At last we figured it out! (We hope)

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Wow, I wish we'd tried this in Canada before everything on the computers was in Japanese! We've been here just over two weeks and are settling in. We survived 3 earthquakes in our first four days (only one was big enough to wake us up, magnitude 6.9), I've had one job offer, Colin's survived two company parties and we still have no clue when it comes to the Japanese public transit system--it is not comforting to know that they can't figure it out either.

We had our first onsen(hot spring) experience last week. It was very relaxing, Colin was nice enough to tell me on the way there that no swimsuits were required, in fact they are banned. Thankfully the men and women have separate onsens because I don't think I could've handled all the Japanese men stares. It's one thing when I'm fully clothed on the street but I don't think they're ready for full white nudity yet. Last night I reached the point where I wanted to start saying, "Yeah, I'm white... get over it."

After shopping in big malls and grocery stores (until today our main tour guide has been a Canadian from Colin's office who's been helpful but isn't very adventurous) we found our first Japanese market. (actually someone from Colin's office took Colin there). It was crowded, loud, cheap, smelly and fantastic! Lots of interesting new things to try, although we've limited ourselves to trying only one gross looking thing per meal. So far we're 100% right on look-to-taste grossness, but for the most part the food is terrific!

Last week we discovered a small sushi restaurant with the best sushi we've ever had! and it's only a 3 minute walk from our place. A husband and wife run it and we talked to them for a while after dinner. Talking consisted of our three japanese words and their two english words, "cold" and "wife". So we all agreed it was cold out and now they think we're married.

We're adjusting to Japanese life though, everyday it seems like we learn a new formality we have to perform. Some are good, Colin gets to wear slippers at work all day, and some are not so good, Colin has to get to work early every day to help clean the office. We love all the bowing (and there is a lot!)

Our apartment is starting to feel like home. We now have a shelf, plants, picture frames(with pictures of you lovely people), a state of the art clothes dryer (see attached picture) and 3 futons!!!! We've even deciphered some of the appliances but the washing machine is a tough one, it still beeps at us and stops halfway through every load. I'm not sure we'll ever get used to the kerosene heater, too many fumes = good sleeps.

Hopefully this entry is the first of many to come now that we know how to use a computer that has Japanese software. Hope is all well and send us lots of emails, if you don't send emails you have to send cookies (freshly baked).
Hugs,
Maddy and Colin

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