Let the Adventure Begin

Discovering New Things

Hello! Welcome to my unique blog! As I discover new things I will share the ups and downs - and definitely the gaffs - of my journey through reinvention in retirement!! Hoping to provide a laugh or two!!

Let the Adventure Begin: Welcome

4 min read

Here Comes The Sun

Winter is so hard on me… honestly! It is definitely a good thing I’m not trying to go viral with this blog thingy… HA! I am going to keep...

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3 min read

WE’RE BACK

So here we are… back in Japan! So after 34 days, 11 flights, all three countries in North America (if you count our miserable stop over...

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2 min read

MUGGY

I love this word! I do not love what it means! I have had fun teaching it to many people over the last few weeks! UGH! Soooooo HUMID! I...

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6 min read

THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY

I thought maybe the title might draw a few of you back to my blog!! I need to start being more consistent with my entries or else I need...

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2 min read

Happy Belated Canada Day!!

FINALLY FINISHED WITH CANADA DAY EVENTS!! This past couple of weeks have been super busy preparing to share CANADA with many different...

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BOOM, BOOM & BEYOND

After a week back here in Japan, I am feeling like myself again - jet lag finally has worn off. Pretty tired last week as II went back to...

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4 min read

ONE YEAR LATER…

That’s right! On April 21 I had officially been in Kamikawa for one year! My husband is three months behind me (to the day). When I think...

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4 min read

SCHOOLS OUT!!

As the school year wraps up next Friday, I have been reflecting on my experiences at Kamikawa High School. On March 1st I said goodbye to...

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2 min read

BLANKET OF SNOW

Today is -23 in Kamikawa! This is not something that happens often; probably less often than -40 in Alberta! And yes, there is still...

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2 min read

SNAKE SAKE

Yes! My husband tried Habu Sake in Okinawa! Everywhere we went we saw jars of alcohol with a snake submerged in it. Yes - a snake - a...

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2 min read

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM JAPAN メリークリスマス (Merikurisumasu)

You Canadian types are just finishing up Boxing Day! So Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!! Most people in Japan have never...

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1 min read

WINTER IN JAPAN

I know… 40+ with the wind chill in Rocky Mountain House… snow and freezing rain ruining Christmas for so many in Canada - but - the snow...

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4 min read

LIFE IN JAPAN

When I looked at my blog I was surprised by how anxious I was, just remembering how I felt at Lake Toya near the end of September… I feel...

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4 min read

DAIJOBU - BUT NOT ALWAYS…

The cut off age for an ALT (assistant language teacher) in the JET program was 28 - forever… so at 57 - I turned down the ALT position to...

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3 min read

OLD FRIENDS

I love that we can come to Japan after 4 years, (6 years for Mark) and visit “old friends”. How cool is that? Making the trips to...

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5 min read

UNDER ARREST??

REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD !! Mark (my husband) joined me in Japan two weeks ago yesterday! When he let Brayden and Carter (our sons)...

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2 min read

OOPS… I DID IT AGAIN!

So here I am - in Asahikawa - ready for a weekend of BAND GEEK time listening to bands at the Civic Concert Hall - YAY! I even left work...

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3 min read

It Has Been 18 Days Since My Last Entry...

It’s been 18 days since my last blog entry…. It feels like an eternity… I had two solid (14 days) of really good days - some great days,...

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5 min read

READ TO THE END

Wow… the last two weeks have been… interesting? Intense? Exhilarating! Disappointing… kind of like a roller coaster! I sang Karaoke with...

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4 min read

It Has Been A While - Are You Still There?

For those of you who are still following - HELLO - Konichiwa from Japan! I am still here - and I am doing okay, all things considered! I...

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2 min read

Hitting A Wall

One of my good friends told me that she likes to read blogs that are real and not always happy and perfect. Another friend reminded me...

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1 min read

It’s Been a Month

Today I have been in Japan for one month… in that time I have learned many things - some, the hard way! Always good for a laugh when that...

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3 min read

HIGH SCHOOL

I am into my second week of participating in the high school English classes. There are many similar things but also many things that...

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1 min read

Happy Birthday To Me

Today was my birthday, the first one I celebrated in Japan! I turned 57 today. I am SO grateful for technology! I spent a virtual hour...

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2 min read

NICKY TO THE RESCUE

Okay - I cannot possibly wait to write this… those of you following are aware that I have had a few frustrations with right hand drive in...

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2 min read

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mother’s Day in Canada tomorrow to all my fav mummies out there! I have now officially celebrated my first Mother’s Day in Japan. I...

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3 min read

GOLDEN WEEK

As I have already teased on Insta, the reunion has taken place! After 4 years I have reunited with half of the Koshino family!! I was SO...

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3 min read

STINK BUGS

YES!!! I have car! No - I do not have insurance… but yes - I have still driven said car. It was said to me to be careful… insurance might...

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3 min read

TOWN HALL

PART ONE First day of work! I will start each week in the best way possible - FaceTime with my mum. It is 4:30pm on a Sunday when I speak...

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1 min read

FAKE BEER

It’s Sunday - tomorrow I go to work. My friend Charles introduced me through email to a lovely lady named Nicky. She came today and...

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2 min read

Time to Unpack

As I walked around my new home, I realized that all my appliances had Japanese characters for directions. Did I mention that I cannot...

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3 min read

Getting Started

My first morning in the Calgary airport was spent panicking about possible rechargeable batteries in my luggage??? Have you seen...

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1 min read

Why KIMinKamikawa

As I sat listening to a woman from the Rocky Kamikawa Friendship Society speak at a staff meeting… trying to compel a teacher to take...

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