Okinawa is known for its plethora of flower festivals in the first half of the year. It seems odd to be frolicking in blooming fields and strolling among blossoming trees in January and February, but that’s what I’ve been doing lately!
A 7 Wonder’s Check: Our Trip to Beijing
Way back in the day (over Thanksgiving), Chuck and I re-attempted our trip to China… and actually made it this time! We spent 4 days in Beijing, which were unexpectedly cold. We packed for 40-degree weather, as forecast, and it ended up falling below freezing… but we shivered through it and learned a lot about a place that has captured the West’s imagination for centuries, in all kinds of different ways.
So what was it like, to visit a country that rivals the U.S. as a world superpower and hosts one of the 7 Wonders of the World? Well, to be completely honest, we didn’t love it. The Great Wall was amazing, and the Forbidden City was pretty cool, but Beijing itself left a bit to be desired. You know how iconic cities all over the world have their own cultures that draw you in and show you a good time, regardless of how well you know the history, or how much you care about the monuments? Well, Beijing is not one of them. At least not for me. This was one of those places where the sites were cool, but the culture left you feeling… not great. Needless to say, this is not a place I would consider visiting twice. Continue reading
New Year, New Adventures
Holy smokes!! I hate being this delinquent on my blog, mostly because I really enjoy writing for it, and recounting all my adventures. But my new course for school is kicking my arse with one of the toughest workloads yet. Seriously, I have something due EVERY DAY. What gives? At least the subject matter is interesting!
It’s still January, so it’s not completely pointless to write about New Years, right? There isn’t much to tell anyway… at least now that I feel so removed from it already. Chuck and I experienced hatsumode with some friends, which is the Japanese ritual of visiting a Shinto shrine in pursuit of good fortune in the new year. They don’t see it as a party holiday like Americans do. It’s a time of reflection and prayer. Of course, we did ring in 2015 in true American style as well, with a party at the nearby Officer’s Club, but we did the reflection part too… even if it was as semi-skeptical tourists. (Click the slideshow to see captions.)
Futenman Shrine. It was packed!
Tying my fortune to the laundry-line wires (as I called them)
Carnival-esque fare in the surrounding neighborhood
My fortune: Excellent! (Among other things)
So many (hopefully good!) fortunes for 2015
Thirty, Flirty, & Thriving
I haven’t blogged in a hot minute, which is surprising because I thought December was going to be a pretty chill month. Not so much. I got an unexpected – and not particularly desired – promotion at work, so my responsibilities have stepped up there. I couldn’t even tell you what else I’ve been busy with, because in this moment I have no idea. It’s all a blur.
But somewhere in the midst of that blur, I turned 30. Continue reading
The Daily Cute
Happy baby elephant!
Pilgrimage to Hiroshima
While in Iwakuni on business this week, I decided to venture to Hiroshima… school work be damned. What was it Mark Twain said? Never let school interfere with your education. Yep. That’s right. Thanks, Mr. Twain! Continue reading
How times do change…
When I was in undergrad at the College of William & Mary, of course it mattered that I do well. But “well” became a rathe
r relative term. Failing even one class would certainly never have been acceptable, but the pressure to get straight A’s was suddenly lifted. I was perfectly happy receiving mostly B’s, with a sprinkling of A’s and the occasional unattractive C (thank you, “easy” Intro to Astronomy, to name one of… several.)
Now that I’ve started grad school, however, I am feeling refreshed… energized even! Continue reading
Introducing: The Daily…
I’m generally not the type to “re-blog” someone else’s stock images, but I do love Pinterest and save my non-original, copy-cat favorites there. However, some things I find are just too cute/sweet/beautiful/happy not to share here, so I’ve decided to start “The Daily…”
A few things about The Daily…
First, this will most likely not be daily at all, but daily sounds so much better than The Weekly, or The Monthly, or The Twice-Quarterly, if you ask me. So just bear with me and my misnomers 🙂 Subscribers will probably be happy not to have a daily email in their inbox, anyway!
Second, it will vary in nature. Some days it will be The Daily Cute, and highlight my love of adorable (mostly baby) animals. Honestly, this will probably be the most frequent category 🙂 Other days it will be The Daily Happy, or The Daily Inspo (“inspiration” to those of you not familiar.) It will just depend on what I want to share on any given day – on whatever is making me (and then hopefully you) smile at any given moment.
So, to those of you who read, I hope you enjoy my first…
… The Daily Cute! (Did you really think I wouldn’t start out with a kitten?) 🙂
A Few of My Favorite Things
I’ve been a bit homesick lately, as the golden hues of autumn spread over most of the United States. Despite all my wonderful adventures here in Asia, I find myself longing to join my friends and family on their foliage-rich hikes, visits to the pumpkin patch, ventures into haunted woods, revelry at costumed Halloween parties, and savoring of the omnipresent pumpkin spice latte. Continue reading
Lunch on the Seaside
A friend and I tried a sweet little restaurant in Uruma today, called Soupcon Seaside Cafe. Like many of the restaurants around here, it was tiny and tucked away, but it had great food and the loveliest ocean view… we enjoyed a delightful stroll on the beach afterwards. It is a definite keeper!
Lunch at Soupcon Seaside Cafe
Dessert at Soupcon Cafe (the water was served in wine bottles!)
Cinnamon raisin pound cake
Adorable shrine at Ishikawa Beach
Ishikawa
Wildflowers & Whimsy 