Author | Lightnews

JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 11h

So - it turned into a nice (late) start to the day after all!🙏🏽
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#SlowDown #SmallTownTokyo #TMichael_Bergen

tmichael_bergen on Instagram: "FIFTYNINE YEARS OLD TODAY!! MY BIRTHDAY WISHES:PLEASE SEND LOVING WISHES TO SOMEONE DEAR TO YOU! #spreadtheloveView all 152 comment…"

FIFTYNINE YEARS OLD TODAY!! MY BIRTHDAY WISHES:PLEASE SEND LOVING WISHES TO SOMEONE DEAR TO YOU! #spreadthelove

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JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 11h

The #Ghanaian/Norwegian & oh-so-stylish artist, T-Michael!😎 I love the way he incorporates Japanese aesthetics into his fashions🤗. And this has never happened to me before - meeting someone that’s Instagram-famous on the street. Lol. So of course I stopped again to chat and we snapped a pic!📸
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JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 11h

And that meant that as I was heading up the final hill to the office, I recognized a striking figure of someone coming down the hill at the same time.

Turns out it was someone I’ve followed on Instagram for years!🤗
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JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 11h

Then I had another delay at the 7-11 because I needed to find something for a program that I don’t usually get & it took longer than expected.

So again - I slowed down🐢.
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JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 11h

First - I happened to meet one of my students that I really needed to talk as they were headed out for the day.

So I slowed down at the station and chatted with them for a sec.
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JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 11h

#DailyGratitudePost
So I got out of the house later than I intended this morning (25年11月3日・月) due to a series of events...😒 I was kinda irritated since I don’t like feeling like I have to rush at the start of the day…🏃🏽‍♀️
Then - some really fortunate events happened because I was ‘running late’⏰ (1/6)

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JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 1d

#DailyGratitudePost Our Res Hall was jumping today (25年11月2日・日) for a Sunday! We had out of town guests running programs throughout the day🌇🌃. They really enjoyed using the facilities & the students enjoyed interacting w/ folks they don’t usually see in Tokyo🗼Was nice welcoming colleagues to Japan!☺️

JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 2d

#DailyGratitudePost
Today (25年11月1日・土) was Nails 💅🏽 Day! And a nice way to start a new month.🤗 Relatively understated design this time due to time constraints; but lovely for Fall all the same I’d say!
🍂🍁🎑 #FallNails

JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 3d

Luckily, no major injuries occurred & I bounced back up with only sore knees & a sore hip. And very, very grateful that it wasn’t worse!🥹 Y’all stay safe out there!🙏🏽
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JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 3d

#DailyGratitudePost
Happy🎃Halloween! Hope everyone has an enjoyably #spooky day (25年10月31日・金).🫣 I started mine off in the right spirit👻 - since I had a scary fall down a couple of stairs on my front porch to start the morning.🤦🏽‍♀️
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JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 4d

#DailyGratitudePost
An under-known part of life in #Japan is finding absolute treasures at #second-hand / #thrift stores around town.🗝️ Such good quality items turn up at such good prices!👍🏽

Happy with my latest discovery today (25年10月30日・木) as well for my upcoming program trip out of town! 💼

JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 5d

#DailyGratitudePost
Worked from home today (25年10月29日・水) but stepped out this evening right as the sun was setting.🌅 And it was one of those days where the setting sun paints the clouds the prettiest shades of pink!💕
Happy to have caught a glimpse!🙌🏽

JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 6d

#DailyGratitudePost
Enjoyed working with an important partner today (25年10月28日・火) on our big project coming up next month.👍🏽 There is something satisfying about seeing the months of work finally settling in to place piece by piece!👣

JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 7d

#DailyGratitudePost Some of the students wanted to have a ‘Halloweek’🎃 Brunch today (25年10月27日・月) to start off the week!👻🦇🧛‍♀️ And maybe the cutest thing was how excited these “big boys & girls” were to make Halloween origami & decorations for their rooms at the arts&crafts table w/ their friends! 🥹🎃👻

JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 8d

#DailyGratitudePost
As a bit of motivation to tackle some work tasks today (25年10月26日・日) before the actual workweek got started, I enjoyed my fav #cinnamon #latte at my neighborhood #coffee shop☕️⬇️. And it was especially tasty today for some reason!☺️💕

JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 9d

#DailyGratitudePost
Had a chance to have dinner and drinks tonight (25年10月25日・土) with some #Nashville friends - one in town for work; the other here on sabbatical🤗.

Both I was very happy to reminisce with about TN days over #yakiniku bbq🍖& whisky at the local #TN theme bar in Tokyo!🥃

JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 10d

#DailyGratitudePost
Had a very full day today (25年10月24日・金) hosting two special programs on-site😅 then a visit to a local art gallery in town⬇️ to wrap up the day’s programming.🏃🏽‍♀️

But I’m quite pleased with how everything turned out today; and proud of the work I did this week👍🏽

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JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 11d

Before I left she encouraged me to keep doing what I do in Japan🙏🏽 & supporting these young people here🥹. I was thoroughly touched!

And once again, I love how fate connects our lives in unexpected ways…💕🙌🏽☺️
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JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 11d

Also turns out she was one of the main speakers at the reception!🤗

Her 83 yr old mother was also there & I made sure to speak with her after the remarks. Her mother remembers visiting MS ‘back in the day’ and we chatted like old friends.💕
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JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 11d

She shared that her late father(🙏🏽) was also from MS & went to JSU where I used to work.💕 He was a member of the Sonic Boom of the South marching band!🎷🥁💙🤍
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JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 11d

#DailyGratitudePost
Was invited to a reception tonight (25年10月23日・木) by an old JET Program friend who is in town from DC🌸. Right after I arrived, I commented on the lovely dress👗 of one of the guests & we got to chatting a bit. It was her first time in Japan (I love meeting first-timers🤗).
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JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 12d

#DailyGratitudePost
Happy to be back home in #Tokyo after wrapping up my quick business trip (25年10月22日・水) to #Iwate.

But look at all the treats that were enjoyed while I was there!🤗⬇️🙏🏽💕

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JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 13d

**Plus there were deer hanging out in the grassy area next to our meeting room!🦌💕☺️
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JenB @jenchan2024.bsky.social · 13d

#DailyGratitudePost
Happy to be up north again in #Tohoku for a business trip in preparation for our programs here next month.🙌🏽

This is my third time to this little town in #Iwate. And I like this city & the people here very much.🙏🏽
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