American Life / Immigration

Crossing California with Tesla FSD: San Francisco → Yosemite Part 2 Introduction Welcome to Part 2 of our road trip from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park. In this segment we roll along the I-580 freeway near Oakland, spotlighting Tesla FSD’s technical tricks and uncovering off-the-radar scenic spots. Look forward to ruins like the Sutro […]

Introduction On this outing I hopped into a self-driving Waymo’s fully driver-less robotaxi in San Francisco to hunt down filming locations from the ’90s hit sitcom Full House. Alphabet’s fully autonomous ride carried me from Alamo Square—home of the “Tanner house” in the show’s opening credits—all the way to the famously twisty Lombard Street. The photo below shows […]

To Become Able to Speak English: Helpful English Study Methods Hello. This is Suzuki from Eco Drive. Although I was originally weak at English, I’ve studied it using various methods after moving to America. Now I’ve quit my corporate job and started a business in America, and I can live here without any difficulties. This […]

Are Used-Car Dealers in the U.S. Practically Like the Yakuza?! Hello, this is Suzuki from Eco Drive. You might remember how a scandal involving a certain well-known Japanese used-car dealer recently made big headlines. The revelations were shocking, and I thought, “Wow, this can happen even in Japan.” But I’ve realized that used-car dealers in […]

Efficient English Learning Methods Based on Real Experience Hello, this is Suzuki from Eco Drive. Today, I’d like to talk about effective English learning methods. I moved to America in 2004 and have been living here for nearly 20 years now, and I can use English to a level where I don’t have trouble in […]

Things I Noticed After Moving to the United States (Los Angeles) It’s hard to believe, but it has already been 20 years since I moved to the United States. Because the rules and environment in LA are so different, my mindset has shifted in several ways compared with when I lived in Japan. I’d like […]

Credit History Works for More Than You Think! Hello, this is Suzuki from EcoDrive. In the last posts I explained what credit history is and how to boost your credit score. Today I’d like to share some real-world advantages of building credit in the United States, based on my own experience. The videos embedded in […]

Things I Noticed After Moving to the United States Hello, this is Suzuki from Eco Drive. It’s hard to believe, but it has already been 20 years since I moved to the United States. As you’d expect in a different country, the rules and environment aren’t the same, so my way of thinking has changed […]

A U.S. Essential: How to Raise Your Credit Score Hi, this is Suzuki from EcoDrive. Last time, I covered the basics of credit history; today I’d like to share some practical tips for boosting your credit score. You can read the previous post here! In the U.S., your credit score dramatically affects how easy—or hard—it […]

Want to Buy a Used Car in L.A.? Here Are Your Options! When you’re looking to purchase a used vehicle in Los Angeles, you’ve got plenty of routes to choose from. Each buying method has its own quirks, so we’ve broken down the pros and cons for you. If you’re considering snagging a pre-owned ride […]