What was your favorite food when you were a child?
-Chips. As in what Americans call fries.
2. What food did you hate?
-Stewed apple. We had way too much of it thanks to overproductive trees. Also Tagliatele.
3. What’s the #1 most played song on your phone?
-My phone doesn't play songs. It texts. I have an ipod, though, that comes with me everywhere. I don't have a most played song - more like about 600 most played songs in various languages. I'm a music addict.
4. What is one of your favorite quotes?
-Aside some obscure and hilarious quotes from my Japanese premodern lit, I really don't know.
5. What chore do you absolutely hate doing?
-Ironing. In fact, I just don't do it. I avoid clothes that need it. Also cleaning the toilet.
6. What’s your least favorite mode of transportation?
-Taxi.
7. What sound do you love?
--Silence. Also music.
8. If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be?
--I think I'm already doing that, actually. Somewhere between 25 and my current age of 34.
9. If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to?
--I'd not change it because I'd get bored of a new name and feel guilty for rejecting the one my parents gave me, even though I don't like it. Though I go by a bunch of different names online, I never really want to change my real one.
10. What do you want to be when you grow up?
--Do I have to grow up? Either an academic in the field of pre-modern Japan, or something involved with autism advocacy. But am currently full time PhD.
11. When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time?
--I write
12. What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life?
-Every song on my ipod.
13. Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad but it turned out to be for the best?
--Going home from halls when I began university. From that point began my independent use of transport, which was a big deal for me as an undiagnosed aspie with severe inability to navigate. Because I did that, I graduated, and because I did, I'm now here doing my PhD.
14. What was the last movie, TV show or book that made you cry or tear up?
--Can't remember. I get emotional at odd things.
15. What did you do growing up that got you into trouble?
-What didn't I do? xD. No, I wasn't that bad. But I was a known naughty child when I was in primary. I did get into a few fights.
16. When was the last time you had an amazing meal?
--When home last, and Dad cooked stirfry
17. What’s the best/worst gift you’ve ever given/received?
--All gifts that come from the heart are great, even if they aren't what you are hoping for.
18. What do you miss most about being a kid?
--Not having to explain to people why I don't cook.
19. What was the first thing you bought with your own money?
-Ponies?
Unless you mean as a grown up, in which case...my first laptop in 2000.
20. When was the last time you were nervous?
--I have autism. I stopped noticing low level nerves a long time ago, that's how often it happens
But I guess talking to my prof about fieldwork and conferences.
21. What is something you learned in the last week?
--That there's a Noh mask called yorimasa.
22. What story does your family always tell about you?
--That I didn't know I was bright, and had to be told.
23. At what age did you become an adult?
--Legally, 18. Psychologically, probably when I was working in the library. Really, when I was mentoring students who could've been my kids. But in many ways, I'm still a child at heart.
24. If you had to choose to live without one of your five senses, which one would you give up?
---Smell. I have oversensitivity to this often and it drives me nuts. I would sooner die than lose my sight or my hearing.
25. Where do you see yourself in five years?
--Hopefully living and working in London in some capacity.
26. Why did you choose your profession?
--Still choosing, see above. Although I also like working in libraries.
27. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
--Japan.
28. What book has influenced you most?
--- This sounds stupid, but probably one of the Fushigi Yuugi novels. And the reason is that I started learning Japanese because of Yuugi, and it was the first thing I tried to translate. And now Japanese is hugely important in my life. Otherwise, the chalet books I grew up with.
29. If you could change one law, what would it be?
-The necessity to observe Brexit as a legitimate democratic decision made by rational human beings. I'd unbrexit Britain. That's how much I hate it. Otherwise, disability laws.
30. What’s your greatest achievement and how has it shaped you?
--Teaching myself Japanese. Attaining a scholarship to study in London. Working with autistic students and making a difference in their lives. Just being able to live and not worry all the time about what people think of me. Gaining confidence from being myself as an autistic person, even if I have my quirks.
31. If you could master one skill you don’t have right now, what would it be?
-I'd like to speak Mandarin and Korean as well as Japanese. But more, I think I'd like to be able to go to restaurants and social events without the stress issues I have in those situations. People treat you funny when you don't conform, and it's not fair, but it's how the world is and its not going to change any time soon. I'd also like to be able to cook.
32. Which are you more likely to fight for, love or money?
--Love.
33. If you could speak another language, which would it be and why?
--I already speak the one I love most, which is Japanese, and also pre-modern Japanese. Also French to a degree. I'd like to do Mandarin and Korean, tho, as mentioned above.
34. If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future?
--Past. But only to witness it, not to interfere. I'd like to see the answers to a lot of the questions I study, and see what the historical figures people talk about were really like. It fascinates me that there are people who lived their whole lives in a total different era to the one I live in.
35. What makes you happiest?
--Being accepted for who I am
36. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
--I'd like to be more confident in myself and my own skills.
37. What is “home” to you?
--Family.
38. What are your three favorite albums?
--Only three? Impossible.
39. What motivates you to succeed?
--Dreams. Also obstinacy.
40. If you could bring one fictional character to life, who would it be and why?
--I think that would be a Pandora Box situation. I'll pass. I tend to like characters who you wouldn't want to meet in real life.
41. What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?
--Hypersenstive hearing means I don't get to many in the genre I like best, rock, but there was an amazing Japanese music recital at uni some years back. Also Vaniru and Lost Ash a couple of years ago. I had earplugs. It was great.
42. How would you survive a zombie apocalypse?
--- Become a zombie.
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