- A new challenge that began at age 40 Vol.6 - The moment when unseen efforts in Malaysia were rewarded

I was 42 years old when I experienced my first overseas job experience. I went to Malaysia with both excitement and anxiety, but the days I spent there were more fulfilling than I had imagined and had a major impact on my life. This is a record of the first time my efforts, which had gone unnoticed, were recognized.

New challenges in Malaysia and initial expectations

I moved to Malaysia at the age of 42 and joined a Japanese-speaking call center run by a Japanese company.

The reason I decided to leave Japan was because I wanted a change of environment and to try my career again.
I knew it was a late start given my age, but I still had a strong feeling that "you only live once, so if I have the chance, I should give it a try."

On our first day at work, there were 15 other new employees who had joined the company at the same time.
The company's human resources department even arranged for us to tour multiple condominiums with partner agents to support our daily lives.

The tropical air, unfamiliar English, and a new life in an unfamiliar place... I was anxious, but at the same time, I also had high expectations.

At that time, I proposed to a male colleague of the same age to live with him, and he agreed, so we started living together in a newly built condominium called "Potpourri."

The start of their life together, and the sudden "misunderstanding and rift"

During the preview tour, I hit it off with a Japanese male employee of the same age, and we decided to live together in a newly built condominium called "Potpourri," which was within walking distance of the company.

It was my first time living abroad, and

I felt a little more at ease starting my life

However, just one week after moving in,
the roommate contacted me after work saying he had something to talk to me about, and we decided to meet at a nearby shopping mall.

The words he spoke were unexpected.

"We can't live together. The reason is... I thought you were gay."

The reason given was that "I was wearing a tank top," which I couldn't understand.

Of course I'm not, but he had already made up his mind.

"I plan to invite my wife to Malaysia someday, so I'd like you to leave the room immediately."

It was a one-sided, sudden, and unacceptable offer, and no amount of persuasion would change his mind.

As a result, I was kicked out of my apartment just one week after moving in.

I was still getting used to the job, and the mental burden was enormous.

The days when I was alone and still searching for a new home

I returned to the dormitory provided by the company and, once again unpacking my belongings in an unfamiliar environment, tried to come to terms with reality.

At that time, a senior Japanese employee I met locally introduced me to a property app called "iProperty."

From there on, it was really all on my own.

• Property search
• Contacting the agent in English
• Arranging the viewing date
• Check the contract
• Preparing the security deposit

It was not easy to navigate these things as it was my first time living abroad and I was suddenly on my own.

Still, I continued to do what I could, one step at a time.

Fortunately, I met a Chinese female owner who had a positive attitude towards Japan, and she was able to rent me a new room on very good terms.

As I moved my belongings into my new home, I was finally able to exhale deeply.

"Let's start again from here."

It was a moment when I truly felt that way.

When the training started, I faced a big obstacle.

Once we had decided on our new home and had settled down a bit, the real training began.

However, the reality was harsh, and I soon became painfully aware of my own lack of ability.

The training content was more difficult than I had imagined, and I was not able to achieve satisfactory results on the daily tests.
Some of the employees who joined the company at the same time had experience in call centers, and they were able to improve their scores without any problems.

On the other hand, my results were poor and I was becoming more and more anxious with each passing day.

"I'm over 40, can I really make it here?"

When I first joined the company, I began to doubt my own potential.

The reason why "Early Morning Efforts" began

Still, I wasn't ready to give up.

Given the situation I was in, I only had two options.

Run away or face it?

I chose to face it.

From the next day, I was the first of all the employees who joined the company at the same time to come to the office and start reviewing the training materials by myself.

As I walked to work while it was still dark outside, the humid Malaysian morning air brushed against my skin.

When I arrived at the office, in a quiet room with the lights only half on, I opened my laptop and reread the parts I hadn't understood the day before.

I rarely met anyone during this time, and
no one else who joined the company at the same time did the same thing.

"This effort will surely be meaningful someday."

That's what I believed.
I had no proof, but it was the words I needed to motivate myself.

The first time I was "appreciated"

After I had been working on email correspondence for about two months, I had a regular feedback interview.

To be honest, I wasn't expecting good results
because there were few situations in my training or work that gave me confidence.

However, the results my boss shared with me far exceeded my expectations.

"There were zero inappropriate responses (BAD). The number of GOOD evaluations was the second best out of 15 people."

The first place went to someone with call center experience.
I, a 42-year-old with no call center experience, came in second place.

The moment I heard those words, a strong emotion welled up in my heart.

Those early morning efforts, even when no one saw them, definitely contributed to my growth.

At that moment, I realized for the first time that what I had been doing was not wrong.

Then, a promotion offer arrived that changed his destiny.

An even more surprising event occurred a few days later.

I was suddenly called by my Japanese manager and headed to the interview room.

The interview room had large floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a view of the unique streetscape of Ara Damansara.
It was a somewhat rugged and quiet view that was different from Japanese cities.

A black desk, a mesh chair, and a space of about 10 tatami mats.

So the manager said with a serious look on his face:

"I'd like you to be my trainer."

I couldn't respond immediately
because I was overcome with disbelief.

She continued quietly.

"We have always watched Nakamura's efforts. Even when he was frustrated because he wasn't getting results, he would come to work early every morning to study.

Also, we knew in advance that your English ability was at an intermediate level based on the results of the level check you took in the English conversation class after joining the company.

These words touched my heart and I felt tears well up in my eyes.

She was a female manager about my age, and was always friendly and cheerful, but
on this occasion she was serious and looked me straight in the eye as she spoke.

But for that moment, I couldn't look her in the eye
because I didn't want her to see my tears.

Deep in my heart, I felt a complex mix of disbelief and happiness.

The beautiful sunset I saw on my way home the day I was told I'd been promoted

When the interview ended and I went outside, a beautiful sunset spread across the sky.

In December in Malaysia, the days are short, just like in Japan, and dusk comes early.

In the humid air, a mixture of red and orange light enveloped the city.

As I walked towards my new home, I thought about this many times.

"Was it really okay for me?"

The scenery looked brighter than usual.

The sunset that day was one of the most memorable sights in my life.

This experience led to a new job in Bangkok, Thailand.

My experience working as a trainer in Malaysia has had a major impact on my career.

Having gained experience as a manager, I was highly praised by my next employer, a company in Bangkok.

If I hadn't continued to work hard at that time, even though no one else saw me, I'm sure my life would have been different.

You can change your career even after turning 40.
My experience in Malaysia has definitely paved the way for my future.

The certain feeling I had that day under the sunset, that "someone is always watching your efforts," still lives with me today.
Now that I've turned 50, I'm once again about to knock on the door of a new challenge,
so that I can once again see the sunset that will change my life , just like the day I was told I'd been promoted in a foreign land

The fireworks we looked up at on New Year's Day 2019 were so dazzling, beautiful, and gentle that they made us feel like "a new life begins here."

However, what came after that light was a different kind of "effort that no one saw" - "lonely suffering that no one understood."

While my new title as a trainer gave me confidence, it also brought with it a whole new set of pressures and interpersonal challenges.

And so I finally came to a decision.
In the next issue, Vol. 7,
I will honestly write about the conflicts and setbacks that led me to consider changing jobs

- A new challenge starting at age 40 Vol.7 - What I realized in Malaysia: "Training people" is harder than I imagined, but it's a job I can't escape.

At the age of 42, he was promoted to trainer at a foreign company in Malaysia. However, what awaited him were failure, loneliness, and interpersonal barriers. He writes about the difficulties of developing people and how, in the end, everyone was able to achieve their goals.

www.setouchiambiance.online

2025.12.14