“I’m going on an adventure!” _ Bilbo Baggins
My name is Maya Osaka, I am in my early twenties and I currently live a life of seasons. Every six to eight months I change my location and start a new life, immersing myself in the local culture of wherever I happen to be.
If you’ve ever seen or read “The Hobbit” you might remember the scene when Bilbo wakes up in the Shire, sees the dwarves have left for their adventure and in a hurry packs his bag, runs out his front door and shouts “I’m going on an adventure!” to whoever asks where he’s going. That brings a smile to my face because the village that I’m from in West Yorkshire has Hobbiton vibes and since leaving there I have never looked back.
My adventure started four summers ago and since then I have spent a lot of time on the curious island of Sark on the channel Islands, a winter in the Lake district and a winter in France and quite a bit of travelling in between. My lifestyle has been made sustainable through my career as a chef. A great passion of mine discovered along my travels.
This blog is about me and is a way for me to keep a track of all my adventures. But it’s also a guide to whoever wants to be a seasonaire or travel the world. This blog can be split into two main categories, stories and anecdotes and various guides. Combined this should give readers a full overview of my lifestyle and what to expect if you also decide to go on your own adventure!
Places I’ve Lived
Nagano ~ Japan
This is one of the places that I grew up in. My dad, who is Japanese, built out family home at the foot of the Japanese Alps in Nagano. I would spend six to eight months here and and six to eight months in England. Perhaps the root of my seasonal lifestyle.
Sark Island ~ Channel Islands
Sark marked the start of my adventure into Adulthood. I discovered it when I was 18, fresh out of art school. This curious Island is five square miles, and has no cars or street lights! One of its beaches was ranked in National Geographic’s top 20 beaches in Europe, an absolute gem of an Island. I have spent three consecutive summers and a winter here. All in all a home away from home.
Tignes ~ France
This is my current home. Situated in the French Alps, Tignes is a world class ski resort and is located next to Val’desere.
West Yorkshire ~ England
Alongside Japan I grew up in West Yorkshire in a little village situated between Huddersfield, Wakefield and Barnsley. The pennines are close by and classic examples of the rolling hills of Yorkshire surround my village. This is where I spent all my teenage years.
The Lake District ~ England
I moved to the Lake District to further my career. I landed a job in a Michelin starred kitchen and spent seven months living in Windermere. I lived there over the winter, perhaps the worst time to move there but I enjoyed going on long walks and the epic landscapes were always breath taking.
Smallslope's Adventures 