This article was translated from Japanese by Claude Code.
A casual look back at 2024.
Changed Jobs#
This was the biggest event of the year. It was my first job change. When I counted, I received rejections from about 40 companies. (Mostly submitting applications through LinkedIn → no response or rejection.)
I proceeded to interviews with 2 companies, and only my current company went beyond that.
The interview process I went through was: HR interview → Team interview → Android technical interview → Manager interview. At the end, I received an email from HR asking if we could have a phone call, and I received the job offer over the phone.
It’s only been about 5 months since I started working, but looking back, I’m really lucky to be working without any problems now.
Moved#
- Fukuoka → Kumamoto
- Kumamoto → Netherlands
I used Jmty and Mercari to drastically reduce my belongings. I suppose it depends on who you’re dealing with, but I’ve only had positive experiences on Jmty—it’s an amazing service!
During the move, the café my wife ran in Fukuoka closed. Her stationery is now available online and at a small space in her parents’ flower shop.
Monthly Events#
January
- Visited Aso Shrine for hatsumode: Got “kichi” (good luck) on my fortune
- My wife got acute gastroenteritis
- Turned 32
February
- Gave my first ever wedding speech (at my former company junior colleague’s wedding)
- Went to Disney right after
March
- Quit my job
- Closed the shop
- Moved from Fukuoka to Kumamoto
April
- Accompanied my wife’s business trip: Went from Aso to Imabari by car + ferry
- Accompanied my wife’s business trip: Went to Nagoya
- Traveled to Australia (Sydney, Gold Coast)
- Took IELTS the day after returning to Japan (improved by 0.5)
May
- Traveled to Mojiko
- Accompanied my wife’s business trip: Went to Tokyo
- Visited “Oshitoishi no Oka” in Kumamoto
- Went to Miyazaki
June
- Had a family-only wedding ceremony at Aso Shrine
- Went to Kurokawa Onsen
- Accompanied my wife’s business trip: Went to Kyoto
July
- Went to DisneySea
- Went to Kanagawa and Tokyo
- Came to the Netherlands
- Accompanied my wife’s business trip: Went to Belgium
- Accompanied my wife’s business trip: Went to France
August
- Moved to our current home in the Netherlands
- Started working
September
- Moving boxes from Japan arrived
- Went to Efteling
- Went to a Michelin-starred restaurant for a team event
October
- Made udon noodles
- Made jam
November
- Ate Dubai chocolate
- Made a shortcake
December
- A former junior colleague from my previous company came to visit
- Traveled to France (Nice, Mougins, Cannes)
- Made a Christmas cake
- Saw “Girl with a Pearl Earring”
Summary#
- Lots of events, but particularly accompanied my wife on many business trips
- Didn’t get sick much in 2024
- Want to prioritize health and excel at both work and hobbies in 2025
Thank you for a great 2024!
