July 18, 2017 I know you’re probably flying right now I hope you’ll have a safe trip I made the dating app account because I was visiting my friend in New York But she got busy so I had to find something to do to kill time I never expected to meet you and eventually see you in Japan Everything was crazy indeed, but also meant to be at the same time... I have been thinking a lot lately And there’s one important thing I’d like to tell you... https://1.bp.blogspot.com/RJg53j1AWnOc8cAgWpTPYZvIfjmZOB3NuFahrGh2PxshPa8dou717Gzy33EP17R7F_LewkVyq99nHASvBfgHiiMaB-byfrl3lHpEmyK42BbCiIqRNrFF8F780TxuMvL8TNjlbqVQ Back To the US EWR Airpot, Jul 18, 2017 July 18, 2017 Connection like what we had is very rare And I know once you’re in the US, with distance and time differences, it would be difficult to continue be in touch But I really would hope despite all these obstacles We can continue stay in touch for years to come Absolutely. I would very much like that too Seen Hi... https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/861596452%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-ZpffnaNqXtG&color=%233a3a3a&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=false&single_active=true#TTR Audio: Taro's Theme (Reprise). Composed by Henry Lee. Just Like Many Things in Life... … the lightness of idealism quickly confronted by the heaviness of reality. Things happened fast, but it disappeared even quicker... 5 Days Since the Last Message Hi... How is living with your brother so far? Good! He recently made me Oyakodon! Oh gosh! Was it good? Yes! It was so good haha I feel so spoiled The Once Every Minute Messages... … turned into once a few days messages… as the invisibleness of the location barrier, the time differences, made things harder and harder… 3 Weeks Since the Last Message Hi... What’s new with you? Nothing much... Grad school just started and I’ve been busy It has always been a dream of mine to try the UTokyo cafeteria Apparently one of the best in the world Really? I actually don’t think our cafeteria is that good RIP I think you just killed my dream Days, Weeks, then Months... … as we got busy in our world, and slowly and slowly, we realized we lived in 2 different worlds... 3 Months Since the Last Message Hi... Woah! We haven’t messaged each other in 3 months! Oh wow... It really has been that long How are things with you? Perhaps… This Is the End…? … and years from now, perhaps the only comment I'd make with this story would be, “remember that time I flew to Japan? Crazy times right? Gosh I love being young once...” 2018 https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/861596428%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-x4uwTXQ87s7&color=%233a3a3a&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=false&single_active=true#me-with-you Me With You (Reprise). Composed by Henry Lee. Around 2018... It was obvious to me that the US real estate market was overheated, and I began selling. Since then, work has slowed down dramatically. I began exploring other things to do besides work. https://1.bp.blogspot.com/w2aGlVAZ2rtn08VQuam2rDzsjZsrl5_qqNkOB9-al0OBdAzhzps0ZnNa1nWj-5QFk9cJOkrJU2j7vgLIwWLn7qa5ERZBj2IkfzOtDthIeQvCd_j2OpOiJPXVEdivGwv8rP1rtw_O Like Getting a Tony! Then They Took It Away From Me BroadwayCon, Jarvis Center, New York, NY. Might Be Strange to Say... I have been working in the business world since I was 16. All the sudden, I found doing nothing was actually a lot harder than working. At times, I felt confused about my purpose. So I made a checklist of things to do, and tried to cross them out one by one. https://1.bp.blogspot.com/t99thvnS4N55J_kwLHM8y9kHT7lE2Uua7b8RfUn00D2d0NQ-l5NuWvbcfsqSOtaHQQbGQUxnTXrvlfaH_Cgfe9JZ4XVKMgWM0d5UjQMlXh_BwmbFp2IMIc5I_0-wRIvt49ja0TZm Like - Attending Tony Awards (But Almost Got Kicked Out Due To My (Lack Of) Dress Code) Radio City Music Hall, Jun 10, 2018 https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzaFVZ1dzLJeQ1KgxVD-V19rXPkQmR8QQ9eyWIkRMdV5FWWu94aWEsiXcX25FKoJ3xUZvgG08Oj-81jkvBF_ywubjHiD9kv0wvokTxgQ7pETdyTDJBB7q5RiEos1WzeJKrIsAaeIWNG6_r/s1600/R0010811_20180615143701.JPG Or… Dragging Matt to the Jelly Belly Factory. Matt Loved It So Much He Wanted to Go Home the Moment He Put on the Hat Jelly Belly HQ. Fairfield, CA. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGazv0qLyHZvffjCi-pgDg5tNbwFR845lgyzQsHWP5YQ7mJr5g8p1nee4E45-8SasRH3zjkT6o5a844hE3pLrdjLB1qVWlNysHsleK6TQR8BBzCoUSXICqdmv0axjipmV10x4oSt9-S82/s1600/Snapchat-865232005.jpg Or… Trying To Pitch My Revolutionary Tesla Toaster Idea to Elon Tesla Factory, Fremont, CA https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBaWQUqxT2aLlQqJNBYJVYgLDca4OLs_o5iQOtOj7Tf0sQ1LX0CMG_cTra99VBCFcGJjlTnCwABcmt1hZTWH8aFXulK5nh4C258BG1hctvpE6b33rPF5mR8OfDqg-aQujGEsx_7YqHfQX/s1600/Snapchat-1539767768.jpg Unfortunately Elon Never Showed Up (Big Loss To Elon) Tesla Factory, Fremont, CA I Went to Spain Around the End of 2018 Unlike other things I’ve done in 2018, Spain was actually never on my bucket list - I went because it was highly recommended by others. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBNAo80lXj73hFTRJSgOvlO6g-fVYM64qAEz7pgfdVL6jqLuzCh_nUzFrTmjj0zPBUwGtDBW91pENvycGWdMT_ALjxKW_MPnvBfV_dDCffRkJPhj1m2o1gRBszwVh6T-UepZFBgoMiHiS/s1600/DSC05509.JPG Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas Nov 9, 2018. Madrid, Spain And Spain Was Different... Walking around Spain, I could always see Spanish sipping coffee, chatting, anytime of the day. On top of that, I learnt that Spanish, especially ones living outside of big cities, even got to take a big nap in the middle of the working day. Siesta (see-es-tuh) Noun, a midday or afternoon rest or nap, especially as taken in Spain and Latin America. - Dictionary.com https://1.bp.blogspot.com/PWQ8TfXtcNhYVI9tks4ekIzIl5uCK-ABGZUOY_olqvPi-wMGttM-wF41iJBN33ETEP2B0ncVnCxksRyswvG_77Y4UdIQSMKfMHpVBYUU73YStge2HRzm3FOtnnuVX6MCQQ5XNPcA A Spanish Street Nov 11, 2018. Segovia, Spain (Talking to an American Expat in Spain) How do you like Spain thus far? Good... Actually, confusing... What do you mean? So I am staying at Centro And it has been loud every night I used to live in the East Village in Manhattan, tons of bars, but only got crazy in weekends But it seemed like the Spanish are partying everyday Nobody seemed to be working around here Oh I know what you’re talking about Actually Madrid is considered a working town. If you go outside of Madrid, people are even more laid back https://1.bp.blogspot.com/GNCxtIvihX86zzuPAsc-ITTZfMuJqn6I-pwjYx6SoJ7fPSR-edaTbrK7rT57g6yqHkyTqnzd3sbFCPIQElDjHBRQQBtSuRZyYNQEqDgrhLokPludVMWXAM4fhT3tDKvZW9WOj535 Plaza de Jacinto Benavente at Night Nov 9, 2018. Centro, Madrid, Spain (Conversation Continued) Unlike in the US where many young people’s aspiration is to work for Google, Amazon or Apple Many young Spanish would just want to be a public worker. Dead-end government jobs like DMV workers, hospital desk job etc Because the job is easy and won’t interfere with their life Won’t… interfere with their life? Yeah, you know. Party, siesta, spend time with family etc Funcionario (foon-syoh-nah-ryoh) [Meaning] public worker in Spain. It is the dream of many Spanish young people to become funcionarios. - From the Blog Sincerely, Spain https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76hECae5RtBvft1ZDh4npAZiiBQP1sHnxZ1L1GdrMERuLfh357KVU_pooJe6wIbud5tVAgbV5KDblmB3WPZw2X_Ljj40mCudRfilcJiRzl3SRSyNUQaytIf84uGnLK3RZf3E53uVMncP_/s1600/DSC05460.JPG (Talking to a Spaniard in Spain) The other day I was talking to an American expat working here And she said she basically had to beg her Spanish colleagues to reply her emails Oh yes. A lot of Spanish aren’t great email repliers Spain has been having a ton of economic problems for decades now I… don’t really get it. It seemed like the solution is simple Just work more No business can run efficiently when its workers take 3 hours nap every day Yes, everything you said was correct But our attitude towards life is very different than yours In Spain, we have a saying Us Spanish, we work to live You Americans? You live to work Live... … To Work? Live... https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/861596452%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-ZpffnaNqXtG&color=%233a3a3a&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=false&single_active=true#TTR Audio: Taro’s Theme (Reprise). Composed by Henry Lee. Live to Work Just 3 simple words, but it felt like a needle piercing through my skin. Because at that exact moment, I understood what it meant. https://1.bp.blogspot.com/NGFmp5i9Eu-OyQ9SFy9ACYZZR3aVXhrgnOkzI9HtXJlPwzgsSPdDdihyagCPe-LXogKhYT7eniz18FXoxPAXjbWjeVkK5e7nSUsp2GA1YKiPQ9xRwSpj0VkzUG12KcBKmBjxTqeh The Younger Henry Date Unknown Looking at How the Spanish Lived... … made me realize I have never lived. Growing up, having a high grade meant the world. So much that much of other things in life could - and should - be sacrificed. My childhood happiness was chipped away by it bits by bits. https://1.bp.blogspot.com/GZd3diqEgs0E3XI6ZLdIAZ50PH8D6JIcix0HmSiRUI3-jB5WgGv8pBnuLjEhOgmFbuI5ubtM67lhqYtJV5MwcIgHkufbeCJhiVR2NJ0gLwn9XM7bWfv3m0pFinJN5Q8YSG8rJGkl The Bank Card That Started Everything Jul 7, 2009. Philadelphia, PA When I Turned 16... With my own bank account, I began an e-commerce business. This venture led to my start-up, and eventually led to the real estate work I’ve been doing today. Business became my sole identity, and my sole purpose to live. https://1.bp.blogspot.com/bv_tO3ak6IoSftxxLYP5IEZtyYVVfD1tr4sZyg04crjVwrO_ahtyztEV0w6jmbd4RkhWstzVldlwqTdwgyk__m28Ev14iG7PiIVS885kcUskFJm84UXCzvPyTfJpWNsx_XdQDpws Enoshima Sea Candle Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan Trapped in a Jail Cell of Work That day, looking at the sunset in Enoshima, I felt sad. It took me a long time to understand why. The truth of the matter was, I, too, once worked as much as the Japanese. I too, had an overwork mental breakdown as young as 17. The entire time I thought I was rescuing Taro, the truth was, I was the one who needed rescue. I Know That Feeling All Too Well... … The Feeling of Being Trapped… Suffocating... Drowning... … That Life Was Work in Repeat ... https://1.bp.blogspot.com/CgtMuglMSYBfjsVJ34T8YKtNs5KkzkZj2jceA_m6IsbT0Mdo_FVV3Z_5_ySabFJmSPzRSQ-qKV0GtYlYgz2ntZhYRyyAv6e9wh9DMZ2x4HEiS1MhS6uLkDqTJ7ZOsq7jyUFvfDHC Uguisudani Station Jul 5, 2017. Taito City, Tokyo, Japan … The Feeling Many Japanese Probably Experienced Before Jumping off The Train Track... … Is Work All There Is in Life? https://1.bp.blogspot.com/kQscYj2Jw5KmWzMfktwC401wbZMuRebxYxitEzgooHZTrE6TXLSmYuFOc6V8tpyG4-2Y0ZDlBaTAmFvBMFqyZoIPD12SP7_TlYR2oIWvVms-zQOCaqHvDudGDnRe0bXGvUR8SGME En Route Back to the US Nov 14, 2018 On My Plane Ride Back... I thought a lot - did I work this much because I enjoyed working this much? No. I worked this much because my society expected me to. In fact, before seeing how the Spanish lived, I thought the only way a person could live, was living through working. Vacation (vey-key-shuh): noun. a period of suspension of... … work … - Dictionary.com https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_v4ArQidb5rkcBHxtI0UBGskIIYiCU5h3sF6QhBfl0NuMVPBx6Qnxfm9g4WKs6t95bcUyKdZLE8Q720mvWrRCuFg-oIAZlYKhHEsuD-NjWPgTD-uccsGcjs_0bJyzf-akgBnioExj6MUG/s1600/R0011376_20181113164424.JPG Vistas de Cuenca Nov 13, 2018. Cuenca, Spain I Remember That Aromatic Weekday Afternoon... … I hiked to the top of a hill in Cuenca. There, a Spainaird in his mid 30s was peacefully reading a book with a stunning vista. The same time of a day, his peers in Japan probably only finished half of their workdays; his peers in America probably were stressed to complete complicated projects. But he - only he - was truly living. … To Live https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/861596446%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-16JsBPAB8bp&color=%233a3a3a&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=false&single_active=true#me-with-you Audio: Me With You. Composed by Henry Lee. https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9wO2-qPyqbGfdGWPRjOI8D8nuXeqMpIJKlZvlyQVpq1d-x71MoIq2ckxEjWd0jePkLTC3qbJFT2Ux6rtJxT17QdHB0P04lcq8tJ1vEkqu2HbCKZ_fISuRieJLMqyyPTFFiQlqq Comedy in Japan, Tragedy in Spain Mar 31, 2019. En route to Spain. Like a Pilgrim... I came back to Spain several times since my first trip, trying to figure out how this living thing works. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokk51uLJUMk6GkN0AGxO-rsbU9o4TCcaXPUFUt7ZDVfi8eqh7_DB91tCmsFPQHdaBXfUCmOw0TiXe2NFksVtOBsg5EnAofOKG7upTO_42KycFAf8oh3YY0QmLr0bQNB6QPC4w7WdI0upM/s1600/R0011294_20181103111342.JPG Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Nov 3, 2018. Madrid, Spain (Me Talking to a Spaniard) Since a Spaniard works less and make less How can this person afford to buy a house and start a family? The way we live is very different than how Americans live We see it on TV - your big American houses and each family has their own residents But here in Spain, a big family is still very much a thing for many people So instead of getting married then move out In Spain it’s common for an extended family to live together and pull resources together So we can live easily without the stress of making mortgage payments https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlxYZZs25qwWhEIn6K3N7LfUtNQJ3ijNAOo3Ikl8P_M8qWcDoaQnsDlz2394jRLGT8-iQP_5wWjdG1ICFtcGRDiJsub5I_sAqRxFeQSlFNyVUeZCLMeXGCD7lAge3RoKYw-z99F63eLrN/s1600/R0011329_20181106155943.JPG Parque del El Retiro Nov 6, 2018. Madrid, Spain (Me Talking to an Another Spaniard) How does a Spaniard afford things Given they make so little? An average Spanish income is less than half of an American income We don’t need that many things to live Sure, it would be nice to have things. But we don’t need a big flat screen TV A fancy car, a big house with a big yard We don’t need all these materialistic things to distract us from living All we need is enough Enough? Yes. That’s all we need https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdanD8n6NqtcJACEgP9CmJuDEPReM93Zv92-jhVX5ehZI7ph_BHW1VgUChTRR0VAsFzMwfejo9gu8BC_gr9yg9shXMmAz9KJ0MDji-3joT7UM43C4J5nH7BGzTA_P9bSMK-tvXT2DbMufp/s1600/R0011339_20181111135851.JPG Aqueduct of Segovia Nov 11, 2018. Segovia, Spain (Me Talking to an Another Spaniard) One thing I have hard time to conceptualize is What do Spaniard do besides "living"? Wouldn't you get bored with partying eventually? Absolutely not! And also partying isn’t at all we do outside of work We take time to appreciate life People watching at a Cafe, hangout at a bar with friends at night Enjoy a great plate of Jamón and other various Tapas Go to southern Spain for beaches… Endless things we could do Work only get in the way of us living https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqBUF3W6O9bZie4Qp8pXTqq2YjKdxKkmlymwGQR5awvQD6ikuglh8cH5wrBHj2EgZcWIX3y9PeXG7bkr8Uxg9QSjONUDRu0nfjIjPcS5UI4tnRvlRIWCwrIYniQP4k7GBxXQhiSJIYgZL/s1600/DSC05473.JPG Retiro Nov 6, 2018. Madrid, Spain There Is More to Life https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/861596443%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-NtHB7CWhr0W&color=%233a3a3a&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=false&single_active=true#TT Audio: Taro’s Theme. Composed by Henry Lee. https://1.bp.blogspot.com/hxJN9zCGug04756goYrHo0-pgxIJ_iKWRn4A_LWBG8XRL6YC2Ad4-PUzMf48gX72R5COj6ZtvVkhIcdO7dFl5opk2tHGRFZo8l_0oLV9trCBbLbwNzipYBAyePH_DvdVcchnrNad Hokokuji Jul 3, 2017. Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan That Day in Japan I saw the mirror of my own life. A tired, numb and suffered body that lived with nothing else other than work. I saw what my life was, is and will continue to be. https://1.bp.blogspot.com/rNH0O5Bfgj5ZGJCThAcYMM0y_C5kcgd101GmgHA7ZCIIjq8bZIifRFkPVF73J5LEV-uPiQ1QAajWSZT4SNyWgjVm958uZV0bJNxA8w45KLOcUMvxMeUotnuL1KnwMXkHg6l78rsf Calle Melchor Cano Nov 13, 2018. Cuenca, Spain That Day in Spain I felt a deep sense of jealousy. I discovered for the 20 some past years, I have never lived. I saw what my life wasn’t, isn’t but could be. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjai3k0jyCTLQsrc9sKnrL4piCU6ViVc4SQMxQQZ381FMUy486xX21_C_MyZsGeBraMLp6jJoa0ed5E6bRW4OaYJBKSqVCoCIz6bwewXnc_ctufapKcb9vMxrIzYTNdFxTDX4OfRI0JUH73/s1600/R0011682_20190808180509.JPG Seljalandsfoss Aug 8, 2019. Stóridalur, Iceland I Too, Want to Appreciate Life I too, want to enjoy a plate of Jamón, people watching at a cafe; Taking a nice siesta during the afternoon. I also want to see wonders of the world. I also want to learn about other cultures... https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4pw0iMqEqznottv0kAg4jDTo8iEJFgzwGX9aDF8cSB1nA3PDJ-6mRgxOXSL2efRc_vfQADBizQHcSY6F2IN3sTufdAabFlYamJ1lR2ZpUJRV7XmHFZs22ZsCawJ1pXwWBQ4YWmO3ISwG/s1600/R0011515_20190614103931.JPG Portland Observatory Jun 14, 2019. Portland, ME I Too, Want to Live That means picking and choosing what’s important in life; in work: selectively taking on projects, staying on the sideline longer to make time to live. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZD3rM_b8a-t7q0XytsCyldDgmStKQ0iCmwdBjkEwryyK4Oxn8-72rx0JqUxKdItx8TYbCJbrkifT1o2TzVIBBmX5pdXJ3k7yqbUcuoWI2inupAchfM3kZijx-h18atxXWKK69UJhcUvGb/s1600/R0011583_20190715113231.JPG Jellybean Row Jul 15, 2019. St. John’s, NL, Canada In My Final Days... I want to be satisfied to say that I have lived all my life to its fullest. I want to live - to truly live. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXCe3J11vpqFJJHd883Mj5ubgHQgwmg0WpwtxTNVcnxm0LyHN3Q-LRkKm1vUJuFom5tImTzU1IcJK86UXvDlwmrCY8bUcrcZLcpqAY-HEQ-VBwXs5qEdV7Qvj0gh2j6x318b1qZQLdRET/s1600/R0011733_20190910173056.JPG Stanley Park Sep 10, 2019. Vancouver, BC, Canada Japan Led Me to Appreciate Life Spain Taught Me to Live Life To Taro... https://1.bp.blogspot.com/8vEefvQ-3ngwCrXTHFQav736XhEqARBHZWxIf06HCYEk9610QNi3gVnsdI28NcuYwU0iaYa_aFwMvUTVwJuWXw3r0jLgrAE2BiPO7NAUfPyTFio3wvnKmGLa9LJpnTTZz7w5VLs2 … Thank You for Leading Me to This Journey... … And Thank You for Being the First Reader of This H/Report. Taro... … recently graduated from her masters program from UTokyo. Today she works for an international consulting firm in Tokyo. Despite the time differences and location barriers, we still remain good friends to this day. There IS More to Life