About




I remember stepping off of the plane in the sweltering summer heat of Japan for the first time, jet legged and flustered, whispering in the thick, humid air, "yoroshiku onegaishimasu". Yoroshiku is a Japanese greeting that literally means, 'please favor me' or 'I request your well wishes'. I have since uttered this phrase hundreds of times upon arriving in Japan in 2018, to clerks, friends, colleagues and more, making it one of my favorite Japanese phrases. The phrase, although very common, is hard to translate into English. Likewise, my experiences as an African-American Expat in Japan are equally as difficult to put into words, but I have dedicated myself to trying to get as close as I can to communicating my journey.


It was around midnight when I received the welcome package that stated my new life would begin in Yokohama, Japan. I immediately typed in 'Yokohama city' online, and a sense of fascination and fear rose within me. I saw water, bright lights, tall silver and glass buildings, and the words "second most populous city in Japan". Coming from a little-big city with a population of just over a quarter of a million, I couldn't fathom living in a city of over three million but, here I am, nearly three years later, loving every inch of this city. From the beautiful, bustling waterfront to the quiet, narrow back alley streets crawling with sleepy cats, I hope to share Yokohama's many charms with you!

In September 2020, in the middle of a Pandemic and nearly 9,000 miles away from my family, I got married and gave birth to a beautiful daughter here in Yokohama, Japan. Just when I thought I was getting the hang of being an adult, I was thrust into the world of motherhood, but on expert mode. I started this blog to not only document my trials and triumphs but also to hone my craft, find my voice, and learn how to advocate for myself and my daughter. Despite being one of civilization's oldest professions, motherhood is all so new to me, so follow my journey as I find my motherhood.




Before being a mom, and before settling in Japan, I was and still am Angie. A small-city girl from Southwestern Pennsylvania. Having taken to reading and writing from an early age and having my first poem published at the age 12, I have continue to write poetry and prose throughout the years and have dedicated myself to being a literacy advocate. My background is in education, literature (BA Eng. Lit./M.Ed Curriculum Development) and non-profit. Although growing older has changed me in so many ways and time has led me down some dubious paths, there are still some things that will always remain the same, such as snuggling up to a book, a floofy cat, and sipping hot chocolate on any given day.

Welcome to my blog.