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Mar 9, 2020

Share your good news from recently!

I think all of us are probably feeling a bit down/stressed/worried about the unknown that the current C word situation is bringing us! I am a firm believer in "if you can't see the joy, be the joy", so I want to hear all about the positive stuff in your life in the last few weeks! Doesn't matter how minor or trivial it seems...share away.

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genkidesu

genkidesu

Love to travel, interested in J-beauty products and consider myself a convenience store snack aficionado. Navigating the ever-present challenges of expat life, particularly about my TCK's (third culture kids).

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  • BlueButterfly

    BlueButterfly

    on Mar 12

    Actually I´m using the situation to get many things at home done like cleaning up the whole house and getting rid of many stuff. It feels very good! Also I´m using the time to finish many sewing projects, which were laying way to long in the box. I´m very used to stay long time at home, since the winter in my home town is very dark and cold, which forces you to spend most of your time at home. On the other side my little boy will start soon to crawl around, which will keep me very busy then haha.

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  • BigfamJapan

    BigfamJapan

    on Mar 9

    Well... what I am grateful for this very second is that the younger two have piano right now and the older two are outside playing and I have FORTY FIVE minutes to myself... TO MYSELF!!!! Hahaha. Small mercies!

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  • genkidesu

    genkidesu

    on Mar 9

    @Saitama that is definitely worth celebrating! Those moments of quiet are few and far between so I am going to celebrate vicariously through you!

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  • KamaT

    KamaT

    on Mar 9

    Well, the staggering of working hours these days means that I can get a seat on the train into work each morning. Yesterday I went to Takashimaya in Nihombashi on an errand and came away with a super moreish chocolate cake from Gramercy New York -- a bit of an indulgence at 500 yen (but I'm definitely going there again)! Watched a decent comedy special on Netflix by Athony Jeselnik -- dark humor but it made me chuckle. Finished a book -- Travels With Charlie (John Steinbeck) -- and started another good book -- People Who Eat Darkness (Richard Lloyd Parry) Leeds United have moved to the top of the Championship and look good for promotion to the Premier League next season. (Football talk, and I've got a soft spot for Leeds due to going to uni in the city.)

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  • ReishiiTravels

    ReishiiTravels

    on Mar 10

    First of all, I love this idea!! A few of the good things from recently: I was invited to perform my first dance solo at a performance!! It isn't until May, but I was informed about it two weeks ago!! I made cream puffs successfully! And I have plans to see my best friend from the States soon!!

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  • genkidesu

    genkidesu

    on Mar 10

    @Tomuu always love a good choccy cake recommendation...and you know it's good if it sets you back 500 yen and still warrants a repeat trip! @ReishiiTravels I am catching up on blogs and just saw your cream puffs! They look amazing!!

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  • TonetoEdo

    TonetoEdo

    on Mar 13

    Working from home in my pjs with music on is great. Very near my house is a bird sanctuary. In the last few days, I’ve seen kingfishers, hawks, and heard uguisu calling.

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  • JapanRamen

    JapanRamen

    on Mar 17

    In midst of all this, I got a new job, one that I have been working hard towards!!! Going to move in April :D

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  • edthethe

    edthethe

    on Mar 23

    So I finally finished constructing my shed! I haven't started painting or trimmings but it is usable. that means i can move things out of the house and hopefully have some spring cleaning and gardening. There is so much terrible going on I am glad to be productive.

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  • ConeHead

    ConeHead

    on Apr 1

    I’m just excited that it’s warm enough so my family can go across the street to our ‘private’ park. I say private because no one else uses it and it’s right in front of the house. I take their tents and toys along with snacks and just stay until dust. I’m so thanks we can get out the house and enjoy the warmth of the sun.

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  • Kanuba

    Kanuba

    on Apr 7

    I got a new job at a sushi restaurant, even though I bare speak any Japanese. So I am very grateful that the manager is giving me a chance to work there, even if it still a little hard to communicate.

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  • Bella

    Bella

    on May 22

    I'm attending an online class. I was planning on going home to study, but because of COVID, the school I've been interested in has switched their classes to online. So, I was able to join the lessons even though I'm in Japan :) Also, I'm busy tending my garden and baking. Plus, my husband works home sometimes, so I spend more time with him and do some of our projects together.

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2 Answers

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BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Sep 1

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genkidesu

genkidesu

on Aug 27

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What do you most associate with Shizuoka?

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BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Aug 21

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BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Aug 21

4 Answers

What do you MOST associate with Fukushima Prefecture?

Given that today is Fukushima Prefecture Citizen's Day; what is the FIRST thing that comes to mind when you hear Fukushima? And / or what do you most associate with the prefecture?

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Aug 21

3 Answers

Throwback Thursday - Sustainability blogs

@Genkidesu posted about the desire for simpler packaging this week. This reminded me of our blog theme about sustainability back in 2022. A little sleuthing turned up the main link: https://www.city-cost.com/blogs/search/tag/SustainableLife Have you kept up your good habits? In the last few years, what have you observed about how you use resources or reduced waste? Me? The photo is a takeout bento box I will reuse for lunch!

TonetoEdo

TonetoEdo

on Aug 20

5 Answers

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Earlier I wrote about how my neighborhood's "summer" festival has been moved to autumn. I also wrote a separate post about a summer festival in Kasukabe that has been moved indoors. I know there is a bittersweetness about these changes, but some would argue that something needs to change in the face of rising temperatures. So, I am curious, what would you vote for: 1) Leaving Summer Festivals exactly as they are - same date, same set up etc. 2) Shifting the time of day the festival is on, say for example, from afternoon until after dark 3) Moving the festival from summer to another season or at least to earlier in summer, such as June 4) Moving summer festivals indoors - not really possible for the larger festivals especially those with large floats etc. but maybe they could shift some elements indoors

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Aug 3

10 Answers

Favorite Noodles

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helloalissa

helloalissa

on Jul 30

11 Answers

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Most of the people I know here are foreign residents, have foreign family members, or have foreign coworkers, friends or employees. A handful of those have become Japanese citizens. We've been chatting about things like ethnic identity and Japanese citizenship. I don't plan to become a citizen, but it made me wonder, what are the pros and cons for changing your citizenship? Is it something you've given any thought to? (What might make you consider it?)

helloalissa

helloalissa

on Jul 30

5 Answers

Which movie will you see this summer?

I am not a movie-goer at all, but every year I bring the kids to see a film (and they often go with their friends too) during the summer holidays. There seems to be a good choice this year, including Toy Story 5, the Chiikawa movie, the real live action adaption of Moana and the usual annual Crayon Shinchan movie among others. Which movie are you planning to see this summer? Or have you already been to see one (or more)? If so, which one?

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Jul 30

2 Answers

Movie locations near you worth visiting?

The live action version of テルマエ・ロマエ Thermae Romae (2012) was shot at Nokogiriyama, Kyonan Town, Chiba Prefecture. It's one of my favourite getaways for hiking, the temple complex, and catching sea breezes. The movie is hilarious and heartwarming. Which Japanese live-action movies do you recommend, and are the filming locations worth a visit? Tell us the original title, English title, the year, and the location.

TonetoEdo

TonetoEdo

on Mar 23

5 Answers

What are our consumer rights in Japan?

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BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

on Mar 15