Annie

Why You Should and Must Get a Japanese Driver’s License

Life in Japan / August 8, 2025

Getting a Japanese driver’s license as a foreigner isn’t just about convenience—it’s a step toward freedom, safety, and opportunity. Whether you’re commuting to work, picking up your child from nursery, or simply dreaming of exploring Japan beyond the train lines, this guide offers everything you need to know. From legal requirements to real-life challenges and personal triumphs, I’m sharing my full journey—because if you’re a foreigner trying to build a life in Japan like I did, this license isn’t just a card. It’s a lifeline.

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You Can Heal Your Life: A Journey Back to Self-Love, Wholeness, and Divine Trust

Books for Thriving Abroad / August 8, 2025

This post is a love letter to the woman I almost forgot — the one who is worthy, whole, and divinely supported. Inspired by You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay, I’m sharing my journey of healing from the inside out — through self-love, body wisdom, and the quiet knowing that all is well in my world. If you’re ready to remember your worth and trust life again, this is for you.

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From Pain to Good Vibes to Creating a Life I Will Love: Lessons in Self-Love, Healing, and Personal Growth Inspired by Good Vibes, Good Life by Vex King

Books for Thriving Abroad / August 8, 2025

I lost myself long before anyone else did. I gave and gave—until there was nothing left for me. I smiled through pain, stayed silent to keep peace, and wore strength like armor, even when I was breaking inside. But in the stillness of my loneliest nights in Japan, far from home and far from who I once was, I heard a voice rise from within. It said, ‘You are enough. You’ve always been enough.’ That was the moment I stopped searching for love outside myself—and started becoming the love I needed. That was the moment I began to rise.

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How Radical Acceptance Can Set You Free: Finding Peace in the Pain and Knowing That This Too Shall Pass

Books for Thriving Abroad / August 8, 2025

There are moments in life when everything feels like it’s falling apart—when pain, uncertainty, and disappointment sit heavily on your chest. I’ve been there. Living as a foreigner, far from home, stretched emotionally and financially, I’ve faced days that felt like the edge of my strength. But deep within me, there was always a quiet whisper: this too shall pass. And it’s through the quiet strength of radical acceptance that I began to let go—not to give up, but to breathe, to heal, to rise again. In this post, I want to take you on a journey through the transformative power of acceptance. Not the kind that means giving in—but the kind that sets you free. Because when you stop resisting what is, you create space for what could be. You walk lighter, dream louder, and begin again—with peace in your heart and hope in your soul.

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How the Word “Laban Lang” Fueled Me to Go After What God Put in My Heart

Motivation and Goal Setting / June 14, 2025

At the rock bottom of my life—when everything felt like it was falling apart and I questioned if I had any strength left—one phrase echoed louder than my fear: “Laban lang.” Just fight. Just hold on. Those two words became the fire in my soul, reminding me that this battle is not the end, but the beginning of my becoming. God put a dream in my heart, and even in my darkest moments, I believe He is still writing a beautiful story. So if you’re barely holding on, let this be your sign: you are stronger than you think, and God is not finished with you yet.

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What It’s Really Like To Enter Japanese Junior High

School and Education / June 7, 2025

Starting junior high school in Japan is a big leap—not just for kids, but for us parents too. As a foreign mom raising my daughter here, the transition brought tears, pride, and a whole new world of routines, bukatsu, and quiet growth. From heartfelt graduation letters to navigating the Kizuna Net app, this post shares our real story—packed with insights, emotions, and encouragement for every parent walking this path in Japan.

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The Compound Effect of My Choices: The Book That Brought Me to Tears and Woke Me Up to Life

Books for Thriving Abroad / June 7, 2025

This heartfelt blog post explores powerful takeaways from The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy, woven with the emotional story of a mother rebuilding her life in Japan. Discover how small daily choices, healing, and finding your “why” can create unstoppable momentum toward the life you were meant to live.

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Japanese Nuances That A Foreigner Must Know

Life in Japan / May 17, 2025

Discover the unspoken rules of Japan that every foreigner must know. From workplace etiquette and parenting norms to school life, gift-giving, and daily manners—this powerful guide unveils the subtle yet essential cultural nuances that shape Japanese life. Whether you’re visiting, working, or raising a family in Japan, understanding these hidden truths will not only help you avoid misunderstandings—but will help you connect, belong, and thrive in this beautiful and complex culture.

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