by Jen Costanzo | Dec 14, 2008 | Artwork, Jen
This is my Christmas gift for Grandmom. Shhh… don’t tell! She asked me to make her a set of handmade stationery. I put together 20 cards for her & chose the theme for the stationery as being “Purple flowers” (iris, lilac, thistle,...
by Jen Costanzo | Dec 3, 2008 | Artwork, Jen
by Mike Costanzo | Sep 16, 2008 | Friends, Jen
Welcome to our home! We’ve been promising for awhile that we’d give everyone a tour of our new little place, but it’s been pretty busy. Jen’s finally settling into a new job, and Mike’s getting into the groove with classes, so we figured...
by Jen Costanzo | Jan 6, 2008 | Jen, Vacation
Jen is happy to announce that over the winter vacation, she didn’t gain a single pound or kilogram — Yay!!! (As a little note, I was a little nervous that with all our holiday gatherings and travellings, I would put on the pounds. Now, all I have to do...
by Jen Costanzo | Nov 18, 2007 | Audio, Jen
Yesterday evening was our first annual team talent show! We saw everything from handstands, to opera, to interpretive dance! There was even an impressive recitation of the entire periodic table of the elements by memory! One of Mike’s & my contributions to...
by Jen Costanzo | Oct 7, 2007 | Faith, Jen, Reflections
This is such a controversial issue among Christians today. I don’t want to get embroiled in the controversy, but I can’t help but talk about some of the areas of contemplation my brain has stumbled across after living in Japan for a year. I think...
by Jen Costanzo | Sep 29, 2007 | Japanese Food, Jen
“Have you lost weight recently?” I’ve been asked this question by about 10 different people over the past couple of months. And yes. I have! Starting this summer, I began some lifestyle changes that have resulted in me losing about 6 kilograms...
by Jen Costanzo | Sep 21, 2007 | Devotion, Japanese Food, Jen
Yesterday, I discovered a new piece of fruit at the grocery store. It has a beautiful periwinkle, lavender smooth skin. It has no smell. It tastes a little like watermelon — full of little seeds. But rather than being crisp and juicy, it’s slightly...
by Mike Costanzo | Jul 31, 2007 | Culture, Jen, Mike, Video
Mysterious. Enigmatic. Intriguing. Yes, the world of Japanese culture is a vast and funky one, and has muddled the most meticulous minds for millenia. But no longer! We proudly present Japanese Culture: A Guide to the Finer Points by Mike & Jen Costanzo. These two...
by Jen Costanzo | Apr 28, 2007 | Jen
I’ve always been a big fan of mysteries. I realized how much mysteries have been a part of my life just this morning, as I was thinking about being 33 years old. I was hit by a wave of nostalgia that took me back to my first crush on crime-solvers. I can...
by Jen Costanzo | Apr 25, 2007 | Culture, Jen, Misc
Recently, I rediscovered a favorite author of mine. I stumbled across her name in a magazine editorial, and it evoked memories of a powerful book I had read almost 15 years ago. The book was called “A Heart of Winter.” It was the story of the daughter of a...
by Mike Costanzo | Mar 30, 2007 | Jen, Teaching, Wakakusa
Although junior high classes have been over since last Friday, Jen’s Wakakusa English School classes went through this past Tuesday. This made for a crazy few days for our Jen; not only did she have end-of-the-school-year reports to write, but she also had to...
by Jen Costanzo | Mar 23, 2007 | Devotion, Faith, Jen
Being constant. Faithful in prayer. Expectant to see God’s answer. Hearing no news of change. But still praying. If I cannot catch “the sound of noise of rain” long before the rain falls, and, going to some hilltop of the spirit, as near...
by Jen Costanzo | Mar 17, 2007 | Culture, Day-to-Day, Jen
This past Wednesday was a monumental day for a big portion of the Japanese population. It was the day that most of the 3rd year junior high-schoolers found out the results of their high-school entrance exams. These test results determine whether or not they can get...
by Jen Costanzo | Mar 14, 2007 | Cooking, Jen
Have you ever bought one of those knobby roots of raw ginger to use a bit for a recipe, but then despaired of ever being able to finish it? The ugly root usually sits in the back of my produce drawer for a few weeks before I give up and toss it in the trash. Just a...
by Jen Costanzo | Mar 1, 2007 | Devotion, Jen
Have you ever read a book that felt like it was written just for you? By someone who was looking over your shoulder and penning words just as you needed to read them? I am finishing up a book just like this. I started reading it over Christmas vacation, and it has...
by Jen Costanzo | Feb 1, 2007 | Cooking, Jen, Teaching
This month, I’ve been singing the song “Peanut… Peanut Butter… and JELLY” with my 6th grade students. So, on Monday we made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches together. The kids did great spreading the peanut butter. And of course the...
by Mike Costanzo | Dec 10, 2006 | Artwork, Devotion, Jen
For many, many years now, Jen has dreamed of one day writing and illustrating her own original children’s book. In fact, ever since we started dating back in 2000, both of us have been waiting for the day when Jen would finally have the time and energy to...
by Jen Costanzo | Dec 2, 2006 | Day-to-Day, Jen
Some of you have asked us if there are things from America that we miss having here in Japan. There are a lot of things that we can find here — especially since there is a foreign-food store in a nearby city. However, there are still a few things we...
by Jen Costanzo | Nov 29, 2006 | Cooking, Jen
When you picture a harvest cornucopia, what’s inside? Apples, grapes, bananas, pumpkins, corn, wheat? That’s what I used to think too — until experiencing harvest in Funehiki! This year, we’ve been blessed with an abundance of… You...
