tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10703738208772512302024-02-19T07:55:12.497-08:00Home is where you areSarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.comBlogger238125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-31663866254427046452014-01-29T17:12:00.001-08:002014-01-29T17:12:21.738-08:00Silence is Golden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We're smack dab in the middle of winter here in Sapporo. Every day, a little more snow falls and adds to the snow mountains that are slowly forming outside our apartment. Earlier this month, we escaped the snow to go to Tokyo and the surrounding areas, and it was a nice break. <br />
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I haven't written about that trip or anything else on this blog, because I'm at an odds about whether I want to continue writing or not. When I first started this blog, it was to record my experiences working in Japanese schools and adjusting to Japanese life. But now that we've been here for almost four years, all of those things seems mundane - too mundane to write about. I guess I'm just trying to figure out why I'm writing this blog and what does it contribute. I'm not a particularly talented writer, all my photos are from my iphone, I'm not a foodie, and although I love fashion, I'm not really comfortable posting daily pics of my clothing choices. Those are the major reasons for blogs, right? Haha!<br />
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Nathan and I have decided to stay in Japan for my fifth and final year with the Jet Programme. Even though that's a year and a half away, I've got a lot to think about. There's some things I want to do and improve about myself before I go back to America, one of those being figuring out what in the world I want to do with myself in terms of a job. <br />
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So I think I'm going to take a little break from this blog for now. Maybe I'll come back to it sooner rather than later, but for now I'd like to focus on other things, one of those being writing songs! I'll still be posting lots of stuff on my facebook, though!<br />
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I hope some people have enjoyed reading about my life and experiences. But most of all, I hope it's inspired people to go out and have some experiences of their own.Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-91013256384788646422014-01-07T00:03:00.001-08:002014-01-07T00:03:06.108-08:00More in 2014I've been trying to think about what my resolutions and goals are going to be for this year, and honestly I'm having a hard time. I mean, of course there's always the "being healthy, exercising more, blah blah" kinds of resolutions, but those are things I always want to strive for. 2013 was a really great year for me and the boys, and so I've decided....<br />
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.....I want more of that!<br />
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I want to keep singing, keep making friends and having good times. I want to continue to be the best mom/wife/teacher/friend/daughter/sister that I can be. I want to keep enjoying life!<br />
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In our home, I've posted a bunch of pictures of our time living in Japan. I figured it was a cheap and easy way to decorate our little place, but it's even more than that. Everywhere I look, I see pictures of our friends, or places we've gone.<br />
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When I see these pictures, I'm reminded of what a blessed life I have, and what amazing people I've met along the way. I want more of those experiences.<br />
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So here's to more in 2014 (and more pictures to add to my wall)!<br />
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*I printed all the square pics through <a href="http://printstagr.am/" target="_blank">Printstagram</a>. Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-18292953645670850882014-01-02T04:43:00.000-08:002014-01-02T04:43:37.011-08:00Happy 2014!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy New Year, everyone! I cannot believe it's 2014. Is it just me, or does it seem like time is going by so much faster?<br />
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We spent the first day of the New Year visiting the Hokkaido Shrine and then going over to a friend's house to eat the traditional New Year osechi. This is the third year that we've been invited to this family's home, and although we don't really see them any other time of the year, they always welcome us in as if we're an extended part of their family. We eat and talk (it's great Japanese practice for me), as the grandpa of the home continues to pour me drink after drink. Later, we played some games and watched TV. When Grandpa found out that Ethan studies shoudo (Japanese calligraphy), he got out his own calligraphy set. In Japan, there are many "firsts" that you want to experience on the first day of the year - the first sunrise, recording your first dream, your first visit to the local shrine. There's also the tradition of writing the first calligraphy of the year, in which you write your hopes for the new year or a phrase you want to remember. Ethan's, on the right, says "Bright Future", and mine on the left says, "Always Smiling". I think those are two pretty good phrases to remember for this coming year!Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-69123830714189599642014-01-01T17:50:00.001-08:002014-01-01T17:50:22.952-08:00My goals for 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-38903673485654666802013-12-29T00:29:00.002-08:002013-12-29T00:29:58.646-08:00Holiday Hermits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Folks, we've been lazy this past week. I mean L-A-Z-Y. I've only been outside once in the past two days, and that was to go to the super market to get food in order to be more lazy. <br />
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But all this laziness was much needed. We've watched movies, taken naps, read books, and played card and board games. We've also eaten candy. Oh my god, so much candy...<br />
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...But that's ok, because it's the holidays and we deserve this rest time. Now excuse me while I slip back into my pajamas and watch "Homeland". Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-7657671057244821212013-12-24T00:26:00.000-08:002013-12-24T00:26:19.214-08:00We're Ready<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yes, after surviving the craziness that was last week, the Robinsons are ready for Christmas. Today, Ethan and I made some cookies and we've been taking it easy. Packages from family haven't come yet, so it looks like they won't be here in time for Christmas. But hey, it'll be kinda fun to have stuff come in throughout the week. And regardless, I'm just looking forward to spending some quality time with friends and family this coming week.<br />
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MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-65412645710822160142013-12-10T18:51:00.000-08:002013-12-10T18:51:22.542-08:00Plan B Tree (or Siouxsie vs. Christmas)It was bound to happen, folks.<br />
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Last Wednesday, after many attempts to communicate to Siouxsie that the tree was off-limits, she finally brought down our small Christmas tree. I walked into our home to find the tree was its side, and the ornaments strewn all over the place. I decided then and there that kittens and Christmas trees don't mix, so Ethan and I put the tree away. <br />
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But I was determined to have some kind of tree in our home, even if it was not very traditional. Something that Siouxsie couldn't destroy.<br />
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We have a rather large wall in our dining room, so I decided to get a little creative and make a tree out of a string of Christmas lights we had. I think it turned out quite nice.<br />
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Siouxsie has pawed at the lights a bit, but she's not really interested. And the glow of the lights are really nice at night. Christmas isn't ruined after all!<br />
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<br />Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-7925627911487343782013-12-08T05:40:00.001-08:002013-12-08T05:40:40.379-08:00A Little DIYAbout a year and a half ago, I bought a small table at a flea market. It wasn't in the best shape, and it was red (which didn't go with anything in our place), but I got it anyway because it was cheap and I really liked the legs. I had always told myself that I could paint it later.<br />
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In the winter, I always get the crafty bug, and I was wanting a project. So last week, I finally decided to spruce that table up. A couple coats of white spray paint and some gold touches and voila --<br />
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It was a quick and satisfying project, and it looks so much better now, despite the water damage on it. Now if only I could nurse my elephant plant back to health...Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-43779947791652952732013-12-01T05:30:00.000-08:002013-12-01T05:30:47.218-08:00'Tis the Season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Now that Thanksgiving's come and gone, it's time to get ready for Christmas! Ethan and I brought out our small stash of Christmas stuff, drank hot chocolate, and decorated the tree. We put Suzy in the other room, because we knew she'd go crazy with all the tinsel, strings of lights, and ornaments. And sure enough, the minute we opened the door, she went straight to the tree, gave it a few sniffs, and then started eating it! We're trying to stay diligent, and are spraying her with a water bottle when she starts messing with it, but I'm afraid the war of Suzy vs. the Christmas Tree has just begun. We'll see who comes out victorious in this one.Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-67524422738382264252013-11-25T17:31:00.000-08:002013-11-25T17:31:52.095-08:00The ListmakerLately, I've felt as if my mind's been a bit all over the place. So many things have been happening the past few months, and it's been hard to keep up. I love all these things, of course, but I've been feeling quite overwhelmed. <br />
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I've always been a list maker, as long as I can remember, but the past few months I haven't been making them. And just when I was feeling particularly stressed about all the things I needed to do this weekend, I decided to list them out. <br />
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<li>Pay bills - US and Japan</li>
<li>Make Ethan's caterpillar costume</li>
<li>Go to the grocery store</li>
<li>Pick up dry cleaning</li>
<li>Buy Christmas presents</li>
<li>Practice "True Love" on the ukulele</li>
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Etc....</div>
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I wrote them all, one by one, and it made such a difference for me to just see all the things on paper. It felt even better to mark each one off - to actually see that I was getting things accomplished. </div>
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Now I have about 3 lists floating around me - one for work, one for Christmas, and one for home stuff. What a difference a list makes!! </div>
Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-85550017267951520312013-11-20T05:49:00.002-08:002013-11-20T05:49:40.681-08:00Circling the World in a DayEvery year there is an all-day event for Sapporo high school students called Circle the World. It's a time where students can learn about various cultures through activities and presentations, while communicating in English. This year, my school was in charge of the event, so my colleague Grady and I organized the ALT presentations and helped with getting the day prepared. We'd been working and preparing for this since late summer, so it was a relief to see the day go so well, and for all the students and ALTs enjoying themselves.<br />
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We had workshops on Maori Haka, pinata making, Philippine food, and lots more. After lunch, Japanese culture classes were taught by various English clubs. <br />
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Oh, and did I mention that at the end of the day I taught everyone some Texas line dancing? Seeing 100 people dancing the dance you just taught them is quite a sight, let me tell you. <br />
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Afterwards, we had a much needed Mega-Beer at TK6. <br />
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I'm super grateful to all the ALTs and teachers who came out and helped make Circle the World another success. I really do work with some of the best people in Japan!!Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-51180417817531746842013-11-12T03:52:00.002-08:002013-11-12T03:52:53.954-08:00Study Hall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A quiet night at home, after dinner. Ethan's got Suzy curled up in his lap while he plays some classical music and studies his kanji. It doesn't get much better than this :-)Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-75710020677007397372013-11-07T21:26:00.002-08:002013-11-07T21:26:44.912-08:00Just Keep Singing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGem3Qzd8mYY901KGPOjrC3JEZDgBtg7JtDDhm1vr7fxpXdYMVBLCaqdSXwB8tYlhgP5h5KcedbbZR9roqGA3PajHY-rxmorNd8m0-w5vVIAEHrdLXxBQ0M0qR2j8RsDuIZAq6HWlLNuY/s1600/mellow2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGem3Qzd8mYY901KGPOjrC3JEZDgBtg7JtDDhm1vr7fxpXdYMVBLCaqdSXwB8tYlhgP5h5KcedbbZR9roqGA3PajHY-rxmorNd8m0-w5vVIAEHrdLXxBQ0M0qR2j8RsDuIZAq6HWlLNuY/s640/mellow2.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgV_02FL0vfIE2AqFr8HOUJi1TCvtbnwkLbfYpKTyVRmGNZzOG7KOew482kUFHcdALQmLIWQCMLgZD3qLEOCuB07rsvBlUOxHlFO4yyGCt2zeCsCHiFWxRUlH6orRBDPf2U9znWQLqk0/s1600/mellow1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgV_02FL0vfIE2AqFr8HOUJi1TCvtbnwkLbfYpKTyVRmGNZzOG7KOew482kUFHcdALQmLIWQCMLgZD3qLEOCuB07rsvBlUOxHlFO4yyGCt2zeCsCHiFWxRUlH6orRBDPf2U9znWQLqk0/s640/mellow1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Last week, Kousei and I played a Live at Mellow with three other performing groups. It was strange, playing at Mellow without Takuya, and Kousei and I were both a bit nervous. <br />
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My friends Maya and John played first, and after two more groups, we played at around 10:30. I was afraid everyone would be sleepy and ready to go by the time it was our turn, since it was a Wednesday (am I fated to never have a Live performance on a weekend??). But everybody stuck around and was so supportive.<br />
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Our set list:<br />
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"Stay" - Rihanna<br />
"すき" - Dreams Come True<br />
"そばにいて" - Misia<br />
"True Love" - *forgot the singer's name<br />
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Despite a few snags, I think we did pretty good job. I'm becoming more confident in singing Japanese songs (I wish I could say the same thing about my Japanese speaking!)<br />
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And after performing three times in November, that was our last Live of the month. We'll play again at Mellow in December for a special Christmas Live. If you're in Sapporo, please come by!!Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-6131772670281981592013-11-05T16:54:00.000-08:002013-11-05T16:54:03.302-08:00Ode to Autumn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I cried over beautiful things knowing no beautiful thing lasts.</em><br />
<em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
The field of cornflower yellow is a scarf at the neck of the copper sunburned woman, <br style="border: 0px; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" />the mother of the year, the taker of seeds.</div>
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<em style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The northwest wind comes and the yellow is torn full of holes, new beautiful things <br style="border: 0px; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" />come in the first spit of snow on the northwest wind, and the old things go, <br style="border: 0px; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" />not one lasts.</em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">--Carl Sandburg, "Autumn Movement"</em></div>
<br />Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-18301609004681394082013-11-04T00:47:00.001-08:002013-11-04T00:47:39.832-08:00Our Newest Addition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUXVcQ-tXzCTkPt9yumdMJdaLRKD0a_WjWlJYQ8fq0eE2p7pSNOhCpY1dCESo_MqhEOmC_GIXEKwzpMCQaX1od0WPnFV8oOuBI2Lsr6ElV1LtVMDTqUP8Xch5leh6mSv_XNX5-wJVs3g/s1600/Suzy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUXVcQ-tXzCTkPt9yumdMJdaLRKD0a_WjWlJYQ8fq0eE2p7pSNOhCpY1dCESo_MqhEOmC_GIXEKwzpMCQaX1od0WPnFV8oOuBI2Lsr6ElV1LtVMDTqUP8Xch5leh6mSv_XNX5-wJVs3g/s640/Suzy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Meet Siouxsie (pronounced Suzy), the newest addition to our little family. She's a little orange tiger-striped stray that an ALT in South Hokkaido found with her two brothers. They were abandoned in a parking lot, so she took them in and asked other ALTs if anyone would be interested in them. We'd been wanting a pet for a while, and when we saw the pics of the little kittens, we just couldn't resist. Because our friend lives down South, we had to wait two weeks to get Suzy, and we finally received her last Saturday. She's the tiniest thing, and she's adapted to our place quite well. She loves to curl up in our laps (in fact, she's in mine as I'm writing this), and she can be a bit of a troublemaker in the late evenings. But we love her, especially Ethan.</div>
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I mean, how could you not when she does cute things like this. We let Ethan name her, thus the 80's punk group name that is Ethan's current music favorite.</div>
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I've always had pets since I was a girl - dogs, cats, parrots. So having a cat around feels natural. It's funny, the need to have a pet. We really keep them for selfish purposes, don't we? For company, to feel loved, or needed. To have something depend on us. For their short lives, we are their world. For what it's worth, I'm so glad that Suzy has come into ours.</div>
Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-70895530889007513152013-10-23T17:33:00.001-07:002013-10-23T17:33:11.282-07:00Busy, Busy, Busy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Back in September, I had no idea things were gonna be so hectic for me in October. Parties and friends and singing - I love it all, but can't help but feel a little frazzled. And the month's not over yet! Here's some highlights so far:<br />
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<li>Going to see MC Mango perform for the first time. Nathan and I have been wanting to go his performances ever since our friend Nikki told us about him. I've never heard anything like him, and that's a good thing! I definitely want to see him again, but I am really not cool enough for the crowds that come to his shows. </li>
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<li>I got together with some girl friends on Saturday for a pizza party/movie night. The movie never happened, because we just ended up talking the entire evening! But I guess that's to be expected, when we all get together. Making new friends and talking with the girls was just what I needed, since I've been feeling little stressed out lately. But instead of taking pictures of my lovely friends, we all took pictures of the pizza, which we don't often eat here because it's so expensive. </li>
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<li>On Sunday, I was really wanting to go to the flea market in Nakajima Park. Nathan had some work he had to do, so I was surprised when Ethan said he'd go with me. We had a great time, and he helped me find a few good things. Afterwards, we walked around the park and then ate lunch together. Later, he said, "Mom, I'm really glad I came with you today. This was fun." My heart just about melted. Love that kid.</li>
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<li>Wednesday, I was able to sing a song with my friend, <a href="http://tadashiyamaoka.com/" target="_blank">Tadashi </a>at his Live. He's a really good jazz singer, so I was nervous, since jazz is not what I'm used to singing. It was lots of fun, and the band was so nice. </li>
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This Saturday, I'm singing with Kousei at Studio May's monthly party, and then we have a Live at Mellow together on October 30. Lots of good things to come!! </div>
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Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-42964389154609817012013-10-05T16:48:00.000-07:002013-10-05T16:52:30.978-07:00Our Place, 3 Years Later<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here's our little place, after three years of settling in and slowly collecting stuff. It's hard to not accumulate some things, when you live in the Land of Cute.</div>
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Lots of washi tape, original art (from friends, students, Ethan, etc.), and plants. I take a lot of inspiration from Scandinavian homes and Japanese apartment blogs. But Ethan's room is his own. Gotta give a teenager free reign to decorate his own space. I do sneak in there every once in a while!</div>
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I like to surround myself and my family with items and pictures that make us happy and carry memories. It's the best way to decorate, I think.</div>
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<br />Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-10521881449691275922013-10-03T06:13:00.000-07:002013-10-03T06:13:21.021-07:00It's Our Anniversary!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMxumzV1ulmeAIt6_K_ESaFF1GLwb1GNqAzun7GakWWjTNHYenQsOWHZBRgBfQrIGerkDDkBTH0m6bng8M691GCdmJ5BjdquXr2gNBBa6_RHtUjd9ZNibsSqNT9lWXNlIY6NAaxA2Inc/s1600/IMG_2489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMxumzV1ulmeAIt6_K_ESaFF1GLwb1GNqAzun7GakWWjTNHYenQsOWHZBRgBfQrIGerkDDkBTH0m6bng8M691GCdmJ5BjdquXr2gNBBa6_RHtUjd9ZNibsSqNT9lWXNlIY6NAaxA2Inc/s640/IMG_2489.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On top of Mount Moiwa, ringing the Lover's Bell or something.</td></tr>
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Today, Nathan and I have been married for 15 years. That's a long time, guys. Seriously.<br />
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Nathan, thank you for putting up with my moodiness, my need to always clean, and my constant singing. You are a treasure. Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-53250951166041787062013-10-02T05:59:00.001-07:002013-10-02T06:00:52.388-07:00Night Runner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Once upon a time, there was a girl who enjoyed running. In elementary school, she prided herself on being one of the fastest in her grade, and she could always run faster than the boys. Fast forward to high school, as the girl was trying to decide what club (and essentially what group of people) she would join. She decided to try out the track and field club, remembering how much she'd enjoyed running in the past. It turned out that track and field wasn't really her thing - she'd never really been a competitive person - so she joined the theatre club instead.<br />
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She went to college, got married, had a baby, but since she'd had a baby so early, she lost the weight easily. In fact, she'd always had a high metabolism, so she could eat whatever she wanted and not exercise. <br />
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But then she hit her 30's. <br />
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Suddenly, she found her metabolism slowing down, and it was harder to eat whatever she wanted to without feeling guilty about it later. Pants were starting to get tighter and more uncomfortable. She thought about dieting, but she was a realistic woman. She knew she could never fully say goodbye to bread and cheese and all the foods that make life worth living.<br />
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Her husband suggested she start running. She laughed it off at first. "Me, run? I still get winded when I go up the stairs to the subway station every morning!" But she saw how well it worked for him, so she decided to give it a shot. First it was for 30 minutes only and it was more fast-walking than anything. Then she found that she could keep up a good jogging pace for 35 without having to stop. She could feel herself getting stronger, and able to run just a little bit fast every time. It felt good.<br />
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Her favorite time to run was at night after dinner. It was quiet, and she didn't have to worry about the stares of people she passed by. The route felt faster at night, and the air was cooler. She could hear people eating dinner, talking to their families. Even better, it was a chance for her and her husband to talk about their days and it became such a bonding experience that she began to look forward to it every night.<br />
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She's not gonna run any marathons any time soon, or break any speed records, but she's stronger, healthier, and skinnier (down 2kg) than she was before. And that's something.Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-35501920324629577732013-09-29T02:19:00.003-07:002013-09-29T02:19:53.925-07:00Sarah and Takuya: Last Live of the YearI can't believe I'm just getting around the writing about this. Like every other month, September just flew by.<br />
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On September 4, Takuya and I had our last Live performance of the year at Mellow. It was a bittersweet performance, because not only was it our last performance, but it was the first Live we've had that Mark, our #1 fan, wasn't there. His contract with the Sapporo BoE was up, and he had returned back to the States just a few days before. <br />
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I received the nicest compliment from a guy who'd seen Takuya and I sing at the May Studio Party a few months ago. He said our voice complimented each other so well and it was like we'd been singing together for years! I kid that Takuya is my Japanese brother, but I truly think we have that kind of connection, and that's really what I enjoy most about singing with him.<br />
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There's no doubt that I'm gonna miss our monthly practices and performances - It was because of Takuya that I started singing again and he challenged me to be more confident. But I'm also excited about some other singing opportunities that have opened up to me. Most of all, I'm just happy that people enjoy what we do for fun. A HUGE thanks to all our friends who have supported us and have come to all our shows. This may be our last Live this year, but hopefully it's not forever!!<br />
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If you'd like to hear our show, and a few other things we've recorded, check out Takuya's SoundCloud <a href="https://soundcloud.com/takuya-yamauchi" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<br />Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-21454993037896471622013-09-22T19:29:00.001-07:002013-09-22T19:30:12.905-07:00Ethan's artistic sideDuring summer vacation, I enrolled Ethan in calligraphy classes with our Japanese teacher. I figured he needed something to do during his two-month hiatus from school besides play games on his computer. So every Sunday, from 1:00-3:00, he'd go to class, carrying the calligraphy case our teacher bought for him. <br />
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When I would meet with our teacher for Japanese class, she'd tell me that Ethan had a real talent for calligraphy and that he had a good eye for seeing how to make a beautiful character (kanji character). <br />
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I figured once school started up again, Ethan would want to quit, but he told me that he really enjoys the classes and he wants to continue. <br />
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When Ethan was in elementary school in New Jersey, he used to take art classes on Sundays at a local studio. At that time, he loved drawing, and I saw a real talent in him. Over the years, that interest has waned, and he became uninterested in drawing, but I knew he still had that talent. It's so nice to see him using that artistic side again.<br />
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Two months since he started, he's now writing ancient Chinese poems on long scrolls. Something I certainly can't do!<br />
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Thank you, Sagara Sensei, for being such a great teacher for Ethan!Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-33429759716474875472013-09-17T06:06:00.002-07:002013-09-17T06:06:28.483-07:00On having a son in high schoolEthan started school about three weeks ago.<br />
Let me rephrase: Ethan started HIGH SCHOOL about three weeks ago. I'm just gonna let that one sink in for a minute.<br />
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When we came to Japan three years ago, Ethan was in 6th grade. At that time, we weren't really sure if we were going to put him in Japanese school, homeschool, or Hokkaido International School. After taking a tour of the International School, we decided to bite the bullet (and a big chunk of our salaries) and enroll him there. And we've never regretted it. Not only does Ethan get a top-notch education there, but he'll be able to easily transition to an American school when we decide to return. <br />
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Now, he's in 9th grade, and studying geometry, taking Theater as an elective, and reading "Things Fall Apart" in Literature class. These are all things I vividly remember doing as a high schooler, which makes it all the more amazing to me. I guess it wasn't THAT long ago, haha.<br />
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He plays guitar, reads voraciously, and can carry Japanese men on his shoulders. Oh, and he doesn't mind hanging out with his mom every once in a while. Sure, he's likes more alone time now, and occasionally he can have quite an attitude, but that's to be expected at this age. Time is going by a little faster than I'd expected, but I'm proud of the young man Ethan is turning out to be.Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-80669836492334231162013-09-01T01:42:00.000-07:002013-09-01T01:42:15.821-07:00On starting my 4th year in Japan.Once again, August flew by as it normally does. It's the month of summer vacation in Japan, and I took some nenkyu (paid vacation) days to relax and spend time with my boys and my friends, some of who left to return to their home countries.<br />
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August also marked the third year we've lived in Japan. I can't even believe it. Who would have ever thought we'd stay here this long? I certainly didn't. But here we are, starting our fourth year in Sapporo.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first school, three years ago.</td></tr>
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Since moving here:<br />
Nathan ran 110K and became a teacher at HIS.<br />
I took the JLPT (3 times) and started singing for an audience again.<br />
Ethan started Japanese calligraphy classes and became a high schooler..<br />
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Among other things.<br />
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I would never trade my experience I've had living and teaching here. It's stretched me in ways that have made me a better person and a better teacher. As an American from a small town, I think it's easy to become insular and to not want to explore beyond the world in which you're familiar. But once you move to another country, it completely changes your view of the world that I think so many of us create for ourselves by what we see on the internet or on TV.<br />
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I cannot wait to see what in store for us this fourth year!! Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-87741741440900675832013-08-25T05:29:00.001-07:002013-08-25T05:29:54.356-07:00My Balcony Garden, Year 3Another summer, another balcony garden. I planted my usuals, and some more flowers this year, which did really nice. I still had to battle the aphids this year, so I made a concoction of dish soap, tabasco, and vegetable oil which seemed to do the trick. <br />
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I love my little garden, and it's so nice to be able to go out there and pick some things to use in dinner that night. But what I wouldn't give to have a nice, big garden, where I could grow lots of veggies, herbs, and flowers.<br />
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Perhaps someday...<br />
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<br />Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070373820877251230.post-59641459337561183372013-08-11T06:29:00.002-07:002013-08-11T06:29:36.958-07:00Silver and Gold"<i>Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other's gold."</i><br />
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As a child, I didn't really have any close friends. School and neighborhood friends, sure, but I think my childhood shyness kept me from having a best friend - the kind you tell all your closest secrets, and are joined at the hip. I had trouble really opening up to anyone, and eventually, they all moved on to other groups in time. <br />
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But there's something special about living abroad with another group of people who are sharing the same experience as you. When all your loved ones are thousands of miles away and you have only each other. Since moving to Japan, I've been lucky enough to have made some really close friends.<br />
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These four girls in particular were my family away from home, and my sisters when my real one wasn't around. We had dinner parties, late night talks with lots of wine, karaoke sessions and movie nights. Did I mention wine? </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarlett, me, and Kelly</td></tr>
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When I found out my mom had cancer last year, it was these girls who took me out for dinner and karaoke to help me take my mind off things. They'd watch Ethan for us when Nathan and I wanted a night out (he's too old for a baby-sitter now). We'd talk about work, and love, and boys, and whatnot. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adrienne, Tim, and Kele. All these wonderful people are gone now.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Scarlett. </td></tr>
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I've never felt closer with a group of girls ever. But all good things must come to an end, especially in this kind of job. You know eventually someone's gonna leave, but it doesn't make it easier.<br />
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Kelly's living in New York City now with her husband. Scarlett's living it up in London. Adrienne's in Portland. They all went this time last year, and it was hard to see them go. But I still had Maggie. Now, Maggie's on her way to America and I'm the last one left.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Maggie</td></tr>
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And here I am. I didn't think I'd be the last one here, but well, these girls have got lives to live, and there's lots of world to see. I miss them all terribly, but I'm so excited to see what the future has in store for them. With skype and facebook, they don't feel too terribly far away, but what I wouldn't give sit in a room with them, drink some wine, and talk the night away. And if they ever want to come visit Japan again, I've got a couch waiting for them!!Sarah Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14412945317980752710noreply@blogger.com0