After having lived in the United States and several European countries, at thirty-three years old, I felt I needed more out of life.



Sure, my life in Brussels was intellectually stimulating, but the feeling that I was lacking something, somewhere, kept nudging me to look further.



It was time to find that major piece in the puzzle of my existence.



I desired adventure, a challenge, a fresh, new look at humanity… different from my experiences in the Western world. So I began an academic pursuit in my major field of interest—human life studies.



This involved a major career change; not only did I leave my job, my apartment, and my friends in Brussels, I took my two suitcases and flew off to study Japanese in Sendai, and later in Koriyama city, Fukushima prefecture, Japan.



Little did I know that those incredible six years—at the opposite end of the world—would transform my life, and the way I understood humanity, forever.



This 80-page photo book, which reflects the beauty of my adventures in that country, is a tribute to northern Japan and its people, whom I thank from the bottom of my heart for their generosity and kindness.



本当に感謝しています。アン