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…
Some Things Change, Others Stay the Same
Currently I am sitting in our living/dining room on a green government loaner couch. Strangely enough, I started another post just like this 14 years ago in Okinawa! Times change, yet they stay the same. The dehumidifier and AC units are on full blast trying to overcome the blanketing heat that sweats off shower my…
Typhoon Season
This is typhoon season. And when a typhoon hits, there are moments when the whistling wind and ravenous rain make it feel like the house will cower to its power. Then suddenly, calm comes, making it easy to forget the chaos that had just happened. This move has had its moments of chaos as well…