A Jamaican Mother's Perspective On Raising A Child In Japan

Today, in another of our Black Mommies Travel series, we will be talking with Venecia. Venecia Williams-Vall is mom to 3 year old Sami, who Venecia describes as very friendly, a trait she says, is from Sami's dad.

Venecia, welcome.

Thanks, Re-Keisha.

Q: Tell us, what brought you to Japan? 

A: I moved to Japan at the end of July, 2002 on the JET Programme. I left at the end of July 2005 to do my master’s in England and returned when I finished because I was in a relationship. I worked for one and a half years at one university then moved to another where I spent 8 years.

Q: Where is your husband from and did you guys meet in Japan?

A:  My husband is from Argentina. I met him my second year in Japan. He was a student and he did his master’s and PH.D. there.

Q: What was it like giving birth here?

A: Sami was my first child so I had no prior experience just expectations. My first doctor was good. He ran a small clinic and was very caring. I was briefly hospitalised because of fibroid pain. He recommended that I stop working and stay in the hospital until birth but I said no. He transferred me to a colleague who dealt with high risk pregnancies at a hospital near my home.

That doctor was great too. We ended up having an emergency C-section because he did some tests on the due date and found that Sami was stressed. The staff at the hospital was great and they listened to my wishes. I hated being in the hospital because my husband could only visit at certain times throughout the day. I was lonely so I asked to be discharged early and I was allowed to leave 2 days early. I do like the fact that they keep you in the hospital and check to make sure you and the baby are doing well before sending you home.

Q: What things did you appreciate here as a mother raising a child in Japan?

A: Great healthcare from pregnancy to birth and beyond. We did not have to pay out of pocket for anything before or after she was born. My healthcare plan covered 70% and the city office covered the other 30%. 

·  I was able to take time off work to care for her and still got a percentage of my salary. I spent 7 months at home with her and I was extremely lucky because my university had its own daycare so I could go see her during the day while I was at work.

·  I got a lot of information from the hospital and the city office about dealing with stress or post-partum depression (including information about hotlines). 

Q: Did you have any concerns for your daughter or face any challenges as a mother?

A: Yes, we did. Once we got pregnant we knew we could no longer stay in Japan. 

·  We wanted to live somewhere she would be comfortable as a bicultural child. We didn’t want her to grow up in a country where she was constantly in the spotlight, never having anonymity and constantly being reminded that she did not belong. Neither of her parents was Japanese so we did not think it was fair for her to take on a fight to be represented and accepted. We have been here in Canada for 6 months so far. She goes to school and she is mostly just another little kid playing with her friends. No one touches her hair. When she uses Spanish no one thinks it is strange or “kawaii”. No one thinks she is not Canadian. She is just a happy kid. I know she will have her own challenges but she will not be bullied for not being the same ethnicity as everyone else.

·  We wanted her to go to an international school but were not happy with the limited options. While it was great for her to speak Japanese, we wanted her to go to a school where one of her native languages was spoken (Spanish or English) so that we could focus on the other language at home. My family doesn't speak Spanish and my husband's family doesn't speak English. It is important for her to be able to communicate with the people who value her most. Right now she speaks English at school and we try to use Spanish at home and of course her English is much better than her Spanish so it is something we have to work at constantly. Doing that with Japanese out of the picture is much easier. We still use some Japanese words and she goes to Japanese playgroup but ultimately, it is not as important for us that she is fluent in Japanese.

· Our parents are getting older and we wanted to be closer to them.

Q: Are you aware of any support services other (foreign/black) moms can utilize?

A: I’m not sure about support services for black mothers in particular but I found the following to be helpful and I am sure there are some versions of them across Japan.

·  We had a local foreign mother’s group in my area and we got together once a month. We sometimes had medical professionals who came in and talked to us about how to take care of ourselves and care for the babies etc. Mostly we just shared our experiences.

·   I also belonged to another group where English-speaking kids met once a month and played together. 

·   Silver Jizai (シルバージンザイ). I found this to be most useful. This is a programme which supports the elderly who have retired but still want to work. They offer many different services, including housekeeping. A few friends told me about this service when I was pregnant and a month after Sami was born I called them and explained what I needed- someone to do housework and help me with Sami. I found this amazing old lady and she did housework and helped me to care for Sami up until the day we left Japan. She treated Sami like her grandchild. The best thing is, it was only ￥850 per hour.

Q: Thank you, Venecia. Is there anything else that you would like to share? 

A: Well, don’t forget to register your child with immigration shortly after they are born (If both parents are foreigners). I was late to register and had to write a letter of apology. 

In closing, I'd like to say that I am grateful to Japan but I do not really miss living in Japan. I spent 13 years there and it was time to leave. Now I love just walking down the street and being just another person. No one notices me and after 13 years of constant attention, that is absolutely wonderful. 

Here in Canada, I work part-time at Simon Fraser University teaching English to international students. I also make crafts and fun videos with Sami, a project I started when I wasn't working. I haven’t updated my YouTube channel of late but I have a Facebook page. It is called English with Sami and mama. Since I started working however,  I have been really busy and haven’t had time to add much to it. I’m still thinking about whether to continue or kill it.

........................................

Wishing Venecia, Sami and papa an exciting and rewarding time in Canada. Til next time, please remember to share. :)

Lessons From the Rio Olympic Games

The world surely comes to life during the Olympic Games doesn't it? For a few days, people rally together, enemies become friends, and people seem to forget all about their troubles!

Watching the games sometimes gets emotional for me. There's just something about seeing the passion coming from these athletes that brings tears to my eyes. I have never played sports in my life, so I have no idea of what it means to subject your body to rigorous training. But as I think about life in general, I think there are many lessons that can be had from watching these athletes compete.

Here are some lessons I have learned from the Rio Olympic Games.

Lesson 1: Don't Cross Jamaicans

This one was from @jamaicangirlincanada. Too funny! 

If you happen to be friends with any Jamaicans on Facebook, or if you happen to follow Jamaicans on Twitter, you will understand what I mean by this. Justin Gatlin has been getting it left, right and center. I really can't feel sorry for him, because it's his fault. He simply chats too much!

Check out this video from @DuttyBerryShow. The song at the end, epic! 

We always hear that actions speak louder than words. Seems Gatlin has never heard of it. His endless chatter has annoyed us Jamaicans, and well we are now having a field day with the memes being created.

Lesson 2: Watching the Games From Overseas Isn't Fun

My fellow Jamaicans living overseas will understand this. A friend of mine who lives in Canada watching a race apparently upset her neighbour because she was making too much noise and didn't need to be screaming like that. LOL! If you're not a Jamaican you simply cannot understand! A few of my fellow Jamaicans here have had to be missing out as well because they are at work. Lucky for me I am on break now. But even then, watching the events on Japanese TV isn't the same. They are very biased in their coverage, and not being able to listen to coverage in your own language isn't quite  the same.


Lesson 3: Being Jamaican Is An Experience

If at any time during these events, you happen to your neighbour being raucous, and you are offended, then you are not Jamaican. Maybe my Caribbean counterparts have an idea, but anywhere else and you simply cannot understand!

There was a BBC clip showing people from the UK who were asked to make a video of themselves watching Usain's race. They were happy, yes, and cheering even. But then they also showed what was happening in Jamaica during the race. Pure excitement! Horns blowing, pot covers banging, people jumping, people dancing, all on the streets of Half Way Tree in Kingston, Jamaica. Half Way Tree massive big up unnuself! Oh how I wish I were home!

The games come to an end on Sunday. I look forward to many more exciting moments. But on a more serious note, what I really want to take away from these games is:

Lesson 4: Focus on You and Never Underestimate the Power of Your Mind

In the race of life, you must focus on your own abilities, and run your own unique race. Notice when the athletes get on the track. Everyone is focusing ahead of them. You don't find them focusing on their competitors. A certain man did this in his semi-finals, perhaps trying to copy Mr. Bolt, and it cost him a place in the finals.

You have unique strengths and abilities, and there is something here on this earth that only you can get done.

Comparing yourself to others not only robs you of joy, but keeps you from going out there and doing the best with the abilities that God gave to you.

There is nothing wrong with a silver medal, (no I am not making fun of Gatlin!), neither is it wrong to want the gold. Everyone runs to win! But you and I have to understand that there is always going to be someone out there who is better than you; you won't always get the first prize. But like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce demonstrated after her third place finish after Elaine Thompson who conquered the 100m final, one must learn to graciously accept 'defeat' and be able to appreciate other people's strengths, and not be a cry-baby like 'Schweppes', as a certain Dutch woman is affectionately called by us Jamaicans, who has not been gracious at all since her defeat to same Elaine in the 200m. I am hoping that I can keep this in my mind every single day and run the best race of life that I can.

Then we have the power of the mind at play. Recently hubby and I were watching an interview on YouTube with Usain Bolt and his coach, Glen Mills. In this interview, Mills spoke of the need to be confident in yourself, as without it you cannot win. He advised to see yourself winning, and of the need to face the fear of losing. He used the analogy of a boxer in the ring; he cannot be afraid to receive punches. (You may search for the video on YouTube, "IMD - Usain Bolt 2009 - The Art and Science of Coaching (Part 3)" ). He also spoke of the fact that often times when the body doesn't want to go, the mind can give that extra push. Shelly-Ann's toe may have given up on her, but like a true champion, she didn't.

Shelly-Ann grimacing after her semi-final run. Image courtesy of sports.yahoo.com

This leads me to the next lesson to be learned, and the final one I'll share with you.

Lesson 5: You Can't Go At Life Alone



Until recently, I didn't really think about the need to have a mentor, or some other solid support behind you. But as I listened to Usain's coach, I realized how fortunate Usain is to have such a wise man on his team. I believe that having someone to push and guide you can make a huge difference between success, failure or mediocre living.











I think Canada's Andre De Grasse may have found a mentor in Usain. He's a wise young man!

These two are something else!

Til next time, remember to check me out on Facebook - Jamaican Girl in Japan. 

A Jamaican Mother's Journey Getting Her Daughter to Japan

Greetings!

It certainly has been a while. It's almost a year now since I've become a mom! Sometimes I look at my little girl and still can't believe that she belongs to me. LOL. As a result of my new responsibilities, I have found it difficult to blog as I would like to. I hope, however, to put out more content more regularly.

Today, I will be sharing an experience of a Jamaican mother whose daughter will be joining her in Japan. This post is the first in the Black Mommies Travel series that I wish to start.

Dani-Kaye was wonderful in giving lots of details and highlighting the steps that she took in getting things ready here in order for a smooth transition to be made for both of them.

Dani-Kaye Golding has been living in Japan for a year and half now. Her journey to Japan, however, was not all for the sake of the love of travel. She points out that her primary goal was to escape unemployment in Jamaica. Notwithstanding, she has been having a rewarding experience in Japan. Her desire is to one day pursue her dream of having a doctorate in Education, a dream she hopes, can be realized as a result of being here. Furthermore, she hopes to deepen her relationship with the Creator, as she grows spiritually.

This brave Mommy has articulated further, that she hopes to give her little princess an international experience.

This is Dani-Kaye's story.

My experience, due primarily to misinformation and rigid systems, has been pretty daunting. However, your experience might not be the same. (I have included all that happened so as to give others a heads up so they can circumvent or seek alternatives using my experience as a benchmark). 

Step 1: Obtaining preliminary information 

I went to my local ward office, Higashiyodogawaku, to find out about the procedure for getting her registered in school. This was before I went to the immigration office to file for her Certificate of Eligibility (Japanese visa). The ward office staff told me that nothing could be done before my daughter came to Japan because she would have to get registered in the system (gaikokojin card,  juminhyo etc.) before she can even go to school. 

I met a ward office clerk who spoke good English. She gave me the application and said she would help me to fill it out, in Japanese Kanji, but I would have to come to her office.  She works at the ward office and not the prefectural one. I took her contact information. 

Step 2: Mobilisation

About a month after my visit to the ward office, I sent out a message to the Black Women in Japan Facebook group (many Jamaicans are also a part of this group) asking about the process and what had been their experience. The few persons who responded all concurred that it was a very simple process. First, download the dependent's CoE file from the immigration website. Second, return the completed form with two passport pictures, copy of the child's birth certificate, and the picture page of his/her passport and take them to the immigration office. It's free and it will take approximately 1-3 months. However, I received mine within a month. They said upon receiving the CoE I should send it to my family member in Jamaica and they should then take it to the Japanese consulate there.  You can get additional information from this link: ( http://www.ifrec.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/liaison/procedures/visa_family.html ). 

Step 3: Pre-application for Hoikuen 

After sending the documents for her visa to Jamaica, I called the lady I'd met previously to inform her about the stage I was at in the process. Also, because they had informed me that nothing could actually be done prior to her getting to Japan, I would be asking my friend to take her along with her when she was coming to Japan in August. She told me I would have to fill out the application before August 5th in order for her to start September 1st. Hence, she would have to be here before August 5th in order to even start the process for September 1st entry. This information basically changed all my plans because that would mean my friend could not take her because she would have been coming to Japan in mid August. My daughter would therefore have to get to Japan by July month end for registration before the 5th for the 1st of September. I was not at all thrilled because this means I could no longer defray the travel cost as I would have to go to Jamaica myself to get her, which is obviously expensive.  

I was stressed because I did not plan for the former, and I was just about to do something major (I can't quite remember what it was now. Maybe I was going to buy my tickets due to the urgency of the situation). God saw everything at play and prompted me to call the "think tank" Shauna-Gaye Clarke. Shauna-Gaye said that did not add up because September is not a special month for school in Japan. Maybe she meant it's before the 5th for the following month. (I hadn't even thought of that!) So, I called the lady at the ward office told her what my friend said and she affirmed! What a huge syntax error!  I said miss that's a completely different story. For one, the earlier version meant that she has to be here from July for September.

image from japandaily.jp

Hence, I would have to make arrangements for her care while I am at work for approximately one full month or more. She apologised and said that's the reason why she called the day before to give me the contact for Osaka information for foreigners so I could ask any information. (But when I had called they said they only provided translation services and in the event I was having difficulties communicating while I was there they could translate; but they are unable to provide specific information about the different procedures).

Now, I am finding out that the application just needs to be dropped off one month before the fifth for the following month's start date. I asked the lady if they would start processing the application if I dropped it off before my daughter entered Japan. She said the ward office has strict rules and they don't usually do that but they might make an exception.  So I sent a message to the Black Women in Japan group again; one girl said her ward office allowed her to start before her son got to Japan and when he came he went straight into school (hoikuen) two days after. So, with a little hope knowing someone had circumvented the red tape, I went back to the ward office. I explained my sitation (I am a working single mother,  my daughter is in Jamaica; I want to get her here in August if they could accomodate us by starting the application prior to her arrival. The story might have beem embellished but those were the central points with my limited Japanese. When they could not understand anymore, they said I should go with them and they will get a translator. Luckily it was the same translator from above, who I had already informed about my case. In a nutshell, the ward office said they would allow me to drop off the application as long as it is before the fifth and start the process but I have to take her as soon as she comes to Japan to the ward office for processing. They asked when she was coming; (with this new information I could opt for a later arrival date so I would just keep her for two weeks instead of a month). They  explained the form and told me the areas to be filled out by my company etc. She gave me a list of the schools in the ward (district area) and circled the ones that might have space September 1st (only five, three of which are not so close to my house). I gave her about a million bows to express my gratitude. So knowing what I had to do, I collected the forms and left. One million pounds came off my shoulders, looking back at the unfortunate mistake that would have befallen me because of misinformation.  I took the walk back home with a heart filled with gratitude. 

Step 4: Application 

I went to school the next day, asked a Japanese teacher to fill out the form, and the following Monday I gave the company section of the form to my coordinator at my company to complete the Employment portion. I was told it would take approximately two weeks (I had anticipated this and planned accoordingly). I was doing all this the same week, June 20th, that I collected my daughter's CoE. So, I allotted one week for the delivery of the CoE to my daughter's father and one week from that date to recieve the employment portion of my application. This would put me in the last week of June to submit my application to the ward office (before July 5th). My company informed me on July 31st the documents were ready. I picked them up and went to the ward office the same day. It was a stretch but I managed to go to my company and the ward office the same afternoon. (This step was being done concurrently with step 6).  

Step 5: Plotting the travel route to Japan 

image from travelvoice.jp

Knowing that the CoE was enroute to Jamaica, the next step was to schedule an interview for my daughter with the US embassy in Jamaica (route 1: Jamaica, U.S., Japan). I downloaded the forms etc.  More information can be obtained about the visa application process here, https://ais.usvisa-info.com.  When I completed all the steps, the earliest appointment date was December 11, 2016. I used the expedited visa option. I sent an email both on the appointment screen and to the US embassy website administration itself and waited for about four working days and didn't get a response. I was becoming nervous. I googled and found the embassy's Skype information.  Upon speaking to someone on Skype, I was told that my case was not an emergency and all I have to do is change my route so that I don't have to fly through the US.  (This was my main reason for applying for a transit visa and not a visitor's visa because they are very hard to deal with in Kingston and I did not want them to deny her the visitor's then I would have to petition and appeal, which would all throw everything that I had arranged in Japan out the window!)  I informed the embassy official she was just transiting. He told me my option is to either change my route or wait until someone cancels an appointment, the latter being highly unlikely. Furthermore, she would have to be in Japan within 90 days or else her document would be void.

Route 2 which was Jamaica, Canada, Japan, was not an option because the transit visa takes 35 days plus the paperwork is just ridiculous. 

Route 3: Jamaica, Germany, Dubai, Japan. One of my friends used this route.  Still searching for the most economical route, I found an airline, Condor Airlines, which offers unaccompanied minor flights to Germany. I would just need to put her on an unaccompanied flight from Jamaica to New York, then to Germany where I would meet her. However, that would not be possible without a Schengen visa because the airline later told me that Germany was the final stop. This means we would need a visa to land in Germany. 

I decided therefore to go to Jamaica on a one way ticket, then buy two tickets from Montego Bay to Japan. I could not buy a round trip then add her to the return leg because I would have had to book with one airline which is very expensive. Plus I would have to stick to the same route three full days flying before arriving to Jamaica or Japan.  

Knowing my next move, I conditioned my mind to spend the exorbitant amount for the tickets and use my limited paid vacation and return to Japan through Germany. But things then shifted in my favour.  I got an email captioned: "Action Required" from the US embassy. (Coincidentally, I had sent my money to buy the Germany leg to my relatives the day before. They did not go because of car troubles, so they were planning to go the following day; the same day I received the email). The email said that they had approved the expedited request and I should book an interview date. I got my calendar, said ok, the CoE will arrive in four days time. It will take probably four working days to get her passport back from the Japanese embassy.  I booked it for the 13th of July.  She got her Japanese visa two days before her appointment for the US embassy.  

Step 5b: Purchasing the tickets 

(Please avoid this step until you have obtained all the necessary travel documentation)

I had a major problem. Even though I had secured the travel route through Germany, with the USA interview, route 1 may still be available. The problem was the Germany flight was filling up and this flight left Jamaica once per week and it was getting more expensive everyday. The other thing was I wasn't sure how the US visa interview would end, even though she had more than enough evidence to validate her passage through the US, having secured her Japanese visa. Not to mention, the flights through the US were getting expensive for August departure.  But, thinking it's a transit visa and she had more than enough evidence to validate this, I used my gut feeling and purchased all three tickets for route 1. I advise against this however, because of the inherent risk in doing so. Needless to say, I got through with them.  Also, she got a five year visitor's visa instead of a single entry transit one. 

Step 6: Finding a Hoikuen 

(This step was done simultaneously with step 4 above) 

So knowing that her dates were set for arrival in Japan, the next step was to collect the employment portion of the application from my company. I was in constant contact witth the lady at the ward office. She told me that I had to find a day nursery for her until the hoikuen starts September 1 as she is coming to Japan August 18th. I started calling nurseries. After my very lengthy and awkward Japanese explanation, most told me they had no space. I was hitting brick walls.

I contacted my company and they informed me that finding schools is "a big social problem in Japan". Not to be dismayed, I googled information for foreigners in Osaka and someone responded with some schools in my area. I called some schools. Some had no space for a 5 year old, others were just too far from my house or some were just for the wealthy. I was just doing a blind search. Anyway, I got two appointments for the same Saturday; one was far from my house and the next one was close to my house. This school made me come all the way to the school to tell me they opened at 8:00 am even though I had asked before and  then they told me I would need to make an appointment for consultation. I just hurried off to the next appointment without making a fuss. 

The principal was not there but I explained everything: Jamaica, daughter, Japan 18th, if they can accept her for August 22nd because I go to work weekdays. They told me they would contact the principal. They later contacted me in the afternoon. The lady said, "the principal says she can start on the 22nd if the ward office says yes". I repeatedly asked her several times both in Japanese and English. I confirmed and double confirmed she said "daijoubu"/ no problem. The ward office would have no reason to say she can't go to that school as long as there is a space for her age group. 

In the same breath, I had asked a Japanese male friend to help me find a school when I was hitting walls after walls. He sent me a site but it was difficult to translate.  I asked a teacher at one of my schools to call and get the information from the link my friend had sent. (The entire staffroom was now aware that I had a daughter, she was five and that she was coming to Japan and I was going to Jamaica for her and I am trying to find a daycare until she started school. I really did not care).  Even though I got a school that said yes, I know it's always better to have a contingency plan. The back-up however was not practical and had to be subsequently removed from my options list.  

One of my friends, from all the way in Nagoya had asked her boyfriend's boss to give me a call to find out if there was anything she could assist me with. I brought her up to speed. I told her I was awaiting the documents from my company to take to the ward office but it was a struggle with the schools but I found one who agreed to take her conditionally warranting the ward office approves. She said she would still call the ward office on my behalf. She called to relay the same information the ward office had told me from my second visit (pre-application). I got the rest of the application on the 31st of July from my company. 

Step 7: Submitting the application 

This is a continuation of the latter part of steps 4 and 6 above. 

I arrived at the ward office to drop off the documents. I wrote the contact information and wrote my friend's contact information on the form so they could contact her on my behalf. The ward office staff checked and told me to bring my daughter August 18th to the ward office. I told them I already found the school that told me she could start the following Monday and that the school just wants approval from them. I told this lady to call the school to verify. She went to the phone but I don't think she got connected.  But she understood what I was saying about the school saying she could start on the 22nd. Everything was finally finished. I gave thanks.

However, last week sitting at my desk my friend's boss sent me a text asking if it was possible to get my daughter here sooner. I said no, because I had already bought her tickets plus I applied for leave and the whole process can't change over night. Plus to change ticket dates would cost a lot so that's not even an option. I asked why she was asking all this. She said the lady at the ward office called her and told her that my daughter can only spend two hours during the first week at the school that accepted her. The school had just informed the ward office.  This was never mentioned to me, and I had outlined my situation, hence the reason they had agreed to take her from August 22nd and not Sept 1st as per procedure.  Now the school was telling the ward office that Japanese mothers take the first week from work off so they can keep their children for the rest of the day. Hence, children would go from 9 to 11 am for one week to scaffold the children before the longer hours. (Although this sytem is obviously ideal, it was not possible for my case). The school was now only just telling the ward office to tell me that I should take the week off because that is their policy.  My company told me two things from the onset: you have 12 paid vacation days (nenkyu)per year, which you can also take hourly. If you go over your 12 days nenkyu, 15000 yen will be deducted from your salary for every day absent. Feeling boxed in, I said well I have to take the paid vacation and use them up; When those are exhausted, I will take unpaid leave. I knew that finding a school was a big circle going nowhere. 

Thank God, however, the very next day my friend informed me that the lady at the ward office called her saying that there might be another school close to my house and that she is checking for availability. This new school said they would accept her from the 22nd and I wouldn't have to take the week off from work. This communication was between the school and the ward office so nobody could say it was due to "miscommunication" as is often the excuse.

Conclusion: 

I believe most of what I experienced could have been avoided if I had more resources (time, money, Japanese friends, information etc.)  I am living in Japan for a year and a half now but I have never allowed a lack of resources to hinder me from getting what I want. I am also an ardent believer in all things working out for good in my life. 

I hope this information is useful, and even though my experience may not be atypical, I share my experience for the benefit of others. 

Recommendations: 

Network as much as possible. Someone had that same issue somewhere. 
Use the resources you have available.  
Get everything in writing. 
Create a timeline.
Turn all "nos" into "yes". 
The brave may fall but never yield.



Well, there you have it! I hope you found this information useful. I would like to thank Dani-Kaye for sharing such a detailed account with us. She has shown lots of courage, strength and determination. I know that you will join me in wishing her and her little girl all the best in the their new life in Japan. 

Please head on over to Black Mommies Travel, and as always, thanks for your support. 

I'm on Mater Mea!

Hi, there!

Mater Mea has featured my family on their website!

I've shared my birth story with the hope of letting women out there know that no two women will have the same birth story. There was disappointment and joy in my journey. A lot of my disappointment came from this perfect image I had of what I thought giving birth should look like. Hopefully you can avoid that mistake, and instead, enjoy your journey, whatever it might look like.

Read my story here: http://www.matermea.com/blog/having-a-baby-abroad-in-japan

Please remember to share. 

Have a great day :)

Meet Lee-Ann: A Jamaican Entrepreneur in Japan

Hello again!

How are you? If you are friends with me on Facebook, you'll know that I am now a mom. Yes, I've crossed over to the parenting world. My beautiful baby girl's name is Esther. :) I will be sharing my emotional journey about giving birth real soon. Look out for it.

In other news, I now have a driver's license! Not just any license, a Japanese driver's license! I am really proud of myself. For anyone who has gone through the process of acquiring a driver's license in Japan, you will know that it is not easy. It is really, really difficult. And EXPENSIVE. But I'm so glad that I was able to overcome the challenges and I will now enjoy the reward of being able to actually drive a car. Excited much.

And now for today's post.

I really do admire entrepreneurs, hence my reason for doing these series. So, when I see someone doing their thing, I am intrigued. I am especially intrigued by persons who make their own craft. There is one such person I discovered on Facebook. She is a Jamaican here in Japan. Her name is Lee-Ann. Everyone, let's say hello.

Hi, Lee-Ann. Thanks for agreeing to be featured on my blog! Please tell us about yourself and what brought you to Japan.

Thanks, Re-Keisha. My name is Lee-Ann Haslam. I am from Kingston, Jamaica. I came to Japan because I was interested in Japanese culture. I completed my Masters here and decided to stay.

Oh, that's cool. How did you get started in your business?

Lee-Ann's goodies on display at the Jamaican One Love Festival in Tokyo

Well, I graduated from Tokyo University of Art. I have always been creative. I made my beauty products for my family, friends and myself especially for many years. My mom used to work as an aesthetician for Estée Lauder and growing up she taught me a lot - how to make scrubs, toners, things for hair/ body, and especially face. I'm natural and moved to Japan 10 years ago when we did not have a lot of the conveniences we have now with ordering things online, and when there was the move towards healthy products that promote instead of change ourselves. I therefore had to learn how to, for example, handle my hair, make deep conditioners, oils, etc. 

An order being prepared.

Recently, two Christmases ago I decided I wanted to make personal presents for my mom and friends. I made a few and they liked it so much they wanted more. They pushed me lovingly to go commercial and sell to others. Since then, I've been making a few organic soaps, scrubs/ masks and butters and seeing the response. So far I'm glad people like them and even better, I'm glad I can help people and babies/children with skin conditions. People don't realize just how important good soap is and what it can do to/ for your skin. I'm not a size three but I've always felt no matter what I'm beautiful and I deserve to treat myself well like a queen and my bathe time/ rub up after is my daily treat to myself. Why shouldn't I treat myself well. So these "treats" I'm slowly but steadily, little by little, sharing with others on a commercial basis since this year January. 

One out of many of Lee-Ann's creations.

A little while after I started, an old college friend requested I make a soap that can help his baby with eczema. I drew from previous knowledge and research and created a pure vegan organic oatmeal soap for her. Her name is Awrya. I wasn't sure exactly how the result would be as she has eczema pretty bad. All I can say is a few months later when I sent the soap to them he mailed me appreciatively saying they love the soap. She thought it was food so she bit into it. After one bath, the redness went away and the eczema calmed down. I didn't expect it to work so fast and was surprised as there was nothing to help. His wife also noticed and asked about the soap. 


Satisfied customers make me happy. I'm a small business and as far as I'm concerned that's my job. These days, I'm noticing a lot more about people's skin, especially when I see children scratching. I just want to give them a good quality bar of soap.

My best selling products, which are all organic are, bars: Oatmeal (treats skin conditions), Coconut (gently nourishes) and Mango (aphrodisiac). New Rhassoul Shampoo/Body Bar for gentle ph balanced clean hair, especially for curlies, and New Body Scrub Whipped Soap. Also, shea and coconut infused hair/body butters and ginger/coffee scrub. 

I try to use as many natural products as possible from Jamaica like our castor oil and cold pressed coconut oil. I love them :). I gain knowledge and exotic ingredients from my travels as well, and only use grade A kosher 100% organic quality.

Oh, I should also mention that I do glass art, which was my major. It's important to me, too.















Amazing! Do you have any words of advice for someone here who has a talent that they can capitalize on?








To someone who has talent my best advice is contact those of us here who are doing or did something you want to do. We tend to help each other. I appreciate the other entrepreneurs here. We all help each other, especially in the Jamaican community: Dean Jackson, Kerry-Ann Jahjastarz, Sasha Seals, Gregory Arnold and Didan Ashanta to name a few:)

Keep negative thoughts at bay, do your research and go for what you want. 

Also, they can join business groups such as Tokyo Black Professionals and the like, or FEW (Females Empowering Women). Those are of great help.

Lee-Ann with some of the other Jamaican entrepreneurs here. Photo taken at the One Love Festival in Tokyo.

Thank you, Lee-Ann! It was really a pleasure talking to you! I will definitely be trying one of your products soon.

There you have it, guys. You may see all that Lee-Ann offers on her Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/LeeCreatesPage

If you enjoyed this post, please help me by sharing with your friends.

Also, please like my Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/jamaicangirlinjapan

Until next time :)

Our New Car, Being Stopped by Japanese Police and Casting Your Cares

Guess who now has a car... Praise the Lord great things He has done. A car to take us around, giving us so much more independence and comfort... :) :)


So, on our very first 'trip' in our car (hubby came to pick me up from work), we were subjected to questioning from the police. According to them, they were curious... the license plate is from another city. (We just purchased the vehicle; the paperwork to change license etc. have not been dealt with yet). But I say, their so-called reason is rubbish.

Had it not been two (black) foreigners in the car, they wouldn't have bothered us. We could have been tourists. I thought to myself that what if we had driven to some other place in Japan for a visit? Am I then supposed to be nervous about being stopped because our license plate is different? Can you see how it doesn't make any sense?! And hubby said that they did it quite often, stop the black man riding his bicycle.

May this anger not stay with me. Lord, please help me not to remain upset. When I'm driving in the vehicle that You have blessed me with, I shouldn't have to feel nervous and uncomfortable. It's not fair and it's not right.... It makes me think about the persons in a certain country, a name I will not call, who have to face this sort of thing and worse because of the color of their skin. People should not have to live in that state of fear!

In all fairness, this sort of thing happens in Jamaica all the time. People are stopped by the police for insane reasons and made to even pay tickets which are quite questionable...

In other 'news', I'm sort of in one of those seasons where the expenses are more than what is available to take care of them. Ever been in one of those? I have been feeling overwhelmed as a result. But I have been remembering a preacher (Joyce Meyers is her name) who spoke about the rough years in her life - years when she had to depend on God to meet their monthly needs. She spoke about how she would sit and worry about their bills; while her husband would simply 'cast his cares'. I thought to myself, how I could develop that 'cast your cares attitude'. I decided to say a prayer:

Dear Lord. I am really overwhelmed by the expenses ahead. I feel angry too. I have faithfully saved. And even as I note that, I am reminded that I have faithfully tithed too. And according to your word, I am to receive an outpouring of blessings that I will not have room to contain. Lord let this anxiety, worry and fear not stay with me. I am imagining looking back at this time and saying to myself, see how I was worrying for nothing. Thank you for your provision, mercy, favor and grace. This I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Well, I prayed that prayer in simple, child-like faith. Perhaps you need to say a prayer of your own for whatever thing you may be facing in your life right now. Prayer is the easiest thing to do, but sometimes we don't really do it. I guess it seems too simple for the 'big' problem we seem to be facing. But it is the best thing we can do, and really should be our first line of action.

Thanks as always for reading. See you next time.

Meet SimmyBoom: A Jamaican Dancer in Japan

I have been away for so long. Just one of those things, you know. You get busy or otherwise distracted and you don't quite get to working on those things that you'd like to. Anyway, I'm back with another awesome story from a Jamaican who is making her mark here in Japan. Ladies and gentlemen, say hi to SimmyBoom.

Hi, Simmy! Please tell us about yourself and what brought you to Japan.

My name is Simone Symister-Salmon and I'm from Kingston, Jamaica. I'm happily married to a Jamaican and we have been living in Japan for over 4 years. My hobbies include dancing, socializing and traveling.

I came to Japan because I wanted to experience a culture different from mine; so when I was offered the opportunity to live and work here as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT), I gladly accepted it and I'm tremendously happy that I did.

How long have you been dancing?

Well I have been dancing since I was 10 years old in High School; so, 18 years. But professionally, approximately 4 years.

You have been having dance workshops here in Japan. I'd love to know about them; like how you got started.

Fortunately I was asked to conduct a dance workshop for a Jamaican dancer who came to Japan. Although I was a dance teacher, I knew nothing about dance workshops. However, after doing some research, I was able to pull it off. After that, many other requests came for me to do workshops for international dancers but because of my busy work schedule I had to decline most of those requests.

A lot of friends encouraged me to open my own dance school, but I was hesitant due to the fact that my Japanese level is very basic; and as well as the fact that I think I still have a lot to learn as a dance teacher.

However, because I'm truly passionate about dance, I took my friends' advice as well as followed my heart and started my own dance workshops and collaborated with other dancers/dance teachers. Based on the turn out of those workshops and constant requests to continue organizing workshops, I would say the workshops were a success and I'm truly happy that persons benefited from them.

Simmy with her dance partner and a student getting down.

Simmy (in the yellow T-shirt) with her dance partner and some of her students.

I'm on a maternity leave from dancing now but will surely continue right after, by God's will.

Oh! Congratulations on your pregnancy! Any advice for someone who has a talent that they can share and capitalize on?

Thank you. The most important thing is to never give up on your dreams. Try your best to achieve your goals. One way this this can be done is by networking. You'll be surprised at how helpful some persons who you meet can be and the impact they can have on your career/talent. Associate yourself with professionals in the field you are trying to master and learn from them. You are never too talented or educated to learn.

Last but not least, be humble yet confident! If you're shy try to work on that because shyness/ nervousness can be a roadblock to your opportunity to shine!!

I can definitely relate to the shyness/nervousness part! It really is something I have to try to overcome. Any other thing you'd like to add, Simmy?

Don't be afraid to make mistakes because that's the only way you'll learn. There are many of you with potential so don't hesitate to maximize your potential by taking any opportunity you get to do so.

Love God and he will lead you in the right direction.

Big smiles from Simmy (in orange) with her students. Two of her co-teachers are also in the group.

Thanks, girl! And all the very best to you and your hubby as you bring new life into the world.

There you have it, guys! These stories are really inspiring to me; I hope they are inspiring you, too. Hope you can take something from what our Jamaican dancer has said, act on it, and realize your dream.

Be blessed :)