A few days ago I biked to a new Starbucks Coffee shop at Tsukashin, a shopping center conveniently located in Tsukaguchi not to far from home and my school, the Smith’s Tsukaguchi franchise. I had what I usually order at Starbucks Coffee, which is a cinnamon roll, scone and “tall” coffee. As always, all were delicious! After enjoying my brunch, I read my English newspaper, The Daily Yomiuri, which I had brought along. I was reading when I got a nice surprise. A Japanese woman sitting at a table next to me asked me if I was a teacher. I said I was. She said she was looking for a teacher for her 12 year old son who was soon going to enter junior high school. She wanted him to start studying English before starting. I gave her my Smith’s business card and answered a few questions which she asked me. Then I called Smith’s head office using the Smith’s free dial number, using my cell phone. I had a Smith’s head office secretary, who was Japanese, speak to the woman in Japanese. The woman said she would call back later to book a free trial lesson for her son with me, which she did! On next Monday I will be giving a trial lesson to her son at my school and hopefully will be getting a new man to man student! I never thought I would possibly get a new student simply by sitting at Starbucks Coffee! What a pleasant surprise! I thank Smith’s head office staff very much for their help, which I really appreciate.
Derek Maeckelburg
Smith’s Tsukaguchi franchise
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