A little about me
Born in the suburbs of Toronto, I grew up with a natural love of travel, fostered by my family’s frequent road trips throughout North America. I have many happy memories of the different places, people and food we encountered on those travels, but my parents seem to remember things differently- apparently the back seat of our Oldsmobile wasn’t very spacious and my sister, brother, and I fought viciously for territory. (Hopefully, for the sake of my travel companions on this cross-Japan tour, I’ve become a more pleasant travel companion since then.)
I arrived alone in Tokyo at 22, with dreams of earning enough money teaching English to travel around Japan and eventually Asia. Unfortunately, it was 1996 and Japan’s economic bubble had long since burst. Few people, Japanese and foreigners alike, were making the kind of yen I had imagined. Further complicating my plans, within a month of my arrival in Japan I met my husband-to-be. After I returned to Canada for a year and a half, we were married in 1999 and have been living in Tokyo since.
Our honeymoon is on hold, and the travels I once dreamed of remain mostly beyond my reach. But living in Japan, I’ve been able to indulge another passion of mine- cooking. I’ve never met a cuisine I didn’t like, but I especially adore Japanese food. When I’m not cooking, I’m writing about it in my other blog, Blue Lotus.
We live in the most inconvenient part of Tokyo, a 5 minute’s walk to the next prefecture and an hour’s walk to the nearest train station. Thus I do not get out and explore the city as much as when I first arrived here. I do wish I had a blog back then, or at least kept a journal and took some some pictures.
Needless to say, I’m thrilled that after 10 years I will finally get to see more of this fascinating country. This also makes me want to see more of my own country, Canada, because there are so many places I haven’t been. Of course, a cross-
Canada tour would take months so I don’t see that happening anytime soon.
Click the map icon below to see my hometown in Canada.
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March 2, 2006 - 6:12 pm
Tags: Travel
Categories: Travel
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Comments so far:
March 14, 2006 Comment by KJ
Hi Amy, I also live abroad since almost 10 years and not knowing this country much… though where I am is too small (Belgium!) to compare. The tour sounds very complete from North to South. I would love to do this even though I am past the age group. Is it organized by a Japanese tour agency? My father is from Kyusho so we also visited Kyusho Takachiho and Aso, very nice and hope you have time to see the volcano! Good luck !
March 15, 2006 Comment by Up and Down Japan
KJ, this tour was organized by a small Japanese tour/scuba diving company in Okinawa. This is their second cross-Japan tour by van, although they’ve done similat trips by motorcycle as well as smaller trips within Okinawa.
I think volcano trekking is on our list!
March 15, 2006 Comment by KJ
Hi Amy, Thanks for your reply. Okinawa scuba diving sounds fantastic ! I loved diving in Zamami island! You should try next time. Enjoy volcano trekking! (hope the weather allows you to do that!) Bye—
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