Part 4- Growing up in the U.S. (1979-2016) Life After New Birth / Marriage/ Move across the country / Retirement
Life After New Birth / Transition
My (Born Again) life style after the party life style was quite different. However, it was not without temptations. For example, one of the female neighbors in the apartment complex and I befriended each other.
We partied together with some other neighbors. After informing her that I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour she came over to pay me a visit.
We talked about my experience and she mentioned that she knew other people who had a similar experience but they didn’t last and returned to their old life style.
We always had a platonic relationship but had fun in our mutual partying activities. However, this particular time she wanted me to hug her which I did, but she wanted to take it to another level; however, God gave me the strength to not go there.
From that point on our relationship grew apart but we remained on good terms but didn’t keep in touch in the future.
Finding a Wife
At this point I took the walk down the church aisle, joined the church, and began to meet new people and we grew spiritually together. Nevertheless, I saw my need for a wife, being alone, I began to pray for a wife. I wanted God to reveal to me who she would be.
I met a young lady and we talked, but it was like a job interview with her asking many questions such as: Where do you live? Where do you work? How long you worked there?
Yada, yada, yada, well, you know for sure that she wasn’t the one! Then there was a young lady who was a neighbor I grew up with and we went to Junior High and High School together. We spent a little time together but no, she wasn’t the one.
Marriage
Then one Sunday morning a young lady came down the church aisle at the end of the church service (during the time the church doors were open) and sat down on the first row in front of me (I was on the second row).
I placed both my hands on her shoulders and was convinced that she was going to be my wife even though I never seen her before. I believed that she was an answer to my prayers.
Later on I introduced myself and asked her out on a few dates which she accepted. We spent time talking on the telephone, studying the Bible and spending time together. Then I popped the question and made a marriage proposal, “Will you marry me?” She ultimately replied, “Yes.”
We were married within 5 months and by God’s grace we have been married now over 35 years.
The cross country move
After about a couple of years the company I worked for began to close up their operations and I lost my job. In Michigan the economy was in a recession and jobs were very scarce. Therefore, we made the decision to move across the country to California and within 5 months I began employment with a Japanese automobile company.
This was a very pleasant and interesting time for us. We became friends with Japanese people and learned of their culture and they learned ours. One time a Japanese couple invited us to their home and my co-worker’s wife dressed my wife in her kimono and she looked beautiful in it.
Experiences at the company
Working with the Japanese staff was an enjoyable experience for me. My general manager (who approved my hiring) became good friends even to this day. During lunch time he taught me how to eat with chop sticks and play the Japanese game “Go” and I taught him and the other staff English and English phrases. This is where I began teaching English phrases and helping the Japanese with written English (in addition to the translators.)
My Job Duties
I had many job duties but the main one was preparing test vehicles with the installation of test equipment for road tests and to accompany visiting and resident engineers on the test trip.
On one occasion (re-created) we stayed overnight in Las Vegas and one of my favorite engineers would win money there. On the next day he was very quiet and not his usual self. So I asked him, “What’s up, you’re mighty quiet today?” His reply was, “Hmm Alston-san, lost a lot of money!”
So I said, “But on the other times you won a lot of money, so it comes out in the wash!” So his reply, “Yes, but I don’t want to lose money.” My reply, “It goes with the territory, you’ll be alright.”
Company Trip to Japan
One time during my career the company selected to send me to Japan for training for 4 weeks. This was a golden opportunity for me so I treasured it. Not only did I receive excellent training but I had the opportunity to visit my hiring general manager and his wife at their home and other Japanese staff I previously worked with.
On one visit to a friend’s home in Japan, we talked extensively about cultural things and their daughter had a dream of “studying aboard” (in the U.S.). The conversation evolved to English and I explained to her that many phrases, idioms, and slang are weaved into everyday English and some you won’t find in a dictionary. So she threw the dictionary across the room and we talked well into the night.
Meiji Village Museum Visit
The couple I first mentioned that we went to their home is the couple that escorted me on a tour of the Meiji Village Museum in Japan during my visit. It was very interesting to see the historical buildings and artifacts there as well as meeting with my Japanese friends again.
Passing of my father
After I returned home from Japan, a few months later, my father passed away (died) from cancer. My Dad and I were close and his memory lives in my heart.
Some of our memories were: we took martial arts together, moving from the projects to our house, working on a car, picking up Dad’s new car at the dealership, accompanying me to college and supporting me (he was so proud when I graduated) and many other memories…
Dad was such a friendly person who never met a stranger. He retired from a car company and sold many things on the side. My Dad could sell the rug off of your floor; he was so good at selling. He often told me, “This is Big Business, Big Business!” and would say, “Son, think positive, don’t think negative!” May Dad rest in peace.
My retirement
All of my supervisors, managers, and general managers were excellent people who did their jobs well. Nevertheless, one person I would like to make mention of was my supervisor Rainer who was a native-born German that taught me many things concerning vehicles. We became friends and often ate lunch together.
He had a sense of humor and if the phone rang in the room and you asked him who it was, he would say, “It’s Harry, he says he wants his tie back!”
The time came where I had enough seniority to retired so I took the opportunity to retire. So now instead of teaching the Japanese staff English phrases I teach them to you!
To read my full autobiography, please scroll back to February 29, 2016 for the posting dates.
Amira (LaPrinces) thanks for your nudge to complete Part 4.
Thanks to all others who made comments and provided support.
I intend to resume writing on other English topics and comments.
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