Rambling Ramsbothams

Zeb & Annie Ramsbotham
  • 5.0 (16)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Ever wondered what it's like living as a foreigner in Japan? We're Annie & Zeb Ramsbotham, and while our Japan journey might be rambling, we hope this podcast isn't! Join us as we move from the United States to Ishikawa Prefecture, work in the JET Programme, explore Japan by bike, and navigate our new home. We're looking forward to having you along for the adventure. If you're enjoying the podcast we'd appreciate you subscribing and reviewing it on your preferred podcast platform! And as always if you've got any questions or comments get in touch at RamblingRamsbothams@gmail.com

  1. 01/19/2025 · BONUS

    Family Christmas Abroad! Nordic Winter, Scenic Trains, Fjords, & Ferries

    Surprise! We thought it would be fun to document our family holidays in a "field trip episode" style format!  This time - what do Danes call danishes? What time can you buy alcohol in Norway? When does the sun set? Where's the highest train station in Northern Europe? What do salty licorice and Christmas cheese taste like? Plus lots of other mundane life questions. This is different than previous episodes, but we wanted to say hi after a few months away from podcasting, and share how our first Christmas ever as a group of 9 went!  We'll spend Christmas in Norway with Annie's family, ferry around some fjords, take the Bergen-Oslo scenic train past the highest station, go on an overnight boat to Copenhagen, Denmark, and stay in a medieval hotel in Malmo, Sweden. Hopefully it's a fun episode to listen to - thanks for coming along! Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head to @ramblingramsbothams on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes photos. Have a question or idea? Send us an email at ramblingramsbothams@gmail.com, or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/

    1h 20m

  2. 10/08/2024

    6 Weeks Later Update! Changing Plans, Hurricanes, and Reverse Culture Shock

    Hello again from North Carolina! Our microphones are still on a boat being shipped back to us from Japan (sorry for the lower audio quality), but we wanted to share an update about what we’ve been up to since moving, our changing plans, and what things stood out to us most when returning to the US.   Thank you so much for joining us for 118 episodes of adventures (and mundane life stories) abroad! As mentioned, here are some ways you can support Western North Carolina after the recent destruction from Hurricane Helene: https://www.bpr.org/bpr-news/2024-09-28/list-ways-to-donate-and-help-flood-victims-in-western-north-carolina-after-hurricane-helene Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head to @ramblingramsbothams on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes photos. Have a question or idea? Send us an email at ramblingramsbothams@gmail.com, or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/

    48 min

  3. 08/23/2024

    Japan Road Trip Week 3: Kyushu Scenic Train, Cat Temple, & World's Oldest Family Business

    It's the final week of our road trip around Japan! We got to ride the 36+3 scenic train in Kyushu, and started our drive back through Honshu on the Sea of Japan coast. We visited a cat temple in Yamaguchi, saw the Tottori Sand Dunes, one of Japan's 3 great views, and 2 more original castles. At the end of the trip, we spent the night in Houshi Ryokan, the world's oldest continually run family business (it opened in the year 718!) Plus, how did we get all our bikes and things ready for the flight to America? Pretty surreal that this was the end of a chapter here - we'll be back soon Japan! Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head to @ramblingramsbothams on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes photos. Have a question or idea? Send us an email at ramblingramsbothams@gmail.com, or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/

    58 min

  4. 08/15/2024

    Japan Road Trip Week 2: Aomori Nebuta Matsuri, Shikoku School Stay, and Hells of Kyushu

    This week we've gone from the far north in Aomori Prefecture to the far south in Kyushu! We got to see the annual Aomori Nebuta Matsuri, stayed in an old elementary school on Shikoku, changed plans due to the Nankai Trough earthquake advisories, and took a ferry to the 7 Hells of Beppu on the island of Kyushu.  Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head to @ramblingramsbothams on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes photos. Have a question or idea? Send us an email at ramblingramsbothams@gmail.com, or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/

    1 hr

  5. 08/06/2024

    Japan Road Trip Week 1: Hiking Hakusan, Akita Camping, and Osorezan

    This week we started our road trip by hiking Mt. Haku (or Hakusan), one of Japan’s 3 holy mountains. After the hike we started driving north to the Tohoku region, camping in Akita Prefecture, and making our way to Aomori Prefecture. We got to see Hirosaki Castle (one of the 12 remaining original castles in the country!) and stayed in Mutsu. During a bike ride there we visited Osorezan (literally Fear Mountain) and Bodaiji Temple, surrounded by sulfuric hot springs and said to be a gateway to the underworld.  More about Hakusan: https://www.city.hakusan.lg.jp/otherdata/sightseeing/hakusan/index.html More about Osorezan: https://aomori-tourism.com/en/feature/detail_76.html More about Hirosaki Castle: https://www.hirosakipark.com/en/ Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head to @ramblingramsbothams on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes photos. Have a question or idea? Send us an email at ramblingramsbothams@gmail.com, or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/

    51 min

  6. 07/30/2024

    Moving Out, Cat Bus Bread, and Most Expensive Grapes in the World

    Today we officially moved out of our apartment in Uchinada! We’ll talk about the moving process, what we did with all our furniture, and how moving is different in Japan vs. the US. We also talk about all-you-can-eat buffet differences, sweet beans, bread shaped like Totoro’s cat bus, and what we’re doing now that we don’t have an apartment. Plus, did you know that the most expensive grapes in the world are from Ishikawa Prefecture? Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head to @ramblingramsbothams on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes photos. Have a question or idea? Send us an email at ramblingramsbothams@gmail.com, or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/

    49 min

  7. 07/23/2024

    Last Day of Work, Special Paper, and Lonely Vending Machines

    Today was Zeb’s last day of work! He’s now the proud owner of a couple new certificates to commemorate his time working as a JET ALT. Speaking of special paper, this week we talk about the specific plant used to make paper for Japanese yen banknotes - plus lonely vending machines, buying love in a can, and WCW wrestling. Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head to @ramblingramsbothams on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes photos. Have a question or idea? Send us an email at ramblingramsbothams@gmail.com, or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/

    46 min

  8. 07/16/2024

    Giant Cream Puffs, Group Bike Ride, and Toshogu Shrine Gundam

    This week we went on a bike ride to Himi in Toyama Prefecture with some of Zeb’s cycling teammates, and stopped mid-ride for giant choux cream puffs! We also talk about why Kanazawa is the “Ice Cream Capital of Japan”, and Annie finished her ice cream bike route with 12 different stops. Plus, did you know that the Toshogu Shrine in Nikko recently released a new Gundam model, themed after Tokugawa Ieyasu’s armor? Annie’s Full Ice Cream Bike Route: https://youtu.be/aYVjxeBvhFE?si=bC8KvIySJduPLzM9 Kanazawa as Japan’s Ice Cream Capital:  https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13059206 Japanese Ice Cream Association: https://www.icecream.or.jp/  New Tokugawa Ieyasu Gundam: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15326358  Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head to @ramblingramsbothams on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes photos. Have a question or idea? Send us an email at ramblingramsbothams@gmail.com, or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/

    45 min
See All (120)

Trailer

5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Ever wondered what it's like living as a foreigner in Japan? We're Annie & Zeb Ramsbotham, and while our Japan journey might be rambling, we hope this podcast isn't! Join us as we move from the United States to Ishikawa Prefecture, work in the JET Programme, explore Japan by bike, and navigate our new home. We're looking forward to having you along for the adventure. If you're enjoying the podcast we'd appreciate you subscribing and reviewing it on your preferred podcast platform! And as always if you've got any questions or comments get in touch at RamblingRamsbothams@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    Zeb & Annie Ramsbotham
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    120
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Rambling Ramsbothams
  • Show Website
    Rambling Ramsbothams