The other day, we enjoyed our first “live concert experience” in Morocco! It was at the National Theater in Rabat, a beautiful venue that opened in 1962 with a 2600 seat capacity.
The concert was… A Queen Tribute! 何のコンサートかと言いますと、、、クイーン·トリビュート！
My husband and I are eight years apart in age, and we grew up in different environments & different countries. So, when it comes to our “favorite bands”, it kinda creates a gap. However, I’ve always loved Queen since the movie Bohemian Rhapsody, and my husband was definitely in the era of Queen when he was young. So, we decided to indulge ourselves in some tribute music for Queen (performed by Italians!).
This gorgeous theater has nice, comfy seats, with “king-worthy” boxes. Kind of reminds me of “The Gilded Age” show 🙂 The lobby had a gallery of set models from previous shows, as well as a theater gift shop.
The concert started right on time! Amazing voice by a Freddie Mercury “lookalike”! Other members also seemed to be trying hard to look like the real members – though, very heavy on wigs.
Ahh, my favorite, Mr. Brian May! His brilliant guitar skills made it so worth attending the concert. Btw, a few years ago, I did my Brian May impersonation. Good time…
It was a whole two-hour karaoke in the audience! Everyone in the venue sang along, and danced. It was so much fun! Singing “We are the Champions” with everyone (and Mr. Freddie Mercury came so close to us~) in the theater, was a priceless experience.
Live concerts are truly the best, to feel the energy and to feel be part of a community. I would love to attend more concerts in the future. Actually, opera would be great, too. By the way, I wonder when this new Grand Theater will be open for more live performances? Inshallah.
First Thanksgiving in Morocco. I was thinking, “Hmm, it’s just the two of us, and roasting the whole turkey sounds too much…” Then my husband suggested, “How about going to our favorite dajaaj Atlas? It’s almost like having a roast turkey (same “bird” family!)?”
It was yummy as usual. However, I wanted to make some dishes to feel Thanksgiving, like our US home. Pecan Pie? I looked for pecans in stores, but had no success (note: there are other kinds of nuts everywhere in Morocco, but not pecans. I wonder why…?). But, I saw plenty of pumpkins! Oh, it’s because of Thursday – see, people get ready for CousCous Friday & pumpkin is an important ingredient. D’accord, I will make Pumpkin Pie instead!
Back in the states, making pumpkin pie was so easy, with canned pumpkin purée & frozen pie crust. But, here, I am making it from scratch. I learned that it takes more time and more “strength.” Cutting fresh pumpkin could be a real workout.
I mashed the cooked pumpkin, and made the pie crust. THEN I realized, I didn’t have a pie plate. Kind of too late, so I had no choice but to make the pie in a cake mold.
I also made a ‘mini’ version to share with our neighbors. Persimmons are in season, so I used them to decorate. Well, more like to ‘cover up’ the edges of the pie, really. I learned the hard way, that cake molds are for cakes, and the pie plates are for pies. Simple. My husband gave me 10/10 for the taste! Hooray!
By the way, one puzzling Thanksgiving tradition in the US, is that our president pardons the turkey. Apparently it became an official ceremony at the White House during the time when Papa Bush was president (1989-1993). What happens at the ceremony is, one ‘lucky turkey’ is chosen out of the millions that are eaten (killed) in America, and he is “pardoned” and allowed to survive, a few days before Thanksgiving Day.
Since it’s an official presidential ceremony, with all the viral air time & social network, this ‘chosen’ turkey must be the most handsome, and the best behaved. Some pardoned turkeys ended up being on a parade at Disney World with Mickey and Minnie. What a responsibility for a bird.
It’s already late November (time to think about what to do for Thanksgiving!), but the weather in Rabat has been so pleasant & sunny, which makes it perfect for a long walk.
１１月後半。ですが、ラバトは朝晩冷えるくらいで、日中は「最高のお散歩日和」です。
During my walk, I enjoy meeting our neighborhood cats (of course), and also enjoy getting to know our neighborhood “Trees 🌲.” I notice tons of orange trees with their proud fruits (which makes it a great season for delicious orange juice) but there are so many other trees with blooming flowers. Today, I would like to share some of them!
<Bird of Paradise : 極楽鳥花> Isn’t this name perfect? These days, the birds of paradise have been in full bloom. It’s so mesmerizing, and I feel like I can almost hear the birds chirping… 🦜
<Bougainvillea : ブーゲンビリア> They are everywhere, and they bloom pretty much all year round here in Morocco. What’s impressive is that their wide variety of colors: red, purple, yellow, white, orange, pink…
<Hibiscus : ハイビスカス> I also greet a lot of hibiscus in our neighborhood. The wall covered in masses of bright red hibiscus makes me a bit nostalgic of Hawaii 🌺. Apparently, the hibiscus flower was used as the design for one of the coins in Morocco.
<Palm Tree : ヤシの木> So noble and so proud, yet it gives you the feeling of a warm breeze (with Aloha 🤙). I think palm trees are truly magical. Well, it also appears as “cell phone tower” using its magical power. 📶
<Lotus : 蓮の花> Lotus flowers have been in bloom in the park where my outdoor yoga class is held. Lotus also appears to have been featured on a Moroccan coin. 🪷
<African Tulip Tree : カエンボク> It is said to be “one of the world’s three greatest flowering trees” – okay, it sure does stand as “a great tree” with beautiful flowers. Yes, they just look like tulips 🌷!!
世界三大花木のひとつだそうですが、確かに圧倒的な雰囲気があり、そのお花はチューリップ 💐そのもの！
<Angel’s Trumpet : キダチチョウセン朝顔> These mysterious looking flowers are about the size of a human face, and they invite you with a sweet scent. But don’t be fooled by its attractive scent and oh-so-cute name; they are actually highly poisonous 👼.
<Brazilian Pepper Tree : サンショウモドキ> The red berries and green leaves warm my heart as they remind me of Christmas decorations especially this time of the year). If you harvest & dry these berries, they can be used as peppers! “Modoki” is a Japanese word to describe “faux” – Faux Sansho (pepper) – okay, it makes sense.
<Fross Silk Tree : トックリキワタ> The flowers have breathtakingly bright pink colors, so you won’t miss them. When the berries form, a silk-like, or cotton-like material comes out of those berries (was used as filing for pillows and mattresses in the old days). The Japanese name for this tree, “Tokkuri” comes from… please take a look at the shape of the trunk 🍶 Kanpai!
Ever since we started living outside the US, we have been enjoying our car-free lifestyle.
私たち夫婦は、モロッコに来てから「車を所有しない生活」を楽しんでいます。
Getting around on foot everywhere allows us to have a good sense of our neighborhood, and an even better sense of the surrounding nature 🍃🍂, plus, affirming sense of our 4-legged neighbors – Cats!! 🐈 Best of all, it’s great for our health (we usually walk +10000 a day). I often get carried away at supermarche (especially Hyper Marjane at the Arribat Center!) and buy too much stuff; of course, then, I have to walk home with heavy bags… I get to learn the “sense of remorse.”😅
On my walk, I feel really happy to greet or wave to familiar faces at our haunt, street parking uncles, people at nearby cafes & restaurants, even the guardians on duty around the royal palace. I think that simple human connection is too underrated – I love the “sense of community” from my walks. 😍
Because of the way I look (clearly Asian), I often get “Ni Hao! (“hello” in Chinese) from strangers and passersby. I still feel happy to get greetings from everyone, and I normally reply with “Salamalikom! We just smile at each other and move on. Simple.
I recently learned that many Japanese people don’t like to be greeted with “Ni Hao” overseas. There seems to be various reasons behind this, but their basic opinion is “Japanese and Chinese are different, so why would they say Ni Hao to us?”
This opinion is rather puzzling to me. When someone who doesn’t know me at all (and who is not trying to take advantage of me, such as selling something to me, etc.) greets a foreigner like me on a street, it warms my heart whether it’s in Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, or in any language. Maybe I am just naive?
Truth is, the majority of Asians living in Morocco are from China. So, I imagine that locals would assume that saying “Ni Hao” would work with people like me. And yes! It works (with me)! At that moment, there was no need to reply, “No, I am of Japanese descent, so you should say Konnichiwa, not Ni Hao” to a casual observer. If, by any chance, I end up spending more time with this person and become friends, I will likely explain that Chinese is not my native language (but, maybe, this person might be studying Chinese! Then I will learn to say something funny in Chinese), but an effort they make to connect with me, is something I appreciate dearly.
See, I am simply an immigrant living in this wonderful country called Morocco. I am just grateful to be greeted, and I don’t care at all what people think of where I am from. I am just happy to be connected, even for a moment, by any language. When I’m in India, I am mistaken for Nepalese; in Europe, I am mistaken for Filipino; when I am in Japan, people speak to me in English… But I know I live on this earth, with everyday opportunity to connect with anyone, through any culture. That’s a gift in itself. 🌍
“Discrimination” is a rising issue in many parts of the world. But, there is a difference between “Being Discriminated” and “Being Identified.” See, when someone thinks, “oh, there is a person whom I can IDENTIFY as not being local, but let’s say hello to her anyway!” – isn’t it lovely? Most of all, I would like to be IDENTIFIED as “a foreigner who is trying to respect the local culture and willing to greet locals with smiles.”
Three months passed after the last blog post! Oh dear… well, I don’t want to sound like sharing “excuses”, but we have been quite busy in the last three months, and I was away from my laptop. Okay, that’s an excuse…
While we were in the US, there were so many people to reunite; our children (in Providence and Seattle), our mother-figure, Tant Aina (in Cleveland), our dear friends (in Seattle). We also attended a wedding (in Denver) of Olof’s friend from MIT.
It felt like we were traveling around the US, like astruggling rock band. “The Hellmans US Tour!” did not quite cover the major cities (see, we are a “struggling” rock band 😅) but all the love we received from each place was priceless!
After returning to Morocco, we had to go to Valencia & Logroño, Spain, and then Marseille, France, for Olof’s conferences. I know there is a term “TradWife” that’s been trending on social media, but I guess I’m more of a “ConfeWife”. I just tag along to my husband’s conferences as a “plus one”.
I have to say, I like my life as “ConfeWife” – it’s a refreshing change. When we lived in the US, I traveled for work more often than my husband did, so I’m really happy to be able to accompany him on his business trips now. Besides, how can I complain about visiting new places and exploring different cultures? Well, above all, it makes me very happy to see my husband enjoying his career, presenting his research and expanding his network through international conferences.
Okay, more “excuses” 🙂 Three wonderful guests stayed with us in September & October. One couple from Arizona are friends we’ve known since our sons were homeschooled. Katie and Brent stopped in Morocco after studying Spanish in Granada for a month. The other guest was Takano-san, who helped me a lot when I was working in Hawaii. He brought so many souvenirs from Japan – and I am so touched!
We have visited Marrakesh with him! 高野さんとは、”小旅行”としてマラケッシュへも同行。
Since moving here, we have been so blessed to welcome many guests staying at our place. I cannot express enough how wonderful Morocco is 🇲🇦, and I believe that the best way to see the beauty of Morocco is for anyone to come and experience it for themselves. We absolutely enjoy showing them around, introducing them to the amazing Moroccan culture and even-more amazing Moroccan people❤️.
Our next guests will be Olof’s brother and his family at Christmas! I’m trying to figure out how to create a Swedish-style “Julbord” for Christmas in Morocco… probably no ham 🍖.
Over the past three months, we’ve been making numerous trips to the police station: no, we are not in trouble, but we are trying to get our Moroccan residence permits (carte de sejour) . Each time, we have to wake up at 5 AM, then appear at the police station by 7am, sign our names on a list, and then have Petit Déjourner until the police counter opens at 8:30am. Yes, this is our regular schedule. We’ve already been to the police station for eight times, needless to say, with so many trips to La Commune. Are we almost ready to receive our permits soon? It’s a true “inshallah”…
I joined the local choir, Harmonize Choir! and practice started in September, and I’m having a lot of fun every time! But, I’m lamenting my lack of French ability… So, recently, I’ve been devoting a lot more time to “studying French.” I’m constantly reminded how difficult French is (maybe I need to eat more cheese, or drink wine 🍷🧀 as my husband suggests…) Hopefully, I will be able to understand French directions at each rehearsal better. Inshallah.
In addition to French, we’ve also started attending the “Darija” class held by the International Club of Rabat. We spend 90 minutes once a week puzzling over Darija verb conjugations… this is another “inshallah” moment.
I’m also spending my time making and replenishing Natto, growing herbs on our terrace, taking yoga classes, figuring out “how to make authentic Japanese food with ingredients found in Morocco”, etc… and telling myself that I should start blogging more frequently. Shukran for reading my “excuses”! 😆
We are back in the US after six months in Morocco. Our itinerary this time reminds me of a struggling rock band: we enter the US from the East Coast (Boston), and our first stop is Providence, Rhode Island, where our youngest child attends college. Thereafter, we would visit relatives (Ohio) and then attend a wedding (Colorado) before heading to our U.S. home in Seattle.
First stay is in Providence, and it is such a charming city. Our child is aspiring to be a graphic designer and is currently studying at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design). He’s also taking classes at Brown University and doing an internship at the RISD museum. His days seem very busy, but at least he has such a beautiful room with a view on campus!
We also wanted to go a little further away from the campus this time. So, upon my request, we went to Plymouth Rock! This rock is a historic site, as it’s said to be the first place the Pilgrims, who arrived on the Mayflower in 1620, stepped on this special rock. Very important place for Americans (I think so & I demand so) because it represents the of life in the “Land of the Free.” That being said, it’s also known as “the most disappointing tourist destination in the US.” Well, I didn’t think so! And I’m grateful for my family to accommodate my request to visit this rock. See, the rock might not move – but, you can let the rock move your heart, if you truly believe. Hamdulillah.
The Mayflower II is also docked here. It’s the replica of the original Mayflower ship. Apparently, this “number 2” ship also made the voyage from England to Plymouth, just like the original Pilgrims did (but a bit shorter). The Mayflower in 1620 took 66 days to complete its journey, whereas the Mayflower II was able to cross the ocean in 54 days.
We also drove to Newport. It is a very fashionable port town, and the highlight of the visit was exploring luxurious mansions in the neighborhood. Very bougie. Among them, we actually stepped in an ultra-luxury mansion from the gilded age, called The Breakers. It has the appearance of a European palace, and each room is decorated in French/Italian style. Definitely the vibe of Downton Abbey or Bridgerton.
I was particularly intrigued by the Billiard Room and Music Room. The interiors, designed by a French architect, with their beautiful sculptures and tapestries… there are many items which are not necessary in the mansion such as a fountain behind the stairs. But it’s okay, they were rich and they could afford. The surrounding cliff walk was a great exercise with some seriously picturesque views.
We spent time getting to know our child’s roommate (and her fabulous mom!), professors, and friends on the RISD campus, and I’m so grateful for such a welcoming and inspiring community. I hope our child continues to enjoy his college life here, and I will be so looking forward to visiting him again!
In Morocco, you can find “The Laughing Cow” cheese everywhere. It seems like this joyful cow became an essential part of Moroccan breakfast or snack time. I am sure you have all seen this cheese somewhere. It’s been distributed to so many countries by the Bel Group in France since 1921. That makes this ‘laughing cow’ older than Mickey Mouse (who was born in 1928) .
You can feel assured that the cheese made from such a smiley cow must be delicious, non? Well, the original design of the cow is a bit questionable, but those were the days. Speaking of ‘questionable’, I am not sure about the life-size mascot either…
French is widely used in Morocco, therefore, the cheese is named “La Vache qui rit.” I have been a fan of this logo way before moving here; I actually own Vache qui rit earrings and a T-shirt, and I ADORE them (thanks to my hubby!). Especially, these earrings have become kind of like my identity; many people stop by and talk to me when I wear these 🙂 If you look closer, though, it is written “The Laughing Cow” because they were made in the US. And it’s not the original flavor (that’d be in a blue box), but orange (cheddar flavor). Okay, too many details…
フランス語が主流なモロッコでは、”Vache qui rit” という名称で親しまれています。このロゴの牛さんが前々から好きだった私、実はイヤリングとT-shirtを持っております（笑）。このイヤリングをしていると、声をかけてくれる方がたくさん！楽しいアイテムです。でも、アメリカ在住中に旦那さんからプレゼントしてもらったので、よ～く見ると”The Laughing Cow”、そしてオリジナルフレーバーのブルーではなく、オレンジ色（チェダー風味）。どうでもいい情報です。
I came across these fun designs of La Vache qui rit while I was shopping. The cows are wearing a variety of Moroccan hats! And each package design features a different region of this amazing country. SO, I HAD TO buy all 4 of them. Pourquoi pas? Why not? Thanks to Google Translate, I could see what these designs represent: “Treasure of the South,” “Great Atlantic Coast,” “Jewel of the North,” and “Authentic East.” This is a cheese with some poetic attitude.
Scanning the barcode also leads to a game for children. Fun! Apparently, there was a “Cow with a Hat” contest, and the results showed that the one wearing the Moroccan cap came out on top. I love this kind of customer interaction. I am moooooved.
The Bell group sells cheese and other related products in 130 countries. In Japan, it started in 1983, and I’m sure you know the “BelCube” if you are reading this blog in the land of the rising sun. Now, why cubes? when triangle wedges are the norm in other countries? Is it the size? Oh, maybe it’s because Japan is a serious country, so they decided that cheese needs to be a bit “square“? If you know the reason behind the cheese shape, please let me know. I was impressed that they have 10 different flavors – chorizo, onion, prosciutto, scallop, blue, cheddar, camembert, tomato, olive, and creamy. Wow.
By the way, there’s apparently an event in Zurich titled “La Vache qui LIT” (‘lit’ means ‘read’ in French). Yup, it’s a reading contest for children aged 8 to 12, with a ‘dad-joke’ title. Also, in the town of Lons-le-Saunier in France, there is an annual cycling race sponsored by the Bel Company. I don’t do sport cycling, but I do want that uniform.
ちなみに、Vache qui ritの言葉をオヤジギャグ的にもじったイベントがスイス、チューリッヒで行われているようです。その名も＜La Vache qui LIT> コンテスト。8歳から12歳のお子さんを対象に、読書を推奨するためのイベントらしいです（Litはフランス語で’読む’）。また、ロンス・ル・ソーニエの町では、ベル社主催のサイクリング・レースが毎年行われているようです。このユニフフォーム、欲しい。
Speaking of Lons-le-Saunier, it is the home of “La Maison de la Vache qui rit,” a museum dedicated to our beloved laughing cow. Visiting there is definitely on my bucket list. I might even be able to buy some underwear for my husband (not sure he wants it though) in their gift shop. Inshallah.
First, apologies to all the vegans & vegetarians. Today’s post is deeply about meat. まずはじめに、ベジタリアンの方、ごめんなさい。今日の投稿はお肉三昧です。🍖
Selma-chan previously told us about a great Moroccan barbecue spot. Today, thanks to her arrangement, we decided to try it out! Selma, Badr, Alex, my husband and I took a 30-minute drive. Alex came all the way from Casablanca to join this “meat-eating-adventure”!!! See, he is that cool, and, to make him even cooler, he is a Natto-loving guy (I am so going to share my Natto with him)!
We arrived in an area called El Aarjate, a huge “truck-stop” 🚛 kind of place that popped up along the highway. The “touting” began even in the parking lot. I love this kind of “truck-stop” atmosphere. In Japan, it is called the “Service Area” and I have fond memories of our family vacations as a child in those places. We would spend summers in Karuizawa or Hakuba Village in Nagano Prefecture, and we often stopped at service areas along the way to eat ice cream🍦… Good times.
So, our mission for today was, simply, to EAT MEAT! With Moroccan barbecue style, Chwa, of course. It’s not fancy, there is no tablecloth with a waiter with bow tie. But, it is the best kind of barbecue experience you can get! Just so that you know, mint tea is a must, even in a place like this. Humdulillah.
I took a peek at the grill and sampled a little piece of meat, generously coated in cumin powder. So delicious! Okay, I could tell, we were in the right place! When I asked the gents if I could take a photo 📸, they said, “Sure, go ahead, and you should grill also!” Alright then, if you say so👩🏻🍳.
We were a group of Moroccans🇲🇦, Chinese🇨🇳, Japanese🇯🇵, and Americans🇺🇸 with a hint of Swedish🇸🇪. We were like members of Petite United Nations 🌎 and were having a great time chatting, and then… THE MEAT arrived! A TON OF MEAT! 🙌
The grilled beef skewers and the lamb meat in foil were definitely “melt-in-your-mouth”, and Selma-chan’s favorite, the grilled liver skewers with the fat pieces rolled around them, were incredibly juicy. We had grilled tomatoes & onions as a side dish. Oh, by the way, the bread was served as a plate, as a fork, as a knife, and maybe as a napkin. How can we live without bread???🥳
Our stomachs and our hearts were so filled! Thank you for driving, Badr-kun!
お腹も心もいっぱいの時間。運転してくれたバダールくん、ありがとう！
Now, today, August 9th, marks the 80th anniversary ofthe atomic bombing of Nagasaki. Three days before, on the 6th, Hiroshima was bombed as well. Sure, 80 years is a long time, but it still gives me a lot of pain to think of all those who suffered from the bombings and were exposed to radiation. Of course, it should never happen again. Never.
Five of us were born in different countries, from different upbringings in different cultures. Yet, we were able to enjoy delicious barbecue together in a little village in Morocco. After 80 years of those devastating historical events, I cannot stop but think that a society where we can co-exist regardless of where you are from, should not be taken for granted. Especially with good food and good laughters. No more atomic bombs, no more war. These are the thoughts I had while sucking on my oily, greasy fingers. Gochisousama-deshita!🙏
I’m studying French every day, but I found its pronunciation very difficult, sometimes discouraging. The other languages I’ve studied, Hawaiian and Hindi, I could basically pronounce the words exactly as they’re written and I’d get them right. However, that’s not the case with French. There’s a lot of liaison, or elision, where words are joined together or vowels are omitted; therefore, I need to learn some ‘rules’ of pronunciation. It’s tough…
There is one French word I just can’t pronounce well: heureux (m) or heureuse (f). This means “happy.” To say “I’m happy,” it becomes “Je suis heureuse (f).” The problem is, no matter how I say it, it just doesn’t sound happy. For this particular word, I never pass the pronunciation test on Duolingo. One time, I tried to pronounce it in a sad, melancholic way, and then I was able to pass. It doesn’t make sense, but maybe it’s just French being French.
そんな中、どうしても上手に発音できない単語が＜heureux（m）>または<heureuse（f）>、”幸せな”という意味の言葉。「私は幸せよん」と言う場合は、”Je suis heureuse (f)” になるわけですが、どうにもこうにも、ハッピーに聞こえない。ドゥオリンゴの発音テストでもいつもパスできない。一度、とてもアンニュイな悲しい感じで発音したら、パスできました。納得いかないです。
For our “petit bonheur” (little happiness), we went out for a dinner date, at Tangerino in the Souisse area. We wanted to try this restaurant for a long time. It’s located in the same building as the stylish (and a bit pricey) Carrefour – I call it “Boujee Carrefour.” It’s an upscale Western restaurant with a Spanish flair, and the prices were also upscale. Well, it’s okay; we get to feel boujee sometime.
After Mr. Matisse (he has visited Morocco twice – his paintings from those times, capturing the beauty of Morocco with his signature Fauvism are truly amazing!) welcomed us, we were shown to a lovely terrace seat. The people around us also seemed boujee. Alcohol is served here as well. My husband ordered grilled branzino (also known as European seabass), and I ordered a simple steak. Both were tellement délicieux!
By the way, we had these two side dishes: Russian-style octopus salad and burrata, fresh mozzarella cheese. It’s been a while since I’ve had burrata this good paired with high-quality olive oil. So so yummy. 🙂
Speaking of fromage, my Scandinavian husband loves cheese. There are many delicious cheeses in Morocco, but my husband’s favorite is Swedish Västerbottensost. It’s a hard, strong-flavored cheese and is known in Sweden as the “king of cheese.” This cheese is difficult to find outside of Sweden (and considered “illegal” to consume in the US, because it contains sodium nitrate), so my husband was very excited when Auntie Siv brought it over in Morocco!
Now, this cheese, available at Carrefour, is also pretty good. It’s called “Péché des Bons Pères,” which literally translates as “the sins of the good fathers.” What an intriguing name… Péché has the same spelling as “peach” or “fishing” (pêche), but just by changing the phonetic symbols, the meaning can become so different. Again, it’s just French being French, I guess.
カルフールで手に入るこのチーズもなかなかです。その名も”Péché des Bons Pères”, 直訳すると”善良なお父さんたちの罪”。なんともまぁ、意味深なネーミングなんですが、このPéchéって、＜桃＞や＜魚釣り＞と同じ綴り。発音記号が違うだけで、だいぶ意味が変わっちゃう、、、フランス語ってある意味すごい。
Is ‘guilty pleasure’ a sin? Well, in French, guilty pleasure is called “péché mignon.” So, I guess it is a “cute sin.” What is your guilty pleasure? Lately, mine has been binge-watching<Emily in Paris> all over again. But, please forgive my péché, because I’m watching it in French for a study purpose.
A dear friend of mine has been having difficulty speaking due to an illness. He had been communicating only through text. However, he started using the latest technology, which can create a voice that sounds just like his own. This feature was made possible because AI and other IT technology can learn from recordings of his own voice. 🗣
When I listened to his automated voice, it was astonishingly similar to his own! If I closed my eyes and listened, it really sounded like he was speaking. I was so so moved! For whatever reason, his jokes sounded funnier with this new voice. Humdulillah! My heart was full of warmth and excitement. 💓
We now live our daily lives depending on various types of IT, especially AI. We have all got to know that AI could make things easier, save time, and bring benefits to people and companies. However, it is true that there are several opinions about “the way AI should exist” in our lives. In fact, there is a fear that the power of AI will take over in the wrong direction, causing us to forget “human-touch” or “kindness” or “empathy” in future society and environment.
My husband is a scientist as well as an engineer. Before starting his own company in Tomography field (note: my name has nothing to do with this), he worked for a long time in the Apple division at Microsoft. As a translator, I sometimes interpreted his presentations at Microsoft for Japanese visitors.
Microsoft’s mission statement is (MS社の企業ミッションは) “Empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.”『地球上のすべての個人とすべての組織が、より多くのことを達成できるようにする』です。
The word <Empower>, as it sounds, means “to give someone strength.” 💪 Now, how can we empower someone? I think it’s not just about providing useful tools to get works done; sometimes it’s about “giving someone a push” or “staying close to the person who needs help.” I also feel that “being sensitive (to the other person’s feelings)” and “having a listening ear” can empower someone.
Here is a powerful message from former Apple CEO Steve Jobs: “It’s in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough – it’s technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the results that make our heart sing.”
When I heard my dear friend’s automated voice, that really made my heart sing! My heart sang as much as a high-pitch Bollywood singer. And, it assured me that this particular technology was Empowering my friend and his family – “This is the right way to use AI” – I felt a great sense of hopefulness and love in humanity. I believe that our challenge and responsibility for the future AI is to use it in a way that fully brings out human kindness and compassion, while integrating it with technology.
💞💞Today’s post is dedicated to my beloved friends (you know who you are!), and to my best partner in the world; my husband, who is also my ‘tech support” at home. Thank you, always, for teaching me various lessons, and for making my heart sing! 🙏 今日の投稿は、愛してやまない友人ご夫婦と、また、最高のパートナーであり私の”テックサポート”でもある旦那さんへ捧げます。いろんな大切なことを教えてくれ、心をおどらせてくれ、ありがとうございます💞💞
The cat of the day :: Le chat du jour :: 今日の猫しゃん
Please stop by at my salon again 💞🫖🍵 3afak & Chukran
