REFLECTIONS

April, 2025 SEE YOU AGAIN... I am writing this a month after  I said goodbye to all my friends and coworkers in Kamikawa. I needed some...

I am writing this in the south of Japan on an amazing getaway… having had a wonderful time with my husband who gets it.  But he is not a...

I was released from the hospital yesterday morning.  Man - I was terrified to spend two days in the hospital in Japan by myself! What I...

The first thing I should mention is that in Canada this procedure would be considered “day surgery”. I was not surprised that I had to...

It is just before 8pm. I am in the Asahikawa Red Cross Hospital awaiting the removal of a Basal Cell Carcinoma tomorrow. In Japan, In a...

The driveway at our place here in Kamikawa is symbolic of our life here. Up and down… Sometimes it takes us 3 tries to get all the way up...

I’m halfway home…! Even though I no longer have a permanent one anywhere. But I know I am halfway finished living in Japan. It has been...

I thought maybe the title might draw a few of you back to my blog!! I need to start being more consistent with my entries or else I need...

This is a tough one… But here it goes… Integrity matters - yup - me again on my soapbox - LOL! But man - it really does! I can of course...

I have known and worked with some amazing women over the many years that I lived in Rocky Mountain House. At the end of March, I lost one...

I LOVE Southeast Asian Food. A lot. I enjoy Japanese food too, but the flavours and spices of the food in Southeastern Asia are my...

I am dead serious! Many of you might think I should just chill the %#@$ out but I cannot. This is not about a debate on whether masks...

I am serious. Are you lucky? We all work hard. So many of us work really hard. And some people don’t really work very hard at all. I work...

Soooo… I have decided to share some thoughts and for you readers, (not sure there are enough of you to say readers) I fear this entry...

My mum is a warrior - she is fierce… for those of you who do not know her? You may not figure this out when you first meet her.She is...

KIMinKamikawa.com is BACK!! I reactivated my website and blog this weekend! I was missing the opportunity to share this experience and I...

Ogenki desuka? How are you? Genki desu! I am well! I am good!! Not exactly the case for me this last while… I'm really struggling. It is...

MY DAD My dad was a truly great guy. I mean, he wasn’t perfect, but he was wonderful. I listen to some of his adult nieces and nephews...

I love that we can come to Japan after 4 years, (6 years for Mark) and visit “old friends”. How cool is that? Making the trips to...

I had an amazing experience this past week. I went whitewater rafting. Because Mark is still injured (shoulder and elbow) he could not...

I know it is an interesting title and seems irrelevant? But I assure you it is not… I am happy! Don’t get me wrong - I have had a...

When I hear about what is happening in the place I used to call home… I realized how much I needed a change. This comment is not to...

One of my good friends told me that she likes to read blogs that are real and not always happy and perfect. Another friend reminded me...

I often wonder why I had the courage to pack up and move to Japan. I am still wondering… But I know that I had the strength to do it...