Listen with your whole body. Curious about what it tells us, how we can use it to make meaning, and cultivate Relational Intelligence.
Afterimage: Culture as Clothing, Identity as Outfits.
no 24
Have you accidentally looked into the sun or bright light and then looked away, the image burned into your eyelids? That’s an afterimage.
Last week, I posted from my phone. I think you might have seen some weird things happening in the format! I'm back on my laptop and still thinking about the intersection of culture, identity, and the workplace. It's always defined my work's why, what, and how, but it wasn't clear to me until last week. If you missed it, check out the last installment of Afterimage.
Here's what I saw, heard, or sensed that has stayed with me on culture and identity in the past week. Let’s begin.
 |
 |
 |
Message from My Body: I’m Japanese, I’m American, I’m French
I took JAL flight 508 to Tokyo to meet a consulting client for the first time since we started working together. Japanese borders are finally opening, allowing clients to be face-to-face with the people they’ve hired during the pandemic and see how things are going.
I met with the Japanese sales director on Tuesday first thing in the morning. Then, I met with the American Chief Revenue Officer. I met the French Chief Human Resources Officer in the afternoon.
Chameleoning
Given my childhood of multiple moves, straddling cultures, finding ways to fit in, and adapting to various environments, chameleoning is second nature to me. Human chameleons are masters of reading a room and navigating it seamlessly. I do it well.
It’s been a while since I moved from one meeting in one language to another in such quick succession, without a screen separating me from the person I'm meeting. During my trip, I was reminded of just how different I feel and show up in each of my cultures. Language plays a part in the chameleoning, but I noticed there’s something else that happens with language and culture for me: I wear them.
Costume Changes
Language becomes something I wear. I move differently in each. Japanese, American English, and French become kōdinehto, outfits, and tenues. Each language has its body language.
Meeting in Japanese
What it feels like I'm wearing: A kimono, with silk sashes binding my body beneath the surface.
The effect: Invisible but palpable restraint, resulting in the appearance of order and simplicity.
Meeting in American English
What it feels like I'm wearing: Athleisure with a cashmere cardigan. Pairing a piece that allows maximum movement and high performance with something dependable of high quality.
The effect: A certain sense of dynamism and freedom reigned in just a little for the occasion. It's like perfume. You can smell and taste the energy for when things get busy.
Meeting in French
What it feels like I'm wearing: The reverse of American English, French is the effortless dressing down of something classic, structured, and neutral, with tousled hair and minimal makeup.
The effect: French signals the nonchalant confidence of knowing what’s good and demonstrating another kind of confidence-- showing the finger and undoing what’s "good." The I'm good but I don't give a shit.
Cultural Fluency / Belonging
The ability to embody culture brings me closer to the people I’m around. Sometimes, I feel like I can fit in everywhere, but I don’t belong anywhere. It used to leave me wondering sometimes “Who am I?”
This week, I’m reflecting on what makes me feel and know I belong.
A Question: When it comes to culture and language, why doesn’t fluency guarantee belonging? What’s your take?
I'm Akiko Mega.
Listen with your whole body. Curious about what it tells us, how we can use it to make meaning, and cultivate Relational Intelligence.
No 58 Being present is the unique gift of being alive. This newsletter explores small ways to cultivate more presence. Whenever an experience stands out, leave it alone awhile. Sometime later, replay the scene. Observe the past scene, what do you see? Observe what your body sensed then, and feels now. I call this processing of a past event an Afterimage. ::: The name for this newsletter first came to me in Japanese: 残像, zanzō— meaning, “leftover image”. It’s distinct. I like the sound. When I...
No 57 Being present is the unique gift of being alive. This newsletter is an exploration of small ways to cultivate more presence. Welcome to installment 57 of Afterimage. Whenever a recent experience stands out, I leave it alone for awhile before revisiting it. I replay the scene in my mind’s eye, then observe both the scene and me— what my body felt then, and what it feels now watching. I call this processing of a past event an Afterimage. After I see and feel the Afterimage, I invite my...
no 56 Being present is the unique gift of being alive. This newsletter is an exploration of small ways to cultivate more presence. Welcome to installment 56 of Afterimage. When a recent experience stands out I leave it awhile, then revisit it: I replay the scene in my mind’s eye, and watch. I observe my body and how it responds to the scene in the present moment. I call this image and felt sense of a past event, the Afterimage. After I have a good look at the Afterimage, I invite my mind to...