Morning Routine

[Good evening Tuesday] Snow

We had first proper snow for this winter. I was really excited to see the white covered garden and streets this morning. Quiet time, misty windows, steam from the coffee. 

I wanted to make a snowman, but it rained and almost everything melted away in the afternoon.

And tomorrow, the forecast says it'll be 18c.

Bridge

(1)

You and I have different native languages.

You don't speak my mother tongue, I don't speak your mother tongue, so we meet halfway and speak English, my second and your second or third language.

We talk, we argue, we exchange ideas, we joke, we cry, we laugh.

We seem to be able to communicate. And I like you.

Then your phone rings, it's from someone who shares your first language.

"Excuse me," and you start talking in your mother tongue.

Suddenly, you become like a different person.

Different language, different intonation, different pitch.

I feel more natural flow and confidence in your voice.

You sound more emotional, more chatty, and more controlled.

"....OK!"

Then you hung up the phone, and you get back to the person I know.

(2)

You and I have different native languages.

You don't speak my first language, but I speak your first language as a second language, so we speak English.

We talk, we argue, we exchange ideas, we joke, we cry, we laugh.

We seem to be able to communicate. And I like you.

Then your phone rings, it's from someone who shares your first language.

"Sorry," and you start talking.

Suddenly, you become like a different person.

Your pace gets faster, you use different range of vocabulary.

You switch from world standard English to your vernacular English.

I feel more natural flow in your voice.

You sound more emotional, more chatty, and more relaxed.

"....OK!"

Then you hung up the phone, and you get back to the person I know.

* * *

I know that the personalities are not defined only by words. And I do understand that our message can go beyond languages, and that strong words and texts cannot lose its meaning and power by translations (when it's done sincerely).

But I can't help but wish... if only I could understand you in your mother language. And, if only you could understand me in my mother language.

All the nuances, puns, rhymes, cultural and local and generational references and jokes. I wish we could communicate with all these elements, as if we put the Babel fish in our ears, or as if we ate Honyaku-Konnyaku.

Whenever I face the situation like (1) and (2), I recognize there's this unfillable gap between us. I feel sad, despair... and a drive in me.

2020

New year, new notebook.

I've been using NOLTY U-series since its launch. I tried to switch twice in the past, but each time I came back to this within a week, so I guess I now can call this my standard.

Utter contrary to my expectation, this blog has made it into 2020s. I was thinking, back in the beginning of it (2012), I could give "Good job!" to myself if I succeed publishing 5 posts. According to the Blogger, this will be my 330th posts. And I thought, wow.., I don't wanna waste a lot of time by re-reading all of them... :)

I don’t know who’s out there (or are there any) reading this, but thank you. When the world gets tense, we go loose. We drink fifth wave coffee (that would be tea, or tap water), bring a tote bag for grocery shopping and talk about things that spark joy.

EKN #31: Apple and Honey

Happy New Year 2020

Don't be too smart. We are not robots.

あけましておめでとうございます。

2020年が喜びと笑いに満ちた素晴らしい1年となりますように！

おせちにあきたらカレー、カレーにあきたら七草がゆ。

バーモント・キス – 相対性理論 (Vermont Kiss – Soutaiseiriron)