もう3月になってしまい、日本に来てから３ヶ月ほどが経ちました。（English to follow.)
その間に、私が日本に居なかった間にできなかったことへいくつか挑戦や経験をし、また日本に来たからこそできたことがいくつかありました。
社会人になってから日本に「住む」ことがなかったので、今回の１年間の滞在は本当に大きな決断でした。どちらかというとワクワクよりも不安の多い決断だったのです。
お部屋探しをしたり、印鑑を作ったり、添え状や職務経歴書を書いたり。まさに、日本で住んでいたなら経験したであろうことをこの３ヶ月で一気に体験しました。「あー、このまま何も知らずに生活してたらやばいな」ってことがたくさんで、すんなりと日本に帰って来たことですっぽりと日本の生活に馴染めるかな、なんて思ったりもしていましたが、想像していたよりきつくて、大変です。うらしまのぞみは世間に置いていかれてしまった気がします。（笑）今はそのギャップと、自分の中にある日本の常識などの照らし合わせを日々しているような感覚です。
その他、お仕事には繋がりませんでしたが、日本に来たことでお会いできたクライアント様と企画制作などもさせていただき、良い機会が頂けたと思っております。またいつかご一緒にお仕事ができることを願っております。
さて、2018年に販売する予定で作っていたカレンダー、数人の方にはお渡しすることができたのですが、残りは日本へ来る前にWest elmで販売するために買い取っていただいたために、私のショップで販売ができず、多くの方の目に触れる機会がなかったので、こちらでご紹介させていただきたいと思います。
今回のテーマは、私が好きなロンドンの風景です。家から近い公園や街も描いていて、イギリスに訪れた際はぜひ足を運んでもらいたいお薦めの場所を12箇所セレクトしました。
最後に、今年は日本で何かしらの形で作品をお見せできる展示をしてみたいです。
My gosh, it's March already. It has been about 3 months since my husband and I moved to Japan.
Within those 3 months I have experienced many stuff that I would have done in years if I had lived in Japan. I have never "lived" in Japan after uni, so for me, coming over here was a more scary decision than an exciting one.
We looked for a room to rent in Tokyo, (but we decided to stay close to my parents since living in Tokyo was an expensive option and we liked the mountains around here. Though finding a room was difficult as my husband is non-Japanese and some landlords are sceptical of foreigners, and my job is freelance and I would be the one signing the contract. They wouldn’t like this either. We hadn't gone further with this so we might have got a place but we don't know..) I also made an inkan - which is a Japanese seal that acts as a signature in western country. I have also written Japanese equivalent of CV - all written by hand and it's a lot of writing! Anyway all these things are natural to those who live here but these were things I had to learn and do. I would have embarrassed myself even more if I was older and didn't know all of these. I was imagining that if I came here I would have fitted in much easier but I discovered that it was much harder and I feel like everyday I am filling in those gaps of knowledge that was missing.
I also had few good things that I experienced because we made the move to Japan. I met a recent client face to face so that I could do a further job with her. Unfortunately it didn't end up being a job but it never happened if I didn't see her here. I wish to do a job with her again in the future and many more opportunities to come while I'm in Japan.
Changing of the subject, I never really got to show you my 2018 London calendar so I thought I might mention it here. I managed to sell few on my Etsy shop and the rest was then sold at west elm Kingston store - which was a big exciting news before I left for Japan. Please see the photos above for detail.
I have illustrated 12 of my favourite places in London and greater London. If you haven't visited any of these places then I really do recommend it.
Finally, this is my wish - I thought I'll mention it so that I should make it happen. I would like to do an exhibition while i'm in Japan.
www.nozomiinoue.com
