Rambling Ramsbothams

Surprise! We thought it would be fun to document our family holidays in a "field trip episode" style format!  This time - what do Danes call danishes? What time can you buy alcohol in Norway? When does the sun set? Where's the highest train station in Northern Europe? What do salty licorice and Christmas cheese taste like? Plus lots of other mundane life questions. This is different...

Hello again from North Carolina! Our microphones are still on a boat being shipped back to us from Japan (sorry for the lower audio quality), but we wanted to share an update about what we’ve been up to since moving, our changing plans, and what things stood out to us most when returning to the US.   Thank you so much for joining us for 118 episodes of adventures (and mundane life stories) abroad!...

It's the final week of our road trip around Japan! We got to ride the 36+3 scenic train in Kyushu, and started our drive back through Honshu on the Sea of Japan coast. We visited a cat temple in Yamaguchi, saw the Tottori Sand Dunes, one of Japan's 3 great views, and 2 more original castles. At the end of the trip, we spent the night in Houshi Ryokan, the world's oldest continually...

This week we've gone from the far north in Aomori Prefecture to the far south in Kyushu! We got to see the annual Aomori Nebuta Matsuri, stayed in an old elementary school on Shikoku, changed plans due to the Nankai Trough earthquake advisories, and took a ferry to the 7 Hells of Beppu on the island of Kyushu.  Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week,&q...

This week we started our road trip by hiking Mt. Haku (or Hakusan), one of Japan’s 3 holy mountains. After the hike we started driving north to the Tohoku region, camping in Akita Prefecture, and making our way to Aomori Prefecture. We got to see Hirosaki Castle (one of the 12 remaining original castles in the country!) and stayed in Mutsu. During a bike ride there we visited Osorezan (literally F...

Today we officially moved out of our apartment in Uchinada! We’ll talk about the moving process, what we did with all our furniture, and how moving is different in Japan vs. the US. We also talk about all-you-can-eat buffet differences, sweet beans, bread shaped like Totoro’s cat bus, and what we’re doing now that we don’t have an apartment. Plus, did you know that the most expensive grapes in the...

Today was Zeb’s last day of work! He’s now the proud owner of a couple new certificates to commemorate his time working as a JET ALT. Speaking of special paper, this week we talk about the specific plant used to make paper for Japanese yen banknotes - plus lonely vending machines, buying love in a can, and WCW wrestling. Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-we...

This week we went on a bike ride to Himi in Toyama Prefecture with some of Zeb’s cycling teammates, and stopped mid-ride for giant choux cream puffs! We also talk about why Kanazawa is the “Ice Cream Capital of Japan”, and Annie finished her ice cream bike route with 12 different stops. Plus, did you know that the Toshogu Shrine in Nikko recently released a new Gundam model, themed after Tokugawa...

This week we talk about the holiday Tanabata, a new rule from Yamagata Prefecture about laughing once a day, and ice cream flavors. Would you try miso and cheese ice cream? What about mountain vegetable ice cream?  Plus, how do you get rid of trash and recycling when living in Japan?  The  “laughing once a day ordinance”: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15336010 Listen to the end of every episo...

This week, Japan is releasing the newly designed bank note bills! What’s printed on the new yen bills, and how does this affect vending machines? We also talk about visiting the new Disney Sea park area (and how to get into Fantasy Springs), and our experience with annual health checks in Japan. How are the tests different than checkups in the US?  New banknotes: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Did you know the first convenience store came to Japan 50 years ago in 1974? This week we’re talking about how the conbini arrived in Japan, the first item that was sold, and how it changed the way you can get cash, pay bills, and enjoy snacks.  We’re also talking about the differences between the words “popular” and “famous” in Japanese and English, residence tax in Japan, and how Himeji Castle m...

This week we talk about how Zeb’s longest bike ride yet took him from the Sea of Japan across to the Pacific Ocean! He rode 500km (314 miles) to the tip of the Kii Peninsula in Wakayama Prefecture in one day. What would he change about the cycling route next time? What did he eat to fuel a 20 hour bike adventure? What were his biggest takeaways from the ride?  During our weekend in Kushimoto, Waka...

The weather has been so nice recently that we decided to record this week from our neighborhood park - hopefully you can enjoy some of the ambiance of suburban Japan along with us! This week we’re talking about Zeb’s 500km single day bike ride plan, Annie’s scenic hydrangea temple route, visiting a moss village, and getting to chat with Zeb’s JET Program replacement. Listen to the end of every epi...

It’s an exciting time for incoming JETs, since they’re starting to learn their placements in the program! This week we talk about trash balloons making news headlines, the Kunrei vs. Hepburn debate for romanizing Japanese writing, kaga yuzen fabric dying method, and what we wish we knew about the JET Program before arriving in Japan. Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "wo...

This week Annie's cousin visited Japan and we spent a weekend in Tokyo together! We recorded some throughout our trip, and have more of a "field trip style" episode this week. Join us as we visit the stairs from the "Your Name" anime movie,  see a college friend's hometown, ride in a rickshaw, go thrift shopping, enjoy a few museums around Tokyo, and see the Tokyo Cof...

This week we share Zeb’s bike race results from the Mt. Ontake hill climb! We also talk about the Kiso Area and Annie’s bike ride around Lake Suwa, visiting a Showa era museum in Takayama, cat trading cards, and some Lawson Mt Fuji drama. Nameneko Cat Cards: http://nameneko.com/jp/products.html Showa Era Museum: https://showakan.jp/takayama/ Ontake Hill Climb bike race: https://jbcfroad.jp/race/13...

This week Annie gets to visit an Elementary School and practice proper business card etiquette for introductions. Zeb is preparing for his biggest cycling race of the year this weekend, the Ontake Hill Climb, and Annie went on her first bikepacking trip in Toyama Prefecture. We also navigate the international shipping process for packages, and share the things we learned to do next time.  How’s th...

This week we try to get rid of one yen coins, go on a school field trip to the Kanazawa castle park, visit the eye doctor, and talk about how drivers say thank you in Japan. Another week talking about new experiences, mundane errands, and all the things we learn in between while navigating life abroad.  Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head...

This week we share Zeb’s Ibukiyama cycling race result, share a listener email, talk about making kites, flying carp for children’s day, eating kashiwa mochi, and trying wisteria flavored ice cream. It’s Golden Week in Japan! Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head to @ramblingramsbothams on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes photos. Have a q...

Can you believe we’ve recorded 100 podcast episodes? This week we’ll look back at things we wish we did better, things we’re planning, and what we hope for the podcast in the future.  Plus, we’ll ramble about things like soot sprites, coffee, buying postage stamps, and “slice of life” manga.   Thank you so much for listening along on our living abroad journey!  Listen to the end of every episode t...

This week we talk about Zeb’s first bike race of the year (a hill climb up Ibukiyama!), Ishiura Shrine (the oldest shrine in Kanazawa with a cute dog mascot), and an evening fish auction on the Sea of Japan. We also talk about the mossy Natadera Temple, battle history at Sekigahara, and what Japan’s prime minister gifted to the US (from the nearby Noto Peninsula)! Listen to the end of every episod...

This week Kanazawa has been covered in pink cherry blossoms! We talk about getting to enjoy a hanami (flower viewing) picnic on the Sai River, where the tradition of these picnics started, and typical things you might eat and drink to celebrate. Speaking of food, we’ll also talk about the Japanese “food pyramid” or the dietary recommendations, and compare them to American food and nutrition. Artic...

This week we’re talking about one of Japan’s most famous cycling routes (the Shimanami Kaido), soy sauce that spends three years in an open fermentation, and what the end of the school year is like here. It’s Spring Break in Japan, and the cherry blossoms are just starting to bloom!  More about the...  Shimanami Kaido: https://shimanami-cycle.or.jp/cycling/en-02.html  Tobishima Kaido: https://seto...

The Hokuriku Shinkansen Line was extended for the first time since 2015, and we got seats on the very first train from Kanazawa to Tsuruga, the new end of the line! Why did we wake up at 4am? How was the train journey? What did we do in Tsuruga? We’ll talk about all that this week! Links to articles about Tsuruga that we mention: Why Tsuruga? https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15200878 Impact of t...

We have a big life update this week - we’re moving to a new country in the Fall! We’ll talk about where we’re moving and some of the factors that led to our decision. We picked today to talk about this since March 20th is Vernal Equinox Day and the spring equinox is traditionally seen as a time of new life & renewal. We thought it would be a poetic time to share a big change in our life! But d...