Bittersweet Birthday

Yesterday Allison would have been 11-years-old. Someone asked me if after 11 years, this day was any easier. I had to think about that a moment. Easy isn't the right word to use. There is nothing easy about a birthday that will never be for your daughter. So I choose the word different. Each year that goes by is just different. Every year that passes a new bandaid is placed over a broken heart that slowly over the years the cracks in it have changed. I will never stop wishing that April 29th could be a day for celebration, and there will never be a day that goes by that I don't wish she was here, but I know for some reason this is the path God chose for us, and that is something we can't change.

So happy 11th birthday Allison Grace. I know this is a very special birthday for you because this year NaNa is there for your party. And for me, that makes this the most bittersweet birthday yet.

Walk through the grocery store

Grocery stores in Japan are pretty similar to the ones in America, with one difference –– the food.

The deli consists of ready made foods, such as fried rice, yakisoba, tempura and yakitori, rather than any type of lunch meat or sliced cheese. (In fact, it doesn't exist here)

 

The produce section is beautiful. You will never find a bruised or ugly piece of produce on the normal shelf of a grocery store. The saleclerks pick through sections by hand making sure there is nothing less than perfect for sale. And while sometimes the produce can be expensive, the size and taste more than makes up for it. 

 

  

 Where we would typically find things like packaged lunch meat, sausage, bacon and hot dogs, we find things like tofu (soft, hard, silk, fried) and noodles (soba, ramen, lo mein). 

There are sections of beef, pork and chicken, but typically the section of seafood is bigger. In fact, one day I will have to just blog about the sea creatures people eat in Japan.

 

  

 In the regular aisles you will typical items like cleaning supplies, chips, salad dressings, sugars, breads, and frosted flakes cereals, however these items tend to be different than what we are used to. Then there are items like nori, miso and just about any seasoning to be thrown into rice. 

  

 

  

There are also sections of milk, juices, yogurts, limited cheeses, butters, ice cream, tea (lots and lots of tea) and coffee.  All of that combined is usually the size of the alcohol section.   While you can buy beer by the 6-pack, 12-pack or case, it is much more common to just buy by the can, and mix and match what you want. There is many times a small (and I mean small) selection of imports and then many different Japanese choices of beer and Chu-His. 

 

 

 

Items vary from store to store. But you can always count on one thing –– it will be crowded. 

Arrived Safe and Sound

I am here! I am where soon will be called "home". Wow. I still can’t believe I will be living here. I think once we actually start looking at houses maybe it will seem more real. Until then it's just Matt and I on a trip enjoying the sites.

The plane ride was good. I flew from Raleigh to Detroit and then straight into Osaka, Japan. The flight wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Because of the distance Cat always flies us business class. I had my own LCD TV set, radio and even video game system. The food was actually decent and I loved the free drinks.

It was already dark when I got in here (it seems to get dark early) so I couldn't see much except for the outline of the mountains. Stepping off the plane my first thoughts were dang it is hot. It is incredibly humid here. Much more than NC.

We spent all Sunday exploring the area on our own before our guide meets us. We managed to find the school and even a few of the areas we will be looking at houses.

Ferris wheel in Harborland.
The front of the Canadian Academy, the school the kids will attend.

Street in Shoyia neighborhood.

View across the harbor.
Walking up the huge hill into Shoyia neighborhood.
Back yard of one of the houses we will be seeing on Wednesday.

It’s going to take some getting used to living in a city. The train system the first night looked so overwhelming, but after taking it everywhere yesterday it actually is pretty simple. (as long as you have a map)

I think I could just sit everyday and people watch. If someone can figure out the fashion statement here I would love to hear it. Anything goes. And I mean ANYTHING. I probably saw 20+ people in Uggs. Some people had winter stocking caps on (even though its the same here in the winter as NC). The only non-heeled woman shoe I saw was crocs. And the shoes... Oh my. I love shoes. Leggings with shorts. Shorts and tights. Mini skirts and thigh high socks. Thigh high boots. The younger guys in skinny jeans. Straighted hair (on men!!). And the list just goes on.

Shopping... There are more stores than people. Kid you not. It is the strangest thing. Some expensive, some not. I already found Gap and we have quickly found a store called Uniqol that we love.


The first night we had pizza for supper. Not what you would think as pizza though. And mozzarella & tomato salad! It was to die for. Matt said that the food here is amazing. He was right. I had an actual Japanese lunch and last night we went to a "Japanese steakhouse". The menu’s aren’t in English, heck nothing is in English, but they have pics and between that and a word guide we were able to figure out what to get. I can say water, beer and wine in Japanese. You know, the important words. Eating will be an experience that is for sure.


The bugs are scary. There is a common centipede that is poisonous and I think all the bugs are on steroids. We found this dead bug and its about as long as my fist. No joke. Then we had one buzz past us and we thought it was a bird.


Our toilet seat is heated and it has a butt washer and dryer on it! It is the weirdest thing ever.


Today is our first official day of our house hunting trip. We are meeting our guide for orientation and then going to tour the school and then look at our first set of houses. Then tonight one of the expats are hosting us for supper.

My sleep schedule is so screwed up. I didn't sleep well the first night, despite only the 2 hours I slept on the plane. Last night I crashed at 8pm and now am wide awake at 2:30 am. I am sure once I get on a schedule it will be Friday and I will be going back.

After being here less than 36 hours I can honestly say this is where we are supposed to be. This is going to be an amazing adventure for our family. The experience the kids will have in the 3 years we are here will be life changing. I cannot wait for them to see everything themselves.

You can see more pics from our first day here. If you watch the slide show make sure you mark to see the titles and comments so you will know what you are seeing.