Life in Fukuoka "English"

【Looking back on 2022 and Resolutions for the New Year】

Well, we've got less than week left before we ring in 2023, now that Christmas is over. How was your year? What did you get up to? I hope it wasn't all work and no play!

My year was pretty good. I was busy with work but I still had plenty of time to travel to the places I wanted to visit in Japan this year. In the beginning of this year, I went to Hokkaido to see the drift ice in the Abashiri area. I was very lucky and did see it but also got stuck in Hokkaido for two extra days due to heavy snow. It wasn't too bad, both my partner and I had our computers with us so we could work from the hotel!

Over sakura season, we went to Okayama where I met my online Japanese teacher for hanami and also drove up to Tottori to see the sand dunes. On the way back to Okayama city we stopped in the Hiruzen Highlands for Hiruzen yakisoba. If you are ever in that area, definitely try it! During Golden Week, I saw the huge wisteria in Ashikaga park in Tochigi and bought natto in Mito, Ibaraki! There was some camping and onsen time in Kuju and a big camping van trip in Hokkaido where we saw so many beautiful flowers and learned to make cheese. We saw the night view in Hakodate and had some of the best sushi I've ever had in Japan. That is saying something, Fukuoka has great seafood, but I think Hakodate is the winner.

In August, we escaped the heat by heading for Kamikochi in Nagano. Unfortunately it was a bit wet during our visit, so we didn't camp or hike as planned, but made up for it by enjoying the area all around with a visit to Hida-Takayama and Matsuyama. I also passed a patissier course, added another cat to the house and just generally enjoyed my year. I didn't get quite as fit as I had planned to in the beginning of the year, but that seems to be the same story every year. My resolution next year definitely involves another attempt at getting six pack abs....

Although Covid is still around and affecting us, we are gradually getting back to our normal every day lives. In 2022, a huge and shocking event was the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It has no doubt caused many people to think about the impact of war and why we need to value peace. It has also shocked many people into realizing the importance of and how much we rely on electric and gas at home. I know people are trying to be more careful with how much energy they're using now as energy prices have increased and we're all trying to save money. 

In 2023, I hope we can have a world where everyone spends more time than not with a smile on their face. 

What are your plans for 2023? I guess as we wrap up the end of 2022, it's a good time to think about the things we want to change or even try doing. Like I said before, I'm hoping to get fitter in 2023, but that is all about the effort I put in. I've got to make a more consistent workout schedule, spend less time on my phone and also less time sitting at a desk. I'd like to take another cooking course, if I have the chance. There was a baking course being offered at the school I went to that I really wanted to join but the days didn't work out. I might have better luck in 2023. I also want to travel overseas again, I think. I'm a bit apprehensive about having to deal with international airports and the whole process involved with international travel, but there are still so many places around the world I'd like to go and so many foods I'd love to try. I'm pretty sure I'll go to the US to see family this year, finally. Oh, and hopefully I'll have my driver's license after 17 years of putting it off here...I'm scheduled for my driving test in just a few weeks. Fingers crossed that the practice I've been doing will pay off!

I'm sure that many of you have a whole list of things you'd love to do or are planning to do in 2023. Good luck with it all!