Commuting Between Japan and China

Ingrid is my girlfriend. Somehow through her I get to know a Japanese friend of hers who works in Zhen Zhou, China. (Zhen Zhou is the main city of He Nan Province. It’s in central China). He is a small, middle aged man.

I am not sure if the company he works for is a Chinese or a Japanese company. It is an Export Company and has a few Japanese management staff. There is something strange about this Japanese man. He commutes from Japan to China to work everyday.

I run a calculation in my mind as to how he can manage to do it: Even if he lives near the airport in Japan say Tokyo, it would take him at least an hour to fly to Shang Hai. From Shang Hai to Zhen Zhou, it would take another hour and a half. From the Zhen Zhou airport to his work, it must take at least half an hour. Plus all the time spent in checking in, waiting, going through customs etc he probably needs at least six hours. To arrive at work at say 9 AM in Zhen Zhou, he needs to get up at 3 AM. Of course, the same happens after work and by the time he gets home it would be somewhat midnight.

That’s why I don’t understand why he commutes everyday. I wonder what kind of family circumstances makes him take such trouble every day. He could live in China during the week and go back to Japan during the weekend if he needs to.

The company has a vacancy for an Export Documentation Officer. I am quite keen in this position because I believe if I work amongst Japanese staff, I will learn some Japanese quickly. I decide to talk to this Japanese man. He seems to be a senior management person in the firm.

I find him and introduce my self as a friend of Ingrid. I tell him that I am interested in this position. He then tells me that he has to advertise this position and invite applicants. I am more than welcome to apply for this position of course, but he can’t guarantee me that the position is mine.

I am a little disappointed, but I understand.