What My Mom Said About Me Dating With A Wheelchair User – Last Episode – Different Shapes of Love

What My Mom Said About Me Dating With A Wheelchair User – Last Episode – Different Shapes of Love

This is the last episode of “What My Mom Said About Me Dating With A Wheelchair User.”There are several reasons for me to start writing this story – “What My Mom Said About Me Dating With A Wheelchair User.” The first thought actually came up to my mind during this Chines New Year when I went home in Taiwan.

This year, unlike any other Chinese New Year, is the first time I went home as a married man. (Mizuki was in the U.S. doing her research or otherwise she would have been with me in Taiwan.) My mom said to me that she wants to buy Mizuki a gold necklace or a gold ring. I said “thank you but we do not need any gold necklaces nor rings.” I did not understand why my mom likes gold and wants to give Mizuki gold until I later learned the reason.

What My Mom Said About Me Dating With A Wheelchair User – Part 4 – My Mom Visiting Japan

What My Mom Said About Me Dating With A Wheelchair User – Part 4 – My Mom Visiting Japan

People tend to worry about the things they cannot see. A lot of people worry about the future that has not come and may never will. Those people includes me and, of course, my mom.

My mom has been very worried about my life with Mizuki, a moon rider (wheelchair user) in a foreign country, which is Japan. I understand that no matter how hard I try to convince her that I am doing just fine she will not listen. Since a picture wins a thousand words, I decided to show her more than just a picture. I brought her to Japan for a short tour.

It was in February 2014, the last 4 days of Chinese New Year vacation, I show her and my brother around Tokyo.

Self-advocacy Is One of the Most Essential Skills but Least Trained ~University of Washington, DO-IT Part 3~

Self-advocacy Is One of the Most Essential Skills but Least Trained ~University of Washington, DO-IT Part 3~

In the next day of DO-IT interview, I was invited to a pizza networking gathering which is held 3 times a year to get all Scholars and parents together. The rooms for students and parents are separated. In that way, students can talk with students about their updates, and parents can exchange information.

It is very good idea to make an opportunity for parents to stay connected. Parents have so many worries because they don’t have enough information or experiences, and eventually they overprotect their kids. By providing a place where parents get together, they can share their worries and difficulties, and other parents can give advice and think ways to resolve the issues together. This is a huge power.

Self-advocacy Is One of the Most Essential Skills but Least Trained ~University of Washington, DO-IT Part 1~

Self-advocacy Is One of the Most Essential Skills but Least Trained ~University of Washington, DO-IT Part 1~

In February, I visited DO-IT in University of Washington. Dr. Sheryl Burgstahler, a founder and director of DO-IT, got interested in “assistive technology” which supports people with disabilities throughout her first career as a junior high mathematics teacher. In 1984, when Macintosh came to the world, Sheryl felt that IT would change the society dramatically. Then she started thinking how to reduce the gap between people with and without disabilities by utilizing her knowledge, experience as a teacher, and IT.
To students with disabilities, there is a big difference in learning environment between college and high school which is mandatory education in the US. Sheryl had found this issue, and decided to start DO-IT which supports students with disabilities to transit smoothly from high school to post-secondary education.

“Dignity of Risk” – Failure Helps People Grow Stronger ~Boston Center for Independent Living Part 1~

“Dignity of Risk” – Failure Helps People Grow Stronger ~Boston Center for Independent Living Part 1~

In Boston, I visited Boston Center for Independent Living and interviewed Allegra Stout and Sarah Kaplan. Through the interview, I became interested in Transition Internship Program which provides paid internship opportunities for high school students with disabilities. The internship sites vary, and include profit and non-profit organizations, local companies, educational institutions, and governmental agencies. The important point is that Transition Internship Program gives an opportunity based on what trainees want to do, not what they can do. What would be the reason for that?

What My Mom Said About Me Dating With A Wheelchair User – Part 3 – Shift of My Mom’s Attitude

What My Mom Said About Me Dating With A Wheelchair User – Part 3 – Shift of My Mom’s Attitude

In 2011, Mizuki and I had been in a long distance relationship for about 4 years at the time. We were working respectively in Tokyo and in Taipei. We talked about moving in together at some point in our life but we did not have things planned out and we did not really know how to make it happen.

On March 11th, 2011, a massive earthquake hit Japan. I lost contact with Mizuki for about a day. I could not reach her on her cell phone……..

What My Mom Said About Me Dating With A Wheelchair User – Part 2

What My Mom Said About Me Dating With A Wheelchair User – Part 2

My dad is very stoical and does not let his emotion shows. I am not sure if he was actually panic inside his mind or he simply respected my life choices when I introduced Mizuki to him. My mom, on the other hand, is the type of person who is easily read. She did not have any smile on her face and she looked she was very very worried when I first introduced Mizuki to her.

Jeff’s Tips to Maintain a Relationship

Jeff’s Tips to Maintain a Relationship

It is Jeff. To continue the previous article I wrote about the other side of our stories, I want to talk about how to maintain a relationship, especially in a foreign country.Being in a relationship and maintaining it is very difficult. It can be more difficult if you are in a foreign country and when you are the outsider. There are 3 major factors that help me and Mizuki overcome the hardships we had and I would like to share them with you.