Hello, this is Chichi from S-TOKYO!
I recently attended Colive FUKUOKA in Fukuoka Prefecture!
S-TOKYO was involved in the event as a partner community. Continuing from the first part, I would like to report on some of the fun times I had with digital nomads from all over the world!
We enjoyed cruising and dinner on a yakatabune!
Even Japanese people don't have a much chance to ride on a yakatabune, so it was a new experience for me! It was a strange feeling to take off your shoes and eat dinner on a boat. The Indonesian guy sitting in front of me seemed to like spicy food very much and loved shichimi (seven spices) 😆.
After getting off the boat, we took a group photo in front of the “FUKUOKA” sign!
I also attended the workshop “Break the Mould” hosted by Jazmin and Alice.
This was a workshop for women who live misfits lives and their supporters.
With the support of the two moderators, we broke down one by one the expectations and prejudices of what society expects us to “be” and thought with the participants about what we really want to be and what small steps we can take to get closer to that goal.
It was very stimulating to spend time with other lively and active women of the same generation. It was encouraging to learn that everyone was struggling and fighting in the same way.
The in-charge of my life is myself” and ‘You have already accomplished so many things.’
It was a time filled with such positive words and energy.
The second night of the main conference was a barbecue party at Ohori Park!
Here are two guys from TAIWAN getting ready:)
Even though we didn't know each other, the Nomads were very good at self-disclosure, and we soon became friends and found ourselves dancing together...! I was also inspired by the Nomadism and at last, danced salsa in the park...lol
"Unconference” was held the day after the BBQ party, also in Ohori Park.
At this event, participants first bring topics they want to discuss with each other, write them on sticky notes, and post them on the board. After being grouped by similar topics, they are assigned to a table for discussion. The person who proposed the topic and people interested in the topic gather at each table and talk for 40 minutes.
The topics brought up by the digital nomads were so interesting that it was hard to decide which table to attend the talks. For example, some of the topics ranged from “Nomadic relationships and long-distance relationships” to “How to organize a large community”.
I joined a table that talked about “Nomads and their connections with local residents. There, we shared ideas and discussed how to deal with language barriers and how to invite international guests while being more considerate of the local environment.
It was very meaningful to talk with people who have different backgrounds and have lived in different areas. We also learned that nomads abroad still value “experiences that are unique to the region” and “encounters and connections with local people. On the other hand, some said that they were happy just to be able to enjoy even small things with local people because “everything is different and fresh from my daily life,” even if the local side does not have to put in the effort to design those experiences.
We all went on a bus tour of sake breweries. It was a great environment with a feast that we couldn't eat up, BBQ, all-you-can-drink sake, and even a sauna,.......
Lots of toasts for everyone, sauna and screaming in the water bath...
I felt like I had finally learned how to enjoy myself at my own pace while talking with people I meet for the first time, even though I am a somewhat introverted purely Japanese person. lol
And on the last day of Colive FUKUOKA, we had a Halloween party!
It was a night to say goodbye to everyone and have fun as much as we could.
It was great to meet so many digital nomads and the people who run the community! When you all come to Tokyo, I hope you will come to S-TOKYO to visit us😊 Hope to see you again!
With a big thank you for the encounters we had at Colive FUKUOKA.
