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Hi there, it's Asami and Asami only tonight.
That is because I have moved yet again and now Len and I are about 13 or is it 14 hours apart
instead of one hour apart. So we're trying to figure out some logistics,
uh, how and when to record it in a time that is not too wildly inconvenient for both of us.
You know, with a 14-hour time difference, it's not easy, but we'll try. So be patient with us.
Um, so as I mentioned, I have just moved. I am back in the United States now
and in a cold part of the United States, let's just say. It's, uh,
kind of a strange thing to be back in the U.S. after living in Hong Kong for about a year.
Um, yeah, I realized that I spent almost 10 years in the U.S., I think nine and a little
bit more years in the U.S. prior to Hong Kong. So, you know, a lot of the things I guess I have
gotten used to was sort of reset, uh, when I was back in Hong Kong and now coming back to the
States, uh, feels strange. I mean, I'm not going back to the same city that I was living in, uh,
either for undergrad or grad school, so that makes a difference, but, um, I am just,
yeah, like in a, you know, another city, a big city. And, yeah, but hikkoshi is pretty stressful
either way, um, but I am skipping a lot of steps this time by just opting out for Airbnb instead of
signing on to a lease. Um, this might be unconventional, but, uh, it works for me,
because I don't exactly know how long my stint in the U.S. this time it will be.
It could be a few months, uh, maybe half a year, question mark, question mark. So,
yeah, I just decided, you know what, I'll just Airbnb. It's a tad bit more expensive,
but it has everything. I don't need to, you know, find furnitures or restock kitchen or,
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um, you know, set up internet, that sort of things. I don't really have to do that, so
it just makes things easier. And a plus, a huge plus, actually, to this Airbnb is that it comes
with two cats. Yes, everyone, now I get to pretend to be a cat owner. I am, uh, what should I call
it, uh, my inner cat lady has kakusei shita, uh, with these two cats. Uh, their names are Richard
Parker and Spider-Man. I did not decide them on those names, uh, but hey, they are adorable,
it's all you need to know. And
hopefully this mic doesn't pick up, but anywho, so I never had pets growing up.
Well, not the, not the furry ones, at least. I've only had goldfish and a turtle, uh, both of which
I think didn't past, didn't last a whole year or something, unfortunately. So, um, this is the
first time I actually live for an extended period of time with a pet household, and I am loving this,
let me tell you. These cats, Richard Parker and Spider-Man, are so, so well socialized,
like, so well to the point where if I were to just sit down, plop myself onto a sofa,
and, you know, start reading or sipping on my coffee, they voluntarily sit on my lap or demand
me to pet them. Uh, and just, yeah. And I'm a complete stranger, it's only been, like,
less than a couple weeks since I'm here, and they have already fully got accustomed to me,
and they're very needy in a pleasant way, you know? They're not just, like, needy for the sake
of being needy, but they're needy in an appropriate amount, which is perfect for me. And, you know,
I used to cat-sit for my friend, um, but this cat was more, like, a very nekorashii neko, so,
you know, he just did whatever he wanted to, only cared about me when it was time to eat,
and whenever his very moody state felt like playing with me. Uh, so that cat was, like,
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you know, largely, um, not the most exciting cat to be around, but these cats are so excited
to be with me, and that makes you so good. Like, you feel like you're a better human than other
humans, because you have the approval of these beautiful creatures, these beautiful cats, um,
yeah, and you just feel like you're a better human. Like, even a non-human approves that
you are a better human. So, that's, that's kinda nice, right? And I'm loving living with them,
except, um, they really like, one of them at least, really like licking my hand a lot,
and I don't know if it's the hand cream I'm using, or if there's, like, a soap residue on my hand,
but, um, I hope nothing toxic is getting to him, because he really likes to lick my hand,
and I don't know why. So, if you listeners are cat owners, and know a thing or two about
strange cat behavior, like obsessively licking one's hand, please let me know. I really just
don't want him to be, you know, getting sick from licking my hand, and that's all. Um,
yeah, I mean, this is, like, a new talent that I found, that I feel like I should be able to tell
everybody in the world. It's like, yes, cats love me, and that's a talent that I didn't know I had
until my ripe old age of 31. So, I guess you just learn new things every day about yourself.
Oh, man. That's it. That's it for the show today. Thanks for listening, and find us on
x at Ego de Science. That is E-I-G-O-D-E-S-C-I-E-N-C. See you next time!
