Life in Japan... Part 2 (From Matt's own words)

Now that I have been in Japan for a few weeks, I thought I would give everyone an update. As I have said before, everyday is an adventure. I will pick a few of my adventures to share.

Taking a hike
A few of my co-workers had an extra ticket for a famous hike done once a year in Kobe. The hike is 56 kilometers (for those who only understand English measures that is 31 miles). Being the competitive person I am, they were able to talk me into it. I figured my feet would hurt, but I would be able to make it. They forgot to mention the hike was up and down 4 mountains!!! We started a 4:30 in the morning before even the sun was up.


They let me borrow a head torch as my English friend would called it (a flashlight that attaches to your head) and we set off.

Along with 3000 Japanese people. Trust me it got worse.

This is by far the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.

If they told me I was going to be mountain climbing – I would have surely declined.

I did get some great views from the top of the mountain.

I started at 4:30 in the morning and I finished at 7:00 at night.
Finish line! I was so sore, I could barely move for four days. I thought I was going to need a life insurance quote. I vow to never do this hike again.


Every Day Life
I am getting more used to day-to-day life.

Food
A lot of the Japanese business men eat at these noodle bars or stand up restaurants that have different types of meat on a stick. These places are everywhere and fairly cheap.


Not all Japanese eat Sushi all the time like people think, although there are many sushi restaurants in Kobe. Here is one I went to. It had the biggest sushi I have ever seen. It is not like they give you a knife. You just have to pick up the whole thing and put it in your mouth.


Yummy!!!! There is a little rice under there, you just can’t see it.

Trains
I have got to enjoy a few packed trains. I am sandwiched over by the door. They actually had a train person push the last people in to shut the doors. This is normally not how busy the trains are, but it does happen.


Restroom Life
At work I go in the toilet that says western style. The alternative is a squatty Potty.

On the western style they have little directions to show men how to use the toilet seat. I am surprised most women have not put these in American houses. I am not sure what it says, but I think we get the point.

The controls for our toilets at the house take a college degree to figure out. I know what the button on the top right hand side does. It squirts water on your bum!

Goodbye for now!

Well I could go on for pages, but it is getting late. I will send another note shortly. Time is going by pretty fast. I am not sure that Alexis would agree with that. I am trying to keep myself really busy and I am working crazy hours. Hope everyone is doing ok.

Take Care!

Jacobs' Debriefing

I feel like all we ever do is run anymore. Life with 3 kids, trying to expand my business base, Matt's work and other obligations just have us busy –– all the time. Most nights we do not eat until after 8 pm. I feel like there is never a moment to just sit and relax. Time to sit and reload. When I do find myself sitting, I tend to be thinking about what I should or could be doing instead of just sitting there. So I thought I would give an update since I have been blog MIA lately.

The kids are doing well. As of midterms Emily is pulling straight A's for her first quarter of middle school, and she is busy with gymnastics and other "preteen activities". Chris is busy playing football. I am amazed at how well he is doing and how much he loves it. He can't do or go anywhere without telling "Down, set hike hike!" This morning we had our parent teacher conference and we are extremely proud at where Chris is academically. And Sam... well she is Sam. She is loving preschool and has adjusted well to being away from mom 3 mornings a week. And I think somewhere she has been taking acting classes because her drama-queen status has greatly increased lately.

I am keeping my fingers crossed, but so far some awesome things are happening work wise for me. I am still busy doing work for Caterpillar back in Illinois, and have been asked to come up the first week of December for training. I sent my new client estimates on Monday and they have accepted them. (I was holding my breath for that one.) Now the big client needs to sign off on them. Hopefully we will have approval by Monday or Tuesday next week. Once that happens I will will be busy writing lots of press kit materials, articles and helping plan a press conference for January (I even get to go to Atlanta!). And finally the person I met with on Monday I **think** hired me. The guy was a bit scatterbrained and told me that he needed to gather me a contact list and background information and then I am to send him quotes and get started. This project would be awesome because it is definitely a different market and also because it is a monthly project, so I will have a set amount of money coming in each month.

Matt is swamped at work. And that is saying it lightly. He will be traveling to France in November and then starting in January he will be in Arizona for possibly 4 weeks, Las Vegas for 10 days, Japan and possibly France again. Now you see why we chose to go to Thailand for our anniversary? We have lots of free air miles. Not much budgeting and planning there.

We have gotten the living room, kitchen, hallway and upstairs hallway painted. Matt has closed off the opening between my office and the living room and he is going to paint it sometime this weekend. We are also hoping to get Sam and Chris's room painted in the next week. Then we will start on a big project –– a screened in porch. I cannot wait to be able to take a drink and a book and just sit out there and relax. Well at least try. We are hoping to have that done by Thanksgiving. I am really loving my house. It is amazing what some paint and rearranging can do.

Back and will update soon

Shew... we are back after our two week tour of the Midwest. Our dear friend Jamie and her kids decided to come visit this week so I am busy showing them the area and getting them acquainted with the sauna of the Carolina's.

I promise I will update and be back in blogging mode again in the next day or so. I have so much to update on!

All Reading Challenger's Check In Here

We are just over a month into the summer reading challenge. Where do you stand on meeting your goal? For those who are unaware of the summer reading challenge you can still join. Read details here and then post to this thread your reading goal.

My goal was 21 books. So far I have read 7. I was really hoping to read more over vacation, but oh well.

My books read thus far:

1. Daddy Needs A Drink by Robert Wilder
2. Nine Months in August by Adriana Bourgoin
3. The 6th Target by James Patterson
4. A Sister's Secret by Wanda Brunstetter
5. Lean Mean 13 by Janet Evanovich
6. Home Again by Kristin Hannah
7. The Last Summer (of You and Me) by Ann Brashares

So if you haven't joined, it's not too late. For those who have joined, give us an update. And don't worry if you aren't anywhere near your goal. We still have 8 weeks left.

Random Updates From Jacobs-Land

I just thought it would be good to give some updates on some things that are going on involving the Jacobs Household. It seems like it has been a while since I have done this.

1. Tomorrow is the last day of school. In some ways I am ready for school to be done. I am sick of packing lunches, carpool, homework and the rush to get ready. I am also not looking forward to a whole summer of fighting amongst my 3 children. Summer vacation is very long.
2. Emily has 5th grade graduation tomorrow. She will be going to the middle school next year. ((sigh)) And to add to it, I think she has her first official crush. **gulp**
3. Chris is going to day camp next week –– horse camp. It should be interesting to see how that goes.
   
4. Matt is working to expand our deck and build on a screened-in-porch. Watch for progress pictures. We are hoping that it will be done by fall. I have some great visions of sitting on the porch reading as the sun goes down (or comes up). I can't wait.
   
5. I have been given two large assignments from Caterpillar. One being the biggest I have ever done. It is a pretty important project and I am incredibly nervous about it. I also met with an organization today that offered me a part-time project working from home. This would be a great network opportunity and help me break into another market, other than heavy machinery and agriculture. I am not sure what I think about all this yet. I am excited, yet nervous.
   
6. We leave for two weeks at the beach in 17 days.
   
7. Matt will be gone for three weeks traveling for work this summer. One trip we are all going with him, but the rest I will be on my own. Anyone feel like visiting NC in the summer?
8. Samantha has been asked to be a model for a local hair bow and flip flop company. They will be using the pictures for a new website they are creating. Tomorrow is the photo shoot. I can't wait to see how everything turns out.
   
9. Emily's softball team is tied for first place right now. We just found out Emily will be pitching in the tournament next weekend. Yikes!
   

Have a great night!