Collected Item: “Japanese Pokémon Cards Keep Me Sane.”
Give your story a title.
Japanese Pokémon Cards Keep Me Sane.
What sort of object is this: text story, photograph, video, audio interview, screenshot, drawing, meme, etc.?
A photo of a Japanese Pokémon Card: ポプラ (Opal)
Tell us a story; share your experience. Describe what the object or story you've uploaded says about the pandemic, and/or why what you've submitted is important to you.
I chose to write about how Japanese Pokémon cards have helped to keep me sane. While it might seem silly at first, I am serious about this topic. I’ve been diagnosed with severe anxiety, and at one point went outside in a thunderstorm holding an umbrella because my mom wasn’t home when she said she would be. Being only 6 at the time, I didn’t really understand that her job doesn’t always end at the same time everyday since she is a professor at UWSP. Going back to the anxiety and Covid, I’ve gotten much better at handling my anxiety since then, but I cannot help but worry about my family. Due to my anxiety, I need to get confirmation that they are ok before I can fully relax.
I am currently in my 3rd semester of Japanese. I’m also a huge nerd, so I really like Pokémon.
I saw a video on youtube of a guy opening Japanese Pokemon cards, and it clicked in my head that I could distract myself by using Pokemon cards. Since I didn’t take any classes over the summer, I used that time to practice my Japanese by translating the cards to English and comparing them to the English versions of the cards from pictures I found online. Because I was able to do that , I was able to make it through my summer mostly anxiety free. It did cost a bit, roughly $50 US dollars for 20 packs of 7 cards, but it really did help keep me sane while the world went to hell and back.
I am currently in my 3rd semester of Japanese. I’m also a huge nerd, so I really like Pokémon.
I saw a video on youtube of a guy opening Japanese Pokemon cards, and it clicked in my head that I could distract myself by using Pokemon cards. Since I didn’t take any classes over the summer, I used that time to practice my Japanese by translating the cards to English and comparing them to the English versions of the cards from pictures I found online. Because I was able to do that , I was able to make it through my summer mostly anxiety free. It did cost a bit, roughly $50 US dollars for 20 packs of 7 cards, but it really did help keep me sane while the world went to hell and back.
Use one-word hashtags (separated by commas) to describe your story. For example: Where did it originate? How does this object make you feel? How does this object relate to the pandemic?
Japan, USA, America, Pokémon, Nintendo, Card, Trading, Translation, Sanity, Opal, Anxiety, Sane, Distraction, Distracting, Worries
Enter a URL associated with this object, if relevant.
https://www.pokemon.co.jp/
Who originally created this object? (If you created this object, such as photo, then put "self" here.)
Nintendo
Give this story a date.
2020-10-09