If you’ve followed my newsletter for some time, you know that I love to travel. From Iceland to St. Maarten to Ireland and beyond, I’ve visited many incredible locations and have learned so much about different cultures.

Last month, I had the fantastic experience of traveling to Japan! This was my first time, but my travel partner was my son, James, and he has been there several times and his goal is to move there when he graduates from college. If you follow me on Facebook, I posted pictures every day of our adventures.

James is conversationally fluent in Japanese and knows how to navigate the cities and train stations with confidence. Witnessing how really grown up my son is and relying on him to guide us through this trip was a really cool experience. So different from him tagging along with my husband and I through the years. 

While I am not fluent in the language, I did try to learn as many basic phrases as I could before I left. Duolingo was a big help and I also used Google Translate when I needed it. 

Lesson 1: I really did see the good side of technology. Having those tools allowed me to communicate effectively and quickly. 

We visited Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, Tokyo, Nara, Hakone and Kamakura. Each place we went, I noticed the cleanliness. From the restrooms to the velvet seats on the train. I saw so much respect for others and for property. The trains are always on time. Japan has so many people that respect is a must. Without it, chaos would reign. Most train stations have announcements in English, as well, and most people could speak English at least a little bit. With my limited skills, and Google Translate, I was able to go to a konbini (convenience stores are everywhere!) and pay for my hot chai tea. And, even though I was 14 hours ahead of New York time, I still managed to get some work done. I edited some contracts on my tablet and sent them back to Cynthia so we could get deals into contract.   

Lesson 2: Each place I’ve visited in my lifetime has made an impact. The experiences allow me to learn and grow and strive to be the best version of myself. 

Japan is an extremely established country, with a rich history around every corner. We visited the Great Buddha in Kamakura; Hakone where we could see Mount Fuji; Fushimi Inari in Kyoto during the New Year’s Celebration. We walked all over Kobe, Osaka and Tokyo. We saw many shrines, even 5 minutes from our hotel. Respect for family comes through everywhere. Coming from a relatively young country like the US, the extraordinary history of Japan is incredible. 

Lesson 3: There is so much to learn. Our world is full of places and stories and people. Exploring is really a beautiful part of my life and something I truly enjoy. 

When it was time for me to depart, James remained for another two weeks on his own. He is figuring out his future and Japan is very close to his heart. I love to see his adventurous spirit. 

Lesson 4: I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer. My path was clear. That is not the case for most people and it’s perfectly okay to not know exactly what you want to do. Do the things that bring you joy, live your passions and a career will follow. 

This trip came at such a great time. The holidays were over and the weather in New York was pretty frigid. I came back feeling refreshed and ready to take on new challenges and opportunities. 

The greatest thing about taking a few weeks away was knowing my team back home kept the office running smoothly. I’m so grateful for everyone at Sugarman Law! 

Firm News
I am once again assisting with the Suffolk County High School Mock Trial tournament. In the past, I have simply been a judge during the competitions. This year (and most likely in the future) I am helping coach the Connetquot High School team. There are four competitions this month. Getting to know these kids and guide them through this journey has been wonderful. 

We are working on a new website for the firm! Thanks to Jason and the team at DesignMe Marketing! Stay tuned for our launch. Our goal is March 1st. We also invested in a software called Wealth Counsel, which will aid in the efficiency of our estate planning work and enable us to assist our clients with more complex trust and estate planning work.