What I'm doing now

Last update was 2026-01-02.

I'm in Porto, Portugal.

Working as a Software Engineer at KPMG

So many pieces to get to know how they work.

Learning Japanese

Continuing a course at FLUP.

Slowly reading in parallel An introduction to Japanese: Syntax, Grammar & Language by Michiel Kamermans. I'm at little over half by now. This is a deep dive on grammar.

Given my previous immersion in anime, and now the two years of properly studying it at FLUP, reading a grammar book has been a good way to look into the rules of the language and be able to understand some generalized concepts. I love looking at rules.

Starting to read Death Note in Japanese. Attempting a two read practice:

• 1st time - I read a chapter I avoid using the dictionary or even stopping to look anything up. The goal is to ignore even scenes that I couldn't understand are were left fuzzy, seeking to keep consistent in reading without breaking.
• 2nd time - after I finish the chapter the first time, I know go back to the fuzzy scenes and look up in the dictionary just the key words needed to be able to understand the scene.

I'm purposefully doing it with a manga I already know the story to not have to also decipher the plot and be able to just practice the reading itself but with context to make it easier as I start.

Trying to just write

But failing to do it.

I'm trying to understand what is it that in my mind blocks me from taking the step to write. If it's fear of shame, fear of a misaligned goal, a mix of those, or something else entirely.

Appreciating creators and creations more and more

Be them artists, writers, musicians,... Sometimes not even a specific artist, but a product of art and all the work and artists that worked on it.

Arcane is a stark example for me. Arcane: Bridging the Rift (a behind the scenes) had in me as much impact as the series itself.

I'm constantly motivated by such work and people.

I'm trying to start interacting with strangers

Motivated by the project Model Strangers by Christopher Ward. This was the one that I first stumbled upon: DO IT SCARED! The Beauty of Talking To Strangers. But you can watch any one. In fact the variety of life experiences, paths, and perspectives is one of the aspects that make this project so amazing to me. How so many people that you cross on the street but don't even spare a glance at can hold such amazing stories is something that I want to try to not miss out on. Or rather, that I want to try to tap into.