Image of a Japanese man I encountered while exiting the Tokyo subway train station. It was still early in the day and he was drinking some type of hard alcohol straight from the bottle. As the rain fell, from under his umbrella he stared blankly at the top of a nearby high rise tower. I got the distinct impression from the look on his face that he was completely burnt out, drained to the point of breaking. I tried to be respectful while capturing the picture which is why it’s slightly out of focus. It was a strange greeting as I stepped out into the streets of Tokyo city that day.
Lately I’ve been struggling. My struggles are not serious; I’m not struggling to find food or my freedom, it’s nothing as grandiose as that. My struggles are of a more simple nature, though no less complicated or meaningful as far as I’m concerned. The bbc had an article about some indigenous people living almost undisturbed deep in the south American jungle. Very few people had ever come in contact with them. It quoted a doctor who was working to defend their lands from development without them having to come into contact with the developed world (us). His words really connected with me when he explained to the interviewer “in some ways these people are some of the truly last free people on earth”.
So it was while considering his words and contemplating my own struggles that I was reminded of a scene I saw in Korea and of another in Japan. I was sick and feeling a little under the weather. I stepped out of my hotel looking for something I could eat that would be quick and easy so that I could crawl back into bed as soon as possible. I found a Mcdonalds ‘restaurant’ around the corner and I walked in around lunch time. The front of the restaurant was busy with the counter surrounded by several groups of customers; teenagers, couples, workers and at least one foreigner.
I didn’t notice it when it occurred but one of the customers had dropped their large drink onto the floor. While waiting for someone to clean up the drink I was thinking to myself how annoying it must be working in such an environment as Mcdonalds. Where in general people act like they never would in their own homes. Having to put up with the rude customers on a daily basis for a job that in my mind simply couldn’t be rewarding.
A few moments later an employee with obvious physical challenges appeared with a mop. He had difficulty using one of his arms properly and walked with a slight limp. I watched him mop up the floor the best he could at his own pace. No one appeared to take notice of him as he finished up and rolled the mop back into the storage area. Not the employee’s nor the customers. He on the other hand seemed to have a relaxed and content look on his face the whole time.
I walked up to the second floor and grabbed a table lost in my thoughts. The second floor was just as full as the first. As I slowly ate my food I noticed that the young man who had cleaned the floor was now cleaning the tables, looking just as carefree and content as he had appeared downstairs.
The noon hour rush of customers was now slowly beginning to leave and I barely paid attention as he passed one of the tables and an old man spoke to him. The young cleaner headed off in another direction continuing to clean as the old man stood up. Not having understood what had been said I was suddenly curious and watched the older man as he began cleaning tables. Almost immediately I saw the resemblance between them. He must of been the young mans father or grandfather.
I’m assuming that he was helping his young family member and ensuring that everything was as clean as possible. I’m also assuming that he was doing this to help the young man and to make certain he kept his job.
I don’t know how easy or difficult it is for someone living in South Korea who is physically or psychologically ‘different’ to find employment. None the less here was a young man who had no doubt struggled his whole life to be accepted. He probably never had a chance to play sports as a child. Most likely never experienced any of the things most people take for granted; having a girlfriend, getting a job or even being accepted socially yet he seemed content. He looked like a zen fuckin monk walking up and down the aisles while cleaning up after others.
Not 20 minutes earlier I had been thinking how depressing it must be to clean up after these people. Thinking who could possibly be happy picking up after people who didn’t have enough courtesy to pick up after themselves. Yet here was this young man who gave me the distinct impression that he was happy just to have a job and receive a paycheck. I stayed seated at my table while the noon hour rush of customers continued to exit, leaving the floor almost empty. The old man and the young worker sat down together, talked and laughed. It was in that moment that I managed to covertly snap a few pictures of them together at a table.
Whenever I ponder about life and it’s struggle I can’t help but think about experiences such as these to put it all into perspective. Everyone struggles; it’s how you handle it that makes all the difference.
Waxing philosophical once again with my own little struggles…
mtl_dokkaebi
