“You Want in on This?” Travel Hong Kong
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“You Want in on This?” Travel Hong Kong

              For many centuries, Hong Kong was under the control of Imperial China. However, following the First Opium War, control of the islands shifted to the United Kingdom but for a brief period in World War II when the Japanese occupied. As a colony of the UK, Hong Kong westernized and became rather democratic. In…

Summit Surprises and Consistent Challenges
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Summit Surprises and Consistent Challenges

              Last month was a busy time for many world leaders first attending the Asian-Pacific Economic Partnership (APEC) Summit in Beijing, China and then the G-20 Leaders Summit in Brisbane, Australia. These summits, often merely speeches of flattery and pats on the back or of criticism with wags of the finger sometimes surprise everyone and…

Winter of Our Content: Eight Winter Wonderland Adventures
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Winter of Our Content: Eight Winter Wonderland Adventures

  Although, I’ve never been the biggest fan of winter, Japan has slowly been winning me over with its variety of unique activities during this season. When going outside may be one of the last things you want to do, these 8 activities and places will be more than enough to get you out from…

Everything I Learned: 5 Things to Watch this Month
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Everything I Learned: 5 Things to Watch this Month

It’s December and the weather has turned bitterly against us. The idea of heading outdoors is growing less and less attractive and we find ourselves wanting to curl up under the katatsu and simply relax. Luckily, this month we provide you with five things to watch as you take a break from last month’s readingsand…

Tochigi Prefecture: A Nature-lover’s Paradise near Tokyo
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Tochigi Prefecture: A Nature-lover’s Paradise near Tokyo

    Yo! My name is Ryan Suzuki. I was born and raised in California. I’ve moved around a few times, but the last city I lived in before JET was Garden Grove.I’m in my 2nd year on JET and I teach at Tochigi High School in Tochigi City. It’s an all-boys super science high…

Camel Clutch and the Path Not Taken: Motoko Town
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Camel Clutch and the Path Not Taken: Motoko Town

  She talks to me so quickly I can’t understand   The Alpaca (Vicugnapacos) is a domesticated species of South American camelid, resembling small llamas. Alpacas are a unique breed of livestock with many characteristics setting them apart from traditional types of animals such as dogs, lions, hamsters and bees. Alpaca owners often use words to describe…

Holiday Season Homesickness – How to Handle It
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Holiday Season Homesickness – How to Handle It

  In case you’ve been living under a rock these past few weeks you will be well aware that theseason to be jolly is here. In addition it has left every bare inch of unattended retail space drenched in tinsel and baubles while a variety of Christmas jingles waft overhead with their own unique Japanese…