One stop fixes all

When I was growing up 7/11 was the place to get a slurpies or a really over cooked hot dog.  Since coming to Japan 7/11 is the best place ever.  You can do almost everything at 7/11.

You can get full meal including salad

Entree

and of course dessert

This ice cream bar has a waffle cone on the outside and ice cream in the middle with a layer of milk chocolate...amazing!!!

But the best part of 7/11 is you can pay your bills...phone, internet, gas, water, and electric.  

In England you could pay your bills at the post office, but you couldn't get dinner at the same time...7/11 is far better.  

Welcome to Japan, where the one stop shop truly is one stop.  

Thankful for technology...

Since moving to Japan I feel like my IQ has dropped significantly.  I speak in broken sentences and rarely understand what people are saying to me.  I can't read simple signs and have resorted to memorizing single words to communicate.  

My vocabulary has dwindled to:  

• Thank you very much
• I am sorry
• Yes
• It's ok/alright

I got a new AC unit installed in my living room...So thankful for cool dry air.  =) 

In order to use the lovely unit there was a bit of a learning curve...

I can not read these buttons...hmm

And the installation techs did not speak english.  Google translate to the rescue!!!

All you have to do is take a picture of the characters, highlight them and you have english...

now all I have to do is memorize the positions of the buttons and I am good to go.  

So my life has become a game of memory...I should be winning those games with my neices and nephew in no time.  

Vending machine life

I have always heard that there are crazy vending machines in Japan, so I have been excited to see them.

Here are the first few I've seen that are not what you'd find in the USA.

Hello Kitty pops pop corn fresh...of course

fresh...of course

Ice Cream anyone?

More to come whenever they pop up.  Hope you are enjoying this adventure with me.  I am having a blast with all the fun new things.  

Festival Time has come

In Japan summer is festival time.  I've been told there is a festival everyweekend somewhere in Japan during the summer.  So of course I had to participate.

 It was a huge field with booths all around with food of every kind, 

well every kind of Japanese food, no hambergers folks, but there were kebabs a plenty.  

All the little girls looked so cute in their yukatas.  

Dipping for gold fish...things are similar throughout the world...children having fun. 

The festival was followed by an incredible firework show which I was honored to see from our lab tech Sok Man's uncle's home (he was the 1st prosthodontist in Japan)...so cool.

Sixteen candles...all i want is a car

Well with a phone and house off the to do list it was time to find a car.  Normally this process of buying a car with involve test driving multiple car makes and modles, research, bargaining, and hours at a dealer.  Not so in Japan.

I walked down to Kelly and Kelly (a 15 minute walk), and the dealer said to look at the cars on the lot and let her know which number caugth my eye and I could have the keys to turn it on (no driving).

You may think this would take hours, but the lot was only the width of the building and the lenght of a small lot.

I sorted through about 30 cars.

There were really only three I thought were viable due to size.  I wanted something small but with some cargo space, you know for the obligatory Ikea trips...

Meet the Wine Toyota Passo...I will passo you by. he he he

I walked back into the dealer, told her I liked the passo, she told me the price, I gave her a 40,000yen deposit and she said to come back in 2 days to pick it up (the time to register it).  

It was ready a day early and now she's mine. 

Now I am jetting around Japan only making a few mistakes a day...no accidents yet...

The wish list...

August 1, 2016 was an amazing Monday (how often do we get to say that).  I was praying about a house and what would be ideal.  

The prayer /dream list for a house:   

1. Within walking distance to the train station, 
2. Fenced area for Tobias, 
3. Enough space for the furniture
4. Kitchen with enough prep surface for cooking to be easy
5. Kitchen with a gas range.
6. At least 1 1/2 baths
7. Two bed rooms
8. Parking for at least 2 cars
9. No more than 20min from bas
10. Feels homey


I was scheduled to see one home in the morning and one in the afternoon.  

Let the hunting begin...

House #1

 

House #1 was about 30 minutes from base.  It was cute, like a craftsman style (with Japanese flare). 

 

It had beautiful wood floors, and a decent kitchen, but the dining area was a very small.  The yard was lovely, but it was very far from the train.   

 

The upstairs was a narrow room and the stairs were very steep, I have no idea how you would get a bed up those stairs.  There was only parking for one.




I wasn't really sure, but I thought it might be a decent option, I thought I may need to settle and store some things and take this house.  I kept praying and felt that God did not what me to settle but wait for his best.  I went back to base and as the landlord dropped me off he said another family was looking house #1 in the afternoon, I was starting to stress about no accepting the home, but I prayed about it and God said...wait.  


Let the hunt continue...


House #2  

Similar to this one, minus the trees and more square.  

(I didn't take a photo of this one).  

The house was about 15 minutes from base.  It was pretty new with good parking so visitors could park easily (the 1st house did not have this), and the rooms were a nice size, but there was no outdoor space, the kitchen was small, it was not close to any public transportation.  

I was again considering it but it would have been a pretty big compromise.  I just did not have peace about it.  As I walked out of the house the Realtor said she had another house she could show me that was not on the original listing.  She said it was about a 15min drive and had 2 bedrooms and was near the train station.  I said OK, lets go see it.  


Oh please let this hunt be successful...


House #3

As we drove she told me more about the house...its new, it has an out door space...as she was talking I thought, maybe this is the house God has for me, I was feeling hopeful, but more like excitement mixed with peace...we arrived at the house. 

It is 3-5min walk to the train, there is a park across the street (out the front door), parking for 3, a fenced outdoor space with minimal maintenance, it is new!!!  

 

It has an amazing kitchen with gas-stove top, and good space, a perfect living space, an amazing closet, and the bathroom has a claw foot tub but is modern (beautiful).

I felt like God had wrapped this house up in an amazing bow and hand delivered it to me.  I snagged it up right away feeling complete peace.  I went into the housing office and got the official process started.  As the counselor talked with me she looked up the house and said it was listed as not allowing pets, but the Realtor told me pets were fine.  The counselor called and verified that yes the house allowed pets...God is TOO amazing.  I am so amazed.  I moved in on 9 August.  I have a home.  

Driving Miss Daisy

Last Saturday I started the adventure of driving in Japan.  Since I lived in England I thought, this is will be no big deal (since Japan uses the Left side of the road also).

Well... It wasn't too bad, but when I was in England I had a US spec car but here I will have a Japanese car.  There is a bit of a learning curve to this...

Day 1 Score card:
1.  Tried to get in on the wrong side of the car: 3

Hmm...you can't drive from the passanger side??? 

I ment to do that, I'll just put my purse down and go to the other side now. he he

2.  Tried to shift using the arm rest: un-numbered.  

3.  Turned on the windshield wipers when trying to turn on the turn signals: un-numbered 

This is affectionately called the Yokota wave since it is so common for new drivers.

4.  Drove on the wrong side of the road: 1

At the end of the day I was doing pretty well.  I wasn't using my windshield wipers to signal turns and I was getting on the right  side of the car (literally).  

I ended the day with a fabulous firework show with Debbie and Jim.  I love fireworks!!!  The first week could not have ended better.  

Fisrt Time for Everything

Fisrt Time for Everything

Friday night was my first advenure on a Japanese train.  We were heading to Mt Takao beer garden.  Jim, Debbie, and Song (the periodontist), were going to meet one of the Japanese lab techs (Sakimoto) and go on this fun adventure.  

I am so glad I did not have to do this alone.

Tachikawa station is a hub for us if we are going to Tokyo.  It is busy, and busy!!!  But the people do not push and shove, they just move quickly.  The trains are clean and quiet.  

At the last stop at Mt Takao, it was such a cool night.

When We got to Mt. Takao we took a cable car up the mountain, it is very steep, at least 35 degrees. 

This was the walk up to the garden 

This is a great view of the upper level of the Beer Garden with Tokyo in the background, I did not take the photo

The View of Tokyo

What a fun night with new friends.  This adventure is starting to get very good.  

Help...I'm Lost and I can't find my way

Help...I'm Lost and I can't find my way

By Friday of the first week (July 29th) I was in desperate need of getting my barings here in Fussa, Japan.  I was on a deadline to find a house, a car, and a phone.  I was totally overwhelmed.  I prioritized my list to Phone #1 since my US phone would stop working on the 30th.  =)  

The phone was easy, I walked into the BX (like a small mall on base), and got a phone...yeah I now could communicate.  

I called Debbie and asked if she would show me the lay of the land so I could figure out what houses were in the running.  

Debbie was so generous she said she would be happy to help.  Friday morning we were off for an adventure.  We went on a crazy goose chase looking for some houses the housing office had listed.  I say goose chase becasue though we have GPS, it is all in Japanese, and you are never quite sure if the destination you put in is actually correct until you get there....it's sort of like a scavenger hunt. =)

The scavanger hunt was a bit overwhelming and depressing as I saw houses that were a bit run down...

So shopping was the cure... We went to Hard Off

Hard Off sounds a bit...off color but it is a second hand store.

They are great for all kinds of things, kitchen appliances, clothes, electronics as most things are very lightly used.  

Then we were off for some more retail therapy at Moritown mall.  

It is a modern mall, like an oasis of calm.

The shops are so clean and orderly, it's as if no one has ever looked through the clothes.  

I never would have said I love to shop, but this excursion lifted my spirits and I felt right at home...hmm maybe I am a shopper.  

That's different...but it's okay

That's different...but it's okay

This phrase has come to mind many times in the past nine days.  When I was in College I did a number of missions trips to China and during the training time we were taught that there would be many things that struck us as strange or weird to our way of thinking.  But during cultural awareness seminars we were told to say, "that's different, but it's okay," to help as adjust and accept new ways to do things. 

I arrived on Tuesday July 26th to Japan.  I have to admit I was not too happy to be here, I truly was wanting to stay in Colorado for a bit longer.  I loved it there and had many lovely friends.  I did not want to embrace a new culture, learn a new language and go the process of moving yet again.  I was willing to accept that this is where God wants me but I was not excited about it.  

Wednesday started the fun...well the briefings at least.  I put on my uniform and went out to meet the day.  My sponsor (like an assigned big brother) picked me up from the hotel and drove me to the building to have the intro briefings for the day.  I got the times wrong and so we were an hour early so we went to breakfast.  We met a new doctor and his wife (Carrie and Joseph) who were going to the same briefings.  So I had someone to talk to during the breaks and a new acquaintance was made.  After getting back to the hotel I received calls from my fellow Pros guy (Jim) at the clinic welcoming me and we chatted, He was very nice and welcoming.  He invited me to join a group from the clinic to go to Mt. Takao that Friday, how fun.  

Thursday was another day a briefings.  I met up with Carrie and Joseph and we chatted about the moving process.  We went off base for lunch (my first adventure into the culture) to a taco place...I know this is not Japanese at all you may think, but just ordering was an adventure.  The tacos were great by the way.  My mind was whirling with all the stuff I do not know about Japan, how am I going to survive here, how will I ever find my way around, how will I ever figure out how to do things...?  In the evening  Jim and his Wife (Debbie) invited me to dinner (ah so nice to have people be so welcoming).  We went to sushi...at Hamazushi, it is the largest conveyor belt sushi chain in Japan.  It was amazing. 

This screen is at the table and you select what you want or you can select from the things coming by on the conveyor belt. 

If the dish is just on a plate flat on the conveyor you can take it (like the ones in the middle of the picture), but if it is on an elevated plate (like the one to the far left) it was ordered.  When your food you ordered is approaching the screen tells you and you pick it up.  So fun. 

After this lovely night out with my new friends Jim and Debbie I was begining to feel better about being in Japan.  I thought I might like this after all.  Thanks Jim and Debbie... you are great!!!

Moving to the other side of the world

Japan here I come.  It is that time again in the life of a military girl...time to PCS (permanent change of station).  

This three letter acronym conj ours up many thoughts and feelings for those in the military: change, adventure, loss, frustration. 

When I was notified of my move to Japan I was in shock.  I thought I had a full year left here in Colorado.  Though I wanted to move to Japan, I was not ready.  I drove home in a daze and called my mom for comfort.  I did not want everything to change, I enjoy my life here, my friends, my home, and my church.  Why do I have to move now, everything is finally settled?  

Comfortable is a nice place to be.  When I think of comfort I imagine a calm pool of water, a soft chair in the sun, or a day resting on a sandy beach.  Though all of these pictures are lovely, they have no action, and no movement.  Comfortable places provide rest and rejuvenation.  I have needed both in this season of life, but the rest has done its job and it is time to get back in the action. 

God is calling me out of a season of rest into something new, a time of action.  Though I do not have a clear vision of what direction this action will take it is time to get moving (literally).  

Lord help me to embrace the uncomfortable times ahead knowing you are orchestrating the path and you have a plan.  Amen.