Annie

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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You Already Have the Talent- Now Make It Work For You

Books for Thriving Abroad / June 7, 2025

Real talent isn’t about being born gifted—it’s about the courage to keep going, even when no one else has walked your path. In this heartfelt reflection inspired by Dr. Bob Rotella’s Life Is Not a Game of Perfect, we dive into the truth that many foreigners in Japan and dreamers everywhere need to hear: you don’t need perfect conditions to chase your dreams—you just need proof that it’s possible. Whether you’re a mom, a migrant, or someone starting over, this chapter will show you that someone has to go first… and that someone could be you.

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Crispy Fried Chicken Unlimited: The Eat-All-You-Can KFC Buffet Experience at Lalaport Nagoya

Must Try Food Haven for Foreigners – A Foodie’s Guide to Japan’s Unforgettable Eats, Food and Lifestyle / May 14, 2025

Craving crispy, golden KFC chicken with no limits?

At Lalaport Nagoya, there’s a hidden gem that takes your fried chicken dreams to the next level — an eat-all-you-can KFC buffet loaded with juicy chicken, hot sides, fresh bread, desserts, and even a DIY burger bar. For 80 glorious minutes, you can feast like royalty on everything you love about KFC — and then some. Whether you’re a homesick foreigner longing for comfort food or just a curious foodie looking for your next big bite, this is one finger-lickin’ experience you’ll never forget.

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I Was Breaking—But I Was Awakening: How Deepak Chopra’s 7 Spiritual Laws Helped Me Understand My Life, My Path, and My Journey

Self-Improvement and Growth / June 9, 2025

I thought I was falling apart—but in truth, something sacred inside me was beginning to rise.
After pouring out the deepest parts of my story, I felt something shift… like a heavy burden I didn’t know I was carrying had finally lifted. For the first time, I didn’t just survive my struggles—I began to understand them. I saw the pain, not as punishment, but as preparation.
In that quiet surrender, I remembered a book I once set aside—The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra. Back then, I couldn’t grasp its depth. But now, it speaks directly to the woman I’m becoming.
This post isn’t just about a book—it’s about the moment I realized that every broken piece of me was actually being placed together for something divine.

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Tribute to Mother in Heaven: From My Heart to Yours, Thank You Mama Cita

Family and Parenting / July 12, 2025

A heartfelt tribute to my mother in heaven—this inspiring story reflects on love, loss, and the strength a daughter finds through her mother’s memory. A journey of pain, healing, and hope, reminding every reader that a mother’s love never truly leaves us.
I lost my mother when I was just four. Too young to understand death, yet old enough to remember the ache of her absence. I’ve spent my life walking through moments she should’ve been part of—school achievements, quiet cries during sleepless nights, and becoming a mother myself. But through it all, I’ve carried her love like a hidden flame—quiet, steady, and unbreakable. This is not just a tribute to the woman who gave me life… it’s a testimony of how a mother’s love can live on in the heart of a daughter, shaping her into a woman, a mother, and a dreamer, even from heaven.

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This Story Must Be Told: To Be True, To Be Free – A Heartfelt Story Of A Woman, A Mother and A Dreamer in a Foreign Land

Life in Japan / June 3, 2025

There was a girl who stayed silent to keep the peace,
a woman who carried invisible scars behind her smiles,
a mother who whispered hope into her children’s dreams, even when hers felt broken.

This is not a story of blame.
This is a story of becoming.

Of learning that healing begins when you no longer apologize for your truth.
That freedom comes when you choose yourself without guilt.

If you have ever loved too deeply, carried too much, or stayed too long—
this story is for you.

Because today, we rise.
Today, we speak.
Today, we believe again.

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She Was My Safe Place in a World That Wasn’t Kind

Family and Parenting / July 1, 2025

She never wore a cape, but she saved me a thousand times. When I lost my mother, I also lost my sense of safety—but my sister refused to let me walk through the darkness alone. She became my anchor, my comfort, my quiet strength. She dried my tears with hands that should have been holding dreams of her own. She mothered me with a heart that never asked for recognition. And today, I want the world to know—her love shaped me, her sacrifice lifted me, and because of her, I am standing.
Through all the sacrifices, all the unsung moments, she showed me that love isn’t just a word—it’s a choice. And she chose me, as a sister every single day.

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