August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima. Complete devastation. Yet Tojo of Japan did not stop the war. Unbeknownst to most, there was another bomb being prepped at Tinian Island while the world watched the aftermath of Hiroshima. Which city would it be? Kyoto, Yokohama, Kokura. All of these were sites…
We Should Hate Poop
I hate poop. I really do. Dirty diapers, unflushed toilets, any form really makes me cringe! Since moving to Japan I’ve had to pick up a lot of poop. Happy can no longer come and go as he pleases out a doggy door into the glories of a big back yard where he can run,…
The Tale of Two Waterfalls
The slow-moving typhoon that hit Japan last week dumped A LOT of rain. The 99 round topped islands that dot the sea around Sasebo give it a natural buffer that shield it from destructive wind so there were no flipped cars, downed trees, or broken glass seen. On our first sunny day after the storm,…
Curious Worldview
World views are curious things. Everyone has one. It’s the lens looked through to interpret current events, history, and different countries. It even dictates your actions and thoughts. I honestly didn’t think about this until I began teaching Asian History in Thailand 20 years ago. The book began with the religions of India, China, and…
Experience Over Summit?
“Just enjoy the climb, take it slow. Don’t make the summit the goal, but the experience.” This advice came from the salty adventure office man when we asked him if he thought we could climb Mt. Fuji with three kids. That freed our heart to quickly plan the trip before Barrett deploys with the goal…