I work in a bigger tech company, and my new manager who is ex-Amazon asked me to mentor a mid-level engineer (I'm more senior) who is underperforming - I don’t know if the engineer is on PIP but my manager has started a confidential doc of expectations. I can (selfishly) view this 2 ways:

1. Manager trusts me to help the engineer
2. Manager is deliberately putting me in a tough position. This isn't mentoring someone to promotion; this is mentoring someone out of underperforming. If the mentee fails, will this look bad on me?

Would you seriously consider just saying “no” to mentoring?

I haven't established a trust yet with my new manager, and honestly have some doubts - but wanted to get community thoughts. Thank you!

Going to Japan with my girlfriend for 7 days (maybe a few days longer). We've both been to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto (I've also been to Nara and Hakone). I'm lazy and tired, and tried to ask Chatgpt for some recommendations lol - I honestly don't have a preference but would like to see Tokyo for a bit, and then the rest is flexible:

What do y'all think of the below?

7-Day Japan Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo

Stay: Tokyo

• Check in and recover from travel
• Explore Shibuya or Shimokitazawa
• Dinner and drinks

Day 2: Tokyo

Stay: Tokyo

Choose a few:

• teamLab Borderless
• Tsukiji Outer Market
• Yanaka
• Akihabara

Day 3: Fujikawaguchiko

Stay: Fujikawaguchiko

• Travel from Tokyo (~2 hours)
• Lake Kawaguchi
• Oishi Park
• Mt. Fuji-view hotel or ryokan

Day 4: Fujikawaguchiko

Stay: Fujikawaguchiko

Morning:

• Chureito Pagoda

Afternoon:

• Oshino Hakkai
• Lakeside cycling or cafés

A second night dramatically improves your chances of clear Fuji views.

Day 5: Return to Tokyo

Stay: Tokyo

Relaxed day:

• Shopping
• Food tour
• Neighborhoods you skipped earlier

This also provides a buffer before the long day trips.

Day 6: Nara Day Trip

Stay: Tokyo

Early Shinkansen to the Kansai region.

Highlights:

• Nara Park
• Todai-ji
• Kasuga Taisha
• Naramachi

Return to Tokyo in the evening.

Alternative: If you're comfortable with one hotel change, stay one night in Kyoto or Osaka instead of doing Nara from Tokyo. It's much less train time.

Day 7: Hiroshima Day Trip

Stay: Tokyo (or depart)

Take an early Shinkansen.

Visit:

• Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
• Atomic Bomb Dome

If you're moving quickly, add:

• Miyajima
• Itsukushima Shrine

Return to Tokyo or fly home from Osaka/Hiroshima if your flights allow.

One suggestion

Doing both Nara and Hiroshima as day trips from Tokyo is possible but ambitious. A smoother version would be:

Tokyo (3 nights) → Fujikawaguchiko (2 nights) → Kyoto/Osaka (2 nights)

Then:

• Day trip to Nara from Kyoto/Osaka (45–60 min)
• Day trip to Hiroshima from Osaka (~1.5 hr by Shinkansen)

You'd spend far less time on trains and get more sightseeing time while still visiting all the places you're interested in.