Star Wars: Women empowerment

Featured ~ @consult_culture ~ Leave a comment

The screen blinds me for a few seconds, and then, the story starts unfolding before our eyes . I cry, I laugh and I accompany the hero in her journey. I feel close to her as if I were a friend.

And when she fights the baddies, Oh boy! I can’t help but feel pride.

Rei, the main character is unlike any other hero I’ve come across. First of all, let me tell you that I’m not a fan of action movies but for Rei, I make an exception. And you have to know that I’m a very critical person when it comes to choose role moles, and Rei has passed my high standards of my censorship.

She is modest, and even her clothes, which are not sexy at all make her look stronger. She doesn’t need to show her breasts, legs or even rely on a man to help her fight for what she believes is right.

Rei is the modern hero, modern gals need. Star Wars is surprisingly standing and encouraging women empowerment all around the galaxy.

Winter 2019

December 29, 2019December 28, 2019 ~ @consult_culture ~ Leave a comment

I leave home and make my way to the main district, I need to arrange papers, and to sign others. I haven’t arrived yet, but I know all this will take me hours, as bureaucracy always do. It is cold but sunny so the streets are not as silent as I initially thought.

But before I arrive at the office, I found these beautiful leaves of striking colours waiting for me as if wishing me good luck. I love their colours, and contrast. I take pictures, and I start thinking that my Japanese journey has taught me to adapt, to understand (or at least to try), to listen, to be happy in the moment, to treasure the opportunities, and never to eat while walking even if it is an apple 😂

And above all, my Japanese journey has taught me to change as these leaves do with the seasons. I have lots to thank for it. And, as these beautiful leaves, I hope my own colours has become stronger and more open to change than before.

Clouds on the sky

December 8, 2019December 8, 2019 ~ @consult_culture ~ Leave a comment

Some days life gets to you, some days are harder than others, some days seem worthless and dry. On those days, you feel like you should just stop searching for that sparkle that makes you feel alive. And then without any warning, you come across the most beautiful of skies.

And then you realize that there’s more in life than just you, and your problems. There is also beauty, hope, and thousand of blessings crossing your path. Every breath, every beat of your heart is a sign that you are fine and that whatever is bothering and upsetting you now will pass.
The journey is hard at times, but there are also good times. It all depends on us. Are the clouds bringing rain? Or are they here to bring us joy?

We decide.

5:55

December 3, 2019 ~ @consult_culture ~ Leave a comment

I turn around and I see the time “5:55.” I have managed to sleep a few hours, and yet they are not enough. I need to recover my strength, but my eyes are already wide open, and when my eyes are open like this, there is little I can do but to let the motions of the day start. “The routine” drags me out of bed, and takes me to the bathroom.

I look at myself in the mirror and the mirror stares back at me smiling.
I go back to the room, and I see my body lying on the bed peacefully sleeping waiting for me to return to it. Maybe, I am not awake after all.

Found the lost

April 2, 2019 ~ @consult_culture ~ Leave a comment

Kuro, the hero

I look at the screen in utter horror.
The draft of my newest novella “The nun and the prostitute” is gone.
My brain is screaming thousand swearing words unknown to me, “How do I know so many bad words,” I ask to myself.My shaking hands type again, and error comes out like the unavoidable curse that has fallen on me and my computer.
“It’s got to be somewhere,” I tell to myself trying to remain calm. I log into various accounts, clouds, and alternative boxes and nothing “How did this happen?,” I scream at the computer. And again error. Tears come to my eyes but I refuse to give up, and go old school and take a look at abandoned USBs. The first USB only brings more disappointment. The story repeats itself with the second, and the third USB I check. And the last one, the one I named “Kuro” (black in Japanese) brings almost no hope because this USB comes with me everywhere, to my classes, to my lectures, to my business trips. I know what’s in there, and what it isn’t.

But I decided to check it anyway. And to my surprise, there is an old copy, only 22 pages, almost a fifth of the final version. “Better than nothing,” I console myself.
I decide to keep checking just in case, I click in an old folder and there, shining like, an oasis in the desert, is a PDF version with all 98 pages of it.
The whole novella!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The characters and I cried of happiness. We’re together again. I found what was lost. Or better say, the characters found me again. I’m home. And kuro, the hero, takes a well-deserved rest.

A father: A hero

March 31, 2019March 31, 2019 ~ @consult_culture ~ Leave a comment

Some call him a father, some call him a hero, some call him a savior. Whatever our views on Chiang Kai-shek, arriving at his mausoleum was an impressive experience.

You see the lights, the people, feel the liveness that floats in the air, and smiles at the joy that travels from heart to heart in this city of many colors and perfumes.

I step in. One foot at the time. I can’t get in my head that I’m actually standing here paying my respects to the father, hero and king of Taiwan.

Gods: Radha Krishna

March 27, 2019March 27, 2019 ~ @consult_culture ~ Leave a comment

I walked in the dark alleys of the city thinking of nothing else but my troubles when I saw a little store illuminated with bright yellow lights.

I got curious and made my way towards it.

And to my surprise, I discovered that it was not a store, but a shrine, a place of worshiping for Radha Krishna. He is Krishna, and she is Radha. But they love each other so much that their names became one. How romantic!

It’s said that their love wasn’t physical but spiritual. Their love was pure and unconditional. They were one soul split into two bodies.

Finding Radha Krishna is the sign I needed today.

Taiwan 6: Red and gold

March 26, 2019 ~ @consult_culture ~ Leave a comment

Taipei is a vibrant city, not only for the brisk pace of its people on their every-day lives or the nippy rhythm of their routines but because, and principally, because of the colors that adorned the city.

Taipei is dress in gold and red, like a goddess.

Yes, Red and gold are everywhere to be seen, to be felt and enjoyed.

Before leaving, I looked back one more time, just to be sure I was taking all the colors with me.

Bye Bye: Yoneko sensei

March 10, 2019March 7, 2019 ~ @consult_culture ~ Leave a comment

Seven years ago, on this day, I worked my last shift as an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher). Yes, I used to teach in elementary schools as an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) I used to create games, some of them planned well in advance because my motto is ” be prepared for everything and anything.” However, some of the games were created in the spur of the moment, when the ocean of little faces told me my games weren’t up to their standards.

They wouldn’t say it with words, but their little eyes did the talking for them. And those little shiny eyes were very VERY convincing.
And I obliged not because I wanted them to like me (which they did ❤️) but because I wanted them to learn, and to remember that learning something new needn’t be scary. And I have to say; I think I did a good job because from time to time, those little ones, who are now not so little anymore contact me and tell me that they STILL remember my lessons. My dear friends, can I tell you a secret? When my students contact me, it moves my heart because in every lesson I created for them, I put something of me in them. So, for me, when they remember my lessons, I feel like they remember me. That somehow the games, and my teaching methods as unorthodox as they were (still are), I was able to share my knowledge with them. But most importantly, it means that in those lessons while singing, sharing laughs and studying together for an ephemeral moment we were family. And once you’re family, you are always family.

Taiwan 2: Chunghsuan Lan (藍仲軒)& Each Modern

February 11, 2019February 11, 2019 ~ @consult_culture ~ Leave a comment

Traveling is a unique way to reconnect with old friends, and it was that in this way we met an old friend of ours: Chunghsuan Lan (藍仲軒) original from Taiwan, Lan has spent time overseas, and during his residency at 331ArtsChiyoda (Japan) we had the opportunity to know him and his provocative art. But as Lan’s devotion to the arts it’s his life, love, and ultimate ambition; he invited us to visit Each Modern Gallery and to meet his colleagues, Sean and Murphy.