And
We've learned how to navigate the train system (and get lost underground trying to match our ticket to the track we're needing to head towards)
We've hiked in national parks, frolicked along waterfalls, dove under freezing cold waves in the Pacific. Loving how close nature is to our daily life.
We've wandered through bright, shiny, loud cities filled with locals and tourists, smelled all the amazing foods and marveled at structures hundreds thousands of years old.
We've learned how to navigate the train system (and get lost underground trying to match our ticket to the track we're needing to head towards)
We've hiked in national parks, frolicked along waterfalls, dove under freezing cold waves in the Pacific. Loving how close nature is to our daily life.
We've wandered through bright, shiny, loud cities filled with locals and tourists, smelled all the amazing foods and marveled at structures hundreds thousands of years old.
We've learned how to order at restaurants: おすすめわ?What do you recommend? ie: please just bring us yummy food.
Bonus points when there are pictures on the menu. We feel like super smart folks when we can order without assistance.
Extra bonus points: we're starting to learn how to order more than just grilled meat on a stick! Vegetables! Rice! The world is our oyster! (we also know how to order those) okay not really, but we're getting closer to figuring it out!
Our home is surrounded by restaurants. So many restaurants. A new one every night! We're keeping track of our favorites, eagerly excited to visit again. But also compelled to try the next new place cause what if it's even better!?!?!
Bonus points when there are pictures on the menu. We feel like super smart folks when we can order without assistance.
Extra bonus points: we're starting to learn how to order more than just grilled meat on a stick! Vegetables! Rice! The world is our oyster! (we also know how to order those) okay not really, but we're getting closer to figuring it out!
Our home is surrounded by restaurants. So many restaurants. A new one every night! We're keeping track of our favorites, eagerly excited to visit again. But also compelled to try the next new place cause what if it's even better!?!?!
We both own bikes and have (almost) mastered riding through these crowded Japan streets. One of us may have gotten road rage honked at while perhaps crossing the street on a red light. But in my defense, there was no traffic coming! And when the honking happened I had already cleared the intersection!
Riding my bike to the farmer's market is one of my favorite afternoon activities. Followed closely behind by relaxing on my balcony with a chilled beverage. A chilled beverage cause it's definitely still summer here. Sunny and in the 80s. But good news, the humidity has broken mostly and it's lovely. After sweltering through so many uber hot days, I've busted out my sweaters for the 'evening chill' when it drops into the 70s.
At the farmer's market today the cashier asked me a question. And it wasn't if I had a point card. You see, here every shop has their own point rewards card. And everytime you check out they ask if you have one. I'm super great at answering that question. Nope, don't have a card but thanks anyway. This was a new question. There were many words in, but I understood two of them どちらから? Where are you from? At least that's the question that I answered, In Japanese, just like a local! Really hope that actually was the question I was asked.
Riding my bike to the farmer's market is one of my favorite afternoon activities. Followed closely behind by relaxing on my balcony with a chilled beverage. A chilled beverage cause it's definitely still summer here. Sunny and in the 80s. But good news, the humidity has broken mostly and it's lovely. After sweltering through so many uber hot days, I've busted out my sweaters for the 'evening chill' when it drops into the 70s.
At the farmer's market today the cashier asked me a question. And it wasn't if I had a point card. You see, here every shop has their own point rewards card. And everytime you check out they ask if you have one. I'm super great at answering that question. Nope, don't have a card but thanks anyway. This was a new question. There were many words in, but I understood two of them どちらから? Where are you from? At least that's the question that I answered, In Japanese, just like a local! Really hope that actually was the question I was asked.
Japan isn't all sunshine and daises although so much sunshine and so many beautiful things.
Moving is always a challenge, learning new neighborhoods, making new friends, finding favorite local shops. Add on to that the challenge of not speaking or reading the local language. Needing help to decipher tummy meds from headache meds from cold meds. And trying many different milk containers before asking how to tell whole milk from 2%.
Finding a fabric store and just smiling as the sweet lady showed me a beautiful handsewn pouch and described in Japanese how to make it, or maybe how to sign up for the class? Googling how to ask another lady for material to be cut, practicing it in my head before confidently stating out loud, only to have her respond in perfect English: just one meter?
Discovering the brilliant necessity of the tiny towels folks carry everywhere. Tiny towels to wipe the never ending sweat from our brow, playing a duel role after visits to public bathrooms. Bathrooms often lack either soap or a drying system for your hands. It took 6 weeks to find tiny bottles of hand sanitizer. A long 6 weeks of just imaging all the germs lurking everywhere. Now, armed with my collection of tiny towels and hand sanitizer, I'm prepped for whatever public restrooms may bring. Ominously foreshadowing a future encounter with a Japanese toilet.
Moving is always a challenge, learning new neighborhoods, making new friends, finding favorite local shops. Add on to that the challenge of not speaking or reading the local language. Needing help to decipher tummy meds from headache meds from cold meds. And trying many different milk containers before asking how to tell whole milk from 2%.
Finding a fabric store and just smiling as the sweet lady showed me a beautiful handsewn pouch and described in Japanese how to make it, or maybe how to sign up for the class? Googling how to ask another lady for material to be cut, practicing it in my head before confidently stating out loud, only to have her respond in perfect English: just one meter?
Discovering the brilliant necessity of the tiny towels folks carry everywhere. Tiny towels to wipe the never ending sweat from our brow, playing a duel role after visits to public bathrooms. Bathrooms often lack either soap or a drying system for your hands. It took 6 weeks to find tiny bottles of hand sanitizer. A long 6 weeks of just imaging all the germs lurking everywhere. Now, armed with my collection of tiny towels and hand sanitizer, I'm prepped for whatever public restrooms may bring. Ominously foreshadowing a future encounter with a Japanese toilet.
One of my favorite parts of our Great SouthWestern Adventure #bestvacationever was 22 days on the road, 7000 miles and just the two of us. So much quality time together. And in Japan it's very similar. Many more days, many fewer miles, but the two of us. In this together. Discovering all these new places and experiencing all these new things together.
Looking forward to hosting our first of many guests, we may not know much yet but we'll explore it together. Familiar faces in our new space, eager to show off our favorite places!
Learning how to lean in to the awkward moments. Being brave and trying new things. New mantra- just say yes, you never know what is coming next! But doing that is a risk and takes bravery. Here's to being brave, trying new things and embracing the unknown, together.
Looking forward to hosting our first of many guests, we may not know much yet but we'll explore it together. Familiar faces in our new space, eager to show off our favorite places!
Learning how to lean in to the awkward moments. Being brave and trying new things. New mantra- just say yes, you never know what is coming next! But doing that is a risk and takes bravery. Here's to being brave, trying new things and embracing the unknown, together.