Nicole Sauer

Nicole is a traveler, teaching to pay the bills and because she enjoys it! She loves discovering and taking photos of hilarious English fails on public signage ("Please use a toilet finely!") She currently lives in Nagoya. Check out her other site at http://la-mera-mera-viajera.blogspot.com/

  • Japanese Work Culture – A Mix-Tape
    January 15th, 2013By Category: Work Tips
    Perhaps no amount of research could fully prepare you for the realities of working for a Japanese company, but having learned the hard way that it’s no cakewalk, I would like to offer to newcomers, or even veterans who need a supportive reminder, my advice on how to fun ... » Continue Reading
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    The Backwaters of Tokyo
    December 13th, 2012By Category: Arts & Entertainment, Culture, Food & Dining, Travel
    Tokyo is a quintessential stop on the trail of any traveler, both for foreign tourists on holiday and expats looking for a weekend away. But the popularity of the destination doesn’t mean that it must be a common trip. Having tapped out the tourist circuit the last ... » Continue Reading
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    Quitting Your Job in Japan
    November 7th, 2012By Category: Work Tips
    There may come a time when you want to either change or quit your job in Japan. Breaking a contract in any job might generally leave you feeling concerned about the consequences, both short and long term, but doing so in another country can seem quite daunting. I ... » Continue Reading
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    Eat Up, Chow Down, Dig In. A Culinary Journey Across Japan.
    October 19th, 2012By Category: Culture, Food & Dining
    When a Japanese person asks about your vacation, the question “Where did you go?” is inevitably followed up by, “What did you eat?” It is even more likely that upon learning the destination, the next question will be “Did you try ?” as the Japanese seem to acquire early ... » Continue Reading
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    Onsen for Dummies
    October 3rd, 2012By Category: Travel
    In the spirit of “When in Rome,” a visit to Japan should definitely include one of the Japanese people’s greatest pastimes: a trip to onsen. The tradition of bathing in hot springs is more than a thousand years old and is deeply ingrained into the Japanese psyche. Melti ... » Continue Reading
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    Japan Rail Odyssey: Seishun 18
    September 26th, 2012By Category: Travel
    There’s still time left to grab one of the best transportation deals in Japan! Imagine yourself whirring along on a train through the countryside, contemplating the following images: beautiful white cranes landing in dazzling green rice fields, forested mountains that r ... » Continue Reading
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    Walk and Talk Osaka
    September 5th, 2012By Category: Travel
    Has anyone ever sung you the praises of a destination by insisting on all the great conversations you would have there? The fast-paced life of Osaka doesn’t mean that locals don’t have time to stop and chat. Osakans are renowned among the Japanese for being very frien ... » Continue Reading
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    Mount Koya: A New Lease on Life…from the Grave
    August 8th, 2012By Category: Travel
    At 5:30 in the morning, I woke up to get ready for a trip outside of the city... to yet another World Heritage Site. I met my friend at the train station and we started to look for our group- yes, we were tagging along on a tour, and yes, it was only going to be in Ja ... » Continue Reading
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    Cat Café
    July 12th, 2012By Category: Culture, Travel
    If this were Vietnam, the term “cat café” might lead you to question whether the establishment offered a dubious menu consisting of feline dishes. Thankfully, Japan has no such intentions for neko. Cat cafes are common in cities here, with patrons paying to spend time w ... » Continue Reading
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    Saving Money in Japan
    July 3rd, 2012By Category: Uncategorized
    An annual cost of living survey released by the firm Mercer (http://www.mercer.com/costofliving) revealed their list of the Top Ten most expensive cities in the world for expats- Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya (my city) were on that list at positions #1, #3 and #10 res ... » Continue Reading

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