There are lots of sounds I’ve become accustomed to after years of living in Japan. The nasally, high-pitched calls of Irasshaimase! when you enter a store. The sounds of crosswalk signals, train crossings, and buzzers for people who are cutting it too close. The almost silent sound of approaching cars with their noiseless engines. There’s… Continue reading City Sounds
Where do we begin?
Last week, my primary work goal was to send out thank you cards to our supporters who graciously donate, which allows us to be able to work and live here. I don’t get to send them out nearly enough as I want to, nor as many times as I actually do give thanks to God… Continue reading Where do we begin?
MB and XYZ…
I find personality tests and differences fascinating. I’ve heard people say that it puts people into boxes and then people feel compelled to behave a certain way or excuse or promote behaviors based on it. Well, I disagree with the first, but can see the second happening. I think we all know that these tests… Continue reading MB and XYZ…
Global Recipes
I had a fascinating conversation a couple weeks that I keep reflecting on. The woman I was speaking with is Japanese but had lived in the US for several years as a child. We’ve talked a lot about different aspects of Japanese culture, and how my husband and I dissect many of the conversations we… Continue reading Global Recipes
Trash Theater
So, we’d gotten over the initial hurdle in our new neighborhood. The trash spot, per the sempai’s request was now on the back corner of our corner house. We’d managed to subvert the system by rushing our trash directly to the trash men, who more often than not, remember to wave to my toddler. It’s… Continue reading Trash Theater
Trash… All the Trash
Trash is a big deal here. A really big deal. In this two-part tale I will tell of the trashy drama happening in my neighborhood, there are tears that have been shed. They weren’t mine either. Foreigners can get a bad rap here for failing to dispose of their trash appropriately. And for a good… Continue reading Trash… All the Trash
Epilogue
Well, you made it though the saga. Thanks for sticking with me. I had some content for new posts in my mind, but before I wrote those things, I felt it was important for me to write some of this down. For one thing, I wanted to remember this. It was a big trip for… Continue reading Epilogue
The Saga- End of the Journey
Dallas and me are currently not cool. Cancelled on journey home, cancelled on the journey back home (yes, I know I used the word “home” twice), I used to show Dallas some love when other people complained about it. But guys, I have some hard feelings about Dallas right now. Not great, Bob. Anyway, I… Continue reading The Saga- End of the Journey
The Saga- Trying to Get Back Home
I couldn’t believe that my paperwork was wrong. It was 9pm and there was literally nothing I could do. We had had so many challenges up until now. I knew from experience and from posts that what the officials cared about was the MOFA form as compared to the test results. So, the only thing… Continue reading The Saga- Trying to Get Back Home
The Saga- QTips up the Nose
So, I’m part of a group on Facebook that offers support and updates about the changing regulations for entering Japan as a foreigner. You’d think it would be pretty straightforward. But at the best of times, my dearest Japan prefers… more…. complicated approaches. And so this group is very necessary to even understand the rules… Continue reading The Saga- QTips up the Nose
Ninja Mom 