Today we're diving deep into something that's been on my mind a lot lately: the mid-30 life crisis.

I am turning 33 years old next month. Turning 30 was surprisingly smooth sailing for me. I thought it would be a big deal, but it came and went without much fuss. Turning 31 and 32? Also pretty manageable. But now, as I approach 33, I find myself grappling with a wave of anxiety and uncertainty that I didn't see coming.

So today, I want to unpack this feeling—

Let's start with the career aspect because, honestly, that's been a major source of my recent anxiety.

Living here in Canada, I've noticed how much emphasis is placed on degrees and experience for almost any job. I mean, even applying to be a barista requires over two years of experience! It's daunting, to say the least.

My current job leverages the experience I do have, but it doesn't require a specific degree, which means it's easily replaceable and the salary growth has pretty much plateaued. Meanwhile, the cost of living keeps climbing, and it's becoming clear that I'll need to take on side jobs just to keep up. Maybe continue working with Japanese companies like I do now, or pick up tutoring gigs that pay in US dollars once I secure my permanent residency. But let's be real—that's a tough grind and doesn't exactly scream 'fun and fulfillment.' how come can I design my future in blight way? Money is the first step for any pivot in life.

What's more frustrating is the lack of learning and skill development in my current role. It's easy, sure, but also mind-numbingly boring at times.

At 33, it feels like this is the time to define the trajectory of my career for the rest of my life. The common narrative is that your 20s set the foundation for your professional life, and by your 30s and 40s, you're building upon that. But what if that foundation isn't as solid or fulfilling as you'd like? Can we really pivot to something entirely new, or are we confined to the paths we've already tread?

These questions have been circling in my mind, breeding a sense of urgency and, admittedly, a bit of panic.

Moving on to another aspect that's been weighing on me: the relentless speed at which time seems to be passing.

Lately, my weeks have felt incredibly routine—work, side jobs, studying English, handling chores. The schedule is so fixed that days blend into each other, and before I know it, it's Thursday again. Weekends, which I look forward to so eagerly, fly by in the blink of an eye.

In my earlier years, being busy was synonymous with excitement. My career was intense and dynamic, with each week bringing something new and challenging. That kind of busyness was exhilarating. But now, the homogeneity of my days is draining. It's like living on autopilot, and it's making time slip through my fingers faster than ever.

This realization brings a certain fear: if life continues at this pace, filled with monotonous routines, will I suddenly find myself at 70, wondering where all the time went and what I did with it? It's a bleak thought, and one that's been creeping into my mind more often than I'd like.

Lastly, let's talk about finding joy and meaning in life, which, for me, has been a bit of a struggle lately.

In the past, even when my job was stressful, I had a circle of precious friends who were always there to listen, support, and share moments of laughter and comfort. Those connections were like anchors, grounding me through the chaos and making life's challenges feel more manageable.

But now, it feels like that social bond with old friends has dwindled. due to distance, or life changes, I don't have as much time with those important people anymore. The absence of those deep, fulfilling interactions has left a void that's hard to fill.

Maybe once I actually turn 33, these fears will fade, or perhaps they'll evolve into new challenges and questions. To anyone else out there navigating similar feelings, I would love to hear your feeling or advice. Grow together.

がんばれこれからの人たち！

Advise session to people who are thinking of going abroad. Whether you're thinking of relocating for work, study, or just a change of scenery, today’s episode is all about preparing yourself for the journey ahead. Moving to a new country is an exciting adventure, but it comes with its own set of challenges. I’m here to share some essential advice that will help make your transition smoother. Let’s get started!

First on the list: Get yourself ready and comfortable with searching for anything online in English. Now, I know this might sound daunting, especially if you're not confident in your English skills right now. But trust me, being comfortable with online searches in English is crucial. Why? Because the internet will be your best friend when you’re abroad. Whether it’s finding the nearest grocery store, figuring out public transportation, or even looking up recipes for your favorite comfort food, the internet is your go-to resource. And often, the most reliable information will be in English.

Now, I’m not saying you have to be fluent before you go. But practicing simple searches, reading articles, and using online tools in English can give you a significant head start. There’s no shame in relying on translation apps or tools like Google Translate, but the more comfortable you are with navigating English-language sites, the more confident you’ll feel when you’re out there on your own.

Second piece of advice: Know yourself better and meticulously. This might sound a bit abstract, but it’s incredibly important. Before you move, take some time to really understand your own needs and preferences. How do you recharge your energy? What routines or activities are non-negotiable for you? For example, if you need quiet time in the morning to feel balanced, or if exercising regularly is key to your mental health, make sure you prioritize these things, even when you’re in a new and challenging environment.

Moving abroad often means giving up a lot of familiar comforts—like your favorite foods, fashion, hobbies, and even social circles. You’ll find yourself in unexpected situations where you might have to sacrifice some of these things. But if you know what truly matters to you—those non-negotiables that help you stay grounded—you’ll be better equipped to handle the ups and downs of expat life.

And finally, a practical tip that might surprise you: Bring a decent rice cooker from Japan. Now, you might be thinking, “Why a rice cooker?” Well, if you are japanese and thinking you have to completely give up your Japanese meals, it is not true. you can easily access to the asian market where you can buy seasonings or even instant food. but only rice cooker. it can be hard to get the acceptable ones in many countries. Japanese rice cookers are known for their quality, and they can make a huge difference in your daily life abroad. Trust me, when you’re far from home, having something as simple as perfectly cooked rice can bring a sense of comfort and normalcy.

If you found this advice helpful, don’t forget to subscribe and share with others who might be preparing for their own adventures abroad. Until next time, stay curious, stay prepared, and safe travels!

子どもの名前Emmaにしよかな

There are several podcasts I am listening on a daily basis. I love listening to podcasts because it is supposed to be one of the most popular, valuable, and easiest ways to improve listening skills. What I like about podcasts for me is their compatibility with my life. I have 8 hours a day to face the computer working alone, with a little conversation over the phone or with colleagues. My ears tend to be free for almost 5 hours a day.

Whereas, it isn't easy to find the one that suits a person well. Not only do I need to make sure the main topics or theme suit that person's preference or purpose of listening, but also the tone of the voice, rhythm, or tempo should preferably be comfortable enough in a way.

I have several podcasts that I wanna recommend but speaking of the podcaster, I wanna talk about Emma Chamberlain, who is an American YouTuber and entrepreneur who gained fame for her relatable, candid vlogs that showcase her humor and everyday life. She started her YouTube channel in 2017, quickly becoming a cultural icon for Gen Z with her authentic style. Emma expanded her brand by launching Chamberlain Coffee in 2019 and has collaborated with major fashion brands like Louis Vuitton.

She's also the host of the popular podcast "Anything Goes." This is certainly the podcast I want to talk about today. let me tell you what I like about this podcast.

No.1, I love her personality. first and foremost, I love how she talks about her life and perspectives. She is still pretty young 23 years old 10 years younger than me, but whenever I hear about her life, I feel as if she is my older sister because she has a clear view of life, career, and relationship. It might be because she became a public figure in her teenage and it may have required her to become mature faster.

No.2, relatable topics. I love her advice session which is one of the popular contents that she tries to give unprofessional advice on anything the listeners send to her. the topics tend to vary from casual to serious ones. Many of them I can relate to. Many other podcasters bring guests whom I tend not to know due to the lack of cultural background, but she talks alone, which also makes this podcast special.

No.3, easy to understand. This sounds too fundamental, but especially for English learners, it is ultimately important.

Even if the podcaster is funny or interesting, not being able to understand what she or he is talking about causes listeners away. How she speaks is always clear and she gives us a bunch of supporting reasons or examples. I never struggled to understand what she wanted to tell us. other than fashion stuff. because she often talks about fashion trends or something because she is also a fashion model but I am totally not keen on the industry, which makes it hard to understand but other than that, I can relate to any episodes.

Her podcast is also good for shadowing which is one of the ways of practicing listening and speaking. like, Speak right after the person says. I do shadowing in the morning using her podcast and learned a bunch of natural expressions.

Here are several reasons why I love her podcast and herself. if you want to listen to a podcast, go to Spotify and type anything goes or Emma Chamberlain. Let me know what you think.

インターネットのせいで私はカナダにいる

Today we lost the internet access in the workplace caused by the power outage last weekend. Only thing we could do was to wait for the problem to be resolved and meanwhile, I could only do physical work because most of my jobs required the access to the internet and data server same as most people. Therefore, I spent a lot of time on physical work and a little computer work offline. As long as the company pays, there is no problems for me, and it is not that much stressful.

That situation made me imagine the world with no internet because I had plenty of time of nothing to do today. I was like, What is going to happen if our world loses the entity and concept of the internet tomorrow morning? What if everyone is no longer able to use the internet? The point is, this imaginary situation must be applied to everyone otherwise, it is just unfair to me. By the way, I love putting myself into an imaginary situation, but I am not a big fan of any sort of fantasy. To me, the situation must be realistic. Let’s say we all remember what the internet is and how to use it, however, all of sudden somehow it turns out that we are no longer able to use the internet due to some technical inevitable problems or some astronomical reason, for example, let’s say people somehow find out the internet to be physically harmful to mankind and animals, not mentally. I am not going to say that we lose the use of internet because some formidable extraterrestrials from other planet invade the earth and force us to live as slaves of them with no internet because it’s a different story.

Just immerse me and yourself into the world that the internet is no more available. What do you think? What do you do? I was disappointed that the first thing came to my mind was that, the efficiency of English study would decrease significantly. What a terribly boring idea! This is a token of the fact that my life is almost preoccupied with the study. I am so sad! Even if it is the completely imaginary situation, I still mainly think about my study. Truly disappointing. The second thought was, oh I will lose all the entertainment now I have received. This is mainly about YouTube because it is a main source of entertainment in my life. So it is hard to think about the life without YouTube which is the only channel to connect with Japanese comedy here in Canada. Ultimately, I might as well decide to go back to Japan if no internet is available anymore because I must feel insecure to live here. I probably miss any crucial information to live with no TV and friends. I might not realize any evacuation order of natural disaster, on top of that, the worst-case scenario would be, I might not realize if a world war starts due to deficit of the source of information and social bond with people in addition to the English levels.

On the other hand, once I go home in Japan, I rather might be able to live comfortably with no internet. Not having internet could be the biggest and most powerful excuse to abandon any responsibility of work, or highly intense pressure of accomplishments or success in life. Most likely, I will live with my family in a rural area with no high paid job or self-employed if possible, and earn just enough money to live, doing some hobbies in my free time. That sounds perfect. I will be mentally physically the happiest as can be. Wait. From that perspective, do I might as well want to go back to Japan subconsciously? I don’t want to accomplish anything in my life to be honest. Did I just open Pandora’s box in my mind? Or I just want to be lazy for a moment? Did I reveal something that needs to be sealed in my soul? I somehow feel bad about something now. Woo I don’t know why but feel scary and eerie. Well, it seems like I need to be in the world with the internet. Somehow. Seal it again. Would you want to try to put yourself no internet world? Let me know how it works.