Rambling Ramsbothams

This week was the start of the school year for Zeb at Uchinada High School! Hear about his week of classes, first impressions, and how his introduction went at the school assembly. But the high school-ers weren't the only students this week... Annie and Zeb started taking Japanese lessons at the town's Cultural Hall in Uchinada! We'll talk more about those classes, a beach cleanup, bike rides, and a dinner with the other JET Programme employees from the surrounding area in this episode!  Don't forget to listen to the end to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week,"  and you can also see behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram! Head to @ramblingramsbothams Have a question or idea? Send us an email at [email protected], or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/    

We finally have a couch and a kitchen table again! This past week our Nitori furniture got delivered, and so did our gravel bikes from home! We've already been able to go on a few longer rides around the beach, in the mountains, and to Kanazawa. How's the riding around Uchinada? Where can you get coffee in Kanazawa? What is Omurice? Is it better to bike or take the train into the city? Is Kenroku-en Garden a good place for a picnic? Join us this week to find out! Don't forget to listen to the end to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week,"  and you can also see behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram! Head to @ramblingramsbothams Have a question or idea? Send us an email at [email protected], or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/   

It's the 2nd half of our episode about celebrating  Obon in Kyoto! This one is all about our  hike  up Mt. Hiei, visiting the Enryakuji temple, and seeing the Daimonji fires for Obon (the Daimonji Gozan no Okuribi). Don't forget to listen to the end for our Japanese word-of-the-week! Interested in hiking Mt. Hiei (Hieizan ) yourself? https://www.hieizan.gr.jp/en/hieizan/If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, check it out to hear more about what about Obon is, the Sanjyusangendo Temple, the Kiyomizu Dera Temple, and Obanzai dinners. You can also see behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram! Head to @ramblingramsbothams Have a question or idea? Send us an email at [email protected], or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/  

Get ready for another 2 part-er! There was so much going on last weekend in Kyoto that we couldn't fit it all in one episode. In this one, we'll talk about what the holiday of Obon is, seeing the 1001 Buddhas in the Sanjyusangendo Temple, and visiting Kiyomizu Dera Temple. We also get to enjoy an Obanzai dinner in Kyoto! Stay tuned for later in the week to hear about our hike up Mt. Hiei, the Enryakuji temple, and seeing the Daimonji fires for Obon. Plus, the Japanese word-of-the-week won't be revealed until the second part!You can also see behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram! Head to @ramblingramsbothams Have a question or idea? Send us an email at [email protected], or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/  

Ever wondered what living in Japan is like for foreigners? We're Annie & Zeb Ramsbotham, hosts of "Rambling Ramsbothams". While our journey in Japan might be rambling, we hope this podcast isn't! Join us as we move from the United States to Ishikawa Prefecture, work in the JET Programme, explore Japan by bike, and navigate our new home. This podcast is for anyone curious about moving abroad, or what life in Japan is like for a couple of Americans. Subscribe to Rambling Ramsbothams anywhere you get your podcasts (Thats Rambling R-a-m-s-b-o-t-h-a-m-s). Start listening to the adventures today!Send this trailer to your friends who need a new podcast, follow us on instagram @ramblingramsbothams and check out our website at https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/

What have we been up to during our first week living in Uchinada? Join us as we talk about our new apartment, shopping for furniture (and curtains!) at Nitori, and visiting the Sea of Japan for the first time. We also get to buy (and register!?) our new mamachari bikes.  There's a Dino Park, a forest promenade trail, and a bakery just outside our apartment - what more could you want? Also, follow us at @ramblingramsbothams on Instagram if you want to see the current cardboard box recording studio we have set up in our apartment :)We're just starting to get settled here in Ishikawa Prefecture, and there's lots more exploring to do!  Have a question or idea? Send us an email at [email protected], or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/ 

Part 2! It's our first weekend in together in Japan! In this episode, Annie talks about final packing, the process of entering Japan after the flight from the United States, and what she and Zeb have been up to so far.  Hear about ramen, Yamato luggage shipping, cicadas, art installations, and vintage markets. There's a lot to do in Shinjuku for the Tokyo weekend before heading up to the new apartment in Uchinada! Listen to Part 1 to hear how Zeb arrived in Japan the week before, and what his JET Programme Orientation was like.Send us an email at [email protected], or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/

We're finally both in Japan! This is the first part of a two-part episode, where we talk about our arrival to Japan, Zeb's orientation in Tokyo, seeing Uchinada for the first time, and finally meeting up with Annie a week later. How was the 13 hour flight? What was the JET Orientation like in Tokyo? How did Zeb get his Japanese residence card? What was the first day of work in Uchinada like? We'll discuss all this and more in today's part 1! Listen to the end to hear Zeb's "Japanese Word of the Week".In part 2, Annie will talk about how she got to Japan, what they've done together in Tokyo so far, and what's next on the journey to Uchinada to move into the apartment together! 

It's finally time to go! This is a special "road trip" episode where Annie takes Zeb to Nashville for his final day in the USA. They make a few pit stops along the way: picking up their International Driver's Permit, getting their passports (with visas!) from the Japanese consulate, and of course, lots of road trip snacks! How do they spend the final day in America before Zeb catches his flight to Tokyo? Tag along for their last American road trip before making the move to Japan!

We're counting down the days until Zeb's flight to Japan! In this episode we'll talk about how we're taking all of our stuff to Japan. Should be check or ship our bikes? We're also planning our first days in the country and talk about our preferred methods of travel. Should we fly or take the bullet train between Uchinada and Tokyo? And last but not least we'll cover the hotly contested "Omiyage" or souvenir. Are you expected to bring a gift for all your coworkers? Stay tuned until the end to hear ours words of the week and don't forget to review and subscribe to the podcast!