When in times of strife, when something big happens that means you can’t live a ‘normal’ life, start with doing what you can. Rather than worrying about not being able to do things that you would normally do, doing things you can helps take your mind away for a while until you can return back […]

Probably the simplest, but not easiest, way to practice patience would be to teach someone something that they don't think they can do. You have the added challenge of motivating them, which is no easy task. In fact, I would say that is my hardest task in being a teacher at a university in Japan. […]

When I went to high school, everyday I would walk the same way to and from school. Well, nearly the same way. I realised that there was one small place where the path I took on the way there was always different to the one on the way back. I'm talking a very small distance, […]

Shit happens. A lot. But how you let that shit affect you, well, you have a choice about that. You can let it get you down, or, you can use it to your advantage. I used to get jealous of other people for not having had the same harsh experiences as me. Now, I use […]

Well, for the most part. Tomorrow I have to go out for work, and in the evening I will have my private student here, but for the most part, my wife and I are entering voluntary lockdown for the time being. We think the Japanese government is overlooking the severity of the problem, but also […]

Lockdown has the feel of a birthday as a kid or Christmas, the waiting sometimes becomes too much and you feel the urge to open your presents. Luckily we’ve all experienced this, so we know we can be patient by distracting ourselves until it’s safe to come out again. Lockdown is going to be very […]

It’s spring, and that means days where you’re not sure how warm you should dress happen quite often. You have to be ready for all temperatures, so layering comes into play, but it’s especially annoying in Japan because you know for certain it’ll be hot in summer, and cold in winter. Except in NZ, thats […]