Interview with a SSW: Mr. Marbert
【Profile】
LONGATAN MARBERT BALLACAY (hereinafter referred to as "Marbert") 29 years old.
Born in the Philippines. Marbert is now working as an automotive mechanic in Fukushima prefecture.
Marbert first came to Japan in September 2017. With the thought of majority in the Philippines use Japanese cars, and where is the best to learn how to fix Japanese cars if it's not in Japan. That is why he came here to Japan.
◆What did you want to do in Japan? Please tell us your goals and dreams at that time.
My goal was to earn money, hone my skills, and to go back in my home country and establish my own business.
◆What is your current job?
I am currently working as an automotive mechanic.
◆Do you have any difficulties at work?
It was a bit difficult during my first weeks working here in Japan as my Japanese seniors didn't trust me at first. A lot of adjustments in how to deal with people, how to approach, and how to communicate.
◆How do you spend your holidays?
I spend my holidays improving my skills in photography and videography as it is my hobby.
※Those photos were taken by Marbert. He printed out and presented to our registration support agency.
◆Did you have any problem (such as Japanese language and lifestyle) when you first came to Japan?
Lifestyle was not a problem for me, but maybe for others. The language was the real problem, sometimes even now.
There was difficulty in how to express what I wanted to say, or wanted to do.
But we all can learn, it's just a matter of practice and perseverance, and figuring out how to learn it.
◆How do you feel about your life in Japan now?
I feel free, I feel happy.
◆Please tell us about your future dreams.
My dream is to turn my hobby into business, to be financially free, and to retire early.
I'm working hard now to make my dreams come true!
◆Finally, please give a message to foreigners who have dreams of working in Japan and foreigners who are working in Japan.
Life in Japan is not that bad, you just need to learn how to adopt certain rules, more importantly the unspoken rules. Earn, save up, go back to your own country and invest, be financially free. Living in Japan is great, growing old in Japan is not what I would advise.
【Message from the registration support organization】
This time we have Mr. Marbert who has been in Japan for four years, talked about not only his dreams, but also the rules of living in Japan and the freedom that he feels while living here. We also get to know that he wants to continue taking photos and videos as a hobby.
Thank you Marbert, for the wonderful gift!