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Whenever it isn’t summer, I’m thinking about summer. That’s how much I love this season. It probably doesn’t help that I was also born in the middle of August, which only heightens my insufferable fondness for the dog days. Not everybody shares the same view as me of course, especially those living in Japan. The temperatures in Kyoto and other areas in the middle region reach dangerous levels, and can incapacitate someone within minutes of stepping out. Even so, I’d argue there are far more wonderful things about summer than there are unpleasant ones. Let me start with the summer… Read more
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I’ve been going through a bit of a creative downturn lately. Work has been incredibly demanding, to say the least—both physically and mentally. I’m not too sure if our workplace will ever find a good solution to the understaffing problem, and I’m really just spending most of my time devising an exit plan for when work inevitably starts taking its toll on me emotionally as well. I find myself exhausted by noon, and when I get home I’m basically worn-out, sitting on the couch for almost an hour worrying if we’ll ever feel comfortable at work again. I do, however,… Read more
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Japan has just gone through a pretty strong typhoon this week, and I’ll be honest—I was terrified. I knew our home was sturdy enough; our real estate agent had reassured us more than once that it was reinforced to withstand both typhoons and earthquakes. Unfortunately, what it wasn’t built to withstand was my anxiety. The wind slammed against the windows and rattled the outer walls all night long, leaving me curled up in bed while my husband slept peacefully beside me, blissfully unaware that I was lying there wide awake, shaking with fear. In a way, I preferred it that… Read more