Bonus

Yes, you read that right. My husband handed me a small slip of paper the other day and said he was getting a bonus. Oh, right. It’s December. Some workers in Japan, if you’re lucky enough to be working for an organization that does it, get a summer and winter bonus. Hubby is one of those lucky people. I am not. Sigh. So I look … Continue reading Bonus

National Labor Thanksgiving Day

Today is November 23, 2020. In Japan it is Kinrō Kansha no Hi or 勤労感謝の日 in Japanese. It’s meant to be a day to celebrate labor, the productivity of Japanese people. Appropriately, it’s a National Holiday and lots of people have a day off from work. Except for me, of course. But I don’t resent it. I find it extremely fitting that I would be … Continue reading National Labor Thanksgiving Day

Our Insurance Lady

“How much do you weigh?” the insurance lady asks me. I give her a number in kilograms. She waves the number away and proceeds to give me advice on how I can approach this application with the best way to lower my monthly rates. If you do X, your rates will increase next year. If you do what I tell you instead (Y), then you … Continue reading Our Insurance Lady

Shuukatsu: End of Life Activities

I went a funeral this weekend. My husband’s 86-year-old uncle passed away. We heard the news on Sunday and spent the weekend with family. While the funeral itself was somber, it wasn’t as tearful as I’d expected. Pretty much everyone knew he’d been at the hospital being treated for cancer. Everyone was emotionally prepared for his death, had made their peace with him before he … Continue reading Shuukatsu: End of Life Activities

Fall: Rebirth and Renewal

Oh, the irony. After my last post about being consistent at writing, I drop off from publishing on a regular schedule and miss basically a month of blogging. Sigh. But such is life. The good thing is that things are cyclical and what I love about fall the most is the feeling of rebirth that it gives me. This is my favorite season because it … Continue reading Fall: Rebirth and Renewal