Bright Life! Bright Life!
This time last year I was well into my first year on the JET Programme and coming to terms with my decision to recontract for another year. In December 2019 it was that time again to ask, was another year living in the Japanese countryside ‘to be or not to be?’ Last time I wrote [...]
My Japanese primary schools have been holding club activities every other week, starting from October. The clubs run only in the Autumn months and are one of my favourite activities of the school year. They're like a mini-game versions of the clubs that the kids will be able to join when they graduate into high [...]
Around this time last week I was gathering my things to help out at the JET Orientation event in Kumamoto City. I had agreed to help out at an information booth about living as a veggie in Japan to help other veggies and vegans. Sadly, bad weather meant that this part of the orientation was [...]
This is the end Beautiful friend This is the end The spectral voice of Jim Morrison echoing in your head should usher you into the reflective ethereal state I’ve found myself plunged in after reaching the end of my first year in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher. Leading up to this point I’ve been [...]
Last week, my elementary school 6th graders graduated and... oh my god, it was emotional. I planned my day so that I could say goodbye to the kids from both schools. I would attend the graduation ceremony at Menda Elementary (my biggest school) and then drive to Ue Elementary for the send off. Unlike in [...]
If you find yourself wandering down to Yufuin, maybe after a visit to Beppu to wander around the Floral Village and see Kiki's Bakery- I would recommend the Country Road Youth Hostel as a place to stay! I reserved a place on Booking.com for the good price and promise of a small onsen in the [...]
Since my last post rambling the to’s and fro’s of recontracting I made a decision. Last week I decided to recontract for another year on JET! As well as many other things, this means I’ll be coming home in August 2020, when I’m 23, and I’ll (hopefully) be coming back much more travelled, experienced and [...]
I've been putting off this update for a while, being mega busy and feeling like I wanted to write about other things; but I decided it's important to have a monthly overview (even if it is morbidly overdue). September was my first full month in Japan, I was getting more settled into my house and [...]
This weekend I took a solo road-trip across to Takachiho and my first destination, after an awesome stay at Ukigumo B&B, was the infamous Takachiho Gorge. I wanted to visit here since I first arrived in Japan and researched possible road-trip destinations. It felt so great to finally visit! That morning I woke up early, [...]
Most events in your life would be made better with the perfect song. Those crucial seconds that your wrapper spends flying towards the bin- 'Ride of the Valkyries'. Balancing your week-long stash of plates and cups out of your room- 'Eye of the Tiger'. You put on some mascara and finally washed your hair- 'No [...]
AKARUI LIFESTYLE 