Another Life at 40s    by Sio In youth, friendships came easily. Just a Hello could spark a bond. But the older we get, the harder it becomes. When I moved to Japan, I had no friends outside work. I threw myself into event after event like a second job. The more I tried, the more out of place I felt. Small talk in a second language buried in noise left me exhausted. But watching others click and making plans, I wondered: Am I too cold? Too old? Why does no one ask me out? I f

Into The Japanese Mind   by Sio In Osaka’s meetups, I often see familiar faces, but few become friends. One day, a Japanese girl ran over like an old friend: “So happy to see you! Let’s go karaoke after!” Her sudden warmth surprised me, cos we barely talked before. After the event, I approached her. She glanced briefly, as if we’d never met, then turned back, laughing with her friends. I was stunned. How could she change so fast? Did she mistake me? Were both warmth and cold

Life Reset Journal   by Sio That day I thought a few cough drops could fix my sore throat. But it got worse day by day, until I was shivering in bed like a virus was throwing a party inside me. Seeing a doctor never crossed my mind. Making an appointment in Japanese terrified me. How do I start? What’d they say? Many clinics don’t accept foreigners without Japanese. For me, this was mission impossible. By day 5, I couldn’t hold on. I forced myself to call with my less than N5