Hello everyone! I hope you are all well and that things in your country are getting better!
The state of emergency in Tokyo has been lifted and things are slowly getting back to normal even if the lockdown was not super strict here, as restaurants and shops did not have to close and there were no controls.
After exactly two months I’m back in the office, even if I will still do two days per week of remote work, and to be honest, it’s a nice feeling and it’s good to have a more defined routine again. Also, the office chair is much more comfortable than the plastic stool I have at home
Since my last blog I’ve turned 30 years old - I was prepared to spend my 30th birthday in Tokyo alone, but the global pandemic was definitely not in the plan!
I’m not a huge of fan of birthdays, as it is always a day for taking stock and reality is very different from expectations. When I was in high school I thought that, by my 30th birthday, I would have had a husband, a dog, a kid, a nice job and a house with a back garden .. let’s say the universe definitely planned something different for me!
Against all odds I had a very pleasant day as Nathalie surprised me delivering breakfast. When your day starts with pancakes and champagne, it is going to be a good one and if it continues with a flower delivery, a couple of presents and a birthday cake, even better
The truth is that it doesn’t matter how many friends you have, it can just be one if it is a good one!
30’s are the new 20’s
Another piece of news is that I finally moved into my new flat and I love it
Building IKEA furniture was a challenge as usual, but it’s good to feel at “home” and not in a “room with toilet and kitchen”. The best thing about the new house is that my commute is now five minutes on foot instead of one hour with the subway and, also very important, is that I now have two wine bars and a craft beer bar on the route to go back to my place after the office.
On the 7th June it will be my first anniversary with Tokyo. Metaphorically, ours is the same relationship you have with that odd classmate who is super annoying, but sometimes good fun, pedantic and chaotic who is very good at math, while you hate it.
Awkward contemporary Japanese art
Japan’s climate is not great at this time of the year as the rainy season is starting and it is already very hot and humid with umbrellas now open 24/7 to cover people from rain or from UV rays.
Also not very pleasant is that, in the last three weeks, we had five earthquakes. Never a dull moment in Tokyo!
Maybe I should buy this book and learn some important phrases...
In the meantime, news from some countries is encouraging; Germany is already organising competitions and the FEI is planning to re-start international events from 1st July. There will be for sure a “new normal” for events, but to have competitions re-starting is a nice starting point
I’m definitely looking forward to when travel restrictions will be lifted to be able to go back to Italy for a couple of weeks, while waiting ….. roll on 2021! 414 days to go! 
