Category Archives: Blog

Regular posts as you know them

The Ones Left Behind: Documentary About Single Mothers in Japan by Rionne McAvoy

Posted on February 18, 2023 by SK

When Rionne asked me to be interviewed for his documentary about single mothers in Japan, I wasn’t sure whether to accept or not. I did not want to become the “face of single mothers”. What a silly thing to worry … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Life in Japan, Motherhood | 1 Comment

2023 Goals

Posted on January 13, 2023 by SK

I couldn’t tell you the difference between goals and resolutions. I just know that as far back as I can remember, I have always made a list of the things I wanted or needed to do. Here are my 2023 … Continue reading →

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2022 in Review

Posted on January 5, 2023 by SK

I wish I had something deep, profound and poetic to say about the last year, but this is the driest post ever. Despite the challenges, it was a happy year. In January, I was on maternity leave in Kenya but … Continue reading →

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8 Years in Japan: Highlights and Lowlights

Posted on October 19, 2022 by SK

This October marked 8 years since I first set foot in Japan. I remember that day clearly. I landed in Osaka at around 8pm in the night and took the express train to Kanazawa, transferring at Maibara. I remember thinking … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Life in Japan, Motherhood | 4 Comments

Nail Update: I’m Healed!

Posted on October 14, 2022 by SK

It has taken 5 months, but finally the broken nail I blogged about here has healed. Please read that post for the information on when it became broken (over 25 years ago), how it got broken (door slam), why it … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Life in Japan | 2 Comments

A Day in the Life of a Working Single Parent in Tokyo

Posted on September 7, 2022 by SK

This post is inspired by K, who runs the resourceful blog “Tiny Tot in Tokyo” and did a post about their day here, and also by Pippa, who wrote about her day in this post here. In case you are … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Life in Japan, Motherhood | Tagged | 5 Comments

Young Leaves

Posted on August 7, 2022 by SK

My apartment building used to be called “Young Leaves Heights” (若葉ハイツ ). Many old and rundown apartments in Japan have fancy names like “Heights” and “Corpos”, “Maisons” and “Palaces”. My apartment building is pretty old too, but it got renovated … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Life in Japan | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

14 Months of Maternity Leave (and Childcare Leave)

Posted on July 25, 2022 by SK

From March 2021 to April 2022, I was able to enjoy 3 months of maternity leave plus 11 months of childcare leave, thanks to Japan’s generous leave policies (at least on paper). The reason I say “on paper” is because … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Motherhood | Tagged , | 13 Comments

Broken Fingernail

Posted on June 17, 2022 by SK

For more than 2 and a half decades, I have lived with a broken nail. I remember it being accidentally slammed between the hinges of my grandmother’s door. It must have hurt a lot but fortunately, I don’t remember the … Continue reading →

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The Life Update Post You’ve Been Waiting For

Posted on May 2, 2022 by SK

It is May 2022. We are lucky to be alive in the pandemic. But, where to begin this life update? First of all, if you had met me in late 2019, you would have that known I was looking for … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Life in Japan, Motherhood | Tagged , , | 11 Comments