After 20 Years in Japan, My Japanese Is Still Pretty Basic (And That’s Complicated)
Twenty years in Japan, a 567-day Duolingo streak, and I still panic at the tax office.
The Thoughts We Rarely Admit
Stripping away the noise, the expectations, and societal pressure to focus squarely on what matters – the people and practices that actually count.
Twenty years in Japan, a 567-day Duolingo streak, and I still panic at the tax office.
By most standards, I failed. Living paycheque to paycheque at 57. But I don’t feel like one.
I caught myself rushing through my morning walk, already calculating when I could be productive.
Inside, we’re all young souls looking through older eyes. The wrinkles are just the mask.
The urge to rush is easing. And honestly, that second trip to 7-Eleven was worth it.
I ditched the expensive smartphone, bought the cheapest one I could find, and haven’t looked back.