went to the florist to get some flowers for tilem offering. We stood there for awhile trrying to locate the cheapest flowers because the price ranges from 500 to thousands yen. Finally we could get the bunch of lovely roses for only 350 yen. Before we paid the flowers, the florist open the paper wrap and checked the condition of the flowers. Quickly she found out that two stems were broken and replaced them with the fresh ones. Stunning !!! It did not really influence her whether we only bought the cheapest item.

One day at the cafetaria of Shinmin Byoin Hospital, Wisnu and I could not get any seat during lunch. the cafetaria has two corners: one for the hospital staffs and the other one is for visitors. I just stood in front of the cashier as I saw that there was no chance for a pregnant woman and a two-year old child to squeeze in the crowded corner. I did not ask for help because I did not know how to in Japanese. I did not have to wait long until the cashier with her gesture showed me the way to sit among the doctors and nurses. She even pushed Wisnu's stroller to help me get in and took a high chair for Wisnu to eat.

If we need to get documents either from the ward Office or Immigration office, we could get them done on the same day. My husband said that the officer stayed until 5 pm to finalize the papers eventhough the closing time was 4.30. They do not complain. No extra fees. No grudges.

picture : http://plato.acadiau.ca

I think we will take those attitude home...and promise not to complain if others do not share the same values... (the latter is the hardest!!!)

Kegembiraan Wisnu




Dalam hitungan 24 jam, seorang Wisnu bisa beberapa kali menangis, menjerit, menelungkup di atas lantai berurai air mata, mengguncang-guncang baju ibunya atau ajinya minta digendong.
Kalau sudah begitu, jalan potong untuk meredakan tangisnya adalah menggendongnya dan mendekapnya.

Namun demikian, hanya beberapa hal kecil saja bisa membuat senang hatinya. Pagi hari, begitu bangun tidur kalau susu sudah tersedia dan ia akan langsung duduk di depan TV sambil menonton acara TV NHK kesayangannya: inai inai baa!

Lalu sekitar jam 10 pagi, sesudah ibu selesai memasak dan memandikan Akira, Wisnu tahu waktunya main ke play room di Chiku Senta (balai rakyat-red) . Meskipun setibanya di sana, dia akan ragu-ragu bergabung dengan anak-anak jepang, tapi beberapa saat kemudian biasanya akan lebih tenang bermain di antara mereka (catat: bukan berarti bersama-sama mereka).

Jika tiba makan siang, makanan akan lebih cepat masuk ke mulut kalau sambil menonton DVD Baby Einstein atau Dora (yang cuma ada 1: Nursery Rhymes) sesuai dengan pilihannya. Model memontonnya juga khas Wisnu, filmnya bisa berganti-ganti dalam beberapa menit. Misalkan awalnya ia minta menonton Dora, lalu dalam 10 menit, dia berteriak "ibu-aji, ganti, tain-tain, nih..inih" sambil menunjuk DVD yang diinginkannya.

Kalau saat mau tidur, yang ditariknya adalah ajinya. "aji, yuk, bobo". Mungkin Wisnu tahu, ibu bagiannya menidurkan adik. "is..is.." berarti Wisnu minta susu. (sekarang Wisnu minum tidak pakai dot lagi, tapi pakai sedotan lho!). Sebelum tidur kadang Wisnu minta dibacakan cerita atau bermain asyik dengan bisnya.

Itu acara rutin harian. Hal-hal di luar itu, ada juga yang membuat mata Wisnu berbinar-binar.
Contohnya, kalau sehabis mandi Wisnu ditanya :"Wisnu mau ikut pergi?". Pasti jawabnya antusias :"Ikut!', tidak perduli kemana perginya, kadang cuma pergi ke pasar membeli sayur-mayur atau ke kantor pos membayar rekening tagihan. Selain itu kalau diminta menjatuhkan pilihan baju mana yang ingin dipakainya, " ini,ini" jawabnya sambil tertawa-tawa.

Apalagi kalau begitu tiba di perempatan jalan, kita berbelok ke kiri, ke arah stasiun subway, dia pasti berlari sambil teriak "bis,bis" yang berarti kita akan naik kereta. Biasanya dia juga akan berujar, "ibu, bis, " sambil menunjuk stasiun lalu jawaban standar ibu adalah" bukan bis, kereta".

Tadi pagi, ada sumber kegembiraan baru untuk seorang Wisnu kecil. Nampaknya musim hujan sudah tiba lagi menjelang musim gugur ini. Wisnu senang sekali bisa memakai jas hujan dan sepatu boot barunya. Apalagi ibu mengijinkannya menciprat-ciprat genangan air dengan sepatu bootnya. Walaupun masih agak kebesaran, jas hujannya bisa melindunginya dari basahan hujan. Jadi Wisnu bisa berteriak"hujan..hujan..." sambil berlari.