Ever since starting IAATWT (that by the way, is the very unattractive abbreviation of my blog’s name) I’ve tried my best to be honest and authentic. Recently, I wrote a few personal posts that received more attention than my others (poor eggplant pizzas) which got me thinking about honesty and in particular, honesty in this day and age. It seems that being honest has recently become synonymous with being cynical. Honestly revealing our worries, troubles and secrets – that sort of honesty is seen as admirable and audacious. And, I agree, it is (secretly I’m just blowing my own trumpet) but so is talking of our joys and our TRIUMPHS. So without further adieu, I want to say that I have never been happier. I am in a foreign land with a completely different culture and I can’t speak more than a few words of the language but I have never felt more excited about the future. If there’s one thing that I’ve learnt in my mere 23 years, it’s that life really does begin when we start challenging ourselves. I hope that you too, attempt the unimaginable for I assure you, the results will be priceless. In the talented Drew Barrymore’s words, “If you don’t take risks, you’ll have a wasted soul.”

Recent highlights: seeing how rice dries, more cosy dinner parties and late summer/early autumn fruit.

Upcoming adventures: Silver Week (Japan’s second longest public holiday after Golden Week); where I’ll be doing a fair bit of travelling. So, watch this space!