Tag Archives: ExPat

Panic and the KonMari Method

Have any of you read The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo? I haven’t either. The title is enough to induce an immediate panic of the type usually requiring medication. For those of you who don’t know, … Continue reading

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Politics as Usual- Always Stange and Getting Stanger

I voted. But this time, I voted on things I never thought I`d consider thirty years ago. And it just continues to be as strange as it always has been. My own experience with politics has become progressively more absurd. … Continue reading

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An Enviable Finger Fetish; Nails Japanese Style

Japanophiles think they know all there is to know about what makes Japan so uniquely unlike every place else on earth. We`ve all seen the “Top 10” lists that include the vending machines, the manga, the robot bar, and the … Continue reading

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Kawaii Construction- I Need This in My Neighborhood

There`s construction going on in my neighborhood. It`s noisy, dusty, and worst all it makes my dogs bark. This is a problem for all the neighbors because they also hear the construction, the dogs barking, and me yelling “Shut up” … Continue reading

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Posted in Culture, Moving to Japan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Elbowing Our Way Through Easter

It`s Easter. The time when we Catholics roll our eyes, put on a colorful outfit, and drag our families out of bed to show up at mass. It also happens at Christmas. The folks who attend more regularly get annoyed … Continue reading

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Repatriation During the Holidays is Harder Than Being Overseas….

The pitfall of living overseas is the inevitability of coming home. Dull. And with that the recalibration of expectations that the Offspring have regarding holidays and how they are spent. Some expats have a problem living overseas during traditional American … Continue reading

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Posted in Moving to Japan, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 29 Comments

Some Beauty In These Sad Times

Over the summer, Offspring #2 and I visited Paris- her reward for the eight hours of French tutoring she endured weekly upon our move to Montreàl. As it always is when tragedy hits a place you know, there`s a certain … Continue reading

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The Children at Taya Cavern

Unfortunately for any of you still reading this blog, I have figured out the ICloud. Which means I`ve been looking through thousands of pictures, which I will now force upon you. Hopefully it won`t be as bad as looking at … Continue reading

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Fireworks in the Taya Cavern

There are usually 2-3 people in a location that seem to be plopped there to help usher you through the journey. So I feel really guilty that I`m about to laugh at this sweet woman`s expense, but I will. (Excuse … Continue reading

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So- Where Were We When I Last Told Riveting Stories of Canada?

I know many of you have been wondering whatever happened on our driving tour of Western Canada two years ago. My last post involving our year stint as Canadians involved  complaining about the cold and singing hallelujah to the Canada … Continue reading

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