Adventure Planning and Food

We are negotiating a work-in-exchange-for-accommodation deal in Japan.

The owner of a 100-year-old farm house contacted me to ask if I’d be interested in managing the place over summer. I did a quick Google image search of the region and immediately decided this was on our must-do list.

I asked if we could come later, next year during the northern hemisphere spring. (Cherry blossoms, anyone?)

himeji castle

Himeji Castle in Spring. Photo from: wa-pedia.com

The reply just popped into my inbox — yes, spring works. What dates are you looking at?

A surge of elation and excitement and then … shit, will the kids eat Japanese food? I’d better take them out for Japanese tonight to see.

I am planning a big adventure for me and the kids, to be tacked on to our home exchange in France later this year. The adventure is exciting, yet daunting, because even though I love to travel, traveling solo with kids presents some unique challenges.

Over the next few months I’m going to be busy planning sanity-saving travel measures, such as homestays, farm stays and staying with friends and relatives around the world.

As for Japan — I’ve remembered Japanese noodles, sweet Japanese curry and lots and lots of rice. I think the kids will be OK.

But we’ll go for Japanese tonight anyway.

Japanese for dinner
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8 years ago

By: Barbara

A career girl who dropped out, traveled, found love, and never got around to going home again. Now wrangling a cross-cultural relationship and two third culture kids.

6 Comments

  1. budget jan says:

    Exciting times ahead. The Japanese are big on deep friend crunchy coated chicken too!

  2. Cake Delivery Online says:

    Adventure planning and without food …? ooo that’s not possible. So you will going to Japan with kids that’s a very good choice.

    Of course you will enjoy there food like Japanese noodles, curry and many more dishes. Its so yummy!!

    Have a happy journey!

  3. Mandy says:

    Just back in the US after years in Japan and missing EVERYTHING right now. This is such a lovely area, and the castle has a little zoo that’s fun. The public toilets near the entrance (TMI perhaps) make my boys laugh every time they go…they have targets on the urinals!
    Don’t forget to eat plenty of mochi and your weight in takoyaki as often as you can…

    • Barbara says:

      Oh, not TMI at all. I wonder if I can sneak in to take a look!

      I’m adding mochi and takoyaki to our list. We tried ramen the other day. The little one LOVED it, the bigger one was not impressed but said she’d eat it anyway. I think we’ve spoiled her with too much pho!

      Thanks for dropping by, Mandy.

  4. Mandy says:

    We love ramen, but pho is king in our home, too. Perhaps that’s just an occupational hazard for all who work at being global nomads.

  5. eisho says:

    Hi Barbara

    I love this kind of ” work-in-exchange-for-accommodation deal in Japan”. I love Japan & would like to hear how to go about applying for this. ^^

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