While I was writing a retrospective on the history of fertilization research, I found that most human-related things could be explained by "memes." Now I am true believer. Just as a virus requires cells as a host, a meme cannot be an independent living creature. It has the characteristics of a parasite, invading and controlling the human brain. Take religion, for example. There is no proof that the god(s) of any given religion exists, and yet look how many individuals devote themselves to their chosen god(s) around the world. I will not comment further on this as it may offend many readers. Instead, let us approach the subject by discussing diamonds. These gems are known as the hardest substances on the planet, a fact which explains their use in industrial machinery. Interestingly, while they are indispensable in manufacturing, they are of no use whatsoever when they hang around your neck or sit on your finger. Although diamonds glitter, the difference in the degree to which they and plain glass shimmer requires a professional tool to measure. Nevertheless, we all know that diamonds sell at quite the pretty penny. We can attribute the price tag to the "diamond meme," the prevalence of which dates back to two British citizens who discovered diamond mines in South Africa. According to a Netflix documentary, the diamond company DeBeers promoted a campaign across the US insisting that true love needed to be proven through the gift of a diamond costing the equivalent of two months' salary. The meme found countless believers as it raced across the nation. When sales eventually plateaued, the company sought to repeat its success in Japan, raising the stakes with a profession of love now costing three months' salary. And today .... you guessed it .... the cycle begins anew in China. Can one control business success by controlling the meme? Mutants of the "democracy" and "justice" memes seem to have appeared and be competing with the original memes in the US. Just as there is no such thing as a "wrong biological creature," I believe there can be no such thing as a "wrong meme." Myriad memes compete with each other and evolve in our brains. In the end, memes will become like mitochondria in our bodies. That is my opinion.

昨年は大阪でサミットが開催されましたが、Stephanieも翻訳の仕事で少しは貢献しました。環境もひとつのテーマだったのでペットボトルが出ないように水筒持参で待機場所に「黒服」で集合という指示を受けました。会場前の駅は封鎖されており一つ手前の駅から歩いて会場まで通ったのですが、チームは会場の近くに宿泊して必要があればすぐに職場に行けるような体制をとっていたそうです。サミットでは報道されませんが、実際は夜中に緊急の仕事はなかったものの日本政府の超日本的おもてなしの縁の下の力持ち役をこなしたみたいです。 

働き方改革を標榜する政府ですが、国会の答弁書を深夜まで作成する官僚にも似て、こういう働き方は政府関係の仕事の通例なのかもしれません。確かに私も夜遅く連絡がきて明日中に◯億円の物品の予算請求の関連書類を準備してくれと文科省から指示が来たみたいな連絡がありました。何処も同じ秋の夕暮れ？

５月にはStephanieのお父さんが好きだったアイルランドを旅行しました。日本よりも寒くてStephanieは旅行の途中で風邪を引いてしまい体調不良の日もありましたが総体としてアイルランド旅行を満喫することができました。北アイルランドも訪れましたがBrexitのニュースを聞くたびにこの地方がどうなってゆくのかと気になってしまいます。

In 2019, Stephanie again enjoyed dividing her time between editing/translating and sharing cross-cultural topics and English language hints with conversation students in individual and group settings. She also had the opportunity to work at the Osaka G20 Summit with her translation boss, allowing her to view a major global event from the inside instead of reading about it externally. The G20, the shared family experience of Kye's graduation in California, and trips to Tennessee and Ireland (the latter with Masaru) were the year's highlights. Ireland was the fulfillment of a personal goal. Stephanie's parents had made multiple meaningful visits, and Stephanie's late father adored Ireland and its people, making the trip a pilgrimage for Stephanie -- one inextricably intertwined with memories of her father.

快には卒業式に呼んでもらいました。おばあちゃんがいたので前の方の席をリザーブしてくれていました。アメリカの卒業式はやっぱり違いますね！ローブになんという名前の帽子かしりませんが四角いのをかぶって、一見かしこまってるみたいに見えますが、足元を見るとジーンズを履いて裸足にサンダルだったりする人もいました。学位取得者の中にはお子さんを抱っこしながら学位記を受け取っている人もたくさんいました。快はそっちの方面はどうなってるんでしょう？

Stephanieのお父さんと親戚づきあいをしていた人もお祝いに駆けつけてくれました。このひとはイギリス出身でボリス・ジョンソンさんのクラスメートだったそうです！クラスメートに対する評価はどちらかといえば辛口だったように思います。楽しい卒業式でした。私達も肩の荷がおりた気分です。これからは就職、結婚、孫と本人も楽しみだと思いますが、私達もいろんなイベントを楽しみたいですね。

Being with Kye for almost a full week in June 2019 was nothing short of a luxury for us all. We met his professor along with several classmates/friends, and dined in a variety of ethnic restaurants, all giving life to images which had been latent in our imaginations up to that point. The past 11 years have been strewn with obstacles which, in sheer number, sometimes seemed like the Labors of Hercules (acceptance into college, as a transfer student, and finally into graduate school; passing the deadly quals [qualifying exam] and eventually, the oral defense; acceptance of the dissertation). While new hurdles lie ahead in life, we hope and trust that Kye will find a job affording happiness, a sense of stability, and a chance for creative and meaningful contribution to society, and finally, that his health and human relationships will flourish.