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Fall is a harvest season. It is a good time to remind yourself to be grateful for nature's blessings and for the joy of being able to work. |
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Hello everyone, I'm Meilin. It's already been a month since I started working at the shopping center L'ESPACE. At the display design department where I work, we are in a process of planning a display that reflects the beautiful season of fall. I got some great ideas which I am going to present at a staff meeting. Hope everyone will like them! |
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You cannot discuss fall in Japan without talking about koyo (autumn colored leaves). I want to add red and orange colors to the shopping center's main square. |
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We should have some hands-on displays so that our customers can take part in them as well.
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How about making a bulletin board in the shape of a large tree to symbolize the harvest season? We may call it Autumn Tree and ask customers who visit the square to leave a message which we can put on the board.
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That's a great idea! But what kind of messages are we asking our customers to write?
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How about setting a theme as "my harvest of the year" and let customers write on a card about what they have accomplished this year with their hard work and effort. We will display those cards on the tree to share with other customers.
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I think your idea is wonderful, Meilin! Let's get this plan on the road, and we are going to transform the main square into Harvest Square. We will have a message board on which to post "my harvest of the year" messages from the customers.
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It would be fun to let the customers choose their card from different shapes of fall fruits. In that case, we definitely need kaki (persimmon) and kuri (chestnut).
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We can add budo (grape), nashi (pear), and ringo (apple)... |
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I think kinoko (mushroom) would be cute, although it is not a fruit. |
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Why not! |
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Alright, it seems like we are all getting a better picture of this year's display. Let's move on and start making detailed plans for our "Harvest Square." We need to gather materials, contact designers, and lots of other things! |
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The "Harvest Square" and "my harvest of the year" bulletin board finally started. As I originally suggested, we have put up an "Autumn Tree" bulletin board, and I am responsible for posting message cards that customers have written. I am a little nervous here because I usually do not meet the customers directly. My friend Tom, who helped me find this job, came to see me at the Harvest Square. |
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Hi Meilin. You seem to be doing well at your new work. I love these displays you have put up in the square. |
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Thank you! Your word is really encouraging for me. |
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I was reminded of the Thanksgiving Holiday. Thanksgiving is an American custom to show gratefulness for fall harvest and many other blessings we have received. |
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I heard that it is customary that families get together to eat turkey. |
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Right. For dessert, my mother always served her homemade apple pie and pumpkin pie. I miss those pies. |
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Meilin, customers really like your idea for the displays. How do you feel about serving the customers directly? |
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At first, I was very nervous and could not give good answers when customers asked me questions. But everyone was so relaxed and open to talk to me, so I gradually got better at keeping a smile on my face while talking to the customers. They really helped me relax. |
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I saw you talking to children a little while ago and you seemed to enjoy that. I think that's wonderful. What messages did you hear from the customers so far? |
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One kid says that he became able to do sakaagari on a gymnastic bar. One grandfather says that he learned how to use a PC and started exchanging e-mails with his grandchild. Another one says that he was able to finish a full marathon. |
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This one says that she got a job that she really wanted. It sounds like you. |
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It really does! I had to work really hard to get the things ready, but after seeing customers enjoying writing and reading the messages, I almost forgot how tired I was. |
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We did not have much time to get prepared, but I think you did a great job. |
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Today is Labor Thanksgiving Day, right? I just want you to know that I am so thankful for being able to work here. I was able to experience so many new things, and it was the greatest harvest this fall! |
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