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@anothersio

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🇯🇵Resetting life in Osaka after UK/FR/SP/CAN/ARG @anotherlifeclub 中文片在FB 💬🇲🇴🇬🇧🇪🇸🇯🇵🇨🇳🇫🇷🇵🇹

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📩 Stay updated on new projects 🔗Link in bio

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🇯🇵 What surprised me most in Japan wasn’t simply how punctual Japanese people are, but how even people who are usually late somehow start showing up on time once they live here.

Punctuality in Japan isn’t just a personal habit. It’s a rhythm that the whole society keeps together. When everyone is on time, transport, work, systems, and everyday life are all built around that same expectation. Over time, even people who were never punctual before gradually adapt to that rhythm.

by Sio
Into the Japanese Mind | 04

This is a series about what I’ve learned from observing Japanese culture and the way people think.

@anotherlifeclub
@anothersio

#JapanLife #LifeInJapan #JapaneseCulture #JapaneseMind #anotherlife

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📩 Stay updated on new projects 🔗Link in bio

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🇯🇵 When I first came to Japan, I couldn’t understand why people would keep speaking Japanese to me even when it was obvious I didn’t understand.

It made me realize how differently communication can work in Japan. Sometimes, following the right procedure seems more important than whether the message is actually understood.

by Sio
Into the Japanese Mind | 03

This is a series about what I’ve learned from observing Japanese culture and the way people think.

@anotherlifeclub
@anothersio

#JapanLife #LifeInJapan #JapaneseCulture #JapaneseMind #anotherlife

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📩 Stay updated on new projects 🔗Link in bio

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🇯🇵The first time I went to a Japanese onsen, I was surprised that I didn’t feel embarrassed at all.

Being naked around strangers made me think about Japan’s strong sense of collectiveness. Even at their most vulnerable, people quietly fit into the group — and somehow, not standing out becomes part of the way society works.

by Sio
Into the Japanese Mind | 02

This is a series about what I’ve learned from observing Japanese culture and the way people think.

@anotherlifeclub
@anothersio

#JapanLife #LifeInJapan #JapaneseCulture #JapaneseMind #AnotherLife

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📩 Stay update on new projects 🔗 Link in bio

After moving to Japan, I somehow became afraid of buying things.

Living in Japan made me rethink what it really means to “own” something. I realized that everything we bring into our lives eventually comes with a responsibility.

@anotherlifeclub
@anothersio

by Sio
Into the Japanese Mind | 01

This is a series about what I’ve learned from observing Japanese culture and the way people think.

#JapanLife #LifeInJapan #JapaneseCulture #JapaneseMind #AnotherLife

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📩 Coming Soon | Offbeat Osaka Itineraries・Midlife Reset Journeys 🔗 Link in bio

🇯🇵 When I first moved to Japan, I thought opening a bank account would be simple. Instead, it took me three trips just to get it done.

This is a true story series documenting my journey of starting over in Japan.

by Sio
Life Reset Journal | 05

@anotherlifeclub
@anothersio

#JapanLife #Midlife #StartingOver #MovingToJapan #anotherlife

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📩 Coming Soon | Offbeat Osaka Itineraries・Midlife Reset Journeys 🔗 Link in bio

🇯🇵There’s no one path to learning Japanese.

These are the methods I’ve tried learning Japanese in Japan — from free classes, to apps and tutors.

I kept trying, until I found what works for me.

by Sio
Japan Life Guide | 04
@anotherlifeclub
@anothersio

YouTube recommendations
N5-N4
Japanese super immersion
https://youtube.com/@jsi55?si=qJRZkJs0p9cR46XN

N5-N3
Japanese with Shun
https://youtube.com/@japanesewithshun?si=CHpI6tJaGwN4fFLY

N5-N1
Learn Easy Japanese with Kaneko
https://youtube.com/@learneasyjapanesewithkaneko?si=TYlH-V17QdVz0el0

N5-N1
Hina Japanese
https://youtube.com/@hinajapanese-e9d?si=7o9GMyAdqJvaX6e9

N3-N2
Bite Size Japanese
https://youtube.com/@the_bitesize_japanese_podcast?si=64JIMW6BKsXsU6P7

N3-N2
Ayano’s Japanese Learning Hub
https://youtube.com/@am_japanese?si=YTt4RFKovFMm-hLL

N3-N1
Yosuke teaches Japanese
https://youtube.com/@yosuketeachesjapanese?si=yCp8iTkbUvSyyhYL

YouTubers
ニック兄さん and 高桑
https://youtube.com/@nikkuniisan?si=VmufPCBSb3uO2P4C

Mr Fuji from Japan
https://youtube.com/@mrfujifromjapan?si=GXBlQ2U1juDw_q2E

#learnjapanese #japanlife #lifeinjapan #japanesestudy #studyjapanese

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🇯🇵#Sio40s另一人生中年的成長是沒有把握的繼續｜ Midlife Growth Is Continuing Without Certainty #SioAnotherLife40s

年輕的成長，是看得見的。每年升班，不同科目，一路長知識。初出社會，轉工接案，越來越專業。只要努力，就看得見成果。
When I was young, growth was visible. In school, I moved up a grade and learnt new subjects each year. At work, I built skills and became more professional. I used to believe effort always led to results.

但到了中年，什麼都慢了下來，慢到停頓了一樣。
Then midlife comes, everything slows down. So slow, it feels like nothing is moving.

之前腰背受傷，每天拉筋、做瑜伽，一星期、兩星期、三星期過去，也沒有好轉。
After injuring my back, I did stretches and did yoga every day. 1, 2, 3 weeks passed, still couldn’t walk without pain.

學日文也一樣，一個月、兩個月、三個月過去，生字記不起，文法又忘掉。
Learning Japanese felt the same. 1, 2, 3 months went by, still couldn’t remember much.

無論怎努力，也前不了進，感到很無力。是不是老了，記性差了，新陳代謝慢了，什麼都做不到了。
No matter how hard I tried, I wasn’t improving. It was frustrating. I started to wonder if I was getting worse with age.

我開始懷疑，是否該放棄。
For the first time, I thought about giving up.

以前很相信，做1次不行，就10次，10次不行就100次，100次不行就10000次，總會得到好結果。大了才明白，人生有太多意外，很多結果都不是在控制之內。
I used to believe that if something didn’t work once, I’d try 10 times. If 10 times didn’t work, then 100, then 10000. Eventually, it would lead to a good outcome. But as I grew older, I realized life doesn’t work that way. Too many things are unpredictable, and many outcomes are simply beyond our control.

但我還是繼續學習，繼續做運動，並不是因為有信心變好，而是不做的話，就完全沒機會。
Still, I continued. Not because I believed it would work, but because if I stopped, there would be no chance at all.

我不再期望，就這樣繼續。
So I stopped expecting anything. I just kept going.

然後四個月、六個月、八個月過去，有天突然聽到日本人的對話，再沒不舒服走路超過半小時。原來，很多進步，都藏在沒有變化的日子裡。
Then 4, 6, 8 months were gone. One day, I suddenly understood a Japanese conversation, I could walk for 30 mins without pain. That’s when I realized, progress hides in days that feel like nothing.

中年的成長，是沒有把握的繼續。
Midlife growth is continuing without certainty.

不是耐性，不是堅持，不是因為看得見結果，而是繼續已經是唯一可以做的事。
Not about patience. Not about persistence. Not even about believing. It’s simply that continuing is the only thing left to do.

不論最終會否成功，我還可以選擇繼續。
Even I’m not sure if it’d work in the end, I can still choose to keep going.

by Sio

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🇯🇵#Sio40s另一人生：我從來不愛日本，卻在這裡重拾人生的意義 | I never loved Japan, yet I found myself resetting life here #SioAnotherLife40s

我從來沒有一個日本夢，不愛動漫、不聽J-Pop、不曾幻想住進日式戶建，對上追看的日劇，已經是《東京愛的故事》。所以兩年前還在澳門時，當得到來日本生活的機會，我的第一反應是：不要了⋯
Japan was never on my Dream List — no anime, no J-Pop, no love for tatami. When I got the work offer, I thought: not for me.

雖然我曾在南北美與歐洲居住過，試過反覆從頭開始，但那些地方我都抱有熱情，帶著憧憬學語言、過生活。我熱愛英式幽默、法式傲慢、阿根廷帥哥、西班牙的海、加拿大的雪。但日本，卻沒有令我心心眼的地方。
I had started over in Europe and the Americas, but always with passions. But Japan? No sparks at all.

我知道什麼叫真正生活：能照顧自己，不靠別人去看病、辦銀行、做美睫。但對日本沒有熱情，難以學習日文。所以一直說服自己：還是不好了⋯
To live properly means handling life on your own. Doctor visits, banking, lashes... But without love for Japan, I had no will to learn the language. So how could I possibly say yes to the offer?

然而那一年，我在澳門的生活更是徹底崩潰。自己做了個小手術、家人病重要治療、陪伴18年的兩隻貓走了、那個我用盡勇氣飛越太平洋去愛的人，也離開了。我情緒崩潰，曾消失的抑鬱症狀再度出現，流了一缸眼淚，一整個月不想說話。
Then came the year everything fell apart. My body gave in. My family got sick. I lost my two cats of 18 years. The man I once crossed the ocean for was gone. Grief took over. I barely spoke for a month.

直到有天洗頭，手指纏著幾百根髮絲。望著鏡子，才發現頭髮已經掉了一半。那一刻，我知道：到谷底了，不能再沉下去了。因為底下就是無底深淵。
One day in the shower, hundreds of hairs came off. Half my hair was gone. I knew I hit rock bottom.

我必須振作，重啟生活。
我要離開原地，去日本。
I had to get back up. To leave.
To reset myself again in Japan.

其實我心裡清楚，真正抗拒的從來不是日本。是三年疫情把我困在家裡，失去了出走的意志。是曾經的事業與理想都已遠去，崩解了重來的信心。沒力氣再改變，害怕一旦輸了，根本不知道怎辦，那是一種很可怕的中年危機感。
It wasn’t Japan I feared. It was losing courage after 3 years of lockdown during pandemic. Losing dreams. Losing confidence. It was midlife fear.

即使對日本沒有熱情，只要用心生活，任何地方也會慢慢看到可愛之處，隨之就會想學習語言、融入當地。
Even without passion for Japan, living with care slowly reveals what’s lovable. That’s when you’ll want to learn the language and belong.

我來日本，是為了重啟人生。為了再次打開通往世界的大門，重拾當年流浪半個地球的勇氣，對未知旅程的期待與心跳。
I came here to restart. To find the girl who once chased the world, fearless of the unknown.

我原本放棄了日本，但日本卻沒有放棄我。謝謝日本，讓我在 40+，依然有機會開展另一人生。
I gave up on Japan. But Japan didn’t give up on me. Thank you for letting me begin again — at 40+.

by Sio

💬你也正處於人生轉折點嗎？留言跟我分享吧！Comment below if u’re starting over too!

#AnotherLife #日本生活 #重啟人生

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🇯🇵 #Sio40s另一人生：我沒有朋友只是還沒遇上同頻的人｜ I had no friends — just hadn’t met the right ones yet #SioAnotherLife40s

年輕時，我像有種社交超能力，一句 Hello就能交到好朋友。一起抱著哭唱KTV、連夜趕專案、為夢想拼搏，陪伴彼此走過高低起伏。可惜人越大，超能力漸漸失靈。
In youth, friendships came easily. Just a Hello could spark a bond. But the older we get, the harder it becomes.

初到日本，除了同事，私下沒半個朋友。我渴望建立朋友圈，不斷參加交友活動，比上班還要勤奮。
When I moved to Japan, I had no friends outside work. I threw myself into event after event like a second job.

但越努力融入，越覺格格不入。重複的自我介紹、空洞的閒聊、喧鬧中的非母語對話，都讓我難以投入。對方嘴唇在動，我的思緒早飄到外太空。但看著別人輕鬆交換Line約出去，開始懷疑：難道我太難接近？年紀太大？為什麼沒人約我⋯
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?

我感到好失敗，更怕櫻花季、お盆、花火祭等大日子要一個人過，我害怕寂寞。
I felt like failure. I feared loneliness.

越怕被忽略，越對自己執著。我像上癮般參加更多活動。但每次回家，看著路上說笑的人群，感到整個人被抽空。
The more I feared being unseen, the more I joined events, but felt even emptier walking past laughing groups on my way home.

我為了不寂寞而社交，結果社交讓我更寂寞。
I tried to escape loneliness, and got lonelier.

我真的累了，打算暫停一切。偏偏在「最後一次」活動時遇上了她。本沒期待，卻一來一往聊個不停 - 從社會制度、世界價值、人生方向，到平時不會輕易說出口的掙扎。她都耐心接住，真誠回應。
I was worn out, I needed a break. At what I thought was my last event, I met her. We talked for hours about life, values, even fears I rarely share. She listened and responded with care.

那一刻終於明白，不是沒人願意跟我做朋友，而是一直沒遇上同頻的人。我根本不擅長寒暄，深度連結才感自在。
I finally understood I wasn’t lacking friends, but someone who truly resonate. I can’t do small talk, I need depth.

中年的友誼，多少都有利益交換，但交換不一定是名利，也可是想法的共振、經驗的碰撞、被理解的感覺。
Midlife bonds often come with a trade. Not always for fame or gain, but for ideas, insights and feeling seen.

要同頻，才走得近；心對上，才交得深。
We get close when we resonate. We go deep when our hearts align.

年輕時，朋友多，但最後留下有幾個？人大了，不再需要一群人圍著笑，只想身邊留下的人，可以一起沉默，不用假裝快樂。
In youth, friends came easy but few stayed. Now I no longer need a crowd to laugh with, but someone I can be silence with no fake smile.

40+這年紀，要對上頻不容易。但只要保持打開心扉，同頻的人總會出現，陪你走這一段人生。
At 40+, connections don’t come easy. But if you keep your heart open, the right person will find their way to you.

by Sio

#AnotherLife #重啟人生 #日本生活

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🇯🇵#Sio40s另一人生：45歲從頭來過無懼最後一搏｜ Starting Over at 45 - Last Shot or Not #SioAnotherLife40s

十年前，獨自遊歷半個地球後，我成了旅遊作家。35歲，口袋空空，只剩一身勇，心想是最後一搏。我傾力經營社交平台，但演算法像黑洞，掏空了旅行的意義，心累到討厭寫作，停更所有帳號。
Ten years ago, I became a travel writer after roaming the world. At 35, desperate and broke, felt like my last shot. I poured everything into social media until algorithms sucked the life out of it, so I it quit all.

幸運地，遇上帶我走進國際房產的夥伴，一起開創業務。38歲，人到中年，沒有時間了，真是最後一搏。我奮力拼出亮眼業績，踏實又快樂。可惜疫情來襲，拍檔滯留日本，我困在澳門，跟所有人在小城裡假裝安樂。
Luckily, I met a partner who led me into international real estate. At 38, it was my true last shot. I worked hard and built success - Until pandemic left my partner stuck in Japan and me in Macau’s 3-years lockdown.

疫後回望，世界已超前幾圈，更驚覺自己荒廢了整整三年：公司停擺、愛情失焦、技能退步，人生原地打轉。焦慮急升，業績大跌，我跌進死循環，不想再做銷售。
Then I realised the world had raced ahead while I’d wasted 3 years — business stalled, love blurred, life stuck in place. Anxiety sank my sales, I lost all will to keep selling.

但我已43歲了，不可能打工，回不去創作，沒有翻盤的機會，不會再有最後一搏！
But at 43, I couldn’t take a regular job or back to creative — no more last shot!

偏偏此時，拍檔一句「來日本吧」，當下心想就是不。我什麼都沒了，夢想熱血目標全都沒了，怎可能從頭來過？
Then my partner said, “Come to Japan.” My gut said no. I’d lost my dreams, fire, goals. How’d I start over?

可是留在原地，才是徹底的輸。既已一無所有，也就無可再失。於是，我把所有恐懼塞進行李箱，飛到大阪。
Staying put would be the real loss. With nothing left to lose, I packed my fears and flew to Osaka.

自信不會是喊回來的，是要靠生活慢慢養回來的。唯有在日本從零開始認真過日子，才會一天一點拾回自信心。
Confidence grows slowly through living. By starting from zero in Japan, I would regain it bit by bit.

於是我再次執筆，記錄45歲重新做人。從忐忑、掙扎、到釋懷，每一篇文章，每一個故事，讓我初心回歸，重整另一人生。
So I began writing again, of how I reset life at 45. From anxiety to acceptance, each story pieced my soul and life back together.

其實，從頭來過最怕的不是年齡，而是再也不敢相信自己。
The toughest part of starting over isn’t age, it’s losing faith in yourself.

現在，有時我還會迷惘。但至少，我不再活在中年的恐懼，不再害怕時間的流逝。因為我知道，既然可以中年之後在日本從頭來過，往後任何日子都能再來一場「最後一搏」。
I still lose my way sometimes. But I no longer fear midlife or the passing of time. If I could start over in Japan in my 40s, I can take any “last shot” anytime.

By Sio

💬 你從頭來過最怕的是什麼？What is ur scariest part of starting over?

#AnotherLife #重啟人生 #日本生活 #中年重生 #midlifecrisis

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🇯🇵#Sio40s另一人生理性與感性都是自由的本錢｜ Freedom Needs Both Mind and Heart #SioAnotherLife40s

20+ 的我，從不理財。花光了再賺，青春就是要及時行樂。沒積蓄、沒保險、但也沒焦慮。
In my 20s, I never managed money. I spent what I had, then started over. No savings, no insurance, no worries.

30+ 的我，仍然活在當下。本打算去巴西半年，結果流浪了差不多三年。相信只要肯努力，錢就會再來。
In my 30s, I still lived in the moment. I planned to stay 6 mths in Brazil but ended up drifting the world for 3 yrs, believing money would always return.

直到一次，旅途中大病倒下。半身動不了，且語言不通，不能夠工作。原來，我可以在一瞬間失去所有賺錢能力。
Then illness hit me on the road. Half my body froze, I couldn’t work or speak the language, suddenly I had no value.

從前以為，自己可以選擇自由。
後來才明白，自由屬於還有本錢的人。
I once thought freedom was a choice, until I learned it’s only for those who can afford it.

如果沒錢，八十歲也去不了旅行。怎可睡梳化？搭便車？連去醫院都猶豫。
Without money, you can’t travel at 80s, can’t couchsurf, can’t hitchhike, maybe not even see a doctor.

那次之後，人生像被重設。我開始思考：怎樣才可以一直自由地活下去？
After that, life reset. I started asking how to stay free for life.

差不多40+，命運把我帶進了房地產與保險的世界。那時正值牛市，錢很好賺。我從一個金融白痴，進化到能夠計算回報，開始明白錢的邏輯。
Nearly 40, fate led me to real estate and insurance. From a financial fool to counting returns, I started to see how money thinks.

整個學習過程，我都覺得好神奇。最吸引的，不是賺錢，而是打通另一邊腦的感覺。以前的我，只用右腦創作，憑熱情生活，其實是被困在自己幻想出來的烏托邦。
The finance world amazed me. What drew me wasn’t making money but unlocking my other brain. I’d lived on passion only using my right brain, but trapped in my own utopia.

接觸金融之後，要用左腦分析，冷靜衡量風險。原來那些我以為只談錢的人，並非現實，而是清醒，在不確定的世界裡保護自己。
Finance trained my left brain to analyze and stay calm. Those I once thought cared only about money weren’t cold — just awake, protecting themselves in an uncertain world.

我終於明白，為什麼藝術家覺得商家俗氣，商家又覺得藝術家不切實際。
I finally saw why artists call business people shallow, and business people call artists unrealistic.

其實，理性與感性，都是生活的必須。而今天的我，終於兩邊腦一起操作。創作讓我自由，金錢讓自由持續。
Both reason and emotion matter. Now I use both— creativity gives me freedom, money keeps it alive.

我不再排斥現實，也不再追求理想化的自由。因為真正的自由，不是逃離生活，而是有能力不斷選擇自己想要的生活。
I no longer reject reality or chase ideal freedom. True freedom isn’t escape — it’s having the power to keep choosing the life you want.

by Sio

#AnotherLife #中年重啟 #midlifecrisis

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🇯🇵#Sio40s另一人生漂泊的盡頭是安穩的開始｜Drifting and Stillness #SioAnotherLife40s

我十幾歲就出國讀書，一個人轉機、一個人搬行李，早早習慣了與自己相處。
I left home young to study abroad — changing flights, carrying luggage alone, learning to live with myself.

人越大，越愛獨處的自在。一個人出走，瀟灑自由，不向誰交代。深入撒哈拉數星星，闖進亞馬遜看日落。那些跟世界一起呼吸的時刻，全都屬於我自己。曾以為，只要不停在「人生必去清單」上打勾，就會一直快樂。
The older I grew, the more I loved being on my own — free, untied, answering to no one. Counting stars in the Sahara, watching sunsets in the Amazon, every breath with the world was mine. I thought ticking my endless bucket list would keep me happy.

直到四十歲那年，疫情讓整個宇宙停了下來。我被迫困在澳門，足足三年沒上機，沒有呼吸外國的空氣。
At 40, the pandemic froze everything. I was grounded in Macao for 3 years — no flights, no foreign air.

但我竟然沒有因為反常而不安，反而更享受與家人朝夕相對。每天一起吃早餐、晚上看劇集、偶爾到酒店小旅行。重複的小日子，是前所未有的幸福感。
Yet I wasn’t uneasy. I enjoyed breakfasts with my family, TV at night, small staycations now and then. The quiet repetition felt like happiness I’d never known.

疫情讓我明白，世事無常。以前認為總有機會再見的人、再做的事，都可能突然消失。
The pandemic taught me impermanence — people and moments can vanish without warning.

我不想再一個人快樂，我想所有能令我感動的事情，身邊都有人和我一起經歷。
I no longer want joy alone — I want someone beside me to live it with me.

那三年，悄悄地改變了我。我開始忘掉了漂泊，我開始習慣了安穩。
Those years quietly changed me. I began to forget drifting and learned to love stillness.

現在的我，不快閃、不打卡，不再急著去更多地方。只想在喜歡的城市待下來，熟悉街角日常，感受四季變更，讓這個地方成為生命的一部份。
Now I don’t rush or chase. I stay — long enough to learn the streets, feel the seasons, and let a city become part of my life.

如今住在大阪，我愛躺在天王寺公園的草坪上曬陽光，在西成區的老街咖啡館裡聽音樂，到世界大溫泉泡完溫泉去整骨。
Now in Osaka, I love lying on the grass in Tennoji Park, listening to music in Nishinari cafés, soaking in Spa World before a massage.

每週相同的日子、相同的事、相同的人，我喜歡重複帶來的安穩。
The same days, the same faces — repetition brings me peace.

曾經，漂泊教會我世界大得很，有無窮無盡等著我。而安穩提醒我人生眨眼就過，得珍惜每一個當下。
Drifting once showed me how vast the world was, endless and open. But stillness reminds me life passes in a blink — every moment matters.

走過世界才懂，原來眼前的一切，無論有多平常，只要有我愛的人伴著我，就是我最想看的風光。
After walking the world, I finally see — the view I longed for was never a place, but a moment shared with someone I love.

by Sio

#AnotherLife #中年重生 #midlifejourney

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