I quit my job at a Japanese company in New Delhi 12 years ago to try my luck as a Japanese-language student in Tokyo. In order to bolster my linguistic abilities (and make a bit of extra cash), I got a side job at a Family Mart convenience store close to my apartment.

My Japanese wasn't great but I was proficient in the basics and could understand most of what was being said to me. I wasn't super-excited about the job, to be honest, but knew it wouldn't be forever. I was trained for a day or two and then began working every other morning from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

My convenience store job ended up teaching me a lot about Japan and myself.