The same work
Last month, my company, City Unscripted, sent me an email asking if I can come in as a guest speaker for a host training session on “How to ask for […]
Easy day trip from Tokyo
I have been guiding in Tokyo for about a year when a high school friend, returning to Tokyo for a visit, requested a tour that included hiking. I figured she […]
Kimigayo and sakura
In my 16 years of living here in Japan, I have stood at attention and listened to live renditions of Japan’s National Anthem, Kimigayo, at least seven times. I know […]
I give 5-star ratings three stars
Back then, we didn’t check star ratings to find out which restaurants to go to or which hotels to book. My dad would chat with his group of friends, maybe […]
The Job I Didn’t Know I Was Made For
In February this year, I started a new job working as a Tokyo tour guide. The company that hired me did not provide any training. They simply shared with me […]
Weeding and inner gardening
It was dinner. We all sat down and expressed our gratitude for the food before us when my 12 year old son said to his 14 year old sister, “If […]
The Cost of Inclusion
It was the day after my son’s elementary school graduation, a national holiday. At 9 in the morning, he cheerfully waved goodbye and rushed off to play with his friends. […]
Do not fall
It was 7:30 in the evening. I understood that my surgery was added as an extra case because the schedule was already full. There were already three surgeries lined up […]
Two broken people
“Why isn’t this damn knee injury enough?!” I screamed into the windshield. I could not wipe away my tears fast enough and they blurred my vision. We were driving down […]
Injury and insight
The day before my birthday, I received devastating news. For the past two weeks, I have been limping on and off. It began when I tried to move a heavy […]
becoming sherilyn 