We have a new name for this blog space! Over the course of time, this site has become more about discovering life as an expat mom raising kids on the field and balancing ministry life in another language and culture. So, instead of the very generic title we used to have, I’ve made it more… Continue reading New Name
Tag: lifeinjapan
Both Sides of the Door
I was Facetiming with a friend a few weeks ago. We have children of similar ages and were talking about what challenges we were facing with each and figuring out what to do about things. Somewhere in the conversation, she brought up something that her own mom had said, “Children don’t realize as they grow… Continue reading Both Sides of the Door
All the Things I Still Don’t Know
Tonight my daughter came home with homework of fill-in-the-blank words, where they give you a picture and maybe a “letter” (or in our case, a syllable) or two as a hint. These assignments are new as she’s starting to advance in learning her hiragana. Some words I’ve just typed into the dictionary, and together we… Continue reading All the Things I Still Don’t Know
First Day at a New Job
Last week I wrote about Trash talk and our Neighborhood Group… and this group theme has been on my mind. Honestly, it’s been a new world since we started school a month ago, which has kinda shifted our local network and how we move within it. For example, there’s a family that lives in our… Continue reading First Day at a New Job
Daily Dispatches
There’s a special pink-zippered bag among my daughter’s school belongings that I’ve discovered is the most important item. They call it the Renraku-bukuro (contact/communication bag). But I call it “The Daily Dispatches” and approach it with a “Sir! Yes Sir!” attitude. My daughter is the messenger, carrying all-important paperwork, notices and messages from the teacher… Continue reading Daily Dispatches
First Day Frenzy
Yesterday we got an email from a fellow worker here in Japan regarding our ministry. It began like this: “Sorry it has taken me a few days to respond… Things have been crazy this week with school starting back up for the kids and especially figuring everything out about my son’s new school as he… Continue reading First Day Frenzy
Nyuugaku
So the day I’ve been preparing for for months finally arrived– The Nyuugaku-shiki or Entrance Ceremony for first graders beginning elementary school. The gymnasium was lined with thick red-and-white-striped material on the walls, flowers across the front, and a wide, high desk on the stage. Chairs were social-distance spaced, and overall, a guarded silence pervaded… Continue reading Nyuugaku
Home and Heritage
Over the last year, I’ve been reading a book about raising healthy TCKs (Third Culture Kids). There are some wonderful benefits to raising your kids overseas (like an expanded global worldview, outside-the-box thinkers, an intuitive ability to empathize, etc.). But there are also challenges that many TCKs tend to face and that don’t often surface… Continue reading Home and Heritage
Glimpses
So, I’ve been toying with the idea for a while of changing up the blog format to something that’s a little more feasible… and that’s just to give you short glimpses into the window of our little corner of the world. Hopefully this will let me post more frequently and not have to try to… Continue reading Glimpses
Ninja Mom 