When I worked in Japan a long time ago, everyone in the office who came back from trips to the U.S. said unequivocally, “American food is awful. They put salt and pepper on everything.” And I thought, “but I use soy sauce and mirin all the time. My cooking isn’t any better than American cooking.” … More Crossing the emotional border
I played tennis in college. Everybody else in the club was more serious about it; I only played for pleasure. I was also not that good at it. Much later, I learned that my poor eyesight meant that I couldn’t measure a distance well: my right eye was near-sighted, and the left far-sighted, both with … More An alternative to a passionate life
I sometimes work late evenings, training clients in Japan via video conference. I like one-on-one sessions, as I get to know the client on a personal level. However, these sessions come with an occupational hazard. Afterwards, I often need time to decompress. So, with a cup of tea in one hand and a TV remote … More Usual, but normal?
I was fresh off the boat when someone first asked me, “How are you?” I translated my Japanese response into English and said, “I’m a bit tired.” That was the truth. I worked and also studied at a graduate school until my wedding, and the day after we said “I do”, my husband and I … More How are you?
My alarm clock goes off at 5:55 a.m. I don’t necessarily get out of bed then, but it is important for me to see this number first thing in the morning. Five is pronounced as “go” in Japanese. I want to start my day by seeing my clock say “Go! Go! Go!”. Japanese are superstitious … More Just a number, nonetheless it’s a number
Over the last twenty-five years, I’ve seen many changes in the U.S. Changes in what people think is normal or good or should be. For a Japanese, whose home country takes a long time for any changes to occur, this has been quite remarkable. I know that as in physics, some of the changes may … More In defense of analogue life
Twenty-five years ago, I flew over the Pacific Ocean and crossed an invisible border. When I landed on the U.S. soil, I became a person who couldn’t speak. That was a fundamental shift from being a person who couldn’t speak in English. That inability, which had been a fraction of my being since it didn’t … More Am I special?
I’ve lived in the U.S. for almost a quarter of a century, but still find it hard to fully adjust to the rhythm of American life. Time glides smoothly through the first half of the year; spring and early summer make me cheerful and confident. Then, the school year ends by late June, and a … More Happy New Year!
“Please ask me any questions you may have.” I reminded my client, although I had already told him several times over the phone interview. Today’s client was a Japanese executive who moved to the U.S. for work several months ago. “Any question is really Okay?” He looked as if he was assessing my words. I … More A cultural speculation on why Americans are … plump
When my daughter was in preschool, teachers said at various times, “Your daughter is very independent.” At first this sounded positive. After hearing this a few times though, I started to wonder. So, the next time I heard it, I decided to ask. “Does that mean that she’s not listening to you?” “Oh, no no! … More Positive reframing