The rainy season has started here, and rain brings extra traffic. I was stuck at a light for a few rotations today and observed a peculiar sight: a gas station attendant squeegee-ing the concrete in the pouring rain.
It was a two-pump station covered by a canopy. The rain was formidable: falling horizontally and made worse by gusty winds (my umbrella turned inside twice before 10am). The sideways downpour had wet the concrete beneath the canopy. I didn’t notice standing water, but it was wet. The attendant, dressed in a white cotton jumpsuit, worked diligently to squeegee the concrete under the canopy so it was as dry as possible. He did not hurry, even though he was getting soaked.
Can you imagine a gas station manager in the States telling an employee to squeegee the concrete under the canopy?
“Hey, I have an idea. How about you go out in the pouring rain and squeegee down pump number one. And we don’t have extra raincoats either.”
I expect that employee’s response would include an extended middle finger, expletives optional. A manager wouldn’t think of it; an employee wouldn’t do it; a customer wouldn’t expect it. And on the off chance an employee were to “do” it, it would be a slip-shod job, done as quickly as possible just to get done.
Not so with the Squeegee Man. He took as much care in squeegee-ing the concrete as a monk takes raking patterns in sand, or a chef takes preparing potentially lethal fugu, or a geisha takes serving tea. He executed the task deliberately, without haste, and with respect for the future customer who would step there.
I am learning that Japanese people (in general, of course) take immense care no matter what the task. Objects, including cash, are passed between people with both hands: two hands to give, two hands to receive. Small gifts (omiyage) are given just to be thoughtful. Bento lunches aren’t tossed haphazardly in used plastic bags; they’re portioned, compartmentalized, and wrapped and knotted in pretty cloth handkerchiefs.
Respect, care, diligence, deference, precision.
These words don’t have to go together. You can be respectful without being careful. You can be diligent without showing deference. In Japan they are inseparable. You bow deferentially, speak to others respectfully, give and receive carefully, and complete your work diligently and with precision. This is the cultural paradigm. I don’t know why and I’m not trying to figure it out. The why is irrelevant to my observation. I come to the table with an open heart and an open mind; analysis not included.
Eventually, the traffic ahead of me moved, I rounded a curve, and I left the Squeegee Man at the gas station. I may never see him again, but I’ll never forget him. As an American, I feel rushed 90% of the time. I am always behind. There is always too much to do and not enough time to do it (and when I’m really in a rush I get stuck behind the octogenarian in the Buick). I cut corners to get things done. Even important things for people I love.
The Squeegee Man will be with me the next time I’m rushing. He’ll be in the back of my mind when I’m tempted to cut corners just to get done. There is pride to be had in the doing of the job, not just the getting it done. There is respect earned in serving others with care.
Going forward, I’m taking care.
Recent Comments