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Monthly Refresh 2026.05

keyword

  • second part of driving school
  • Osaka trip (Kobe, Nara)

journal

  • The final days at the driving school were filled with endless practice, but nothing I couldn't handle.
  • All three of us passed the final exam. While they headed straight back to Tokyo, I decided to stay behind and explore Osaka.
  • My few days in Osaka were highly enjoyable—great food and friendly locals, though I noticed a surprising number of foreigners and smokers. At least the beaches and the Nara deer felt authentic, rather than just tourist traps.
  • Afterward, I completed my visa extension application, crossing off another major milestone for 2026.
  • I also played my fair share of gacha games, wrapping up storylines and seasonal events, which was quite satisfying.
  • I finally read the book Clear Thinking and came to the conclusion that most books in this genre are essentially extensions of the Thinking, Fast and Slow philosophy.
  • I spent a significant amount of time building the Ame Platform. The process was a lot of fun—from design to implementation—even with a few complete reworks.

Two incidents from this month I should remember in the long run:

  1. Before leaving Osaka, I checked my luggage weight limit. To avoid issues, I packed my iPad in my checked bag—a decision that resulted in unfixable damage to the device.
  2. I carelessly answered a call from a +1 number. The caller terrified me by claiming my visa was about to be canceled due to a scam under my name. Ironically, the call itself was an authentic scam.

conclusion

A lot happened, but I haven't changed much.

resolution

  • New orientation for the rest of 2026

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