経営管理ビザ要件悪化問題に関して署名しました

実体のない外国籍企業を取り締まるには効果がなく、日本で真面目に働いて納税して日本に生活基盤のある人たちを追い出す的外れな政策になっている。のが納得いかないので署名しました。

エスニック料理が食べられなくなるから支持を、というより、不当な外国人排斥につながるので、そちらの方が問題です。飲食店以外にも、起業家ビザを使ってIT関係やマーケティング、通訳翻訳、その他サービスを提供して日本経済に貢献している起業家たちはたくさんいます。そんな人達を追い出せば経済的にはマイナスです。

アメリカで勉強している留学生が突如ビザを取り上げられて帰国せざるを得なかった場面を思い出します。ルールを守り、この国に住んで仕事をしたい、と思う外国の方々を排斥してほしくないです。

https://c.org/JvWyJLY8Rm

24歳の技官のアメリカ人の子と初めましてした話。

タイトル通りなんですが…

ミシガンに住んでたときの日本人の友達から、「今度職場からアメリカ人の友達が京都に行くって言うからご飯でも一緒に食べてあげて〜」ということで。

あとから知ったけど、24歳の技官（実験補助や機器メンテを行う、研究室の技術者）だそうで…

24歳？？何話すの？？　ってなりましたが。。。

鴨汁そばを一緒に食べながら、植物学の話、アメリカの研究予算が取りにくくなっている話、保護犬猫の話、これからのキャリアの話などできた。素朴ででも個性的で、いい人そうでよかったです。さすがに研究者ということで、キャピキャピした感じではなく、同類の匂いがしました笑。

共通の友達の話題もあったし。しかも、その友達が最近保護犬を飼い始めたらしく！！写真見せてもらったけどかわいかったー！　「自分の娘だって言ってる」って笑。　アメリカだったらペットOKのアパートがたくさんあるし、クルマもあるし、だだっぴろい公園もたくさんあるから運動もさせやすいし、犬飼いやすいと思う。後でメッセージしたら、予想通りその友人は犬ちゃんを溺愛していて、「来月で二歳になります。名前は◯◯といいます。」って、自分の子供を紹介するみたいに言ってた！　いいなあ〜

アメリカのお土産もたくさんもらってありがたかった…　久しぶりにアメリカ生活を思い出しました。

誕生日パーティー！桶の中のバゲット Bday party with baguette in a wooden box (that usually has sushi in it)

友達の誕生日パーティーをコワーキングスペースで開催！

桶の中にバゲットが！🥖　フランス人の会員さんが、二種類のお店から買ってきてくれて、食べ比べできた！桶に入っているのがなかなか面白い。

We had a birthday party for a friend at the shared office!

There was baguettes full in a Oke (a wooden bucket)! 🥖 One of our French members brought them from two different bakeries, so we got to do a taste test! It was pretty amusing to see them served in a oke...

ご飯あり、ワインあり、日本酒もあり。

翌日、「二日酔いです…」の声が数名。

その後、終電組が帰り、自転車組で二次会。やっぱり京都住まいっていいなーって感じでふ。

We had food, wine, and sake. No surprise, some said they had a hangover on the following day. 

Those who have to catch the last train left, and then a second party started with us who bike or walk to the office. It's really nice to live in central Kyoto. 

15年来？の友達と久闊を叙す〜

久しぶりにお友達と会った〜

なにげに年2-3回は会えてる。

彼の、メンタル超安定なところ＆飄々としていて人生を楽しめているところはほんとに安心感がある。

さりげに、踏み込みすぎない距離を保っているからだろうなと分析する。

長年の付き合いだし、気が合うからこそ、住む場所が違ってもこうしてたまに会って、長年の付き合いが継続できる。貴重である…！　また京都に来てねー

A non-stop talking session Vol 2!! バラを肴に人生談義。

I had deeeep conversations about life with one of my good friends the other day. It is precious to have someone who I know will not judge me whatever I say or do.  So, we can exchange opinions, share our past mistakes and lessons, and ask hard questions to each other without having to worry about what the other person may perceive it. And how wonderful it feels is beyond description.  (With respect, of course!)

I felt comfortable sharing my regrets and shortcomings with him because we both understand the complexity of life and the hardships attached to it, as well as our capability to learn lessons and grow from there.  It is rare to find someone like that, I think.  He shared his complicated life stories, and I appreciate his trust in me.  He said he felt good after venting to someone who understands English.  I can imagine that being able to have deeper conversations in their native/semi-native language can be a huge relief, just like I enjoyed having a chat with my Japanese friends in Michigan every now and then. 

Not only the language, but also the culture plays a part, too.  A typical Western and Japanese cultures are so different, especially in that expectations are not clearly communicated.  Many non-Japanese residents in Japan feel lost or uncomfortable because they do not see what is expected, and they have to make a guess.  In my observation, I would say Japanese people are not used to communicating expectations to each other because expectations are already shared among them. There are few occasions where they need to express it in this mostly mono-ethnic country, and people don't think about expectations or verbalizing them.

All in all, it is amazing that people come from abroad and live and work in Japan despite countless challenges and sometimes unfair, different treatments.  I have immense respect for expats in Japan, who are trying their best to fit in to a society that is not so immigrant-friendly, unfortunately. It is becoming like an old, textbook conclusion that language and culture are huge factors that will probably have a huge impact on your life abroad.  They are! 

Anyway, it is precious to have that kind of relationship where you can talk about what you want to talk about, tell what you want to tell, and ask the questions you want to ask, without worrying about what the other person might think... I really appreciate it.  And it is such a relief that if ever the other person might find it odd or offensive, they'd tell me so and ask questions to confirm.

I feel refreshed when I come in contact with people like this because I am quite individualistic, and sometimes I feel I lack kindness!  Those people are ready to give first, regardless of the other person's reaction.  They accept others' feelings, notice others' concerns, and do not hesitate to ask about them instead of just assuming.  It is a great learning experience to talk with such a person with high EQ.

京都府立植物園に写真仲間と行ってきました。雨だったけど、満開のバラはとても綺麗だった。

あまり花には興味ない、と言っていた友人も、こんなに多くの種類、花の形や色や香り、花びらの枚数まで違う品種がたくさんあるとは知らなかった、と言っていて、よかったー。

興味ない人は本当に興味ないんだな、花って。何にしてもそうだろうけど。私がいわゆるポップカルチャー（流行の映画とか音楽とか）にあまり興味がないのと同じ…。だから、自分が興味ないことでも、一緒に来てくれて嬉しかった。ありがたや。

その後、いろんな話をした。人生について。それぞれ、いろんな問題？を抱えていて、

そんなに絶望的とかではないんだけど、やはりいろいろ思うところはあって。

相手がどう思うだろう…とかを気にせずに、話したいことを話し、伝えたいことを伝え、質問したいことを質問できるそんな関係性は貴重だ。本当に、ありがたいです。

私はけっこう個人主義なので、優しさが足りない！と自省することが多々ありまして、

何というか、こういう人と接すると、浄化される思い。相手の反応に関わらず、優しさを与えてくれて、こちらの気持ちもちゃんと受け入れてくれて、こちらの気遣いに気づいてくれる。そんな、EQの高いひとに接するのはとても勉強になります。

Fantastic birthday outing in Kobe

I had a wonderful outing with a good friend of mine to Chinatown and Kobe City Museum. It was so nice of her to treat me and gave me presents.  It was so fun to stroll around Chinatown and taste dumplings and Beijing Duck wrap, view exhibisitons of Colorful Japan and some Buddhist tapestories open to public for free on that day!

I always enjoy our deep conversations on a wide range of topic including science, AI, commuting, money, and relationships.  I'm so grateful and thankful to have such a good friend with a similar wavelength as me.  We talked about cultural differences between Japan and western society (or, English speaking society, rather), and I'll write about it more in the next few days!

Vegan dinner!  It's amazing how much you can make only from plant-based ingredients.

Great birthday lunch with my coworkers!!

It was my birthday on Friday, and I worked like it was a regular day. No problem with that, but luckily we had some leftover ingredients from last week's party, and one of my coworkers cooked pizza and pasta lunch for all of us present at the shed office on Friday.  So, it turned out to be a birthday lunch party with home cooked food.  It was so nice of her to cook many dishes, and of my coworkers to have a celebration with me.  And many friends of mine also sent me birthday wishes from around the world.  I'm so thankful to such good friends around me!!!

Spanish Night!!

A friend of mine from Spain threw a party called Spanish Night!  She cooked various kinds of tapas, Spanish Omelette, and Pinchos, and brought Spanish cheese, ham, and wine.  Another 'co-worker' made paella with mussels.  People brought other drinks and finger foods perfect for the party.  Everything was super delicious, and we had a fantastic time.  I am so grateful that I get to hang out with these nicest and wittiest people!

Prepped for lunch for those who can't make it at night. 

An excursion in Kita-ku (-ward) area with a friend

Went on a half-day sightseeing tour in northern part of Kyoto - where I do not go so often.  We went to bakery Galopain, had lunch at Cafe Reinette, petted two dogs there, went to Kamigamo Shrine, Kitayama tile-art (?) museum, Inobun shop, and hanged out at my friend's air BnB, watching Captain Ron while having Galopain's bread, home-made soup, green tea, and red wine.  What a relaxing day off!!  The weather is getting warmer, and it was a nice walk on a sunny, early spring day.

Cafe Reinette

https://maps.app.goo.gl/9997YKm75bd8Br6P6

    

View from a hill near Kamigamo Shrine.  I love it that Kyoto doesn't have skyscrapers at all and that we have more room to breathe. 

Wine from Hokkaido was offered to Kamigamo Shrine!

Tree bark roof.

Fortune telling paper made into a dragon-shape.

Tantan at the cafe... It is the friendliest ever dog I have ever met!!

Daily lunch at the cafe. Home-made dishes are delicious.. 

Tantan

And his friend, Makoto. 

Another home-made dish -- tomato/vegetable soup!!   

 

Kasuga Shrine and Nara Park

Nara Park is larger than I expected.. I dropped by at the entrance of the park before with a friend but never dove into much deeper part of it.  I did not know a big shrine sits at the opposite end of the park. 

It was super fun to feed the deer... They are tamed and quite used to being around people and getting fed from them.  There were lots of people there, but it did not feel super crowded because it is a spacious park.  Lots of temples and shrines on the way.. then, appears Kasuga Shrine, built some 1300 years ago. It is a world heritage and host is one of the three shrines that imperial-messenger pays a visit to take part in a ritual.  Sounds like an important shrine.  Nara is interesting because it was a capital of Japan before Kyoto took over it and has historic sites older than those in Kyoto. 

An excursion to Nara

A good ol' friend visiting Kyoto, so we went to explore Nara.  It was a fantastic day trip to see areas near Kintetsu Nara station.  We visited Cherry's spoon, where we had nice sandwiches, Nara Park with some 2,000 free-range deer, Manyo Botanical Garden, Kasuga Shrine, and Harushika Brewery and came back to Kyoto to have early dinner at a cafe that faces the river, where we had gluh (mulled) wine and salmon dishes.  It was super cold and windy outdoors, but it was a lot of fun!!

Sightseeing Express train, Aoniyoshi. 

''Salon'' car

Nice seats like these...

That was a new experience!!  Thanks to my friend who booked this train ride right after they start taking reservations! 

Train-ride certificate.