In this episode of Worlds Collide, host Viktoria speaks with Jo, an expat who has called Japan home since the late 90s. Jo shares her fascinating journey of relocating from the UK to Japan, where she not only taught English but also raised her son amidst the backdrop of cultural differences and significant events, including the Fukushima earthquake. As they dive into Jo's experiences, listeners will learn about the challenges and joys of adapting to life in a foreign country, the importance of community, and the impact of natural disasters on daily life.

Jo also discusses her entrepreneurial journey, including her Montessori-based projects and the creation of the 193 Club, an educational resource designed to inspire curiosity about different cultures around the world for children. Join Viktoria and Jo as they explore the intricacies of life in Japan, the beauties and challenges of multicultural relationships, and the resilience required to navigate life's unexpected challenges.

Keywords: Expat Life, Japan, Cultural Differences, Montessori Education, Fukushima Earthquake, Community, Parenting Abroad, Entrepreneurship, Digital Learning, International Living, Moving Abroad, Life in Japan, Blog

(00:00) There are three ways you can support the podcast

(02:30) Jo was teaching English in a small town in Japan back in 1998

(06:14) So you had your little English teacher foreigners group

(10:00) I started blogging about Montessori at home when my son was born

(15:07) Online catalogs to help kids learn about different countries

(19:17) Each pack is unique because each country is unique

(22:02) How difficult is learning Japanese when you don't speak the language well

(27:08) Having a multicultural relationship is hard because of different cultures

(31:07) Your son went to Shinto kindergarten because we hadn't got a Montessori

(35:47) Are you still freaking out at earthquakes after the Fukushima disaster

(39:03) So, um, were the news when the Fukushima earthquake happened different from now

(44:33) All right, that was it. So I say my goodbyes. Thank you, Jo, for being on the podcast

Here are the Jo's links to this episode

Jojo's Blog - Jojoebi

193 Little Adventure Club

Also Worlds Collide has a new Website: WorldsCollidePodcast.com

If you want to reach out to be a guest on the Pod reach out at [email protected]

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If you want to listen to other episodes about life in Japan, check out these previous episodes of Worlds Collide

Moving Back - Linda's Reverse Culture Shock after Decades Abroad in Japan

From Chicago to a Life in Japan - Perry's experience with the JET Program

Japan, Taiwan and back to the United States