The university term is coming to an end, and I've been looking for an extra part-time job to fill in my sudden burst of free time come January 2. As I have been looking for a venue to help practice my Japanese, I've been trying to avoid the standard English Teacher job op that I've been saddled with for the past seven months.  Seeing as how my Japanese is only passable at best, the only option I have is to get a job in the service industry as a bilingual waitress. This means taking a paycut, but the experience alone is worth it.

Take, for example, my interesting foray into the Tokyo Red Light district known as Ropponggi. I went there last week for a job interview as a waitress and, wanting to make a good impression, came in a fairly decent suit. I was overdressed, as it turned out, as everyone else in the "bar"was more specifically un-dressed. Har har. The manager had, in fact, neglected to tell me that the "bar" was a Strip Club. And that the "owners" happened to be the Nigerian mafia. (In Ropponggi, all the establishments are owned by either the Yakuza, the Nigerian mafia, or the Russian mafia.)

Upon closer inspection, I realized that my true calling for bilingual waitressing did NOT entail making customers "happy" in the private rooms. I was polite, charming, and firm; I also got the hell out of there as quickly as my ultra-professional, ultra-sleek hundred dollar chic high heels would let me. 

I have another job interview later on today, this time at an Irish pub. Hopefully this will not involve removal of any of my clothing.