JapanAugust 1, 2026
Becoming Japanese Part 5: After the Test Support and a Small Celebration
After I handed the lady the copies she asked me to make that very day, I couldn’t help but think that I could have simply done them later and submitted them during my second interview. But again, I...
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05Becoming Japanese Attempt No. 2 Part 1
Today, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, was my second attempt at becoming Japanese. I was scheduled to go to the Legal Affairs Bureau in Fukuoka City at 1:00 in the afternoon. Because of...
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06The Philippines: A Retirement Haven, But Why Do Many Filipinos Leave?
If you had a choice, where would you live? In the Philippines or in another country? Why? Some people say the Philippines is a great place to retire. It’s affordable, warm all...
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07I’m a Lucky Mom
Mari: I should be the one to thank you because you’re the one who made me in your tummy, right? Me: (Stunned by her answer.) But you grew inside my tummy, so...
Continue readingAwakening
It’s almost midnight, but I’m fully awake. With my phone in my hands tapping letters on the screen, under the blanket. I’m feeling guilty. I promised myself to not use screens before...
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09April – the Start of a New Beginning in Japan
The end of March is, in fact, one of the busiest times for moving companies, as university students relocate closer to their chosen universities or entire families move to accommodate a husband's...
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10Mari’s Great-grandma
No one is ever ready to face the passing of a loved one, no matter how sick or old they are. It is the only truth that people keep on denying. Losing...
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Two homes. One unfolding story.
Stories to Tell is a personal journal about life, love, family, culture, and the everyday discoveries that connect the Philippines and Japan.