Life

After nine months, I finally obtained my Japanese driver's license. Although Japan's process is costly and complex, I opted for a cheaper foreign license exchange. Despite past driving experience and taking several tests, challenges included right-hand driving, language barriers, and manual transmission. Ultimately, switching to an automatic vehicle was key to passing. Next, I aim for a motorcycle license.

After living in Ueda for over four months, it's clear that its climate is superior to the other five cities where I've resided. Ueda offers comfortable weather, excellent air quality, and manageable temperatures, especially at night. Compared to the harsh climates of Karamay, Xi'an, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Nagano, Ueda stands out as the most livable place, surrounded by mountains and water.

This article explains the author's choice of Japan over other countries based on various factors. The author's language skills, profession, and financial situation influenced the decision-making process. The USA was ruled out due to high costs, while Singapore and Dubai were deemed unsuitable. Australia and New Zealand had challenges with job opportunities. The Netherlands was attractive but had height concerns. Canada was initially favored but later became less feasible due to cost implications. Ultimately, the affordability, job prospects, healthcare, and quality of life in Japan led to it being the chosen destination.

After two and a half weeks in Japan, here are key tasks before and after arrival: **Before Going to Japan:** - Secure Certificate of Eligibility and start preparations. - Rent a house in advance, address potential issues with renting to foreigners, and handle initial deposits. **After Arriving in Japan:** - Complete residence registration and health insurance setup. - Arrange home utilities and buy furniture/appliances. - Acquire SIM card and broadband, facing potential setup delays. - Open a bank account, possibly requiring student ID. Adjusting to life in Ueda, a small city with decent urbanization, Amazon deliveries, and accessible services. Living costs are high but manageable.

In 2023, I decided to move from China to Japan. Initially considering Chengdu, where poor job prospects led me to reevaluate, I decided to self-study Japanese and move for better job opportunities. Despite Japan's economic challenges, I found its stability preferable to China's uncertain future. I plan to detail this journey and provide insights on my blog.

The author has kept a daily diary for over 1,200 days, initially to combat the blurriness of repetitive routines and fading memories. The diary helps retain personal historical details, serving as an index for retrieving fragmented memories and even dreams. It enriches life by preserving daily experiences, preventing them from slipping away unnoticed. The author recommends diary-keeping to others.

I sold my 500cc ADV after a year for a more practical mid-sized scooter. Despite enjoying long trips to Zhaotong, Chongqing, and Sichuan, I lacked time for frequent rides. Riding in urban Chengdu was impractical due to banned motorcycle zones and high preparation time. The Kymco CT250 scooter suits city commutes and occasional trips, albeit with lesser performance and higher fuel consumption.

Two weeks ago, I decided to work remotely from Xinjiang. However, I faced internet delays, extreme temperatures, and an uncomfortable workspace. COVID-19 further complicated things, leading to my first positive test. My sense of taste diminished, and I ultimately returned to Chengdu. This experience highlighted my dependency on ergonomic office setups, making digital nomadism impractical for me.

Falling in love with a house with a balcony, the dream of a rural oasis in the city center quickly turned into a lesson in the challenges of a garden. Facing issues with soil quality and orientation, the gardening journey involved clearing land, composting, planting flowers, mulberries, and struggling with vegetables like potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, and chili peppers. Despite the effort, a realization of the time, water, and complexity involved in maintaining a garden led to a shift towards container gardening as a more practical and manageable choice.

A C1D driver finds manual transmissions challenging and rewarding for connecting with a car but faces difficulties due to auto-transmission popularity. Describing the manual driving process, the article details starting on slopes, emphasizing coordination and control. Through experiences with motorcycles and challenging road trips, the driver concludes that manual cars are less fun and prefers motorcycles for power and excitement. Disillusioned with manual cars post-trip mishaps, they appreciate motorcycles for the freedom and enjoyment they provide, ultimately favoring them over cars for driving pleasure.

The author has developed a nightly habit of catching slugs in their garden using a headlamp. The garden, despite its appeal, hosts various critters including fruit flies, red spiders, and numerous gastropods like slugs and semi-slugs. Their goal is to exterminate these pests using methods such as salting, burning, or chopping, as they damage plant stems and leaves.

In 1964, China's first atomic bomb was successfully detonated, thanks in part to uranium mined in Bukesaier County. With early Soviet assistance withdrawn by 1960, China conducted nationwide uranium mining. The key site, Mine 730, operated under harsh conditions, exposing workers to severe radioactive contamination, leading to high rates of deformities and illnesses. The mine was closed in 1979, leaving unresolved health impacts.