By Amanda Addey-Jibb Spring seems to have peaked its head out from under the covers of winter, and we are finally starting to get a glimpse of the sun again! Praise be! But with the rapidly-approaching warm weather comes another, less welcome guest: bugs. Continue reading
Welcome back to Part 2 of this series on surviving the cold! Winter is still in full swing here in Aomori, and we are all feeling it I’m sure. While none of these methods are a secret to anyone who has ben living here for at least a few months, I hope you can find … Continue reading
By Amanda Addey-Jibb Happy new year! Shufu Tips is back with another guide to help you get through the rest of this winter in one piece, and relatively healthy. The days are only getting longer from here on out, so you can breathe a sigh of relief! This is the first in a two part … Continue reading
By Amanda Addey-Jibb Hello and welcome back to another exciting edition of Shufu Tips! Today we’ll be covering all things laundry–from the basics to the Japan-specific info. Let’s jump right in! Continue reading
By Amanda Addey-Jibb Now that the weather is getting a little colder, we are starting to head into flu season! So that’s why I’m back with a quick reminder of all the things you touch that harbor germs and put you at risk of making yourself sick. We remember to do our laundry and the … Continue reading
By Amanda Addey-Jibb Welcome back to another exciting edition of Shufu Tips! This week in particular is a bit of a shift from our usual cleaning theme towards something a little more serious. Due to the missile launch just a few days ago, I thought it might be more relevant to write about preparedness. Knowing … Continue reading
Hello and welcome to Shufu Tips: the column dedicated to cleaning and organizing your life in the north of Japan! This month’s article covers an important topic, especially for our new JETs–cleaning your shower and bathtub. Most people will have a shower room with a standing shower and a bathtub attached, but some people might … Continue reading
By Amanda Addey-Jibb Some of you are preparing to pack up your lives and leave our blue forest this summer, and I know that it’s more than a little stressful. With only a month to go and a lot to do, packing and cutting down on junk is probably the biggest source of anxiety. The … Continue reading
By Amanda Addey-Jibb Hello fine folks, I am back to tell you some very specific and detailed tips on my least favourite part of the house: the kitchen sink. It is literally the most dirty, germy, gross, disgusting place in your home, so it’s good to remember that and to take care of it sometimes. Continue reading
By Amanda Addey-Jibb Welcome back to the final installment in a series on spring cleaning! I hope you’ve been keeping up and clearing that clutter little by little. Today we will focus our efforts on the kitchen–my personal least favourite place to clean and therefore the most important for me. It should also be important for … Continue reading
By Amanda Addey-Jibb Welcome to Part 2 of this season’s spring cleaning series. Today we will try to tackle the most time consuming of spring cleaning chores: de-cluttering. Sorry, it’s a long one. With golden week having just begun, maybe you’ll find the time to put these tips to use! Or maybe you are travelling and … Continue reading
By Amanda Addey-Jibb Let’s be honest here, who spends 15 mins a day tidying up? How about 30 mins a week? That’s what I thought. Me neither though, no one’s judging. If you’re like me, then you really only clean once you notice that things need to be cleaned. Well, you noticed the dirt—that’s a … Continue reading
Good Morning Aomori 