Back to Japan with a toddler - Our Story

Moving countries is one thing. Moving countries with a small child while working full-time across time zones is something else entirely.

In this first episode, I share our story of returning to Japan as a family: arriving in February 2024, starting work immediately, bridging two months without childcare, and navigating the cultural shock of Japanese nursery life.

I talk about:

• The reality of restarting work on a German contract while living in Japan
• The emotional and cultural differences between German daycare and Japanese hoikuen
• Watching a child learn a new language almost overnight
• The quiet social codes of everyday life around Tokyo and Yokohama
• And why building community as a working mother abroad can take longer than expected

This episode is an honest starting point about transition, identity, work, motherhood, and rebuilding a sense of belonging between cultures.