End of January

January is almost over. Looking back, the days seem to pass away very quickly. It feels like New Year’s Day was only yesterday. The school year closes at the end of March. I am planning to change my job from teaching to programming because the job is in demand and programmers earn more than teachers do. On the other hand, becoming a freelance engineer is another option.  As such, I can work anywhere using my laptop.  Working anywhere and at my own pace is my ideal workstyle.  My earnings would totally depend on me, on how much time I will pour in.  I shall devote the rest of the school year to carve this new life; hopefully, by April.

Custom

In Japan, the divorcing rate is still very high. Almost 30 percent of couples get divorced every year. I have several single-mother acquaintances. They look very tired because of their jobs, housework, and raising their kids. This situation tells me that there are something wrong in the customs of getting married and having children. I think the main reasons are their income and workload. If parents have time to communicate every day with enough income to enjoy their daily lives, the parents won’t think about divorce. However, if a husband has to work so hard for a not so decent salary, his stress will go up and the relationship will get worst. In order not to pave the sad carrier, my priority is to get a programming job, because the job allows me to get a good salary and to work only shorter days in a week, for example three days or four days, earning enough. After getting the job, I’ll think about having a relationship more seriously.

Minimalist

Yesterday, I watched a Netflix documentary titled “Minimalist.” A lot of minimalists in America appeared in the documentary and explained about their perspectives in life, comparing before and after becoming a minimalist. Some live in very tiny cottages and others possess only the things which can be packed in backpacks. Most Americans still believe "bigger is better." People buy even unnecessary things enticed by fancy advertisements and also live in  way too big houses with some rooms left unused. The minimalists said that you should own only necessary things without being tempted by ads and live your life as you need. Personally, I don’t buy things that much and I wear only a few clothes I like. However, I’m not a minimalist but I just cannot afford to buy expensive products. I want to increase my income and see if I can do a shopping spree or spend money on other things.

Tender Chicken

I went out for dinner with my grandfather last night. We went to a restaurant located near his house. I ordered Fried Chicken with vinegar and tartar sauce. I was amazed at the first bite because the chicken was very tender. It was the most tender chicken breast I have ever had. Because of my curiosity, I asked the waitress how they made the chicken breast so tender. However, she didn’t know how to do it. I thought this kind of skill can make a difference between regular people and professional chefs. It is important to see, watch, and eat sophisticated things created by professionals to learn something new from them.

Spaces for One-Person

In urban areas such as Tokyo and Osaka, unique services for one-person are provided. For example, a ramen shop called Ichiran has installed dividers in between each customer’s seat so that a customer can focus on the taste of the ramen. Another example, would be karaoke rooms good for one person because of the increasing popularity of single-customer use. It is said that Japanese people prefer to be surrounded by walls and not to be seen by others for privacy compared to European and American people. Most elderlies whose spouses died, and those who are single for life prefer to live alone. Thanks to the increase of effective medicines and safe diet food, life span of most are longer. I felt that connecting to those loners like them can be good business in the future.

Matchmaking Agency

For the first time in my life, I went to a matchmaking agency yesterday. I don't have plans of getting married yet, but I was curious as to what kind of service they provide. On February 11th, an event is going to be held by the agency. Both male and female participants will make bread together and talk while making and eating. I have never attended such an event, so I signed up for the event to see how matchmaking events were organized. The agency also has a partner introduction service. If you pay and register your profile, you can choose anyone from the list, and go on a date with them. You can see pictures and profiles of people online, and then you can ask the person if they want to go on a date with you. I will not be using the service in the near future, but it was a good experience, knowing about the match making agencies’ services.

Smoking at School

Yesterday, a lecture was held by a pharmacist in our elementary school about smoking. He explained how bad for your health and how addictive smoking is. One of the surprising things I found at first at the elementary school was there are many teachers who smoke. It’s not allowed to smoke in the campus, but the teachers go to the parking space next to the campus, and smoke during breaks. The students know which teachers smoke because you can see the smoking space from inside the school building. I wonder how the teachers who smoke can explain to the students that smoking is bad. I personally don’t smoke at all. I’ll see if the teachers who smoke will act to stop smoking or not after the lecture.