Sunshine Blogger Award

I was nominated by a few fellow bloggers for the Sunshine Blogger Award! The Sunshine Blogger award is a way for bloggers to support other bloggers, especially those who produce uplifting and positive content! In this post, you'll learn a little more about me and my blog!

Thank you so much, Lena from lenadeexo.com and Natalie Maria from http://nouw.com/nataliemariia for nominating me, and for two other blogger friends from Facebook! I couldn't find their blogs to tag them, unfortunately.

The Rules of The Sunshine Blogger Award:

Thank blogger(s) who nominated you and link back to their blog.
Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.
Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions.
List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog.

My Questions from Lena:

1. What inspired you to create a blog?

I started blogging as part of a New Years resolution. I wanted to crack down on my language learning and have a productive year, so I made a blog! I decided that I wanted to try blogging on my own and see how far it would take me. I used to have a joint blog with a friend back in 2012-2015, but we eventually called it quits and the blog was left to collect dust. Sincerely Alice was originally supposed to be like a diary of sorts to help me keep track of my language learning, but I love producing article type content so I've made it a mesh of both.

2. Any tips for any bloggers out there who may need some inspiration?

Write content that you would want to read. Never, ever create something that you personally wouldn't enjoy. With that in mind, look around you for inspiration. You may think your life is boring, but for someone else that could be their dream life! Find whats unique about you and show the world.

3. What gets your day off to a good start?

Breakfast. If I eat a good meal, I'm bound to have a good day. Skipping breakfast leads me to be super cranky all day, and my performance in class suffers!

4. Favorite quote/mantra you tell yourself to keep pushing?

I usually don't say mantras to myself unless I'm in a super bad place emotionally. The last time I can remember having a mantra was when I got violently sick after eating something at my university. I got up in the middle of the night shivering, knowing I had to throw up. It was the first time I ever vomited without my Mom, so I didn't have anyone to rub my back and give me the reassurance I needed. I kept saying 'You're okay. You got this. You're fine.' a bunch of times, which helped significantly. I still threw up, but that was pretty inevitable.

5. What are you passionate about besides your wonderful blog?

I love learning languages and learning about my friends' cultures! My good friend Amanda is from China so I'm really interested in learning Chinese these days. Learning about other cultures and languages is so fun, it really expands my worldview and helps me feel connected to my friends!

6. What do you do when you need to clear your mind?

I listen to ASMR. If you don't know what ASMR is, it's essentially sounds that produce a response in your brain that makes you feel relaxed. Think of rain sounds and how they can be super calming, it's exactly like that. Usually, when I have a lot on my mind, I listen to ASMR and lay down. Most of the time I end up falling asleep, which effectively gets negative thoughts out of my head.

7. Fave food/drink that puts you in a good mood?

Pumpkin and/or sweet potato flavored sweets. I love sweets in general, but these really take the cake! Japan has the best selection of sweets I've ever encountered! I wish it was fall all the time because that's when pumpkin flavored items get featured everywhere. September to November was heaven for me.

8. Top 4 places to travel?

I haven't traveled the world much yet, so this list is limited to Japan and America:

Japan:

- Hakone

- Nikko (Check out my Nikko posts here!)

- Iwate Prefecture (come here if you want to experience the pinnacle of Japanese countryside living)

- Jozankei Resort (read about my experience here!)

America:

- New York (of course)

- Disney World

- Las Vegas

- Puerto Rico

9. What are you most excited for in 2018?

I can't pick just one! 2018 seems so promising, I'm so excited to just live my life and explore being myself in my truest form. 2018 is a year of self-care, self-love and trusting relationships. I'm excited to be here this year! I'm excited to be healthy and happy, and as blessed as I am.

10. Any persons inspire you that you’d love to meet?

The people that inspire me most tend to be the people around me, aka my closest friends! Once I leave Japan, I'm sure I'll be saying 'I wish I could meet up with xx'. I'm dreading that feeling right now, so I'm trying to live every day to the fullest and enjoy the wonderful company I have!

11. Fave place to visit at home?

When I was in high school, my friend Charis and I used to frequent Koreatown in NYC. It was the first time my Mom let me go out by 'myself' to the city, so it really symbolizes my adulthood and freedom. To this day Koreatown fills me with so many happy memories, I love going there with friends and just hanging out. I even got my first tattoo in Koreatown!