Reader, this week I am looking at the world through new eyes.
Primed by some smaller conversations last weekend, a discussion about classifying cultures connected big dots in my head, and further reading/thinking/talking led me to an epiphany: I understood my identity for the first time:
You see, dear reader, being half, I am both of my nationalities, and yet paradoxically I am also neither. They form an interwoven tapestry where language for one describes the behaviours and thinking of the other, and vice versa. I was blind to this, and its effects.
When you look and sound like you’re from a place, people from the same place assume that’s all you are and expect a shared operating-system and language. And the differences grate, on both sides. You’re never truly an insider: It’s hard.
But the good news is that many people are in this same group: And throughout the week speaking to these others, my new in-group, about this has been genuinely freeing.
Anyway: Harry makes a damned good sandwich.
Starting to think everyone should have a monthly blood panel. Maybe Theranos were onto something.
Went to an all-day leadership training event this week which was useful and very fun. So fun, in fact, that I have been recommending its next batch to anyone who’ll listen.
After a networking event I kept on my name-tag. I joked it was in-case I got lost. And in some ways aren't we all? But I digress, this particular bit would’ve made more sense:
To people who shared my encyclopaedic knowledge of sitcom tropes
Had the name-tag contained a phone-number.
Anyway, then as CD approached me in the manner of a Rugby tackle, I positively legged it, before rendezvousing in an extremely smelly room for a succulent chinese meal: Kansai seems fun.
There is a lot of inner and outer work I am embarking on right now, and it is going to come at eyewatering cost which I am finally ready for.
Lollapalooza has been streaming this week and it’s excellent. Funny to see some Fujirock acts from last week appearing on this schedule. Surprise Charli during Lorde was my highlight.
Class is going very well, but I am disappointed in myself for not pushing myself to speak more broken Japanese more during the opportunities this week presented. Next week, eh.
Sunday lunch was good: Gorgonzola makes surprisingly good fondue sauce. I found myself seriously lost for words a few times but I also answered some big questions.
