US Japan Fam
  • Blog
  • About Me
    • Contact
    • Subscribe to our List Serves!
    • Press Page - Travel
    • Hire Me!
    • DIY Hair Inspo!
    • Privacy Policy & Disclaimers
  • Family Travel + Momcations
  • Membership
  • NJ / NY Guides
    • Day Trips & Weekend Getaways from NYC
    • Hudson Valley >
      • Day Trips & Activities
    • Bay Ridge Families >
      • Life in NYC >
        • Brooklyn
        • Bronx
        • Manhattan
        • Queens
        • Staten Island
      • Summer Camp Guide
      • Birthday Party Guide
      • Classes & Activities for Babies & Toddlers
      • Halloween Guide
      • Holiday Guide
      • Scavenger Hunt
      • Advertising
      • Submit Your Event
  • Blog
  • About Me
    • Contact
    • Subscribe to our List Serves!
    • Press Page - Travel
    • Hire Me!
    • DIY Hair Inspo!
    • Privacy Policy & Disclaimers
  • Family Travel + Momcations
  • Membership
  • NJ / NY Guides
    • Day Trips & Weekend Getaways from NYC
    • Hudson Valley >
      • Day Trips & Activities
    • Bay Ridge Families >
      • Life in NYC >
        • Brooklyn
        • Bronx
        • Manhattan
        • Queens
        • Staten Island
      • Summer Camp Guide
      • Birthday Party Guide
      • Classes & Activities for Babies & Toddlers
      • Halloween Guide
      • Holiday Guide
      • Scavenger Hunt
      • Advertising
      • Submit Your Event

A little about me and the blog...

12/18/2012

12 Comments

 
Born in Philadelphia and raised in New Jersey and North Carolina, no one would have guessed I'd move to Japan for 5 years, but long story short that is just what happened. I am a product of the JET Programme, a teaching exchange program that sends native English speakers to Japan to teach English and increase international awareness at public schools and in the community. It was a wonderful experience which I owe my deep gratitude for because it was during my stint in Ibaraki Prefecture that I met my wonderful amazing husband. How we met is a rather funny story (gay night at the club Ageha in Tokyo), but basically we dated briefly before I returned to America, did a year and a half of long distance with various rendezvous in Vietnam, America, and Japan, and finally I returned to Japan to make sure he was really "the one". Indeed he was and within a few years we were engaged, had a magical destination wedding in Hawaii, and finally quit our jobs, traveled the world for 1 month (literally - 9 countries!) and settled in the Big Apple.

On my 30th birthday we decided it was time to work on expanding our family, and it took 4 months to get the thrilling double line on the pee stick, followed by 9 long weeks of intense morning sickness, ick. I'm currently sitting here at 39 weeks, already on maternity leave, with my wee little bun in the oven not quite ready to come out it seems, which gives me a nice period to relax, nest, and get this blog started! Hooray!

Being American but having lived in Japan for 5 years and having married into a Japanese family, I have come to be quite familiar with the good, the bad, and the ugly of both the Japanese and American cultures. That said, it seems there is always a new shocker right around the corner in my household. "You think you'll get diarrhea if your stomach gets cold?" "A baby's name can bring them bad luck depending on the number of strokes in the kanji character, and the day/time/location of their birth??" "Your company actually thinks we'd be cool with you moving back to Japan, without your family, for a couple of years???" I mean, wow! But no matter the issue, it really is fascinating to delve into the reasoning and history behind it, which usually leads you to a better understanding. Now, whether or not you agree with the argument and the solution is a whole other story, but these are some of the fun things we'll be covering in this blog! But not just US-Japanese cultural issues, but also ones more generally applicable to any parents - such as whether or not to vaccinate, how to choose a pediatrician, shopping for baby on a budget, finding mommy support groups, etc!

I hope you'll not just be a loyal reader, but also an active participant in the discussions! Please let me know if you have a topic you'd like to guest blog about, or one you'd like to see me post about. All opinions are welcome!!
12 Comments
Maggie
12/19/2012 01:18:31 am

Hey there! I'm looking forward to reading about your experiences, and maybe learning more about Japanese culture. Chinese people say the same thing about the number of strokes in their names, so needless to say, if we give our future kids Chinese names, it will be up to my mil to pick them!

You might also enjoy this blog by a friend who went to uni with me: http://msleetobe.wordpress.com/ She is a Canadian living in Korea with her Korean husband and their son. She writes a lot about the cultural differences, etc.

Reply
Jessica
12/19/2012 10:30:35 am

I found this blog through your post on MIJ...congratulations on your bundle of joy! A word to the wise, though....having children will bring out many deeper differences in culture than you ever thought about. For example, when your baby gets a fever, you will try to bring the fever down and your husband and his family will argue with you to do everything to raise the fever higher! This is an issue of health and your child's life and well being and both of you will feel equally strongly that your method of care if better. There is no compromising...the fever has to be dealt with. Learn to fight fair. Remember its a cultural difference and no one is trying to kill your child. This kind of issue will come up again and again. Try to laugh and listen. Good luck and I hope to read more exciting things in the future!

Reply
Jennifer Roberge link
12/20/2012 12:39:44 pm

So happy you're entering in the blogging world! Looking forward to following my dear sister on her journey! Good luck!

Reply
Jenn
12/30/2012 10:38:13 pm

I also came to Japan on Jet, met an amazing man, dud done time long distance (back in Canada and also China for work) and am now finally back in Japan, not married yet but cohabitating

Reply
Jenn
12/30/2012 10:39:31 pm

We just finished up New Year's dinner at the family's in Nagano. I bookmarked your blog! I'm also interested in a destination wedding...

Reply
Erica
3/8/2013 08:06:19 pm

Not exactly sure how this can be framed as cross cultural, but I'm interested in a post on how you are getting Kenzo to sleep. I am obsessed with helping Keito be a good sleeper. I've read several books, spent hours reading blogs, and I'm trying hard but I still think he might be sleep deprived! I feel like this is the optimal time to teach him to sleep -- before he hits 4 months. I'm really feeling the pressure and concerned about sleep.

Reply
okbet mobile app link
5/22/2023 11:12:51 pm

Your blog has piqued a lot of real interest. I can see why since you have done such a good job of making it interesting. I appreciate your efforts very much.

Reply
Baifern link
8/16/2024 03:41:13 am

Wow!

Reply
Baifern link
8/16/2024 03:50:01 am

Keep posting.

Reply
Baifern link
8/16/2024 03:50:24 am

Nice!

Reply
Georgie link
8/22/2024 02:51:34 am

Keep posting!

Reply
Georgie link
8/22/2024 02:51:58 am

KEEP SHARING!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    US Japan Fam on Facebook
    US Japan Fam on Instagram
    US Japan Fam on Twitter
    US Japan Fam on YouTube
    US Japan Fam on Pinterest
    Picture
    My Amazon Storefront
    US Japan Fam on TikTok
    Follow on Bloglovin
    Contact Me!
    Picture
    shop my Amazon storefront

    RSS Feed

    Picture

    About  ME:

    I'm a NYC metro area mom blogger living in NJ with my Japanese husband & our 3 kids (twins + 1), focusing on fun and honest product and travel reviews, helping busy parents find the best for their families! Find what you need in the menu bar or search section above!

    Legit Ways To Make Money From Home - a stay at home mom's guide to working from home

    USFamilyGuide.com

    Parent Reviewers Directory Listing

    Categories

    All
    All Inclusive Resorts
    Baby
    Babywearing
    Babywise
    Bay Ridge
    Bilingual
    Birth Story
    Breastfeeding
    Childbirth
    Cleaning
    Co-sleeping
    Crystal Springs Resort
    Family Friendly Hotels
    Fashion
    Female Solo Travel
    Fitness
    Giveaway
    Guest Post
    Hair Dye
    Healthy Living
    Home
    Hudson Valley
    Hypnobabies
    International Family Vacations
    Interracial Marriage
    Japan
    Japan Travel
    Jet Programme
    Kids Activities
    Lancaster
    Learn Japanese
    Long Haul Flights
    Maternity Leave
    Mexico Vacation
    Momcation
    Mommy Nearest
    Motherhood
    Multigenerational Family Vacations
    Multingenerational Travel
    New Jersey
    New York
    Pregnancy
    Review
    Road Trips
    School
    Sleep Training
    Sponsored Post
    Stay At Home Mother
    Technology
    Theater
    Theme Parks
    Toddler Faves
    Toddlers
    Toys
    Travel
    Tri State Area Travel
    Twin Pregnancy
    Twins
    Unique Accommodations
    Vaccination
    Vlog
    Weaning
    Weightloss
    Woodloch
    YouTube / Social

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    December 2012

Proudly powered by Weebly