Giggling, Ms Nagarani Boppani shared that her Japanese is now better than her English.
"My Japanese friends tell me my Japanese is 'pera pera' (fluent)," she said.
The 31-year-old, who is from India's southern state of Telangana with Telugu as her native language, then switches to a lilting stream of Japanese, with barely a trace of an Indian accent.
In the past five years, she has worked in Osaka and then Tokyo.
Her current responsibilities include assisting the elderly with walking, medication and bathing in a care home facility.
"I had work experience, but I didn't have experience with Japanese people and culture. In the process of learning Japanese, I learnt that they care about the patient's emotions."
She noted that in India, the sheer number of patients made individual care in hospitals more difficult, and nurses were often overwhelmed.
Migrating to Japan, a country her parents had never even heard of, from the village of Thopucherla was transformative for her.
Where she used to earn 15,000 rupees (S$235) a month as a nurse in India, she now makes 3,000 rupees in four hours.
"I had not seen this much money before coming to Japan," she said.
Denne historien er fra October 26, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 26, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
South Korea's defence ministry denies preferential treatment for BTS' V
South Korea's Ministry of National Defence has refuted claims that V, a member of K-pop boy band BTS, received preferential treatment while serving in the military.
K-actor Jung Woo-sung admits to fathering model Moon Ga-bi's child
South Korean actor Jung Woo-sung, 51, admitted on Nov 24 that he is the father of South Korean model Moon Ga-bi's child.
Chuck Woolery was the first host of Wheel Of Fortune
Chuck Woolery (right), the affable host of Love Connection, Wheel Of Fortune and other television game shows in the United States, who later criticized liberal values and the US Democratic Party as the co-host of a popular right-wing podcast, died on Nov 23 at his home in Texas. He was 83.
Sole Singaporean contestant Yang Yan eliminated
Idol survival reality show Starlight Boys
Spotlight on two female-directed movies in India
Laapataa Ladies and All We Imagine As Light might have a shot at winning Academy Awards, a rare prospect for the country
For diamond shoppers, yet another choice to make – natural or man-made?
With Thanksgiving marking the unofficial start of engagement season - late November through Valentine's Day is when marriage proposals are common - ring buying is top of mind for many couples considering marriage.
Culture and cuisine in Hanoi
Visit the Vietnamese capital's Opera House and sample offerings from Michelin-starred chefs in Senses of Capella
BUDGET TIPS FOR FAMILY TRIPS
Going abroad? Here are five money-saving hacks for the holidays with your nearest and dearest
How the late Arthur Frommer inspired travellers to 'just do it'
In the 1980s, when I planned my first trip to Europe, I cannot remember which Frommer's travel guidebook I took along.
Tension, pressure, nerve, genius: At the chess c'ship, the wait is worth it
For all the flow of action, all sport involves varied acts of waiting. We wait for the goal in football, the shooter to fire between heartbeats, a snarling Rafael Nadal to uppercut the air in delight.
