せみサラ
@semisara.bsky.social
freelance JP→EN translator, localiser & copywriter specialising in sustainability and marketing
Found the German version of 福袋 "lucky bags" at the supermarket: a bin full of either undeliverable or returned parcels, still in their packaging with the shipping labels. Guaranteed value of 15€ or more!
February 23, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Found the German version of 福袋 "lucky bags" at the supermarket: a bin full of either undeliverable or returned parcels, still in their packaging with the shipping labels. Guaranteed value of 15€ or more!
Bollards were finally installed on a street nearby at the end of last year, and they've created a safe space that is giving rise to new life ⛄💪
#berlin
@worldbollardassoc.bsky.social
#berlin
@worldbollardassoc.bsky.social
February 14, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Bollards were finally installed on a street nearby at the end of last year, and they've created a safe space that is giving rise to new life ⛄💪
#berlin
@worldbollardassoc.bsky.social
#berlin
@worldbollardassoc.bsky.social
You know you're in Germany when a supermarket customer asks the staff for a bottle opener, and the teenage cashier takes a lighter out of her pocket and uses it to deftly pop the cap off
January 28, 2025 at 7:02 PM
You know you're in Germany when a supermarket customer asks the staff for a bottle opener, and the teenage cashier takes a lighter out of her pocket and uses it to deftly pop the cap off
On a whim I turned on Duck Duck Go's app tracking protection, which blocks marketing and analytics trackers inside actual apps. Nothing happened for a day or two but now the alerts are coming. It's quite astonishing what unnecessary, highly granular and identifying information these things collect
January 27, 2025 at 7:32 AM
On a whim I turned on Duck Duck Go's app tracking protection, which blocks marketing and analytics trackers inside actual apps. Nothing happened for a day or two but now the alerts are coming. It's quite astonishing what unnecessary, highly granular and identifying information these things collect
There's a bar in my hood that serves a very good pint of Guinness, which is extremely unusual in Berlin. But funny enough, this makes it pretty much the only thing they serve. Last night I counted only one person who drank a single non-Guinness beverage, then switched to it for their second drink
January 24, 2025 at 7:17 AM
There's a bar in my hood that serves a very good pint of Guinness, which is extremely unusual in Berlin. But funny enough, this makes it pretty much the only thing they serve. Last night I counted only one person who drank a single non-Guinness beverage, then switched to it for their second drink
Considering world events, I'm thinking that fiction might be the way to go next..
Running out of JP books, though, which leaves me to choose between Murakami Ryu's long and slightly intimidating "半島を出よ" or Asada Jiro's more mundane but manageable "ハッピー・リタイアメント"
Running out of JP books, though, which leaves me to choose between Murakami Ryu's long and slightly intimidating "半島を出よ" or Asada Jiro's more mundane but manageable "ハッピー・リタイアメント"
January 21, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Considering world events, I'm thinking that fiction might be the way to go next..
Running out of JP books, though, which leaves me to choose between Murakami Ryu's long and slightly intimidating "半島を出よ" or Asada Jiro's more mundane but manageable "ハッピー・リタイアメント"
Running out of JP books, though, which leaves me to choose between Murakami Ryu's long and slightly intimidating "半島を出よ" or Asada Jiro's more mundane but manageable "ハッピー・リタイアメント"
Finished up Robert Cialdini's fantastic book "Influence" on seven universal psychological triggers.
I particularly liked his focus on how to recognise and defend against "compliance professionals" who use these principles to manupulate people, and also how the triggers can be used for good
I particularly liked his focus on how to recognise and defend against "compliance professionals" who use these principles to manupulate people, and also how the triggers can be used for good
January 21, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Finished up Robert Cialdini's fantastic book "Influence" on seven universal psychological triggers.
I particularly liked his focus on how to recognise and defend against "compliance professionals" who use these principles to manupulate people, and also how the triggers can be used for good
I particularly liked his focus on how to recognise and defend against "compliance professionals" who use these principles to manupulate people, and also how the triggers can be used for good
Very sad to hear about David Lynch.. so long and thanks for all the pie🍒
January 16, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Very sad to hear about David Lynch.. so long and thanks for all the pie🍒
Starting off 2025 with the behavioural psychology classic "Influence" and the wistful 異世界 manga "葬送のフリーレン", both excellent so far
January 8, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Starting off 2025 with the behavioural psychology classic "Influence" and the wistful 異世界 manga "葬送のフリーレン", both excellent so far
In the second half of the year, a new work opportunity led me into the world of manga and anime, and I ended up devoting wayyy too much time to reading manga via the publisher apps. It's brilliant to have access to manga in Japanese (often for free!) from anywhere in the world
January 8, 2025 at 7:11 AM
In the second half of the year, a new work opportunity led me into the world of manga and anime, and I ended up devoting wayyy too much time to reading manga via the publisher apps. It's brilliant to have access to manga in Japanese (often for free!) from anywhere in the world
My completed reading list for 2024.
Started the year at a good pace but fell off the wagon in the second half. Was happy to read Don Quixote at long last, and more Japanese books than I had anticipated. This was the year when I finally had enough of Higashino Keigo, though.
Started the year at a good pace but fell off the wagon in the second half. Was happy to read Don Quixote at long last, and more Japanese books than I had anticipated. This was the year when I finally had enough of Higashino Keigo, though.
January 8, 2025 at 7:05 AM
My completed reading list for 2024.
Started the year at a good pace but fell off the wagon in the second half. Was happy to read Don Quixote at long last, and more Japanese books than I had anticipated. This was the year when I finally had enough of Higashino Keigo, though.
Started the year at a good pace but fell off the wagon in the second half. Was happy to read Don Quixote at long last, and more Japanese books than I had anticipated. This was the year when I finally had enough of Higashino Keigo, though.
then i went for a walk today and spotted some of the aftermath too
January 2, 2025 at 5:16 PM
then i went for a walk today and spotted some of the aftermath too
want to get back into photography this year, so i made it a point to get an early start by going out at midnight on new year's day to take some snaps of the fireworks madness
#berlin
#berlin
January 2, 2025 at 5:15 PM
want to get back into photography this year, so i made it a point to get an early start by going out at midnight on new year's day to take some snaps of the fireworks madness
#berlin
#berlin
These end-of-the-year summaries are getting out of hand.. do you REALLY want to know how much time you spent on Miro?
December 19, 2024 at 9:17 AM
These end-of-the-year summaries are getting out of hand.. do you REALLY want to know how much time you spent on Miro?
Sounds like a classic season of "水曜どうでしょう"
December 6, 2024 at 7:01 AM
Sounds like a classic season of "水曜どうでしょう"
Found at our local weekend market. Most buildings in Berlin are only about 25 metres high and we have very few skyscrapers, so a Godzilla attack doesn't seem like it would be too interesting to watch
December 2, 2024 at 11:14 AM
Found at our local weekend market. Most buildings in Berlin are only about 25 metres high and we have very few skyscrapers, so a Godzilla attack doesn't seem like it would be too interesting to watch
new word: 熱波師 - master of the heat wave!
this is actually the person who swings a towel around to blow hot air towards guests in an Aufguss sauna -- called the Saunameister in German
this is actually the person who swings a towel around to blow hot air towards guests in an Aufguss sauna -- called the Saunameister in German
November 26, 2024 at 12:57 PM
new word: 熱波師 - master of the heat wave!
this is actually the person who swings a towel around to blow hot air towards guests in an Aufguss sauna -- called the Saunameister in German
this is actually the person who swings a towel around to blow hot air towards guests in an Aufguss sauna -- called the Saunameister in German
Mazesoba in London: £17.50.
Onion breath so strong that people give you lots of space on the Tube: Priceless.
Onion breath so strong that people give you lots of space on the Tube: Priceless.
November 24, 2024 at 11:02 AM
Mazesoba in London: £17.50.
Onion breath so strong that people give you lots of space on the Tube: Priceless.
Onion breath so strong that people give you lots of space on the Tube: Priceless.
Japan House also has on display a commemorative nose cone from the Series 0 Shinkansen, Japan's first very bullet trains that ran from 1964 to 2008 (!)
This nose cone is from the final Kodama service on the Tokkaido Shinkansen Line in 1999
This nose cone is from the final Kodama service on the Tokkaido Shinkansen Line in 1999
November 18, 2024 at 11:27 AM
Japan House also has on display a commemorative nose cone from the Series 0 Shinkansen, Japan's first very bullet trains that ran from 1964 to 2008 (!)
This nose cone is from the final Kodama service on the Tokkaido Shinkansen Line in 1999
This nose cone is from the final Kodama service on the Tokkaido Shinkansen Line in 1999
it was also cool to learn about the other uses of 食品サンプル, including for things like manufacturing quality control, food prep training, and religious offerings
November 18, 2024 at 9:27 AM
it was also cool to learn about the other uses of 食品サンプル, including for things like manufacturing quality control, food prep training, and religious offerings
enjoyed the exhibition on replica food at Japan House London. they have a huge variety of different foods, including one dish from each prefecture, along with some gag replicas
November 18, 2024 at 9:25 AM
enjoyed the exhibition on replica food at Japan House London. they have a huge variety of different foods, including one dish from each prefecture, along with some gag replicas
Very nice too, made by a distillery that used to specialise in shochu
November 14, 2023 at 7:29 AM
Very nice too, made by a distillery that used to specialise in shochu
whisky three.. this was my favourite
November 14, 2023 at 7:28 AM
whisky three.. this was my favourite
five points pale ale, fantastic dry hoppy flavour
October 15, 2023 at 9:59 PM
five points pale ale, fantastic dry hoppy flavour