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Sarah moved to Japan, thinking it would only be temporary. Nearly half her life later, she’s still there, raising a family and navigating two cultures.
What happens when a short trip turns into an entirely new life?
In this episode of From Where to Here, Alexandra sits down with Sarah Sawane, who grew up in Alabama and moved to Japan for what was supposed to be a temporary experience… but ended up staying for nearly half her life.
What began as an opportunity to teach English became something much deeper: building a family, raising bicultural children, and learning to navigate daily life in a culture very different from the one she grew up in.
In our conversation, Sarah shares what it was really like moving to Japan, the cultural surprises that stayed with her, and how living abroad slowly reshaped her sense of home and identity.
We talk about the quiet moments of culture shock most people don’t expect, from train etiquette and removing shoes indoors to sitting on tatami floors, and the deeper questions that come with building a life between two cultures.
This episode is about more than moving abroad.
It’s about belonging, cultural curiosity, and how sometimes the places we visit end up changing the course of our lives.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live in Japan as an American, or how living in another culture can transform the way you see the world, this conversation is for you.
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