Gina Bear

Gina is a half Mexican-half Italian Chicago native currently living in Austin, Texas. She lived abroad in both Japan and South Korea for almost a decade. Her blog gives extensive itineraries and insider tips on how to easily travel as a woman.

Love in Fukushima

This week’s guest post comes from Felicity, an Australian JET living in Fukushima. She writes about her romance with a Japanese man. Just before I got on a plane to Japan to join the JET Programme in July, 2012, my mother told me, “You won’t come back again now. You’ll marry a Japanese boy and […] Read more…

Nara is the Best Place in Autumn

Autumn in Nara is the best. The weather cools down during the day, you get healthy doses of cute fashion, and special fruits like persimmons are found in abundance. Fall is one of my favorite seasons and it’s the best time to travel if you love to photograph nature and the changing colors of the trees. While […] Read more…

How to Prepare for Typhoons in Japan

Japan is very prone to natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, and typhoons. While most of us in affected areas keep calm like the Japanese do, we still need to be prepared. Okinawa is very typhoon prone and I know a few things about coasting through them gracefully. Luckily, the buildings in Okinawa are made of concrete and built […] Read more…

How to Survive Winter in Japan

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty shall we? Japan lacks proper insulation. Some of us may come from colder climates (like me, who comes from Chicago and our winters are no joke) so we think, “I’m a trooper! I’ll be fine.” No, really, it’s not a joke. I have JET friends in Hokkaido who keep […] Read more…

JET Program: Tokyo Orientation FAQ

Going to Japan for the first or [insert number here] time can be a wonderful, exciting and joyous time. If you’re reading this post, you’re most likely new to the rodeo so Gina Bear is here to help answer your questions and make your transition to the Land of the Rising Sun easier. Like you, […] Read more…

How To Survive Summer in Okinawa

Summer in Okinawa can be amazing. The color of the water becomes alive with the sparkling reflection of the sun, the fish are more vibrantly colored, and the sun is that much stronger. While many of us want to be beach bums or bunnies, we have to keep in mind Okinawa is closer to the […] Read more…

Advice for Moving to Japan

Last time, I posted a Japan Thrival Guide on what to do before, after, and while in Japan. I think as someone who lived in Japan for three years, there are some things I wish I knew before arrival. A new country means lots of changes, but we also shouldn’t forget some of our own […] Read more…

Japan Thrival Guide

Before coming on JET, most of us are young, bright-eyed and bit naive about our next adventure. If you’d like more information on the JET Program, check out the JET section of my blog. I lived in Mexico for 3 months with my family over summer vacation as a child, but I had no idea what Asia was about. […] Read more…

How To Apply to Teach in Korea from Overseas

This blog post is dedicated to on how to apply to teach in Korea from overseas and how to do the paperwork in a timely and headache free manner. Doing this process from overseas can be frustrating and may end up making you give up. I want you to know you’re not alone. I went […] Read more…

Why is Dating Hard for Foreign Women in Japan?

Dating is hard anywhere. Why is dating hard for foreign women in Japan? Throw in a new culture, language, and country and BAM. You’ve got a recipe for confusion. In my experience, dating in Japan is hard. Don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely attracted to Japanese guys! I think they’ve got great hair and eyes, […] Read more…

How to Prepare to Leave JET

For JETs that are choosing to leave Japan and venture into their next step, I have compiled a list of things to make your transition easier. Leaving is a hard decision and the leaving process is even harder. The transition out is a sad one and Japan will forever be a part of you. The […] Read more…

How To Celebrate the New Year Japanese Style!

Everywhere in the world, we have unique ways of celebrating the New Year. For those who have been in college, we can reminisce happily on the drunken debauchery of the ringing in the New Year with annoying party favors and smudged mascara. (Or if you’re just that good, you looked flawless.) Bringing in 2013, I […] Read more…

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