The foreigner

by David Rodríguez

A story told is a life lived

“What I do is what I am” – I know that if I ever had to choose a quote for a tattoo, I would have already made up my mind. Picasso made it clear. Every action and every decision should arise as the ultimate expression of one’s strengths and weaknesses, fears and pride. This gives one the freedom to choose his or her own path without being constrained by convention or influenced by externalities. This is what I do; this is who I am – welcome to The foreigner.

‘Shikiru’ with the Japanese mind (II)

December 19, 2018

Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands (6 min. read). Living in Japan as a foreigner is always quite an adventure. It doesn’t matter how long you have been living here, the sense of curiosity, admiration, and at times even perplexity seem to never cease. Beyond the distance and the language, it’s a culture that barely resembles … More ‘Shikiru’ with the Japanese mind (II)

Forgotten demons and invisible angels

November 11, 2018

Munich, Germany (5 min. read). What’s your story? How did you come to be who you are? Can you point out moments in your life that had a major impact in who you’ve become? I bet you can. I’m sure you recall, in detail, experiences that completely shifted your values, encounters that defined your current … More Forgotten demons and invisible angels

‘Shikiru’ with the Japanese mind (I)

September 16, 2018

Sendai, Japan (8 min. read). I’ve been living in northern Japan for almost a year and a half. Throughout this time, a recurrent question arises among friends and family. A question I always have a particularly hard time answering. In this series I will provide a glimpse into what my impressions are of those defining features I find so admirable and representative, and challenging sometimes, of the part of Japanese culture I’ve been faced with for the last 18 months. … More ‘Shikiru’ with the Japanese mind (I)