A casual blog of a linguist teaching Japanese language & culture
I have placed a framed picture of my deceased grandfather on my work desk at home. I often talk to him while I work on my research. My grandfather was a schoolteacher when he was younger, but at the age of 30, he went to medical school and, at the age of 40, became a… Continue reading The importance of passion
It has been really busy since January but, at the same time, productive and enjoyable. The academic year 2021–22 was much more hectic than usual, but what now brightens my heart is a bouquet of roses and sunflowers that I received from my students after our last class! A lovely message card was also enclosed.… Continue reading Like Sunflowers
The year 2021 has sped by incredibly fast. This semester, I made some trips to meet in person and collaborate with my research partners. One of the happiest moments from this year was when I joined woodblock print workshops designed for people with dementia. We created woodblock prints together in the traditional Japanese style. We… Continue reading Christmas around the corner
Today, exactly one year has passed since I defended my PhD thesis. For the past 12 months, almost everything has gone by at blinding speed. Here’s my reflection on the first year of my postdoc life. Online teaching There is a lot to mention about online teaching for the academic year 2020–21. One particular… Continue reading Reflecting on the first year of my postdoc
This year has brought a lot of tough, new challenges, one after another. I am very grateful that my family and I have been able to stay in good health and have normal lives apart from staying home. Despite all the difficult circumstances during the ongoing outbreak, as a PhD student, I was able to… Continue reading Wrap up of the final year of my PhD