I Changed, and the "Company" Had Changed Too
Before I was assigned to Southeast Asia, I was a little tired.
It wasn't that I disliked Japan.
To be precise, I was tired of constantly having to align with the company's intentions.
Even after I decided I wanted to quit, I couldn't do it right away.
I would discuss resigning, be asked for my reasons, and be urged to stay.
Even though it was a conclusion I had reached after thinking about it many times myself, I had to explain it every single time.
I was quite exhausted by that process itself.
That is why, when my move to Southeast Asia was decided, I think I felt somewhat like I was running away.
The first thing that surprised me locally was the lightness of the atmosphere.
Things that were taken for granted in Japan, such as:
"You must not make mistakes"
"You must not cause trouble for others"
"You must read the room"
I felt almost none of that invisible pressure.
The roads during rush hour are chaotic.
Car horns blare constantly, and motorcycles ride on the sidewalks.
On the roadside where exhaust fumes dance, people line up plastic chairs,
leisurely drinking tea and eating pho.
By Japanese standards,
"In a place like this?"
That was the kind of sight that made me think that.
At first, I was bewildered.
But after a few months, I stopped caring too.
And then, at one point, it occurred to me.
I had always thought,
"Japanese people are too meticulous"
"They force their sense of correctness on others"
That was how I thought.
I believed I was living in a stifling society.
But in reality, it was a little different.
The one who cared the most was me myself.
It was I who kept worrying about what others thought and reading the room.
Perhaps what I learned in Southeast Asia was the "power of not caring."
Another interesting thing was the sense of money.
Things that were luxuries in Japan became everyday occurrences locally.
My serviced apartment came with cleaning services, and I ordered delivery almost every night for dinner.
Pakistani chicken karahi, Japanese sushi, and massages or nail appointments a few times a week.
Even so, my living expenses were kept much lower than in Japan.
My salary was in dollars, and my living expenses were in the local currency.
"Earn in a strong currency, live in a cheap country."
I experienced the geographical leverage often talked about in the investment world through my life itself.
And then, I returned to Japan.
The moment I stepped off the plane at the airport,
"Ah, this is Japan."
I thought.
Trains arrive on time.
The streets are clean and quiet.
Convenience store food is delicious, and the ice cream hasn't melted.
After living abroad for a while, I could see the good points of Japan again.
That is why, now, I can appreciate the convenience and safety of this country more honestly than before.
I behave properly when I'm out.
But at home, I lounge around as much as I like.
That kind of balanced FIRE lifestyle is comfortable for me now.
And after returning home, there was one more thing I noticed.
It wasn't just me who had changed.
In 2023, through a stroke of luck, I signed a limited-time contract with a startup planning to relocate to the U.S.
As a hedge against a bear market, I decided to work only 4 hours a day, 3 days a week.
The environment there was surprisingly flat.
Office attendance and working hours were almost entirely free.
There was no detailed monitoring,
as long as I produced results by the deadline.
Above all, the organizational culture itself was different.
It was completely different from my previous job, where there were many layers of decision-making.
Decision-making is fast, and things proceed rationally.
I used to think,
'This is just how company organizations are.'
But in reality, it was different.
After COVID, the way we work has changed significantly,and the differences in culture between companieshave widened more than before.
The way we work, the places we work, and the organizations themselves.
There were more optionsthan I had imagined.
Before I went to Southeast Asia, I
[[phN_open]]thought[[phN_close]]
'Japanese society is pedantic and troublesome.'
I thought.
Now that I have returned, I thinkJapan has many attractions, such as solid public services anda healthcare system.
At the same time, I want to cherish the
'sense of not worrying too much' that I acquired overseas.
In the end, what changed was
not just Southeast Asia,and not just Japan.
I changed. The company had changed too.
You cannot talk aboutcountries or companies based only on old images.
[[phN_open]]
[[phN_close]]
That is why I think there is meaning in
stepping away
from where you are from time to time.
Because there are things you can only see once you have stepped away.
Southeast Asia articles👇️
Even though I achieved FIRE👇️
Once I achieved FIRE...👇️
Is there anything that you have only been able to see after stepping away?
Please let me know in the comments if you would like.
Likes and follows are also very encouraging.
Thank you for reading this far!