Tankenka Neko

Not big on using social media to connect - it just feels so contrived (for me). I try, but... even doing my daily videos (now having made more than 2000) feels... lacklustre. Studying of late has been hard (and minimal). Just burned out. Summer really wiped me out this year.

Hitting a wall with fluency. I've been here before. Earlier on. Different wall. It's just as hard every time, because it feels impossible - even though I know it's not. At this point, I have to improve kanji and vocab recognition, and keep solidifying the basics (over, and over again). Sigh.

4. Once I formally begin the final application process, I will document the event on my social media. I think it would be neat to show people what it is I am going though - especially in English (as a process of a North American being an immigrant rather than being observant of others who are).

3. of very careful and constant thought on the decision, I still can't clearly state exactly why. I feel like it's best explained as "all the little things". The way people show care, the love for impermanent things. The small traditions. That guys can be "cute", and that's okay. Ad infinitum.

2. Japanese is difficult for native English speakers mainly due to the complexity of reading and writing, which is where I mainly struggle. Naturalization is not a path most people take. Permanent residency, or just long term work is as far as most go. For me, it's hard to explain, even with years

A few people know I am working on naturalization to Japan. The biggest hurdle is relative fluency. I already qualify, but I want to go well above the line. I listen to Japanese media while reading/writing in Japanese for about 1.5~3 hours per day, with 1 to 2 hours of speaking practise with friends.

I am often surprised by the sheer number of people who travel to a new nation only to continue to stay while being constantly miserable (and telling others just how awful that place is)... but making little to no effort to change their life, way of perceiving their surroundings, or leaving for home.

I'm not so good at text-based socials... literally never have been. Not really my jam. But, I will post from time to time. Watching North America through an external lens is... odd. And seeing news from within (through family, friends, etc) shows just how much is filtered there.

N@zi MAGAts - super snowflaky and ultra-fragile egos and all - have been /openly/ outing themselves on Threads. Not just in inferred comment but openly admitting to being a N@zi. They even think that calling people "communist" is a horrible thing. I posit that they have /no idea/ what communism is.

You are absolutely correct, that is indeed true. The process, however, is considerably easier with PR first (it means I skip a bunch of screening aspects as well as gives me a strong "I actually understand what I'm asking for" reason).

Had a dream, too complex to explain here (my dreams are both lucid and ultra-realistic). One of my recurring dream places, part of a larger suburban city-scape. A person gave me their name. Their face, as clear as looking at someone in broad daylight. Neat!

YouTube video by JKT48 [MV] Magic Hour - JKT48

Has anyone heard of JKT48? They filmed Magic Hour at my work last year! youtu.be/mRMQsp90mFM?...

US citizens must call out all the sh***y people who voted for the N@zi Tangerine Cheet-O. It *IS* your responsibility - even though it was not your vote. The world can't do it for you. It sucks... but it is your house to clean up. If you don't do it, you *are* complicit in your inaction. Fight back.

Person standing in front of a fox statue at next to a torii gate. Their hand is touching the statue's foreleg. The fox statue has a bright red bib. The person is wearing layered orange and rust jackets. It is a stark, azure sky day. Winter, but no snow. They are in Japan.

Why am I an emigrant from Canada? When did I start the process? I started the process almost a decade ago. I will get permanent resident status within the next two years, and then begin my naturalization process. As a 2nd generation Canadian, I don't feel any connection to North American culture.

Something lighter than the other heavy posts.
Snow! Lots and lots of fluffy amazement! There is an advantage to living on a mountaintop.

What surprises me is how readily American Exceptionalism overrides common sense in Americans. Nazi US is a very real thing... and safety of women, PoC, LGBTQIA+ people, and minority groups is shaky at best... but still people defend the US as being "the best country on earth" - this from ALL sides.

Watching from abroad as Nazi US becomes a reality... it's like watching a weird dystopian alternate timeline history film of the 1930s ... but in real-time. I sincerely hope that all my LGBTQIA+ fam in the US, and all PoC and those fighting the good fight will be able to stay safe...

Other countries should /not/ impose tariffs on imported US goods. Instead, request that all exporters increase their fees for all American buyers under the premise that inflation caused by US policy has harmed global economies. This means the money goes to the exporters instead!

Working on my PhD proposal. It's been a long work in progress. If the yen gains strength as the USD continues to tank, I'll actually be able to afford it!

Bust framed photo of a white male in a grey pinstripe suit jacket, sapphire blue dress-shirt, colourful patterned tie. He is in a teacher's office (in the background) where there are many books on desks and shelves. There is no one else in the photo. He has dark brown hair, bright hazel eyes that have smiling lines but he looks a little tired. He is wearing a custom made mustard yellow mask with stylized cats and windows with stars. The photo is a self-taken photograph.

Contrary to popular belief, teaching is not "easy": not if one wants to be any good at it anyway. Good teachers are always switched on and seldom get time to disconnect during the day. This is a major reason why many teachers are constantly exhausted. Thankfully, it can be a very rewarding vocation.

I have, in my profile: Staunch human rights advocate.

Rights must be applied at the most expansive group so they cannot be taken away. This also removes the possibility of "whataboutisms".

Very (very) few rights can be applied exclusively or to limited demographics.

So, thought I'd come here. Thought for a while that Threads might be a good jump after X. There were a lot of places jockeying for the "new kid on the block" spot. Threads is rapidly devolving, however. Here's hoping BS holds up! (Unfortunate abbreviation aside!)