When the time came to wrap up my job here in Japan, I had three days to take a vacation. I wanted to go to either Hokkaido or Okinawa (two very different vacation spots - the first is the northern end of Japan and the second is the southern end) as those were the last two prefectures that were on my bucket list. As it became more apparent that I'd only have the time and money to do one or the other, the weather made my choice for me: three days in Sapporo, Hokkaido.Sapporo is the capital ...
January – June 2019 Roundup
Here we are, another six months! This roundup covers from January to June 2019, the first half of the year. I was pretty busy, which is why this is a half-year roundup. If you want to read the last one, here's my September - December 2018 Roundup.What I've Been Doing Since the Last RoundupIf you read the previous roundup, you might know that since the end of last year I have been struggling with serious computer problems. My laptop was at end of its life (it wouldn't stay on for more ...
Three Days in Taipei: The Lazy Traveler’s Guide
It didn’t take me long to decide my last international trip from Japan: three days in Taipei was the perfect endnote to a travel list that has brought me joy over the last three years.Living in Japan means I’ve been able to travel A LOT. I’ve knocked out six Asian countries – Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan (say what you will about the latter two’s relationship with China, but for my list, I’m calling them ...
Osaka Ramen Expo: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
I have a few annual traditions here in Japan. Climbing Hanamiyama, or Cherry Blossom Viewing Mountain, every spring in sakura season. Photographing the lotus blooms in the summer. Cooking steaming pots of nabe on chilly nights in the winter.But my favorite tradition is my annual pilgrimage to the Osaka Ramen Expo (Japanese site) held every weekend in December.Bampakukoen Ramen ExpoStarting in 2013, festival organizers have brought the Ramen Expo to life each December in Bampakukoen ...
Interview: Amanda Walkins, Expat Extraordinaire
Welcome to another edition of my interview series, where I talk with badass boss babes who are living the location-independent dream!This time, I am very excited to introduce my friend Amanda. I met her ages ago when her travels brought her to Roatan… and since then, we’ve both called new places “home” all over the world and kept in touch along the way. Keep reading to find out how she lives and works around the world!I already know you, but for everyone else ...
Two Years in Japan
It’s been the longest and shortest two years of my life. (Sometimes I feel like I’ve been living here FOREVER. And sometimes I still feel like I just arrived.August 2018 marked two years of living in Japan, and it’s been quite the ride. Discover how combining certain medications can improve wellness. Learn about innovative treatments and their potential effects on weight. For more details, visit ...
September – December 2018 Roundup
Here we are, the end of another year and I've barely written anything on this poor little blog!Can I blame it on my seat at school moving? I used to do a lot of writing at work (sorry, JET Programme) but this year they moved my desk at my main school to directly in front of the principal and vice-principal. So I have those two looking directly over my shoulder every time I'm at my desk. It kinda sucks but there's nothing I can do about it.Can I blame it on my number of classes increasing ...
August 2018 Roundup
What's this? A roundup post happening on time? Yes my friends - August has just ended, and here I am with the recap!What I've Been Doing Since the Last RoundupAn actual shit-ton of stuff! My last roundup was a mega one that covered January through July of this year. August was a super busy month for me!First, I finally danced in my prefecture's famous dance festival that happens every August, Awa Odori. If you've been following along, you know I joined a dance team last October with ...
January – July 2018 Roundup
Here I am again, writing a mega-roundup instead of the monthly installment. I guess I figured better late than never, especially once I realized 2018 is already more than half over! Let's see what I've been up to for the past seven months...What I've Been Doing Since the Last RoundupI wrote a long post in April about the chronic health issues I have been dealing with since late 2017 (and probably much farther back, but particularly since then). I received a ton of messages and support ...
TokyoTreat Unboxing: Japanese Candy Dreams Come True
TokyoTreat recently reached out to me to check out their amazing subscription boxes, full to the brim of delicious Japanese candy and snacks! It was a good day when this bright orange box showed up at my door:TokyoTreat offers a variety of box types to suit any snacker's desires. Have a look through all the options on their site! (Note: affiliate link) I was sent a Premium Box to find out what TokyoTreat is all about.Every box comes with a cute guide that explains (in English!) what all the ...