I realise I’m doxxing myself, but this was a photo taken an era ago (i.e. before I became a parent). I no longer look so dashing, so I guess revealing my past glory is okay.
Anyway, once I was hired as a Japanese-English translator for a sake appreciation event organised by the Japanese Sake Association. Many sake breweries came to Singapore to sell their sake, and I was hired to promote their life work to interested customers.
I was paid maybe 20k sats per hour, but the psychological dividends were immense. First, I was allowed to drink on the job. After all, if I didn’t sip the sake, I could not be expected to explain the characteristics persuasively to potential customers, right? I had fun broadening my knowledge of the different kinds of sake. I loved digging into my Japanese mental folder and conversing in Japan.
And since that was my second and last time being employed as a sake sommelier, this photo reminds me of my glorious past. These days, my Japanese speaking ability has deteriorated so much that even if a similar opportunity were to come my way again, I wouldn’t have the confidence to take it up.
What alternative gig have you undertaken before?