Posted by Lieutenant Akane Sakai (Counselor) in CNS’ Office- Ka’sora’s Eval

Posted by Ensign Ka’sora Pru’moa Daveyla (Science Officer) in CNS’ Office- Ka’sora’s Eval

Posted by Lieutenant Akane Sakai (Counselor) in CNS’ Office- Ka’sora’s Eval
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻
<snip>

Akane grinned, appreciating a fellow sweet tooth. She sauntered over to the dessert array and cut a large slice of cake for each of them before walking over to the replicator and ordering a water and a green tea. “Thank you Ensign,” she replied as she popped the cake and water in front of her guest and noticed Ka’Sora peering at the bonsai tree. She smiled and plucked it off the shelf, popping it down on the desk. “It’s called a bonsai tree, it’s a traditional Japanese art form that my father taught me,” she said proudly, smiling at the memory of herself watching her father painstakingly prune and shape the delicate trees in their greenhouse.

Oh, she was so going to investigate the tree later! “I’ve never seen such a tiny tree!” she said, her gold eyes alight. “Back home, well, ours are very tall.” they had to be in order to live up in the canopy.

“So how are you settling in?” Akane asked as she popped a piece of cake in her mouth.

• Lt Sakai (Counselor)

She wobbled her head back and forth as she scraped a bit of the icing from the cake with her index finger and popped it in her mouth. She beamed in delight. “I haven’t been here very long and only just started doing the rounds for my check-ins, but so far I’m very grateful for the accommodations to my dwelling. I think it’s going to work out well. I still will find it hard to live alone, but I managed at the Academy and on my cadet cruise, so I know I will here too, even if long-term I know it will be lonely.”

~Ensign Ka’Sora

Akane smiled and studied Ka’Sora with interest. It was always exciting to meet a new species and she was always fascinated to learn about new cultures. “Well I’m sure you’ll make friends quickly. I’m new here myself as well but everyone seems very friendly, and my door is always open if you start to feel isolated.” She added with a warm smile.

Ka’sora nodded and smiled back, but it didn’t quite touch her eyes. It was a common sentiment, and one she most definitely appreciated, but it was hard for those unfamiliar with communal life to understand that even the separation of rooms in a dwelling (with a couple exceptions), was isolating.

Taking another bite of cake, she sat back in her chair and crossed her legs. “So tell me Ensign, what made you choose star-fleet? I don’t know of many Zaharans in the fleet, in fact I haven’t met any of your species before.” She admitted as she took a long slurp of her tea.

• Lt Sakai (Counselor)

“I’m the first, in Starfleet,” Ka’sora said. “The only other Zaharan to serve on a Federation starship joined through a civilian exchange as my people got to know the Federation better. Her name is La’kia and she is now an ambassador.” How could she fully explain her decision to not just try for a civilian exchange position but join Starfleet. “I have an advanced degree in Sociology, what you would classify as a doctorate. I study social interactions and how different variables shape those interactions and lead to the formation of mores and customs. I had the privilege of meeting La’kia once and… well, long story short, as my people venture farther out in the galaxy, it’s important for us to learn from others. What better way to find our place amongst you all but to join an organization where we can serve together formally? It wasn’t an inevitable choice, or even that I would get into the Academy, but it’s important. Someone from my world had to be the first. Why not me?” she said with a tiny grin, her gold eyes lighting up as she took another bite of her cake.

~Ensign Ka’Sora

Akane smiled warmly as she listened to Ka’Sora speak. “You have a wonderful outlook Ensign, and I think you’ll find life on board a starship fascinating. Each posting is unique and you’ll certainly learn a lot about different species and customs from all over the federation. I imagine it was quite a culture shock when you first joined the academy though. How did you adapt to being in such a different environment?” She asked curiously as she took another mouthful of cake.

• Lt Sakai (Counselor)

Ka’sora drew in a deep breath and nodded slowly. “It was… a lot. The culture differences were one thing, but I’ve handled most of them better than others on my world might because of my research. It was easier once I reminded myself that every nuance and difference was something for me to learn about and examine more closer. Though, something the more individualistic cultures have been harder. I tend to second-guess what is and isn’t okay. That and many people I have discussed societal structure with have a hard time with the fact that my people raise children communally and we rarely know who our male progenitors are.”

~Ensign Ka’Sora

Akane nodded with great interest, she was excited to learn more about Ka’Sora’s culture as it seemed so different to her own. She had experienced many different races of course but she was always keen to get a new perspective. It was one of the parts she loved about her job and she was always fascinated to gain new insights.

“It sounds like you managed to adapt very well, some individuals really struggle with it, even when they come from similar cultures. I’m sure you’ll have plenty of opportunity on board to learn more and if you ever have any questions, please do ask,” she replied warmly as she polished off her cake.

Akane briefly made a couple of notes on the screen in front of her before taking another sip of her tea. “So tell me a bit more about yourself Ensign, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?” She asked curiously.

• Lt Sakai (Counselor)

Ka’sora’s golden eyes lit up. “Oh, many things! I love to cook, and weave and sew. I’m used to being very active and enjoy swimming, climbing and spelunking. I’m not so good at music, but I can keep a drum beat in music circles,” she said with a giggle. “Oh, and I’m known back home as an expert hunter. My brother and I often joined hunting parties together.”

~Ensign Ka’Sora

Akane smiled as she saw Ka’Sora’s excitement when she was talking about her passions. “It certainly sounds like you like to keep busy!” Akane chuckled as she pushed her plate to one side. “I also love to cook, particularly Japanese food. I would love to try some food from your culture sometime as well, I’m always looking for new recipes,” she added with a friendly smile. She had always felt that the best way to get to know someone was to share a meal with them.

“Oh, that would be lovely! We must trade cooking night then,” Ka’sora said, as if it were a done deal.

Akane chuckled and nodded enthusiastically, bouncing off the young woman’s energy. “Absolutely! Let me know when you’re free and we’ll have a cook off,” she replied with a warm smile.

“As for climbing and hunting, I’m sure there are some excellent holodeck programs that you might be interested in. Have you had much chance to try the holodeck during your training?” She asked curiously.

• Lt Sakai (Counselor)

She nodded. “A little bit. At first it was a bit unnerving but I got used to it after a few times. And actually, I discovered that I could do programs with my native gravity and honestly, it was so nice, since outside of my quarters I just feel… heavy everywhere else. It’s hard to move as well. Tiring, too. The holodeck is a bit of freedom, actually,” Ka’sora said, tilting her head slightly upwards as she pondered.

~Ensign Ka’Sora

Akane made a couple of notes on her PaDD as she nodded. “How have you managed to adapt to that? I imagine that must have been particularly hard at the academy with your physical training?” She asked curiously.

• Lt Sakai (Counselor)

Ka’sora chewed on the inside of her cheek while she pondered. “To be honest, I don’t think I’ll ever truly adapt. I manage as best I can while on duty, but every time I step back into my quarters, I breath a sigh of relief. In fact, at the Academy I had a regular room with a roommate at my request and I really did try to manage. But after awhile the physical toll led to mental stress and I just wasn’t doing so well. So they moved me to a solo room. I missed my roommate, but I couldn’t very well ask her to live in my lighter gravity.” She shrugged a little. “I guess it’s just one of those scenarios where there is no one good solution and I will always just be a bit uncomfortable.”

~Ensign Ka’Sora

Akane nodded making a few additional notes. “Well if there is anything we can do to help you acclimatise or adapt, please do let me know. I’m sure there are solutions we can put in place if it becomes too difficult,” she added warmly as she quickly set a reminder to check in with her later.

Ka’sora wasn’t so sure about that, but this was her first regular assignemnt. This wasn’t teh Academy and this wasn’t a training cruise. Maybe there were more options? She nodded.

Akane put her PaDD down and gave the Ensign a warm smile. “So is there anything else you’d particularly like to discuss?” She asked, giving the floor to Ka’Sora.

• Lt Sakai (Counselor)

“You know, I’m not so sure. I know a lot of my adjustment is going to be figuring out how things work here and how to go about my work.” She took a final bite of the cake and set it aside. “I knew when I left for the Academy that I would be giving up seeing my family for a very long time, but having spent time with them so recently I miss them so much more than if I hadn’t been able to go back home for awhile. At the same time, being back and reminding myself how rich our culture was really important. I want to share my world and my people with others and their only reference point is going to be me, so it made sense for me to feel as grounded in that culture as possible.” She smirked. “Though at the time I didn’t go through quite the same thought process. It was more intuition than anything.”

~Ensign Ka’Sora

Akane considered what Ka’Sora was saying and nodded sympathetically. “I understand Ensign, it’s often a difficult balance between wanting to expand our horizons and experiences against the pull we have from what is familiar, especially when there is such a dramatic difference between our posting and home life but this is all completely normal. Anyone on a long term posting away from home will have those moments where they feel that longing to be with family and the familiarity of home. You’re not alone in that respect Ensign, it happens to all of us to some degree.” She added with a friendly smile. “I would encourage you to bring some aspects of your home life on board with you, whether that’s having a few meals a week of your home cuisine or perhaps connecting with some of your crewmates over something traditional from home?” Akane suggested as she wandered over to her bookcase and peered through the shelves for a delicate wooden box. Spotting it she slid it off the shelf and returned to sit opposite Ka’Sora. She lovingly placed it on the table and opened it out to reveal something similar to a chessboard although the squares were all the same colour. She plucked a white tile with delicate Japanese characters carved into it and passed it to Ka’Sora with a childlike grin.

“This is called shogi,” she said as she began to place the tiles on the board. “Whenever I am feeling homesick I get this board out and set it up.” She added as she continued placing the tiles in place. “I rarely play any more but I have such fond memories of this game from my childhood. My grandfather was an excellent player and as soon as I heard him arrive for a visit when I was a girl, I would run and start setting up the board. It became almost ritual for me, then when he passed, my father and I would often spend hours playing in the evenings.” She smiled as she gazed at the board. “Often, this is enough for me, I don’t need to play the game but just the act of setting up the board brings me a lot of peace and comfort if I’m having a hard time,” she added softly.

• Lt Sakai (Counselor)

Her golden eyes were wide and lit up. It was this sort of thing that she absolutely loved and why she studied sociology in the first place. “I’m curious though, wouldn’t you want to play with someone to reinforce that happy memory? Or do you think new experiences with the game would compete with the memories?” she asked, tilting her head to the right as she studied the board from a different angle, trying to guess how the game might work.

~Ensign Ka’Sora