My name is Mallory and I’m currently an expat in Japan, working as an English teacher. I started to blog as a way to remember and share the adventures I’ve had, but as I became more involved with my blog and the community, I found that I also love blogging to be able to connect with others with similar interests.
Q. What brought you to Japan?
A. I always wanted to live abroad and after visiting Japan when I was in high school, I fell in love with the country. Japan is a beautiful country and I wanted to be able to travel to more of Japan’s hidden gems as well as experience daily life. I’m also half Japanese, which led me to wanting to discover more about my ancestors and my heritage.
Q. Tell us about the best place you’ve visited since moving to Japan.
A. I would have to say Kyoto. Kyoto is one of my favorite cities because there is so much history and beautiful landscapes wrapped up into a city. From geishas to shrines to markets, there are so many things to do. During my recent trip, I visited Fushimi-Inari Shrine and loved seeing all the torii gates and shrines while going on a little hike through the mountain. Even with the hundreds of people there, there was still an element of serenity.
Q. Do you have a bucket list of must-see places in Asia?
A. Yes! My two top countries on my bucket list are Thailand and Cambodia. I took classes on Southeast Asian history, which focused a lot on Cambodia, which sparked my interest in Cambodia. I hope to visit Angkor Wat one day. Just knowing the incredible history behind that structure makes me want to appreciate it in person and stare at it in awe. And Thailand? Besides eating everything and visiting temples, I would love to volunteer on an elephant reserve. Of course, there are a ton of other places on my Asia bucket list, but those are the top two as of right now. Fingers crossed that I can visit them soon!
Q. As an expat we all miss something from the place we call home, what do you miss the most?
A. Besides the given, family and friends, all of whom I miss very much, I miss my room, my cat, Mexican food, the weather, and Disneyland. It’s such a weird and random combination, but those are the things that come to mind when people ask me about what I miss. These things were a big part of my life and are what made home, home.
I want to thank Mallory for being my first sponsor of 2014! I really hope you enjoyed getting to know her and i encourage you to click on through the links below! Her blog is amazing, i mean she makes me wish we were stationed in mainland Japan every time she shares her adventures!
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