Fellow
Current Country
Japan 🇯🇵
Current City
Fukui
What have you been going through and experiencing?
I've been staying in a local family in Japan, trying to immerse myself in the culture and say YES as much as possible. For example: in the past 2 weeks I've already done 2 volunteering weekends, made miso and origami & joined an 'education over the world' event - all with locals!
February 26, 2026
Intuition
Cultivating inner knowing
A question currently animating me about the inner life/spirit is:
What can the Japanese culture teach me about handling stress?
February 26, 2026
A question currently animating me about the outer world/universe/multiverse is:
How to protect creativity in this overstimulating world?
February 26, 2026
The practices I’m finding most helpful at the moment are:
Journaling,Creating Music/Art
February 26, 2026
A moment I noticed my inner light kindled this month was:
When I arrived to my new - very loving - host family, that was able to host me 7 weeks early a day after I messaged them about my situation (even with their busy lives). Finding what I was looking for: genuine connection with a local family and a portal to immersive travel!!
February 26, 2026
A moment I noticed my inner light dwindled this month was:
When I arrived to my first host family after a VERY long trip, excited for meaningful connection with them. Only to find out I was just a number to my 'host family': one of the many that had to run their skilodge (for free) instead of being the au-pair we all signed up for.
February 26, 2026
Courage
Aligning action
Assumptions I'm examining right now are:
Other
February 26, 2026
I originally assumed:
I used to think children on the other side of the world would behave very differently than how I know
February 26, 2026
These assumptions are changing:
Now I sense that inside we're really all the same!
February 26, 2026
A moment I stepped out of my comfort zone this month was:
When I went to onsen (public hot springs) for the first time (I never did anything like it before), together with a group of volunteers I'd known for an hour.
February 26, 2026
Compassion
Engaged Empathy
Something that is helping me build trusting relationships here is:
Circle posts
February 26, 2026
Digital Detox Retreat
7
Being intentionally away from technology and distractions has taught me:
To be so much more connected to myself, through realising how certain experiences in the past have shaped me to who I am now. To feel detached from technology without this restless feeling of boredom. To, for the first time, feel fully content with just myself and nothing else.
December 29, 2025
Gratitude
Peers I'm grateful for:
Kashimani Simasiku
Thank you so much for helping me through my crisis during the first days in Japan, and regularly checking up on me afterwards!!!
February 26, 2026
Asmaa Drawat
Asmaa! Thank you so much for helping me with my food allergy translation for my trip to Morocco, you might have saved my life!! <333 You're so sweet and I would love to connect with you more!!
January 28, 2026
Douglas Teixeira de Queiroz Santos
Another thanks to you because you deserve it Doug!! I want to thank you for being immediately so excited when I asked you to plan a meeting together and look forward to planning it further!!
December 29, 2025
Lexi Bennett-Williams
Lexiii! I loved the times we were put in a breakout room together and I can’t wait to have more time to talk over a call! Thanks for being such a good conversation partner and I’m excited to get to know you better!
November 30, 2025
Douglas Teixeira de Queiroz Santos
Doug, thanks for being amazing to talk to! Some time ago we had a few meetings which I loved, and recently you took the initiative again to plan another. Although we still need to have this one, I've loved chatting with you in breakouts! Thanksthanksthanks <3
October 31, 2025
Kashimani Simasiku
Thanks for reaching out to me to have a call that turned out to be way greater than I could’ve anticipated!! You’ve not only helped me with my current struggles but also made me laugh with tears, can’t wait to catch up again! :)
September 27, 2025
John Makuei Bath Madut
I want to thank you for your insights you’ve shared in the meetings, because I think your point of view is so interesting and your words have really put me to think! You were the one to stand out for me with the things you said, I remember such interesting thoughts you shared
August 31, 2025
Lizzy Leone
Thank you so much for reminding everyone about every meeting and also reminding me personally about lists of things I still need to do in Circle - this has helped me a lot because otherwise I fear I would definitely have forgotten some important things!! Thanks Liz!
July 31, 2025
Peers who have expressed gratitude for me:
Tristan Herrero Picard
Thank you so much for hooking me up to your crazy host family. You've been a great support when dealing with Japan as a country and I'm very excited for these 3 weeks together. Thank you for helping me shape my plans and being so kind.
March 4, 2026
Ruan Vitor Cordeiro da Silva
I'm so grateful for the fact that I'm getting to know more about you during those past days and how we have been supporting each other, sharing dreams, planning things together, and so much more!
March 2, 2026
Kashimani Simasiku
Thank you for always making time to have funny conversations about meat, parties, and Halloween. I really appreciate the time we have to get to know each other.
November 1, 2025
Lexi Bennett-Williams
Thank you for sharing in the group sessions and for a couple conversations we’ve had!
July 30, 2025
Magical Moments
On our way to the rice fields!
Osaka
•
Feb 22, 2026
Although this entire volunteering weekend in the nature of Osaka was magical in itself, this moment stood out to me! Me and this boy I didn’t know and didn’t share any languages with, laughing together as we were walking like little smurfs to the ricefields. A reminder that language is not at all necessary to connect!✨
Snowy days!
Rotterdam
•
Jan 5, 2026
A few days with an abundance of snow ended up to be so meaningful. Closed schools, cancelled flights. Many kids playing on the streets, strangers building snowmen together, everyone slowing down and taking a moment to enjoy the weather. A strong feeling of community in such an individualistic country. Beautiful!
Feeling at home in Granada
Granada
•
Dec 8, 2025
When I found a guy playing the guitar for his friends in the most beautiful sunset spot and talked to them for a while. He asked me what kind of songs I listen to (for him to play) and when I told him about the song my brother always plays - that always makes me feel at home - and he happened to know it completely + lyrics (see video)!!
Sunset walk
Palma de Mallorca
•
Sep 18, 2025
Nothing crazy, just connecting to my host family mom on a beautiful sunset walk with the dog :)
Connecting with locals over another beautiful hike!
Palma de Mallorca
•
Nov 26, 2025
After the first hike I did with the 3 spanish people, we immediately planned another one for a week later. At the end, we went to a bit of a secret viewpoint for the sunset and it was absolutely stunning. I felt so deeply happy and really connected with people I only saw twice!! So so thankful!!
Facing the storm!
Palma de Mallorca
•
Oct 26, 2025
Although the weather is lovely here 90% of the time, it was absolutely terrible yesterday. It was raining a looott, the coldest since I’ve been here and even very windy. However, to celebrate my host family mom’s birthday, we still went out to explore a beautiful place of the island I hadn’t seen yet. We took some umbrellas and had a walk through the city in pouring rain, and somehow (even though I hate rain), I felt so happy! A small reminder not to let external forces determine how I feel too much :)