From a senior foreigner working in a construction company
one thing

The best thing about working in Japan now is having so many friends.
I work together with someone who is also from Indonesia, so we help each other out when we don't understand something about work.

My twin brothers have also come to Japan and work as welders in Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture.
They are good friends and keep in touch often, talking about their troubles and encouraging each other, so they are a comfort to each other.

Badminton is a popular sport in Indonesia, and I play it as a hobby.
There are people in Japan who play badminton as well, and we get together after work or on weekends to practice badminton.
Thanks to this, I have been able to make more Japanese friends and I am very happy.

Indonesia and Japan have different customs and cultures.
The first thing that surprised me when I came to Japan was the toilet. In Indonesia, we wash our hands with water, but in Japan, we usually wipe with paper, so it took me a while to get used to it.
I'm currently using a Washlet.

The CEO is very kind and explains the job in an easy to understand way.
When I told them I liked dancing, they took me to a dance club. I had so much fun dancing with everyone and it's a very fond memory.

On my days off, I enjoy going cycling and visiting other prefectures to soak in hot springs.
I also love motorcycles, and my dream is to return to Indonesia and open a motorcycle shop.
I would like to work in Japan for a little while longer and save some money.

Before coming to Japan, I worked in construction in Africa for seven years. Compared to China and Africa, many people in Japan live good lives, there are many cars and trains, and it is a very easy place to live.

The way of working in Japan is different from other countries, and there are strict rules. It is difficult to remember the rules, but thanks to them you can work safely. Pensions and allowances are also good, and the working environment is also good.

Japanese people are polite, not only at work but also when I go shopping at a supermarket, the store clerks will greet me with "Good morning" and "Hello." I want to work in Japan for a long time, so I worked hard and got a first-class technician license. One day I would like to become independent and run my own company in this country.

Before coming to Japan, I searched for information about Japan and Japanese people, and found that they are "serious by nature" and "strict at work." However, when I actually started working here, I found that Japanese people also laugh and chat during breaks, and it is a lot of fun to be around them.

The work was hard at first, but I got used to it in my second and third years. Also, as I learned the work, my seniors started to acknowledge my skills, and now I enjoy my work.

However, I think dialects are difficult. Since I have only studied standard Japanese, the Sanuki dialect used in Kagawa Prefecture is spoken so quickly that I could hardly understand it. It may take some time to get used to it, but once you learn it, it's fine, so don't worry.

What surprised me when I came to Japan was how polite and punctual the Japanese are. If I was careless with my greetings or late, I would be severely reprimanded. But they taught me what to do, so I quickly learned the lesson.

Compared to Vietnam, the scenery and air in Japan are cleaner, so I go on motorcycle tours on my days off. I've even been to the famous Naruto Strait with friends, and it's a great memory. My current goal is to get a large motorcycle license and ride a Honda motorcycle.

My dream is to go back to Vietnam someday and build a house, and I want to marry my girlfriend who is waiting for me in Vietnam. To achieve that, I want to work hard at my current company and earn money.

When I first came to Japan and started working, I hardly understood any Japanese, so when I was being taught, I felt like I was being scolded no matter what was said, and I was very anxious.

In order to learn Japanese quickly, I would take notes of any words I didn't understand when speaking with Japanese people, and then look them up and study them when I got home. Once I was able to speak a little, I was able to understand what was being said at work, which made me feel more at ease at work, which was great.

Now that I have Specified Skilled Worker (ii), I have obtained a driver's license and was able to buy my own car. I also go for drives on my days off. Japan has many beautiful places, so I would like to travel more in the future.

I don't like studying, so I started learning Japanese by watching YouTube and listening to music. I also talked to a lot of Japanese people at work.

Even if I made mistakes or didn't understand the meaning, I would keep speaking, and when I was told, "That Japanese is wrong," I would ask for immediate explanation. By repeating this process, my Japanese became very good.

Now I'm very happy that I can consult with Japanese people about anything. I can express my opinions and decide what I want to do, so my work is fun and rewarding. Now I want to buy a house in Japan and drive a car. To achieve this, I want to work hard and improve my skills.

My family is the most important thing to me.
I currently have two children in Vietnam, and am working hard in Japan to raise them in a comfortable environment.

One of the best things about working in Japan is going out for drinks with my seniors and coworkers on my days off. It's so relaxing and fun.
I also love Japanese food and am especially looking forward to going to a yakiniku restaurant.

My wife also loves Japan's scenery and culture, so we hope to live in Japan together as a family someday.
In order to obtain permanent residency, you will also need to improve your work skills.

To that end, I am currently studying to become a Level 1 mounting technician.
I definitely want to become Specified Skilled Worker (ii).

When I came to Japan, the first thing I did was to study Japanese.
On my days off, I would go to Shibuya or Shinjuku and participate in social gatherings.

In addition to Vietnamese people, people from various countries, including Americans, Sri Lankans, Filipinos, and Thais, gathered at the social gathering.
There, you are not allowed to speak in your own language, you must speak in Japanese. It's difficult, but thanks to that, my Japanese has improved a lot.

Also, after work, when I get home and have dinner, I study using the app.
Any Japanese words I don't understand that day I write them down on paper and look them up. If I understand the meaning of a word, I try speaking to a Japanese person the next day, or with my friends at a social gathering.

In my case, I don't use textbooks very often because reading text makes me sleepy.

My friend recommended that I come to Japan to work. When I was in Vietnam, I just played around every day doing nothing. Now I can earn money and grow little by little, so I'm glad I came to Japan.

The good thing about working at my current company is that Japanese people are so kind to me. I've been learning as I work, and I've been able to do more. I'm also happy to feel that I'm growing. My salary has also increased, so now I'm working hard to send money to my family in Vietnam.

On my days off, I go out drinking and hang out with the Vietnamese people who live in the same dormitory. The dormitory is a house and each person has their own room. Living with friends is more fun than living alone because you can have fun every day.

On my days off, I like to go outside and have fun, such as going to Tokyo Skytree or Disneyland with my coworkers.

We also went on a trip to Hokkaido together. Since we don't get to see snow in Vietnam, it was the first time I've seen it, and I was really moved.

Last year, I married a woman I met in Japan. She also has the same Specified Skills 1, and we met when I was invited to a party at a friend's house.

My goal from now on is to give birth to a child and raise him in Japan. I am currently researching various ways to give birth and raise a child in Japan with Specified Skills. I have a family in Vietnam, so I may return there someday, but for now I want to continue living in Japan with my family for a long time.

I came to Japan because I knew that Japanese plastering techniques were more advanced than those in China, and I really wanted to try working there. When I started working there, I was surprised to see how serious the people were about their work and how the finished product was so different from that in China.

In Japan, safety awareness is very high, and it is important to finish work safely. For that reason, it is important to learn Japanese. I communicate well with Japanese people, and when I get home, I look up words I don't understand related to work or daily life in a dictionary. If you can understand Japanese, it will make your life and work easier, so I hope you will do your best.