Also yes, your family sounds like you would’ve gotten some *looks* in Japan. Especially back when international travel wasn’t as common/accessible or if you weren’t in a big city. In middle and high school, one of my friends had long blonde hair down to her waist and it wasn’t uncommon for older Japanese women to come up to her wanting to touch it. Sometimes they’d do so without permission. I guess one of my cousins was asked for photos in China and she thinks it’s because she’s fair with dark hair but not Asian.

I just had yet another interview and I have a very positive impression of the interviewers, one of whom would be the supervisor to the role. I don’t want to get my hopes up — it’s another role that’s open in about large U.S. cities — but I felt it went well. I won’t know if I move forward to the next round until after July 4. Fingers crossed!

ETA: I’m also really excited to buy sunscreen in Japan. Like yeah, sure, there’s a family owned pearl jeweler whose small store I cannot wait to visit, but access to sunscreens with better filters is also exciting to me.

• This reply was modified 4 months, 3 weeks ago by Copa.

Glad you had a fun time in New Orleans. Hope you didn’t melt.

I’d not say the job hunt has been great. It has been a fairly casual search over the past year and quite underwhelming. I work to live, so that may be why. I don’t think I’ll ever be like, OMG – I’d GET to do this job? I truly cannot wait for pay transparency laws to go into effect here (in January) since I’ve encountered multiple jobs that I’ve learned in the process wouldn’t even match my current salary and barring a situation where I involuntarily lose my job, am not interested in entertaining a pay cut. Or there have been a few jobs that as I’ve learned more, realized weren’t for me. I’ve also gotten ghosted quite a bit (even after making it to the final round of interviews, which feels beyond rude). Like it’s all okay, I’m okay where I am for the time being, but it’s also not great. But on the bright side I’ve regained a level of comfort talking about myself, my strengths, the value I bring, etc. I have another phone interview on Friday but have my suspicions the salary will be low. We’ll find out!

I cannot with crew socks. The crew socks + New Balance combo are literally what my dad used to wear on vacation. And I already tend to end summers with sports bra, short, and shoe tan lines from jogging, so I don’t feel the need to have that tan line be a crew sock tan line. There are some trends that I like and would try (like longline vests) and others I’m happy to participate in again (“flare leggings” and flared jeans), but I don’t see myself jumping on the crew sock trend.

I broke down and bought some crew socks. I think they look cute. I have long legs, so I’m confident I won’t look like a complete idiot.

I also like the longline vests, but they aren’t practical for me. I get cold so easily. I have no idea what you’d wear over it if you were cold? I only buy tops or dresses that I can wear a jacket or sweater over.

I rent from Fashion Pass and it’s fun to try out trends and then send them back. I have not tried the longline vest yet… I think it could work for the office on hot ass days when a blazer might feel too warm. I have one saved in my favorites. I think they could be great for someone who likes to cover their butt. Like you could wear it over a skinnier pant.

I love the tennis core trend! Little tennis skirts and dresses with the shorts underneath that have a phone pocket are so practical for going out and doing things in the summer. You can walk the dog, ride a bike, sightsee, day drink, do errands, play pickleball if you do that…

Nola was hot but if you just accept you’ll be sweaty it was ok haha. Not sure if anyone is going in the near future but Emeril’s was such an amazing experience. Definitely a splurge but the food and service was took notch. We visited the kitchen briefly and it was just like The Bear. They gave a nice card for our anniversary. They also gave us iced coffee and crumb cake to go!

Didn’t even know longline vests were a thing. I don’t love my arms and the buttons seem like they’d annoy me. But it’s good to have other summer options for work.

Yeah I don’t think I will do capris either. I think crew socks can be cute but I don’t need to cut my legs off anymore. I like the linen pants.

Personally I’d wait until after the next interview and see if things really do progress. I think you’ll have more leverage with company 1 if you’re about to get an offer from company 2. I think that’s what they mean by, if things progress. I think just knowing you’re getting an interview may not be enough for them to get the bureaucracy to move faster, they’d have to fear they’re going to lose you to this other company.