Kazzy and Decchan

Note: The information in this post is based on my observations from when I was in Japan and what I know from the Internet, and is more included so you don't have to Google "omiyage" before reading this post to understand it, than to actually help people. Kaz was extremely helpful when I asked what I should bring his parents when I meet them this summer. "You don't have to bring them anything. You can even bring them dirt." As optimistic as he may be, I'd have to decide upon omiyage myself. Omiyage  —  お土産（おみやげ） I think of omiyage as sort of akin to "extreme souveniring". In Japan, when you go on a trip, you are expected to bring back gifts from the region to which you traveled for friends, family, and/or coworkers. These are more than keychains and magnets you hand someone as you pass them by in the office with a, "Hey, I brought you back something" (unless they love collecting fridge magnets, in which case, go for it.) Th...

A few months ago, Kaz accepted a summer internship in Tokyo, and invited me to visit him and meet his parents. Now that I know how my schedule will be, the flight and hotels have been booked for June. I've been aching to return to Japan since I left three years ago. I can't wait! ~Decchan

About a year and a half ago, I crocheted a me-doll based on  this versatile pattern by Uljana Semikrasa.  I had some male friends at the time who were interested in having a doll version of them, so a year later, I hoped Kaz would also be in this group of guys who thought a me-doll was freakin' awesome. He was. I took him to dinner later that night, and since I'd left both dolls with him earlier (he wanted to take pictures,) and he had decided it made more sense for him to have the Decchan-doll, I asked him to bring Kazzy-doll to the restaurant. He brought both of them and kept them on the table the whole time. Party of four, please. As he was packing last-minute for his trip to France, I brought up the idea of him bringing her. Like a rational human being, he was hesitant at first (he claims it was because he didn't want to lose her,) but decided to go for it. And then he does this: This guy <3 ~Decchan

Kazzy's going to France for a couple of weeks, and my mom decided we should have a combination bon voyage celebration for him, and birthday party for my aunt. Naturally, I was expected to arrange this. Including inviting people whose contact info I didn't have. I got it done 'cause I'm a ninja like that. Anyway, my last task to earn an A+ was to find some bon voyage trinkets. Which Party City has. Except when I went there, I realized they only sold the one thing I was looking for online, and in packs of 24. Which is why I came up with this care package instead. It's a good way to keep travel essentials in one place. Tuesday Morning sells all kinds and sizes of cute fancy boxes and fake books. This one is about the length of my hand, which means it's small enough to slip into a carry-on (unless you or your loved one packs like I do.) The picture with my hand is for size reference. These are some things I thought might be useful on a plane, or jus...

This is a blog about relationships, life, and really whatever else I feel like. Who am I, you don't ask? My nickname is Decchan 「デッチャン。」I'm an African American woman in my mid-20s, grad school student, and I have been with my Japanese boyfriend, nicknamed Kazzy, for a mere seven months. If you round up. I don't find myself or my relationship to be that interesting. However, I do enjoy it, and I enjoy writing. Likewise, I enjoy AMBW relationship blogs and videos, and slice-of-life things in general. I want to share a little portal into my life, in case there's anyone else out there like me who's just curious about the lives other people are living. I hope you enjoy what I have to share! ~Decchan