American Life / Immigration

Japan’s Charms and Challenges Noticed After Returning Home After a Long Absence Hello. This is Suzuki from Eco Drive. This time, continuing from the previous article, I’d like to talk about the charms of Japan that I noticed when returning home. I usually return home every three years, but this time it was after 5 […]

The Good Things About Tesla (Electric Vehicles) Hello, this is Suzuki from Eco Drive. Recently, I feel like there’s been an increase in news about electric vehicles (EVs). There are various opinions about EVs, including their advantages and disadvantages. This time, based on my experience driving my own Tesla, I’d like to talk about the […]

How to Get a New Car in LA – Complete Guide! Hello, this is Suzuki from Eco Drive. Last time, we talked about how to procure used cars in Los Angeles, America. This time, I’ll explain how to purchase or lease a new car in LA. You can check the method for purchasing used cars […]

Back to Japan After 5 Years: Feeling Like a Solo Tourist Hello. This is Suzuki from Eco Drive. This time, I’d like to talk about the differences between Japan and America that I noticed after returning home after a long absence. Having lived on the US West Coast for about 20 years, I usually return […]

Crossing California with Tesla FSD: San Francisco → Yosemite Final Chapter Introduction: Wrapping Up a Five-Part Saga The epic journey from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park has finally reached its conclusion. In this finale, which starts near Merced, the scenery shifts dramatically from flat farmland to towering mountains, pushing Tesla FSD to tackle winding […]

Crossing California with Tesla FSD: San Francisco → Yosemite Part 4 Introduction In Part 4 of our trip from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park, we confront the real-world performance and limitations of FSD. After leaving the Turlock Supercharger, we drove to roughly the 130-mile mark and observed several noteworthy FSD behaviors. This report offers […]

Crossing California with Tesla FSD: San Francisco → Yosemite Part 3 Introduction Part 3 of our journey from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park takes us inland through the Central Valley. Starting near Tracy, we follow State Route 132 past Modesto and into Turlock. Highlights include the vast nut orchards of California’s “breadbasket” and a […]

Introduction One of the most exciting ways to explore San Francisco is to sightsee in a Waymo self-driving taxi and experience cutting-edge autonomy first-hand. In this ride we travel from the heart of downtown to the Outer Sunset neighborhood on the south side of Golden Gate Park, while pointing out can’t-miss spots such as Pier 39, Alcatraz […]

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 […]