Being a Broad in Japan

Being a Broad, a blog and online magazine for foreign women in Japan, posted a little feature of me on their site today.  I’m not used to being pampered and primped, so needless to say I was a bit on the awkward side during the photo shoot. In most of the photos I look like a mousedeer [...]

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Hanami Lunch

A friend and I stopped into Shinjuku Gyoen for lunch yesterday. We found a spot under a tree with big draping branches, so it felt like we were inside a sakura-lined fort. Every so often, someone would duck in, say hello, wander by. We ate sakura mochi and drank tea like two civilized ladies. [husband editor's note: [...]

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Spring Break isn’t just for kids.

Spring Break has gotten the best of me. I had a huge to-do list for my two weeks off, and maybe 3 things got done. School starts again tomorrow (must. cram. kanji. now.) so I’ll be back soon, but for now take a peek at the pretty sakura blossoms which sprung up all over Tokyo [...]

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Pink is the color of my White Day.

Today was White Day in Japan. Because I’m a bit spoiled, I got these: A messy desk with fabric thrown over the piles of craft seconds as a photo studio. See Dan? there is a method to my madness. Those macarons were amazing. Are they always? I have no idea. I usually opt for fruit tartlets, [...]

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Snowkyo ❅

It was a snowy day in Tokyo. Most people here carry umbrellas when it snows, but my proud Minnesotan roots won’t allow it. I love when the snow hits my eyelashes. But today’s snow was wet and thick, and 10 minutes after I left the house I was soaked. So I gave in and pulled out [...]

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Setsubun

As I mentioned in my New Years post, I went back to school. So far it has been great: Class is a challenge, but not too hard. Homework is enjoyable. I’m meeting funny new people, and they’re Korean and we’re forced to talk to each other in Japanese. I’m loving it. They like Stevie Wonder [...]

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2012

Happy New Year everyone! あけましておめでとうございます！ 2012 snuck up on me. I was so busy planning the end of 2011, that I forgot 2012 came next. 2012, you dirty little dog! Name-calling is probably a bad start. I’m not big on resolutions, but I am big on to-do lists. I LOVE to-do lists and make one [...]

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Merry.

Merry Christmas everyone!

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Gratesgiving

I tried to explain Thanksgiving to a Japanese acquaintance. “So the Indians and Pilgrims were having a party?”  … “Hmm, sort of,” I replied. “So you have a party to celebrate the party?” … “Eh, I guess. Sort of.” “You shove the stuffing WHERE?!” … “I suppose it is a little gross when you think [...]

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Duplicate and Elaborate

This is a story about a girl with nerves of steel. Maybe just bones reinforced by steel, and nerves of … (Dan, what is something kind of wimpy?) … a wet tissue. (Ew Dan, that’s gross.) It is a story about this: My elbow, which I broke in a freestyle walking competition six years ago. [...]

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