I loved the three and a half years we spent in Japan. Here are some of my favorite things about Japan:
1. It's so stinkin clean. Garbage is one thing they take seriously there. There are no garbage cans out and about. You have to keep your garbage with you and separate it when you get home. At our off base house, I had 6 garbage cans. I had to separate EVERYTHING. Everything has to be rinsed out, separated and put in the proper garbage "cage" on the correct day. It was a big stress at first, but I learned all the rules of garbage and did okay at it. When we moved on base, we only had to separate "burnables" and "non-burnables". Much easier.
2. It's very quiet. In Japan, it's very quiet. When you ride a train, you would think it would be a loud experience, but it's so quiet! I always had to tell the kids to be quieter and keep their voices down, especially on trains. Most of the people on the trains are asleep, too! I don't know how they know when to wake up just in time to get off at the right station, but they do, it's an amazing thing to watch!
3. Respect. It seems to me that the Japanese people respect each other and the place around them. I remember when we first moved into our off base neighborhood, my friend Renee came over to help me when our household goods arrived. Some of our stuff had to be put in the carport until I could unpack and organize it. She said not to worry, it looked like rain, but I would probably wake up the next day and find my stuff covered and taken care of by the neighbors. And, once I was getting a "lesson" on how to ride the trains by my friend Motoko. She was telling me how the doors on the trains close very fast and that I should make sure and tell the kids to get on and off quickly to avoid the doors. Then she said, "But tell Jacob, if he gets on the train and the doors close before you get on, just tell him to go to the next station and wait for you, someone will help him find you." I just about lost my lunch. I couldn't believe she would tell me that, and so matter of fact about it. But it's true. Respect. Now I'm not saying there is no crime in Japan, but I would lock my doors more on the base than out in town. That's saying something!
4. My favorite: organization. In Japan, they have such small homes and spaces, so they have to organize. The stores are full of wonderful shelves, boxes, baskets, and all sorts of fun organization things. I just loved shopping for stuff like that. I'm thinking I didn't get enough to last me!
5. Curry and Yakiniku. I love curry and yakiniku. Curry is meat and rice with a spicy sauce on it. It's made very different ways, different meats, and from mild to crazy spicy. Yakiniku is something even the kids loved. You order whatever kind of meat and veggies you want and they bring it to your table raw. You soak it in different sauces and then grill it in a little grill in the middle of your table. It's just yummy. Whenever we had visitors from the states, we always took them to Yakiniku.
6. The Daiso...100 yen store. So, those of you who know me and still live in Japan are smiling right now. Believe me, I'm making lists for all of you to go to the 100 yen for me and send me some boxes full. I just couldn't get enough of the 100 yen. It's like a dollar store, only a million times better. Such a fun place to explore and shop. And you know, like I always told David, it's only 100 yen, so that's less that a dollar! :) Whenever I found a cool trinket or hair thing or PURSE...I always said, yep, I got that at the hundred yen. I'll miss it...terribly! (pathetic, I know.)
7. My friends. I made the most wonderful friends in Japan. I truly believe that some of us are blessed with little tender mercies from heaven. One of those tender mercies for me was instant friends. I have many friends made in Japan who I feel like I've know my whole life. I don't remember that "getting to know you" phase. We didn't need it. It was easy to be friends with these people and I'm so grateful for that. I want to tell my friends still in Japan and some who've moved around the world already...I love you, I miss you and I thank you. You have all made an imprint on my heart that will stay forever.
No comments:
Post a Comment