It's been weeks since I've updated! I have been busy playing Amami Tour Guide. My boyfriend was here for a week, and then the day after he left I had some mainland friends stay with me at AirBnBecca (yep, that's what I call my central island apartment.) This week, I've been catching up on sleep,… Continue reading Amami Oshima, You`re on to Something…
Springtime in Kansai
Last week, a few of us islanders decided to escape during "Spring Break" and visit Kansai. We booked our flights for the last week in March so we still could attend soubetsukai and see off leaving teachers, but to our surprise, our trip coincided perfectly with Hamami in Kyoto and Osaka! After 5 days of Big City traveling, I… Continue reading Springtime in Kansai
The End of the Japanese School Year and JET Interview Resuts
The past couple weeks at school have been all about goodbyes. Not just for the third years, but for some teachers too. All teachers in Kagoshima prefecture are required to fulfill their "island duty" at some point in their teaching career. They are expected to dedicate five years to their island school! Some teachers even… Continue reading The End of the Japanese School Year and JET Interview Resuts
Celebrating Green and White Holidays in Japan
White Day March 14th is White Day in Japan. If you don't know what it is, I promise it`s not nearly as bad as it sounds. White Day is simply a day designated for boys to return sweets to the girls who gave them something on Valentine's Day. After a couple friends asked me why… Continue reading Celebrating Green and White Holidays in Japan
The First Perfect Island Day of 2016
I wrote this post last night. I came home from an amazing day and needed to turn my experience into words. Here you go. Today. I need to put a day like today in words. Right after it's happened. When I can still feel the palpable heat of the sun on my face and it makes my head… Continue reading The First Perfect Island Day of 2016
An Island Girl in the Big City (Again)
This past weekend, I decided to overnight ferry to the mainland for a weekend getaway to Kagoshima City. If I want to spend time in the city, the overnight ferry from Amami to Kagoshima is the most convenient way for me to travel for several reasons. 1) The port is only a five minute drive from… Continue reading An Island Girl in the Big City (Again)
Japanese High School Graduation
My high school's graduation ceremony was on March 1st. The Japanese school year begins in April, but graduation happens in the beginning of March, midweek, while first and second year students still have classes. It was a fun cultural experience to attend a Japanese graduation because it was so different than a high school graduation… Continue reading Japanese High School Graduation
I See the Light (And Other Things in Nagasaki)
Last week, I traveled to Nagasaki for the Chinese Lantern Festival. This was my first trip to a part of Japan that was not a part of Kagoshima or Tokyo, so I was really excited to go. I took the overnight ferry from Amami to Kagoshima Wednesday night, and then my friend and I traveled… Continue reading I See the Light (And Other Things in Nagasaki)
Homemade Chocolates
On February 14th in Japan, all of the pressure falls on the girls to give chocolates to the boys. Except the girls don't just buy a box of Russell Stover chocolates for their Valentines. Many of them go all out and make HOMEMADE chocolates. The adorable little chocolate to the right was a gift from… Continue reading Homemade Chocolates
Island Gems
Instead of blowing up my Facebook with more pictures tonight, I figured I'll just post the ones I took today on my blog. On my way to try on a tsumugi kimono for my high school's graduation next month, I got lost and ended up at a hidden beach. What a great place to end… Continue reading Island Gems
The Becca Jar 