Anthony’s First “Job” at KidZania
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Awaiting His Turn for his first “job” at KidZania -- KidZania Koshien -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2009 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 58 mm — 1/100 sec, f/2.8, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
Awaiting His Turn
for his first “job” at KidZania

In a previous post I wrote all about KidZania in Kobe, Japan, but didn't mention anything about Anthony's experiences there because I thought I'd save them for a second post. However, being the photo-happy papa I am, this post ended up getting filled after just his first job!

As I mentioned in that previous post, Anthony had one job he really wanted to do, so we went directly there and got in line. Each session lasts about 15 minutes; and he'd have to wait during the first session, and would finally get to “work” during the second.

While waiting, he and the other three boys were suited up in their uniforms, including the hygienic hair-net under their uniform headgear...

Perhaps a Bit Apprehensive? or maybe just bored? -- KidZania Koshien -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2009 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 58 mm — 1/100 sec, f/2.8, ISO 3200 — map & image datanearby photos
Perhaps a Bit Apprehensive?
or maybe just bored?
Interested In What's Going On with the first session -- KidZania Koshien -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2009 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm — 1/100 sec, f/2.8, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
Interested In What's Going On
with the first session
But Yeah, a bit Apprehensive -- KidZania Koshien -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2009 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 150 mm — 1/100 sec, f/3.5, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
But Yeah, a bit Apprehensive

Finally, it was his turn..... to work at a gas station!

Initial Explanation -- KidZania Koshien -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2009 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm — 1/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1600 — map & image datanearby photos
Initial Explanation

Idemitu, having been around since 1911, is perhaps the most famous gas station chain in Japan.

The lady droned on and on. After what must have been an excruciatingly long eight minutes of blather, their first customer arrived...

Keep Coming... This Way -- KidZania Koshien -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2009 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 102 mm — 1/160 sec, f/2.8, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
Keep Coming... This Way

This motioning to continue forward, accompanied by a very thick Japanization of “Alright, alright...” is a standard part of the culture, used anywhere vehicles are being directed (gas stations, loading docks, helping someone back into a parking spot, etc.). It's also part of every kid's play whenever the play involves this kind of vehicle direction, real or imagined.

And so with that, his “job” got under its realistic way.

Working on the Windshield -- KidZania Koshien -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2009 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 135 mm — 1/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 3200 — map & image datanearby photos
Working on the Windshield

Until recently there were only full-service stations, and still, most are. They are very full service.

Shining up the Bumper -- KidZania Koshien -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2009 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm — 1/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
Shining up the Bumper
Other Side, Too -- KidZania Koshien -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2009 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm — 1/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 3200 — map & image datanearby photos
Other Side, Too
Back On the Right just in case he'd missed a spot -- KidZania Koshien -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2009 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 135 mm — 1/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 4000 — map & image datanearby photos
Back On the Right
just in case he'd missed a spot

Once all the fullness has been serviced and payment rendered, everyone lines up to bow farewell to the customer.

Getting Ready to Depart -- KidZania Koshien -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2009 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 98 mm — 1/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 2500 — map & image datanearby photos
Getting Ready to Depart

Another customer came in, this time a kid in a rental car, and Anthony was on gas-filling duty...

Filling'er Up -- KidZania Koshien -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2009 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm — 1/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 5000 — map & image datanearby photos
Filling'er Up
Concentration -- KidZania Koshien -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2009 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm — 1/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 5600 — map & image datanearby photos
Concentration

Whoever built KidZania did not keep parents in mind when designing the layout... it was often hard to see him, and there was nowhere to sit (and often nowhere to stand). Only kids were allowed into the “businesses”, which is great, but a little extra room for the parents would have been nice.

And, while I'm at it, a lot better lighting for the photographer-parent would have been wonderful. Maybe they keep the lighting so horrible so that they can sell the shots that wandering staff take, print, and put up on racks with a $10/each price tag?

Anyway, I don't know where the other pair of boys were while this customer was in, because the buffing went neglected until Anthony noticed and stepped up.

Tools of the Trade ( As for me, I seem to have left my ability to focus at home ) -- KidZania Koshien -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2009 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm — 1/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 5000 — map & image datanearby photos
Tools of the Trade
( As for me, I seem to have left my ability to focus at home )
Here We Go Again... -- KidZania Koshien -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2009 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm — 1/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 3600 — map & image datanearby photos
Here We Go Again...
Then on the Right -- KidZania Koshien -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2009 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 86 mm — 1/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 4500 — map & image datanearby photos
Then on the Right
Windshield One More Time -- KidZania Koshien -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2009 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 86 mm — 1/250 sec, f/3.5, ISO 5000 — map & image datanearby photos
Windshield One More Time
Grill -- KidZania Koshien -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2009 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm — 1/250 sec, f/3.5, ISO 5000 — map & image datanearby photos
Grill
Final Touches -- KidZania Koshien -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2009 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm — 1/250 sec, f/3.5, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
Final Touches
“Thank You For Your Patronage” Bow -- KidZania Koshien -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2009 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 135 mm — 1/250 sec, f/3.5, ISO 5600 — map & image datanearby photos
“Thank You For Your Patronage” Bow

And that was it for his first job. He received =Z8 for his efforts.

Continued here...


All 7 comments so far, oldest first...

Too cute!

— comment by Jon on July 1st, 2009 at 9:52am JST (14 years, 9 months ago) comment permalink

Well I certainly would have lost if I had made any bets on his “job of choice.” However, on the bright side, (soon to get even brighter) we have a number of vehicles that will be awaiting his touch when he comes this summer. And does he do windows? If not, Grandma will teach him. Lets see more of this episode..he had to have tried more occupations. Loved it all.

— comment by Grandma Friedl, Ohio, USA on July 1st, 2009 at 11:45am JST (14 years, 9 months ago) comment permalink

KidZania looks amazing. I wish we had it in Bangkok. The Children’s Discovery Museum in Chatuchak is fun but not a patch on this. On the other hand it’s only about 30B (< US$1) to get in for a kid and 50B for an adult.

Is it something Anthony would want to do again?

What is the age range for kids to participate at KidZania?

— comment by Ian Fuller on July 2nd, 2009 at 3:44am JST (14 years, 9 months ago) comment permalink

Josh was in awe of his sophisticated cousin doing something so astonishingly cool as work at a gas station. Josh desperately wants to pump gas at a real gas station, but he’s got a good decade before THAT’S allowed. I’m glad you didn’t show Anthony changing a tire, because I think that would have made Josh explode with excitement. Ahhhh, little boys!

— comment by Marcina, USA on July 2nd, 2009 at 8:59am JST (14 years, 9 months ago) comment permalink

Kidzania will come to Bangkok in last quarter 2010 – project launched 8th September 2009 with venue at Siam Paragon, 8,000 square meters of Kidzania experiences, 90 activities…. keep looking for more information

— comment by Chris Rosenberg on September 8th, 2009 at 9:59pm JST (14 years, 6 months ago) comment permalink

KidZania Bangkok is opening: http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/retail/23507/edutainment-hub-ousts-opera-at-paragon
Check out this article announcing and keep track of progress through KidZania Bangkok facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bangkok-Thailand/KIDZANIA-BANGKOK/280999006916?ref=ts – Join as a fan to be among the first to find out about becoming a KidZania Citizen for Bangkok.

— comment by Chris Rosenberg on February 15th, 2010 at 3:14pm JST (14 years, 1 month ago) comment permalink

I didn’t even know that “o-rai, o-rai” comes from “alright”.

— comment by Anne on September 18th, 2012 at 1:51am JST (11 years, 6 months ago) comment permalink
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