Hello All,
Sorry for the lack of postings, but it as been a busy time for us. We just moved to Kitakyushu City in Kyushu Island. The house was partially furnichised, so we really lucked out. We then went home, and let the kids go back to their old school for a few days. They really enjoyed it. One day we went with the bigger kids to pick the rest of the sweet potatoes from the field. Hanano stayed home with grandma, but the rest of went to work. It was a lot of fun, and some pretty good work for me. 2-3 hours of using a hoe to dig up potatoes will make you a little tired.
They actually gave us 4 bags of sweet potatoes to bring home, so I used the BBQ and cooked some on a wood fire from a tree I trimmed in the yard earlier this summer. They were pretty good! So we brought some back to school from the teachers and also to a cousins house for their dinner.
We came back to Kitakyushu on Saturday, and a friend invited us to their friend farm to plan onions, so we went to work on another farm on Sunday. We planted the onions, and then we had a nice little lunch. We went for a walk, and Joe fell down while running, and I am sure they could hear his screams for miles on the walk back to the cars first aid kit. I got him patched up, and I started working on a bunch of downed trees with a chain saw, as the kids played and Hanano took a nap. Boy it felt good to use the chain saw for 2 hours. Talk about a good stress reliever. The owner of the property told us we could come and use the land any time, and even told us that we could plant a section of the land that he is not using for some veggies. I think that this was a great connection, and we are going to get together again next month after New Years. He seems like a really nice guy, whom we will be good friends. He actually used to be the captain of a ferry, and before that worked with Japanese tuna fishing fleet. Hence his traveling the world, he actually speaks a bit of English. NICE! My Japanese is just not at the point where I can have any pure Japanese speaking friends at this point. Although I can understand a lot, I just do not have the ability to make clear concise sentences in Japanese.
Well today is the 3rd here in Japan, and we are getting ready to come back to the States for Christmas. We will be gone longer than most Japanese for their vacations, but with all we need and want to do, it seems as if 3 weeks will not be enough.
Talk to you soon,
Steve
PS: Picks of the house will be on Picasa soon.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
1st Japanese motorcycle test
Hello All,
Last week I went to take the 400cc motorcycle test, which would allow me to drive any motor bike that is as you might guess, 400cc or less. A friend in Kitakyushu has a 230 Honda that I can ride if I get my license, so I gave it my best.
That being said, my best was not very good... hence I failed. The tester did say I did better than he thought I would, and I told him I did much worse than I thought I would. It is one of those times when you have it all pictured in your head and you know pretty much how it is going to go. Well, it did not go quite like that!
We got there an hour early, but after all the paper work, I only had 15 minutes to memorize the 5 minutes of course driving on the bike. Once on the bike, I rode for about 1 minute or so, and then fell off the balance beam that they want us to ride slowly over. This is an instant failure, but they allowed me to continue the test for practice (almost unheard of in Japan.) I then did the figure 8, and blanked on the rest of the course. I pulled over and raised my hand, but could not understand the proctors Japanese over the loud speaker, and over the sound of the bike while wearing the helmet. Well I went back to the starting point, and they said I could just ride through the obstacles that I had not done yet for practice. I was really happily surprised, so went back out on the course. I went through the slalom course, and the emergency braking exercise.
To be as honest as possible here, there are only 3 things I feel I could have done worse during this test.
1. I could have dropped the bike. (This would have hurt me, and the bike.)
2. I could have rode on the right side of the road. (It is second nature to be on the left in the car, but the bike was really different. Not sure why, but it was.)
3. I could have lost my temper. (Would not happen, but this would have been worse...)
Well no one passes the first time on the driving test. I have actually never heard of anyone passing the first time in Japan. But I don't expect to pass the second either, although I hope to do better than this time.
I REALLY WAS UGLY!
Note from Shiho: There is one Japanese guy who has a blog, and he has taken and failed this test 30 times... but he is really looking forward to the time that he does pass! Also, think about it! Steve is taking this test in a foreign country and in a foreign language!!! I did NOT think he was ugly at all! He is a brave man ;)
Hope you are all well and talk to you soon,
Steve and family
PS: We went to the beach on the way home, and had a fun couple of hours there.
New pics at these links, enjoy:
http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenkenyon/1017MasudaBeach
http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenkenyon/AugToSept07
Last week I went to take the 400cc motorcycle test, which would allow me to drive any motor bike that is as you might guess, 400cc or less. A friend in Kitakyushu has a 230 Honda that I can ride if I get my license, so I gave it my best.
That being said, my best was not very good... hence I failed. The tester did say I did better than he thought I would, and I told him I did much worse than I thought I would. It is one of those times when you have it all pictured in your head and you know pretty much how it is going to go. Well, it did not go quite like that!
We got there an hour early, but after all the paper work, I only had 15 minutes to memorize the 5 minutes of course driving on the bike. Once on the bike, I rode for about 1 minute or so, and then fell off the balance beam that they want us to ride slowly over. This is an instant failure, but they allowed me to continue the test for practice (almost unheard of in Japan.) I then did the figure 8, and blanked on the rest of the course. I pulled over and raised my hand, but could not understand the proctors Japanese over the loud speaker, and over the sound of the bike while wearing the helmet. Well I went back to the starting point, and they said I could just ride through the obstacles that I had not done yet for practice. I was really happily surprised, so went back out on the course. I went through the slalom course, and the emergency braking exercise.
To be as honest as possible here, there are only 3 things I feel I could have done worse during this test.
1. I could have dropped the bike. (This would have hurt me, and the bike.)
2. I could have rode on the right side of the road. (It is second nature to be on the left in the car, but the bike was really different. Not sure why, but it was.)
3. I could have lost my temper. (Would not happen, but this would have been worse...)
Well no one passes the first time on the driving test. I have actually never heard of anyone passing the first time in Japan. But I don't expect to pass the second either, although I hope to do better than this time.
I REALLY WAS UGLY!
Note from Shiho: There is one Japanese guy who has a blog, and he has taken and failed this test 30 times... but he is really looking forward to the time that he does pass! Also, think about it! Steve is taking this test in a foreign country and in a foreign language!!! I did NOT think he was ugly at all! He is a brave man ;)
Hope you are all well and talk to you soon,
Steve and family
PS: We went to the beach on the way home, and had a fun couple of hours there.
New pics at these links, enjoy:
http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenkenyon/1017MasudaBeach
http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenkenyon/AugToSept07
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Legal Driver in Japan...
Good Morning all,
Shiho, the kids and I drove the 90 minutes to the driving license center, and they were just waiting for us. The second we walked in, my guy walks to the counter, opens the window and calls me over. I then went to another window and paid my 2400yen to take the tests. Then back to the other window to see my guy again and I had to write my name a bunch of times (in the right order of course.)
Then after a few minutes in the lobby, I was escorted to a back room where I was given my written test. They had an English version, but to be honest, the questions were so badly translated, I was not sure I was going to get the required 7 of 10 correct. I actually started to try to read the Japanese version of the questions to see if I could understand some of the things they were trying to say in English, but I figured that it would just make my odds of passing worse. So 10 minutes for 10 very easy questions (if not for the horrible translation), I was sent back to the lobby to wait. A few minutes later, I was told I passed this part, and it was then time for the eye exam. Very easy test. It was just circles with a small part missing. I just had to tell him if it was the top, bottom, left or right part that was missing. Then I had to identify red, yellow and blue colors. Too easy! I was passed in 20-30 seconds for this part.
Then I was told I could take the driving test in an automatic or a manual transmission. Having driven a stick shift for an hour 5 months ago, I figured this would be the one.
Thanks Non for making me drive the truck buddy, otherwise I would have had to think more about it.
I got a course map and a half hour to walk the course and relax just a bit. The driving test is a bit different than in California. It is held on a closed course, but it has traffic lights and obstacles for you to negotiate around. It has very narrow roads that you must transverse (figure S), and parts that you almost must backup on to get through (the crank.) There are blind intersections that you must honk your horn at, and at railroad tracks, you have to stop and look, then roll down your window to listen for trains. And the instructors really want you to exaggerate all movements to be sure you are a safe driver that looks all around at everything...
Anyways the 30 minutes went fast. I spent it all walking the course with Shiho, while the kids were running around. I actually got to be tested by the same guy whom we dealt with from the first day. I think this really helped with my not being so nervous. I received one free loop around the track to get used to the clutch, and then started the real test. All I can say is that it was not to bad. The only things that I think I did to lose points is to signal right as I came up to a turn, and to use the windshield wipers, instead of the turn signal two times. Oh well. (**).
Anyways, we finished the test, and he went in the back, where I think he talked to the people up stairs in the control tower (the top of the motor vehicle building is like a airport control tower.) Maybe they looked at some of the footage from all the cameras on the track as well, they are all over the place as well. It is almost like a high security area.
10 minutes passed, and he came back and explained to Shiho that I had passed the test. That is it. We waited a bit later, they took some photos and another 4000yen of my money, then I received my new license about 45 minutes later.
The biggest parts of the story for me are that I got my Japanese drivers license on the first try, and it only took 2.25 hours this visit. This is really great for Japan. Maybe all those blogs and websites I read are full of it... or maybe I just got sooooooo lucky. I don't care, I GOT MY LICENSE!!! (**)!!!
The guy whom I dealt with at the Shimane License Center was great by the way. He is one of the nicest people I have had the pleasure to meet in Japan. He breaks the stereotype of the DVD employee, which are quite simular to CA DMV workers.
Plus he gave me my license...
That is the news for today. Hope you and yours are great. I am going to bed, and I hope you slept well.
Take care,
Steve.
Shiho, the kids and I drove the 90 minutes to the driving license center, and they were just waiting for us. The second we walked in, my guy walks to the counter, opens the window and calls me over. I then went to another window and paid my 2400yen to take the tests. Then back to the other window to see my guy again and I had to write my name a bunch of times (in the right order of course.)
Then after a few minutes in the lobby, I was escorted to a back room where I was given my written test. They had an English version, but to be honest, the questions were so badly translated, I was not sure I was going to get the required 7 of 10 correct. I actually started to try to read the Japanese version of the questions to see if I could understand some of the things they were trying to say in English, but I figured that it would just make my odds of passing worse. So 10 minutes for 10 very easy questions (if not for the horrible translation), I was sent back to the lobby to wait. A few minutes later, I was told I passed this part, and it was then time for the eye exam. Very easy test. It was just circles with a small part missing. I just had to tell him if it was the top, bottom, left or right part that was missing. Then I had to identify red, yellow and blue colors. Too easy! I was passed in 20-30 seconds for this part.
Then I was told I could take the driving test in an automatic or a manual transmission. Having driven a stick shift for an hour 5 months ago, I figured this would be the one.
Thanks Non for making me drive the truck buddy, otherwise I would have had to think more about it.
I got a course map and a half hour to walk the course and relax just a bit. The driving test is a bit different than in California. It is held on a closed course, but it has traffic lights and obstacles for you to negotiate around. It has very narrow roads that you must transverse (figure S), and parts that you almost must backup on to get through (the crank.) There are blind intersections that you must honk your horn at, and at railroad tracks, you have to stop and look, then roll down your window to listen for trains. And the instructors really want you to exaggerate all movements to be sure you are a safe driver that looks all around at everything...
Anyways the 30 minutes went fast. I spent it all walking the course with Shiho, while the kids were running around. I actually got to be tested by the same guy whom we dealt with from the first day. I think this really helped with my not being so nervous. I received one free loop around the track to get used to the clutch, and then started the real test. All I can say is that it was not to bad. The only things that I think I did to lose points is to signal right as I came up to a turn, and to use the windshield wipers, instead of the turn signal two times. Oh well. (**).
Anyways, we finished the test, and he went in the back, where I think he talked to the people up stairs in the control tower (the top of the motor vehicle building is like a airport control tower.) Maybe they looked at some of the footage from all the cameras on the track as well, they are all over the place as well. It is almost like a high security area.
10 minutes passed, and he came back and explained to Shiho that I had passed the test. That is it. We waited a bit later, they took some photos and another 4000yen of my money, then I received my new license about 45 minutes later.
The biggest parts of the story for me are that I got my Japanese drivers license on the first try, and it only took 2.25 hours this visit. This is really great for Japan. Maybe all those blogs and websites I read are full of it... or maybe I just got sooooooo lucky. I don't care, I GOT MY LICENSE!!! (**)!!!
The guy whom I dealt with at the Shimane License Center was great by the way. He is one of the nicest people I have had the pleasure to meet in Japan. He breaks the stereotype of the DVD employee, which are quite simular to CA DMV workers.
Plus he gave me my license...
That is the news for today. Hope you and yours are great. I am going to bed, and I hope you slept well.
Take care,
Steve.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
What is going on in Shimane
Hi All,
Yesterday I swam with the fish... literally, the big fish. I jumped in the water for my daily swim, and I dove under, and there were all these trout swimming with me. I am used to seeing the small 4-6in. fish, but yesterday was a school of 10-14in. monsters. I actually was pretty spooked throughout the 40 minutes or so, because these guys kept swimming right beside and under me.
Next time maybe I will bring my fishing net, and I can bring home dinner too.
Today I am going to take my written and practical skill driving tests. Hopefully I will be able to get my Japanese drivers, but according to all that I have read, only 1-5% pass the test on the first attempt. It is not uncommon for some people to take the test 10 times.
Well needless to say, I do not expect to come home with my new license today. But I will try hard... (**)! WISH ME LUCK!
That is the news in brief from Japan. Hope you are all doing well.
Steve, Shiho and the kiddies.
Yesterday I swam with the fish... literally, the big fish. I jumped in the water for my daily swim, and I dove under, and there were all these trout swimming with me. I am used to seeing the small 4-6in. fish, but yesterday was a school of 10-14in. monsters. I actually was pretty spooked throughout the 40 minutes or so, because these guys kept swimming right beside and under me.
Next time maybe I will bring my fishing net, and I can bring home dinner too.
Today I am going to take my written and practical skill driving tests. Hopefully I will be able to get my Japanese drivers, but according to all that I have read, only 1-5% pass the test on the first attempt. It is not uncommon for some people to take the test 10 times.
Well needless to say, I do not expect to come home with my new license today. But I will try hard... (**)! WISH ME LUCK!
That is the news in brief from Japan. Hope you are all doing well.
Steve, Shiho and the kiddies.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Story of two impressions left on Japanese persons
Hello All,
I might have mentioned it to some of you, but in case I have not, I have started swimming 4 or 5 days a week in the river outside our house. It is easy going when the weather is warm, but when it is cold and raining the swimming is a little bit more challenging. Getting into the water when it is cold is one reason, but swimming in higher water volume is the main issue. Anyways... on with the story.
Last week I was swimming after it rained for a few days, so the river was up a bit. As I was getting used to the water temperature, I saw a lady walking across the bridge and a big gust of wind came up, blowing her hat off and down into the river. Looking down and seeing where her hat landed, she immediately turned back to her house to retrieve another hat. She then proceeded to go on her way to the bus stop wearing another hat.
Seeing where her hat landed, just shy of hitting the water, but it was also not reachable by any means but swimming or wading through some deep and fast moving water, I wandered if I could get it. As I looked at how I might get to the other side of the river to retrieve it, I knew that I would have to go up river for my departure, since the flow would carry me down stream pretty quickly. Once I had warmed up a bit, I thought I would get my exercise and do a good deed!
As I made my way swimming up my side of the river, I came to an older man fishing near where I estimated I needed to start from, in order to get near where the ladies hat was. I said in my best Japanese something like, "Hello sir, excuse me for getting in your way (by swimming near him), wow that is a nice fish you caught there (he just caught a little fish.)"
This old man was not the friendly sort, and it was obvious by the way he looked at me that I was not welcome near him. Then he started to lecture to me in Japanese about why I should get the h*ll away from him. I thought to myself, should I try to explain to him that I was trying to do something nice for this lady, but I decided this might make things worse. I figured he would figure it out once I had the hat. As I stood up and started to walk out into the river towards the place I wanted to be, his grumbling continued and intensified. Then I think he was surprised and started to quite down as I started swimming across the river, perhaps he was thinking that I was really crazy, not just acting crazy.
At this point I should mention that I am the only person that swims in this river now. Shiho and her friends did when they were children, but then they built a pool at the local school and no one seems to have in the past 20 years or so. So it is not uncommon for me to have people stop on the road or bridge to watch me swim. I really don't care, and I even find it to be somewhat humorous actually. Those tour buses that go by have a lot of heads that turn as well...
Anyways I landed exactly where I wanted to on the other side. After a few moments of looking in the bushes, I found it and started looking for a place to leave from to get back. I ended up directly across from the old man, whom was still giving me crazy looks, but he was still silent anyways. As I departed my side of the river, swimming directly towards him, I think he understood my logic in swimming up towards him now. As I was being swept down 100 meters or so, I was able to exit and place the hat near my stuff on the bank of the river. I want back to swimming to complete the 30-40 minutes of swim time, and he no longer bothered to look at me, but I think he may have still been a little upset... although maybe he was embarrassed, well probably not.
In conclusion, the woman had written her name in the hat, so it was easy for Shiho's mom to give her a call and let her know we had it. I hear she was very happy to get it back and she said to say thank you when it was returned to her.
2 encounters and 2 impressions... they will not all be happy, but they will all have an impression!
I might have mentioned it to some of you, but in case I have not, I have started swimming 4 or 5 days a week in the river outside our house. It is easy going when the weather is warm, but when it is cold and raining the swimming is a little bit more challenging. Getting into the water when it is cold is one reason, but swimming in higher water volume is the main issue. Anyways... on with the story.
Last week I was swimming after it rained for a few days, so the river was up a bit. As I was getting used to the water temperature, I saw a lady walking across the bridge and a big gust of wind came up, blowing her hat off and down into the river. Looking down and seeing where her hat landed, she immediately turned back to her house to retrieve another hat. She then proceeded to go on her way to the bus stop wearing another hat.
Seeing where her hat landed, just shy of hitting the water, but it was also not reachable by any means but swimming or wading through some deep and fast moving water, I wandered if I could get it. As I looked at how I might get to the other side of the river to retrieve it, I knew that I would have to go up river for my departure, since the flow would carry me down stream pretty quickly. Once I had warmed up a bit, I thought I would get my exercise and do a good deed!
As I made my way swimming up my side of the river, I came to an older man fishing near where I estimated I needed to start from, in order to get near where the ladies hat was. I said in my best Japanese something like, "Hello sir, excuse me for getting in your way (by swimming near him), wow that is a nice fish you caught there (he just caught a little fish.)"
This old man was not the friendly sort, and it was obvious by the way he looked at me that I was not welcome near him. Then he started to lecture to me in Japanese about why I should get the h*ll away from him. I thought to myself, should I try to explain to him that I was trying to do something nice for this lady, but I decided this might make things worse. I figured he would figure it out once I had the hat. As I stood up and started to walk out into the river towards the place I wanted to be, his grumbling continued and intensified. Then I think he was surprised and started to quite down as I started swimming across the river, perhaps he was thinking that I was really crazy, not just acting crazy.
At this point I should mention that I am the only person that swims in this river now. Shiho and her friends did when they were children, but then they built a pool at the local school and no one seems to have in the past 20 years or so. So it is not uncommon for me to have people stop on the road or bridge to watch me swim. I really don't care, and I even find it to be somewhat humorous actually. Those tour buses that go by have a lot of heads that turn as well...
Anyways I landed exactly where I wanted to on the other side. After a few moments of looking in the bushes, I found it and started looking for a place to leave from to get back. I ended up directly across from the old man, whom was still giving me crazy looks, but he was still silent anyways. As I departed my side of the river, swimming directly towards him, I think he understood my logic in swimming up towards him now. As I was being swept down 100 meters or so, I was able to exit and place the hat near my stuff on the bank of the river. I want back to swimming to complete the 30-40 minutes of swim time, and he no longer bothered to look at me, but I think he may have still been a little upset... although maybe he was embarrassed, well probably not.
In conclusion, the woman had written her name in the hat, so it was easy for Shiho's mom to give her a call and let her know we had it. I hear she was very happy to get it back and she said to say thank you when it was returned to her.
2 encounters and 2 impressions... they will not all be happy, but they will all have an impression!
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Back from Thailand
Hello All,
Well I made it back to Japan. If I forgot to mention before, I was taking a 3 week intensive course on teaching English as a Second Language. I have to say that the course was not what I thought it would be, nor what the other students expected either.
It started out when I arrived in Phuket, and the instructor that promised he would pick me up at the airport 2 days earlier did not show up. After waiting for 2 hours of no show and he not answering his cell phone, I caught a taxi into Patong Beach to find myself a place. To cut to the chase, he pulled a fast one and quit his job the next day. He actually stranded all 6 students at the airport, without giving any of us the name of the hotel that we were to stay at. After a few days, most of us ended up at the correct hotel. The thing we did not have is an instructor. So a few days later, we actually did start class.
Things did not go as planned, but this is what makes life so fun. We got our certificates, and an education in the way that teaching ESL can be. Not happy, but why complain???
It is great to be home, but I do miss Thailand. The climate is warm, and the people are so friendly. When it rains there, it really rains. I thought I saw some heavy rain during rainy season here in Japan, but the downpours there were incredible. One minute it would be a beautiful sunny day, the next minute you could not see 50 meters out. This was most interesting when I was riding my scooter at 60KM/H, and hit a wall of water. I do have to say though, that this was a blast. Everyone just slows down and keeps going until you can find some shelter or the rain stops. LOL, it was too cool.
The hotel was on the water, but 10KM out of Phuket Town, so I needed the scooter to go anywhere and everywhere on Phuket. I am happy to say that I had no problems with my Honda Wave100 Scooter the whole time I was there. The one thing that I did keep doing is leaving the kick-stand down. I thought it was not that big of a deal, except the fact of having to replace the thing if it broke off. Then I had a conversation with the owner of a bar I frequented, and he informed me of the error in my thinking. He explained that if I lean over fast onto the side while going, I could pivot on the stand and the rear wheel would go out on me. Needless to say that I became a little more careful about putting it up before heading out on a spin, less I have a little spin-out!
Regardless, this was a great way to get around for the time there, and it was a blast driving in the cities and in the in betweens of Phuket.
No posts to this blog for a while, since connectivity was an issue. I did not bring my laptop, so had to borrow a classmates computer when she was not using it to check email. I had no phone in my room, so I ended up supporting Nokia and bought a Thai cell phone. This was the best decision of the trip!
I planned to go driving while there, but this did not work out with the schedule for school and the weather conditions that existed at the end of the trip. Heavy rain every day was the weather for the last week.
The kids and Shiho are great, and here are some picks that Shiho took to prove they are doing great and the kids continue to grew...
http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenkenyon/JapanLiving3
Here are some pics from Thailand. Sorry there are not that many, but just never got a chance to take many pics. Plus I would not carry the camera on the bike when it was raining.
http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenkenyon/Thailand2007
Hope you are all well, and talk to you soon.
Steve
Well I made it back to Japan. If I forgot to mention before, I was taking a 3 week intensive course on teaching English as a Second Language. I have to say that the course was not what I thought it would be, nor what the other students expected either.
It started out when I arrived in Phuket, and the instructor that promised he would pick me up at the airport 2 days earlier did not show up. After waiting for 2 hours of no show and he not answering his cell phone, I caught a taxi into Patong Beach to find myself a place. To cut to the chase, he pulled a fast one and quit his job the next day. He actually stranded all 6 students at the airport, without giving any of us the name of the hotel that we were to stay at. After a few days, most of us ended up at the correct hotel. The thing we did not have is an instructor. So a few days later, we actually did start class.
Things did not go as planned, but this is what makes life so fun. We got our certificates, and an education in the way that teaching ESL can be. Not happy, but why complain???
It is great to be home, but I do miss Thailand. The climate is warm, and the people are so friendly. When it rains there, it really rains. I thought I saw some heavy rain during rainy season here in Japan, but the downpours there were incredible. One minute it would be a beautiful sunny day, the next minute you could not see 50 meters out. This was most interesting when I was riding my scooter at 60KM/H, and hit a wall of water. I do have to say though, that this was a blast. Everyone just slows down and keeps going until you can find some shelter or the rain stops. LOL, it was too cool.
The hotel was on the water, but 10KM out of Phuket Town, so I needed the scooter to go anywhere and everywhere on Phuket. I am happy to say that I had no problems with my Honda Wave100 Scooter the whole time I was there. The one thing that I did keep doing is leaving the kick-stand down. I thought it was not that big of a deal, except the fact of having to replace the thing if it broke off. Then I had a conversation with the owner of a bar I frequented, and he informed me of the error in my thinking. He explained that if I lean over fast onto the side while going, I could pivot on the stand and the rear wheel would go out on me. Needless to say that I became a little more careful about putting it up before heading out on a spin, less I have a little spin-out!
Regardless, this was a great way to get around for the time there, and it was a blast driving in the cities and in the in betweens of Phuket.
No posts to this blog for a while, since connectivity was an issue. I did not bring my laptop, so had to borrow a classmates computer when she was not using it to check email. I had no phone in my room, so I ended up supporting Nokia and bought a Thai cell phone. This was the best decision of the trip!
I planned to go driving while there, but this did not work out with the schedule for school and the weather conditions that existed at the end of the trip. Heavy rain every day was the weather for the last week.
The kids and Shiho are great, and here are some picks that Shiho took to prove they are doing great and the kids continue to grew...
http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenkenyon/JapanLiving3
Here are some pics from Thailand. Sorry there are not that many, but just never got a chance to take many pics. Plus I would not carry the camera on the bike when it was raining.
http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenkenyon/Thailand2007
Hope you are all well, and talk to you soon.
Steve
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
All fine in the Kenyon 日本 (Japan) household
可笑しい "okashii" which means "funny, ridiculous or amusing!"
We are back in Tsuwano and doing great. Hanano is back to regular almost (she did awake at 5AM this morning), and life is going pretty good.
This morning some guys from our mobile phone company came out to install the signal amplifier on the house. It was quite exciting to have a cell phone work in the house. I was just making a test call to Shiho's phone, when the guy unplugged the power to the newly installed device. Puzzled and a little dazed by this, I finally got by going through many pages of the Japanese dictionary with the main guy and my mother-in-law that there is a Japanese law that states that you have to wait 30 days after installation of a device to turn it on and enjoy using it. It took a bit of the conversation to get if it was a company or Japanese regulation.
I suppose this is to prevent the instant gratification that one might be able to receive from such an event.
I will be honest here on why I have not posted that much in the past weeks. I think I have been a bit depressed by being in Japan. Shiho told me it would happen, and I told her I was different, but she was correct (just this time though (^^)!) I was having a great time the first month, but the isolation and lack of people to communicate with/ lack of understanding the television-radio-neighbors-sales people at stores/anywhere and everywhere, as well as not being able to check my cell phone messages myself, read the manuals for anything we have here, was getting to me. WAS THAT A RUN ON SENTENCE??? I started to get in a funk about it all.
Going to Osaka and getting some exercise helped a bit. Shiho's uncle lives in a 16 story complex, and his neighbors must have thought I was really lost. One night there I walked up 106 and down 16 flights of stairs. The next I went for a 3 1/2 hour walk while Shiho and the kids were with some family, then walked up 75 or so, and down 29 flights of stairs. Thank goodness for the elevator for my knees, but the neighbors really must have wondered about the sweaty white guy coming down in the lift. It was kind of fun seeing their looks... But this really helped me to get things back in the right perspective. I think I may have forgotten to keep that sense of humor that is needed while in a foreign country. I know most of you are saying, "what, Steve having a sense of humor... what is he talking about?"
Anyways, here is the insight on Steve's little bit of personal growth. I am sure there will be more of these instances ahead. Poor ME... As Joe has started to say some evening, "this is my worst day ever." (*8 I think reflection is good.
Yesterday I found a spider in the yard that is larger than the last. This guy is huge, maybe bigger than my finger, and he looks mean. I took some pics of him yesterday and was shaking his web and he ran off getting into a defensive/offensive posture. This morning I was checking on him, and he and his web were gone. I actually found him a few meters away on his web. I guess he actually took it down and respun it there. Interesting!
We do not have an oven here, so it is hard to make bread ,pizza or any of those cakes and goodies that we like so much. (Shiho:Well, we do have an oven. It's just very small as other Japanese stuff :) So I am thinking of building a little wood fired pizza oven in the backyard. I am doing research on it now, and will post pics when and if I ever start working on it.
Hanano started eating at the table, while sitting in a chair by herself. I think that Hanano is happy about it, but Shiho is just ecstatic. Her is her take on these events...
As you know, this is one of the biggest milestones in the baby's first year. When we put Hanano in her chair for the first time, she gave us a BIG smile and she seemed to be very proud of herself sitting in the chair! Sure she is a member of our family, Hanano eats a lot... I mean, A LOT! She uses both hands to shovel food in her mouth. We have to be careful because she choked herself yesterday putting too much food in her mouth! Now she can drink water with a straw pretty well. I have to admit that baby sippy cups in Japan really suck! We can't carry the cup around with water in it, because it will leak. The instructions actually say that! What kind of sippy cup is that? Plus, it was very expensive!!! Oh well...
Anyway, Hanano loves to eat at the table with us and she is very happy! THAT makes her mommy very happy as well :)
Well as some of you may know, I am going to take a class in Thailand for a few weeks. This class starts next week and should keep me pretty busy during the week. On the weekend I think that the diving probably will keep me pretty busy. I bought an underwater housing for the G7, so if I get some worthy pics underwater, I will post them on Picasa.
Shiho: We have never been apart this long, so I am a little bit worried about the kids. Joe keeps telling us that he doesn't want his daddy to go anywhere. Seems like Miyabi has no clue though. Poor Steve, probably he will miss Hanano starts walking!
Will try to post from Thailand, but will see how time permits. Hope all is well with you all.
PS: Thanks to Ching for pointing me to a great website for my listening pleasure. Driving in the car is a lot more fun now!
PSS: A lot more pics uploaded from the G7 on Picasa. Boy that 4Gb SDHC card holds a lot of pics and video.
We are back in Tsuwano and doing great. Hanano is back to regular almost (she did awake at 5AM this morning), and life is going pretty good.
This morning some guys from our mobile phone company came out to install the signal amplifier on the house. It was quite exciting to have a cell phone work in the house. I was just making a test call to Shiho's phone, when the guy unplugged the power to the newly installed device. Puzzled and a little dazed by this, I finally got by going through many pages of the Japanese dictionary with the main guy and my mother-in-law that there is a Japanese law that states that you have to wait 30 days after installation of a device to turn it on and enjoy using it. It took a bit of the conversation to get if it was a company or Japanese regulation.
I suppose this is to prevent the instant gratification that one might be able to receive from such an event.
I will be honest here on why I have not posted that much in the past weeks. I think I have been a bit depressed by being in Japan. Shiho told me it would happen, and I told her I was different, but she was correct (just this time though (^^)!) I was having a great time the first month, but the isolation and lack of people to communicate with/ lack of understanding the television-radio-neighbors-sales people at stores/anywhere and everywhere, as well as not being able to check my cell phone messages myself, read the manuals for anything we have here, was getting to me. WAS THAT A RUN ON SENTENCE??? I started to get in a funk about it all.
Going to Osaka and getting some exercise helped a bit. Shiho's uncle lives in a 16 story complex, and his neighbors must have thought I was really lost. One night there I walked up 106 and down 16 flights of stairs. The next I went for a 3 1/2 hour walk while Shiho and the kids were with some family, then walked up 75 or so, and down 29 flights of stairs. Thank goodness for the elevator for my knees, but the neighbors really must have wondered about the sweaty white guy coming down in the lift. It was kind of fun seeing their looks... But this really helped me to get things back in the right perspective. I think I may have forgotten to keep that sense of humor that is needed while in a foreign country. I know most of you are saying, "what, Steve having a sense of humor... what is he talking about?"
Anyways, here is the insight on Steve's little bit of personal growth. I am sure there will be more of these instances ahead. Poor ME... As Joe has started to say some evening, "this is my worst day ever." (*8 I think reflection is good.
Yesterday I found a spider in the yard that is larger than the last. This guy is huge, maybe bigger than my finger, and he looks mean. I took some pics of him yesterday and was shaking his web and he ran off getting into a defensive/offensive posture. This morning I was checking on him, and he and his web were gone. I actually found him a few meters away on his web. I guess he actually took it down and respun it there. Interesting!
We do not have an oven here, so it is hard to make bread ,pizza or any of those cakes and goodies that we like so much. (Shiho:Well, we do have an oven. It's just very small as other Japanese stuff :) So I am thinking of building a little wood fired pizza oven in the backyard. I am doing research on it now, and will post pics when and if I ever start working on it.
Hanano started eating at the table, while sitting in a chair by herself. I think that Hanano is happy about it, but Shiho is just ecstatic. Her is her take on these events...
As you know, this is one of the biggest milestones in the baby's first year. When we put Hanano in her chair for the first time, she gave us a BIG smile and she seemed to be very proud of herself sitting in the chair! Sure she is a member of our family, Hanano eats a lot... I mean, A LOT! She uses both hands to shovel food in her mouth. We have to be careful because she choked herself yesterday putting too much food in her mouth! Now she can drink water with a straw pretty well. I have to admit that baby sippy cups in Japan really suck! We can't carry the cup around with water in it, because it will leak. The instructions actually say that! What kind of sippy cup is that? Plus, it was very expensive!!! Oh well...
Anyway, Hanano loves to eat at the table with us and she is very happy! THAT makes her mommy very happy as well :)
Well as some of you may know, I am going to take a class in Thailand for a few weeks. This class starts next week and should keep me pretty busy during the week. On the weekend I think that the diving probably will keep me pretty busy. I bought an underwater housing for the G7, so if I get some worthy pics underwater, I will post them on Picasa.
Shiho: We have never been apart this long, so I am a little bit worried about the kids. Joe keeps telling us that he doesn't want his daddy to go anywhere. Seems like Miyabi has no clue though. Poor Steve, probably he will miss Hanano starts walking!
Will try to post from Thailand, but will see how time permits. Hope all is well with you all.
PS: Thanks to Ching for pointing me to a great website for my listening pleasure. Driving in the car is a lot more fun now!
PSS: A lot more pics uploaded from the G7 on Picasa. Boy that 4Gb SDHC card holds a lot of pics and video.
Friday, July 20, 2007
7/21/07
It has been an interesting few days... earthquakes in the North and a Typhoon coming up from the South. Exciting stuff, but neither of these really affected us. We did not even know that there was an earthquake, until I read it in a post on a list I am on that evening... No one we know was affected, although many others were. The typhoon brought very heavy rain for a whole day, but no big deal really, since it missed us by 100 miles or so. Although on the East Coast of Japan that the Typhoon went up, received 400-500 mm of rain.
I bought a Canon G7 from Amazon Japan. Seems like it is what I wanted, and I will post some shots from the camera when we get home from Osaka. All is great, except the Japanese manuals, which was easily resolved by downloading from the US Canon website.
Oh yeah, we are on a small trip to see some more of Shiho's relatives. It seemed like a good idea when we left home, but the first night was horrible. Hanano did not really sleep, hence the fact that neither did any of us. Long story short, we are cutting the trip short and only staying in Osaka, instead of going further North to another aunt's house. In any case we are now all doing fine, and Hanano has more teeth.
Take Care All,
Steve and Family
I bought a Canon G7 from Amazon Japan. Seems like it is what I wanted, and I will post some shots from the camera when we get home from Osaka. All is great, except the Japanese manuals, which was easily resolved by downloading from the US Canon website.
Oh yeah, we are on a small trip to see some more of Shiho's relatives. It seemed like a good idea when we left home, but the first night was horrible. Hanano did not really sleep, hence the fact that neither did any of us. Long story short, we are cutting the trip short and only staying in Osaka, instead of going further North to another aunt's house. In any case we are now all doing fine, and Hanano has more teeth.
Take Care All,
Steve and Family
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Stupid youtube videos
This has nothing to do with this trip, but these were just to funny not to post.
Only watch if you have nothing at else to do in your life today, and you want a laugh... I need to get some regular work!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sslnNEmM1XM
Okay, one more...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omu4G8igoVc
Enjoy,
Steve
Only watch if you have nothing at else to do in your life today, and you want a laugh... I need to get some regular work!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sslnNEmM1XM
Okay, one more...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omu4G8igoVc
Enjoy,
Steve
Friday, July 6, 2007
7-6-07 Tech issues...
Hello All,
Well it has been an interesting week. Since we have the car, we decided that we needed to have a GPS (like I said earlier, it is a neccesity in Japan.) We decided on a Sony "Nav-u" portable unit, since we will have to junk the car more than likely when we leave here. At least we can sell it for a $100 or so then. We ordered it on Sunday night (actually called and talked to someone at 7PM at on online store.) They sounded nice, so we bought it. It actually got here 9AM Tuesday morning. I am amazed how fast the service can be in Japan for these types of things.
As anyone who knows me would expect, I opened the GPS up immediately and started to play with my new toy. After a whole morning and afternoon of playing I gave up and had Shiho call customer support to help getting it to work. I will just summarize that it was a very frustrating day for me.
I will have to improve on my kanji, before I will even try to play with it again.
We went to the Tokuyama Immigration office (in Yamaguch prefecture) to get my reentry permit, so that I will be able to leave and re-enter Japan for any trips I want to take. This was actually the first real trip in the van, and it was very comfortable. We think it was a good choice. Very interesting going through the mountains in the rain and fog on the way there. It was interesting the use of land there. Right in the middle of the forest we would see a little area that was cleared and a small rice field planted. And then everywhere you go, there are the elderly working the rice and vegetable fields. Very hard work, and it really shows on their faces and posture. Highly respectable people.
Went shopping for cell phones, but they did not have the phones we wanted, so we are going to go back next week. Both of the models we are getting are the "older models", but they have built-in music players, GPS-navigation, 3.2Meg-pix cameras and global service in case we want to travel and still get calls. I hate to get stuck with last years model, but this is the one that I liked the best. The only thing we don't have is TV service, but I don't need to watch Japanese cooking shows all the time.
I planned to get a hot plate for our apartment whenever we end up moving, but I saw this one really cool cooker I had seen with lots of accessories on sell for about 65% off. What can I say, I love a good bargain. This thing will bbq, fry, make takoyaki, or a combination of the 3 at any one time. It is not teflon coated, but something else that you can use steel cooking tools and it will not scratch at all. We have used it twice in 24 hours of ownership, and it is amazing.
Here is the link to see the whole thing... Check out the storage rack it came with. http://www.zojirushi.co.jp/syohin/kitchenware/EACT.html
I also received a care package from my father in way of a wireless router with English firmware. Working with technology that I can understand is like heaven to me. I know, just a little pathetic... (*8 THANKS AGAIN POP!!!
Kids are getting bigger and Hanano is crawling around and standing up while holding on to anything she can find. She is getting to be in that "keep the parents really busy stage." Well it is fun, as well as busy.
Joe had a rash on his arm and chest, so we thought we would try out that insurance that we have through Japan. It is a little different here. There is a small slot every day (1hr) in the Dr. schedule to make appointments, but not for this type of thing I guess. So it is a first come, first served basis for the most part in Japan. This actually worked out pretty well though. We only waited 15 minutes and the kids seemed to really like him. The office was really cool and had a bunch of Totoro toys, as well as most the stuff kids would want to distract themselves with as they wait for the doctor. He gave us a prescription for an ointment that they called into the pharmacy for us. Joe is fine by the way.
I was a little interested to see how much this would cost us, since for the whole family our monthly premium for insurance is about $200. I was amazed when I asked Shiho and she told me it was about $5 co-pay at the Dr. office and then the ointment cost us less than $1.25 . I am quite impressed.
On the other side of the coin for Japan though, is that in talking to Shiho's cousin about the little outpatient surgery we had on Hanano before we left (they used a instrument the size of a paper clip and when from her eye to nasal passage to clear a blockage), and it is done without anesthesia in Japan. I guess the insurance we have will not pay for the anosteciologist, and they just hold the child down as they do the procedure. Not really sure how much it hurts or is uncomfortable, but does not sound fun to me... there are always plus and minuses with everything though. Makes us really appreciate how lucky we are, especially that we decided not to wait to have the surgery done in Japan.
We also finally decided on an insurance company for our secondary car insurance. The whole buying a car experience is different in Japan. When you have the bi-yearly mandatory inspection done, part of the money you pay gets you a very basic level of insurance. This really now makes more sense to me, since this bi-yearly inspection cost is $1000-2000. So you have some level of insurance through this. The problem is if you are in an accident, and especially if I cause an accident. In Japan people seldom go to court, and the police almost always just decide who is at fault and decide you will pay this percentage of the damage, fines, etc. The police also have the power, they use it, to just access your bank accounts and take what they want. This is not a 3rd world country, but I just really don't like someone being able to just go into my accounts to take what they want. Especially when you have a local police officer judging the circumstances of an accident between a neighbor and this foreigner who just got his Japanese drivers license (next few months anyway.) Now they will have to talk to Sony Insurance Company too... Here is my rant for this post.
Some new pics at ..... http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenkenyon/JapanLiving21
Enjoy,
Steve, Shiho and the kids
Well it has been an interesting week. Since we have the car, we decided that we needed to have a GPS (like I said earlier, it is a neccesity in Japan.) We decided on a Sony "Nav-u" portable unit, since we will have to junk the car more than likely when we leave here. At least we can sell it for a $100 or so then. We ordered it on Sunday night (actually called and talked to someone at 7PM at on online store.) They sounded nice, so we bought it. It actually got here 9AM Tuesday morning. I am amazed how fast the service can be in Japan for these types of things.
Note:
Credit cards are really not that popular in Japan. There are many times that I can use them, and many more that I am shocked that I can't. This online store would not take any cards, and we ended up using COD. At another restaunt we went to they had the logos all over the place for every card one might want to use, but when I gave them an Amex card, they said they don't take any cards. Even Shiho was puzzled at this event. Lucky that we had cash.
As anyone who knows me would expect, I opened the GPS up immediately and started to play with my new toy. After a whole morning and afternoon of playing I gave up and had Shiho call customer support to help getting it to work. I will just summarize that it was a very frustrating day for me.
I will have to improve on my kanji, before I will even try to play with it again.
We went to the Tokuyama Immigration office (in Yamaguch prefecture) to get my reentry permit, so that I will be able to leave and re-enter Japan for any trips I want to take. This was actually the first real trip in the van, and it was very comfortable. We think it was a good choice. Very interesting going through the mountains in the rain and fog on the way there. It was interesting the use of land there. Right in the middle of the forest we would see a little area that was cleared and a small rice field planted. And then everywhere you go, there are the elderly working the rice and vegetable fields. Very hard work, and it really shows on their faces and posture. Highly respectable people.
Went shopping for cell phones, but they did not have the phones we wanted, so we are going to go back next week. Both of the models we are getting are the "older models", but they have built-in music players, GPS-navigation, 3.2Meg-pix cameras and global service in case we want to travel and still get calls. I hate to get stuck with last years model, but this is the one that I liked the best. The only thing we don't have is TV service, but I don't need to watch Japanese cooking shows all the time.
I planned to get a hot plate for our apartment whenever we end up moving, but I saw this one really cool cooker I had seen with lots of accessories on sell for about 65% off. What can I say, I love a good bargain. This thing will bbq, fry, make takoyaki, or a combination of the 3 at any one time. It is not teflon coated, but something else that you can use steel cooking tools and it will not scratch at all. We have used it twice in 24 hours of ownership, and it is amazing.
Here is the link to see the whole thing... Check out the storage rack it came with. http://www.zojirushi.co.jp/syohin/kitchenware/EACT.html
I also received a care package from my father in way of a wireless router with English firmware. Working with technology that I can understand is like heaven to me. I know, just a little pathetic... (*8 THANKS AGAIN POP!!!
Kids are getting bigger and Hanano is crawling around and standing up while holding on to anything she can find. She is getting to be in that "keep the parents really busy stage." Well it is fun, as well as busy.
Joe had a rash on his arm and chest, so we thought we would try out that insurance that we have through Japan. It is a little different here. There is a small slot every day (1hr) in the Dr. schedule to make appointments, but not for this type of thing I guess. So it is a first come, first served basis for the most part in Japan. This actually worked out pretty well though. We only waited 15 minutes and the kids seemed to really like him. The office was really cool and had a bunch of Totoro toys, as well as most the stuff kids would want to distract themselves with as they wait for the doctor. He gave us a prescription for an ointment that they called into the pharmacy for us. Joe is fine by the way.
I was a little interested to see how much this would cost us, since for the whole family our monthly premium for insurance is about $200. I was amazed when I asked Shiho and she told me it was about $5 co-pay at the Dr. office and then the ointment cost us less than $1.25 . I am quite impressed.
On the other side of the coin for Japan though, is that in talking to Shiho's cousin about the little outpatient surgery we had on Hanano before we left (they used a instrument the size of a paper clip and when from her eye to nasal passage to clear a blockage), and it is done without anesthesia in Japan. I guess the insurance we have will not pay for the anosteciologist, and they just hold the child down as they do the procedure. Not really sure how much it hurts or is uncomfortable, but does not sound fun to me... there are always plus and minuses with everything though. Makes us really appreciate how lucky we are, especially that we decided not to wait to have the surgery done in Japan.
We also finally decided on an insurance company for our secondary car insurance. The whole buying a car experience is different in Japan. When you have the bi-yearly mandatory inspection done, part of the money you pay gets you a very basic level of insurance. This really now makes more sense to me, since this bi-yearly inspection cost is $1000-2000. So you have some level of insurance through this. The problem is if you are in an accident, and especially if I cause an accident. In Japan people seldom go to court, and the police almost always just decide who is at fault and decide you will pay this percentage of the damage, fines, etc. The police also have the power, they use it, to just access your bank accounts and take what they want. This is not a 3rd world country, but I just really don't like someone being able to just go into my accounts to take what they want. Especially when you have a local police officer judging the circumstances of an accident between a neighbor and this foreigner who just got his Japanese drivers license (next few months anyway.) Now they will have to talk to Sony Insurance Company too... Here is my rant for this post.
Some new pics at ..... http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenkenyon/JapanLiving21
Enjoy,
Steve, Shiho and the kids
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Shiho's new minivan
So we went to McDonalds again yesterday. I think the kids like this little reminder of home. It is just a little bit familiar to them, and they enjoy the same old fries, burgers and chicken nuggets. For us we enjoyed "ebi fillets." These are shrimp burgers really, and they are my new favorite. Ebi fillets are one thing that I will miss for sure when we come back home. We also had to try the teriyaki burger, since it is for a limited time. It was so moist I could almost have another, yet I now have the ebi fillets to dine on.
Anyways we drove the half hour to MDs in Masuda and got the food, then drove 5 minutes to the beach to eat on the Sea of Japan. We ate in the car and then I took the kids to the water for a minute while Shiho feed Hanano in the car.
Once we transferred the stuff to our new used car, the salesman showed Shiho how to operate the lights, wipers etc and we were off. The only problems we found is that the car still pulls a little to the left (salesman says it is the low profile tires, but me thinks not) and the keyless entry does not work (the remotes battery is dead I believe.) It actually looks like this car is almost new, although it is 9 years old.
Some new pics at ... http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenkenyon/JapanLiving2
Anyways we drove the half hour to MDs in Masuda and got the food, then drove 5 minutes to the beach to eat on the Sea of Japan. We ate in the car and then I took the kids to the water for a minute while Shiho feed Hanano in the car.
We then picked up our new minivan, which is the main reason for the trip into town. When we arrived at the showroom, we were seated and then showed the menu. Hard to believe, but they had a drink and snack menu that the slim hostess served to us. They had a play area that the kids loved, and they were also served refreshments.
The transaction was pretty anti-climatic for us. We had small talk for a few minutes while we had our coffee, tea and apple juice, then gave him the money which required a number of bows back and forth from both parties. Then he took the money in the back to count and the slim hostess brought us a receipt, which required a number of additional bows.
Side note: I have gotten quite used to bowing to everyone in
the month and a half we have been here. Almost everything
requires a bow I have found. Even if it did not, I am thought
to be very polite as I walk through the supermarket saying
excuse me and bowing. Shiho has said that people probably
think I am the most polite foreigner in Japan.
Once we transferred the stuff to our new used car, the salesman showed Shiho how to operate the lights, wipers etc and we were off. The only problems we found is that the car still pulls a little to the left (salesman says it is the low profile tires, but me thinks not) and the keyless entry does not work (the remotes battery is dead I believe.) It actually looks like this car is almost new, although it is 9 years old.
Today it rained on and on and then on and off until 4PM. Nice and breezy day and it felt great. Did not want to go out though, since some of the downpours were quite substantial.
Only thing we really accomplished today was buying a new Sony Navigation system online for the car. Getting around without one is almost impossible. I learned this in Osaka the first week here, when we could not find an ATM that would give me cash. After looking up the Cirrus website and finding a ATM that would work, we had an issue finding an address like 2-250-10 Higashimikuni (which is the name of the nearest train station.) Shiho's uncle has lived at the same condo for 10 years of so and had to get out his map to try and find it. He actually still was not sure when he and I started walking around the neighborhood trying to find it. We have had a few other issues like this, and I have come to the conclusion that a GPS is a convenience in the US, but it is really a necessity in Japan to get anywhere without Shiho and I killing each other. (*8
Tomorrow's weather outlook is heavy rain, high winds and thunderstorms. It also talked about flash flood warnings and heavy thunderstorm warnings. Looks like rainy season has finally arrived ladies and gents.
Some new pics at ... http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenkenyon/JapanLiving2
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Back from trip to Fukuoka and Genkai Royal Hotel
Well it was a short, but long trip to Fukuoka and a little hotspring at the hotel we stayed at.
Before we get to that though, the night before we left, we found another mukade or centipede, in the my mother-in-laws room. This was a nice sized guy about 4" or 15cm long. She was laying out her futon and this guy ran out from a corner. Well she trapped it under a book and called for help. She was bite or sping by one a few months back and did not want that experience again. Anyways I got the family thongs from the kitchen used for this task, and she moved the book while I grabbed him. There are a few pics of him after I cut him in half with the thongs. I think I will have to buy some for our place when we move...
We used the loaner car that the Nissan dealership loaned us while they get our used car ready. It is a new Nissan Note. The thing does not have much power, but gets good milage and has that nice new car smell. Pics of this will be online as well.
The hotel was nice, but the onsen (hot spring) was why I wanted to stay there. We have been here more than a month now, yet have not been to any baths yet. Well this is our first opportunity. (*8
Shiho went first with Miyabi, while I took Joe and Hanano for a beer and dessert run. 3x500ml of Asahi beer plus a little plum wine with onsen=relaxation. The trip there was uneventful, but on the way back to the hotel on vacant country roads I reverted back to driving in the US mode. Scary once I relaxed with side of the road I was suppose to be on.
Once back at the hotel with my kids, started my first beer and started getting ready to go with Joe to the hot spring. Taking him this first time was pretty uneventful, except he really liked the cool bath... so damn cold I could not get in, and the old lady came in while I was getting Joe and myself washed down before getting in. I think she worked there, but I don't think I have the capacity to have asked her in Japanese... especially while we were there naked with all the other guys and she was fully dressed.
Anyways Shiho and I could only get through 2 beers that night, and I ended up going back to the onsen by myself after everyone went to bed till a little past mid-night. Glad I went back since the water got a little hotter later in the evening.
On the way home we went to Costco in Fukuoka. I felt like I was back home again. They even have the food court with hot dogs and soda. (*8
It was great to hit my first onsen of the trip.
Well it is hot and humid tonight back at home. The upstairs is all open and the lite breeze coming through the house from the river feels great.
Here is a link for the pics... http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenkenyon/JapanLiving2
Before we get to that though, the night before we left, we found another mukade or centipede, in the my mother-in-laws room. This was a nice sized guy about 4" or 15cm long. She was laying out her futon and this guy ran out from a corner. Well she trapped it under a book and called for help. She was bite or sping by one a few months back and did not want that experience again. Anyways I got the family thongs from the kitchen used for this task, and she moved the book while I grabbed him. There are a few pics of him after I cut him in half with the thongs. I think I will have to buy some for our place when we move...
We used the loaner car that the Nissan dealership loaned us while they get our used car ready. It is a new Nissan Note. The thing does not have much power, but gets good milage and has that nice new car smell. Pics of this will be online as well.
The hotel was nice, but the onsen (hot spring) was why I wanted to stay there. We have been here more than a month now, yet have not been to any baths yet. Well this is our first opportunity. (*8
Shiho went first with Miyabi, while I took Joe and Hanano for a beer and dessert run. 3x500ml of Asahi beer plus a little plum wine with onsen=relaxation. The trip there was uneventful, but on the way back to the hotel on vacant country roads I reverted back to driving in the US mode. Scary once I relaxed with side of the road I was suppose to be on.
Once back at the hotel with my kids, started my first beer and started getting ready to go with Joe to the hot spring. Taking him this first time was pretty uneventful, except he really liked the cool bath... so damn cold I could not get in, and the old lady came in while I was getting Joe and myself washed down before getting in. I think she worked there, but I don't think I have the capacity to have asked her in Japanese... especially while we were there naked with all the other guys and she was fully dressed.
Anyways Shiho and I could only get through 2 beers that night, and I ended up going back to the onsen by myself after everyone went to bed till a little past mid-night. Glad I went back since the water got a little hotter later in the evening.
On the way home we went to Costco in Fukuoka. I felt like I was back home again. They even have the food court with hot dogs and soda. (*8
It was great to hit my first onsen of the trip.
Well it is hot and humid tonight back at home. The upstairs is all open and the lite breeze coming through the house from the river feels great.
Here is a link for the pics... http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenkenyon/JapanLiving2
Friday, June 22, 2007
We bought our (Shiho's) car
6-21-07
It has been an uneventful week really. We have all taken it pretty easy and relaxed. Although there has been the occasional argument between Shiho and I about the car we are going to buy…
We have been continuing our search for a car over the past week, and this has been our main focus. On Monday we were preparing to borrow a neighbor’s car to drive 2 hours to buy a car from a Marine family over at Iwakuni, which is the nearest US military base. The wife called though and canceled before we left, because her husband is deployed to Australia and she lacks the power of attorney to sell the car. We actually canceled buying a car last Friday in Fukuoka to buy this car instead.
But all is not lost, we have had many local dealers bringing cars for us to look at, the 30 minute drive to Shiho’s moms. The Nissan dealer ended up bring a 1998 Toyota Lucida kind of like this one except blue. http://www.autoweb.co.uk/car_detail.asp?cdID=1268144
Well, we ended up buying it for $4710. +/- . They have to do a bunch of paperwork and government required inspections that will take about 2 weeks. During this time period, the police will have to come out to verify that we actually have a registered parking space for the vehicle. The dealer said he will give us a car to drive so we can get around, so that will be nice.
Anther big thing that did happen is that we bought the biggest coffee pot we could find at the local store. This was a big 6 cup pot, about half the size of ours in the US, but it works great. Nice and slow brew, so makes a nice cup of coffee.
We actually did borrow the neighbor’s car to go to town to buy groceries and go to pick up my
alien registration card at the city office. This is my new government id.
We are in the country here. On the way from the office we saw a monkey running down the road. This guy was probably 40-50 pounds; I was surprised how big he was. Shiho said that they come down more often in the winter to find food near the river.
For next week we are hoping to go to Fukuoka and check out the Costco there. I would like to by some nice Japanese appliances for our future house. We also might take a trip to Nagasaki or some random hot springs in Kushu. Also will get business cards made for Shiho and I. Will have to go to ATM a bunch of times to get the cash to pay for the car, but will be fun. Have to get my hanko 判子, or stamp made, since this is what is needed to receive packages and do any type of financial stuff here.
The rainy season has officially began here. It has rained on and of for the past week, but today it has been coming down all day. The river is higher than I have seen before, but nothing like Typhoon season I hear. (*8
Not sure if I posted the pictures from the beginning of our trip in Osaka but you can find them here.
http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenkenyon/52807TimeInOsakaAsWeStartOurNewLifePhase
Here are the most recent pictures from Tsuwano
http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenkenyon/JapanLiving1
It has been an uneventful week really. We have all taken it pretty easy and relaxed. Although there has been the occasional argument between Shiho and I about the car we are going to buy…
We have been continuing our search for a car over the past week, and this has been our main focus. On Monday we were preparing to borrow a neighbor’s car to drive 2 hours to buy a car from a Marine family over at Iwakuni, which is the nearest US military base. The wife called though and canceled before we left, because her husband is deployed to Australia and she lacks the power of attorney to sell the car. We actually canceled buying a car last Friday in Fukuoka to buy this car instead.
But all is not lost, we have had many local dealers bringing cars for us to look at, the 30 minute drive to Shiho’s moms. The Nissan dealer ended up bring a 1998 Toyota Lucida kind of like this one except blue. http://www.autoweb.co.uk/car_detail.asp?cdID=1268144
Well, we ended up buying it for $4710. +/- . They have to do a bunch of paperwork and government required inspections that will take about 2 weeks. During this time period, the police will have to come out to verify that we actually have a registered parking space for the vehicle. The dealer said he will give us a car to drive so we can get around, so that will be nice.
Anther big thing that did happen is that we bought the biggest coffee pot we could find at the local store. This was a big 6 cup pot, about half the size of ours in the US, but it works great. Nice and slow brew, so makes a nice cup of coffee.
We actually did borrow the neighbor’s car to go to town to buy groceries and go to pick up my
alien registration card at the city office. This is my new government id.We are in the country here. On the way from the office we saw a monkey running down the road. This guy was probably 40-50 pounds; I was surprised how big he was. Shiho said that they come down more often in the winter to find food near the river.
For next week we are hoping to go to Fukuoka and check out the Costco there. I would like to by some nice Japanese appliances for our future house. We also might take a trip to Nagasaki or some random hot springs in Kushu. Also will get business cards made for Shiho and I. Will have to go to ATM a bunch of times to get the cash to pay for the car, but will be fun. Have to get my hanko 判子, or stamp made, since this is what is needed to receive packages and do any type of financial stuff here.
The rainy season has officially began here. It has rained on and of for the past week, but today it has been coming down all day. The river is higher than I have seen before, but nothing like Typhoon season I hear. (*8
Not sure if I posted the pictures from the beginning of our trip in Osaka but you can find them here.
http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenkenyon/52807TimeInOsakaAsWeStartOurNewLifePhase
Here are the most recent pictures from Tsuwano
http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenkenyon/JapanLiving1
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)