After 7 years of being married and 7 years of pleading with the in-laws to come over to my fine land, they finally sent me a letter today to tell me they are planning on coming over to Perth to stay with us! Yay.
I think the recent visit was what had the greatest effect, in that we all connected in a very big way and now they realise they really miss us. They even wrote in the letter that they had been having people around for bbq’s and they realised something was missing…. but what? Then they realised that Kelly and Yasu were not there!
It’s nice to be thought of in that way, and we are also missing them. Yesterday was MIL’s birthday but we were both in no condition for talking so Yasu called tonight and spoke to his mum who confirmed they were planning on coming over, but because they have never been outside of Japan they are really nervous about the whole thing. (That is what stopped them before coming before now).
We have decided to go over to Japan and stay with them for a couple of weeks, and then they will come back with us and stay for 3 or 4 weeks. When asked where she wanted to go, my MIL said “the supermarket”. haha! She has never seen a foreign supermarket before and being a housewife, that is her first port of call. I’m pretty much the same as in when I go to Japan, I love perusing the aisles and looking at all the different products available. I can’t wait to show mum and dad around all the shops!! 
I’ve got a whole menu to plan as well, mum and dad really want to eat my roast pork so I plan to make that a couple of times while they are here too. We have a lot of planning to do, I’m so excited
In other news, I had a major windfall of $10k after entering a competition, so I’m pleased to say that I will be able to pay for our central heating and cooling. Thankyou Abraham!! The guy is coming to our house tomorrow to have a look at our house and give us a quote. I’m hoping it won’t be any more than $8k. The rest of the money will be squirrelled away for when the rellies come over
I didn’t go to any of my classes today because I had a “hangover”, in a spiritual sense. I think I overworked myself yesterday and all the good food, readings and lots of sun and sunburn just wore me out! My head was woo-woo and I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I didn’t have the energy to go to yoga tonight so I gave it a miss too.
I made chahan for dinner with the remaining roast pork and it was delicious.
Roast Pork Chahan
I also am down to less than 10% of one anti-depressant, so looks like my Friday goal will be reached. The only withdrawal symptoms I’ve had is in the afternoon I’ve been getting headaches, but that I can deal with. If I was nauseas that would be hard, but thankfully none.
At the MCD yesterday I met a lady that told me about a guy that has come over from Queensland and is doing energy therapy here, and she told me that she had suffered chronic neck pain for 25 years since a car accident and no-one could help her get rid of the pain. She saw this guy and within the 2 hours treatment, 90% of the pain was gone, and another 5% later, so now she suffers nothing at all, an occasional twinge but that is it. Her friend who couldn’t fall pregnant went, and got pregnant immediately after, and people who had trouble losing weight, dropped the kilo’s afterwards.
It’s all about balancing the body’s energy and replacing the energy that was lost. As well it works on the premise that some people have parasites in their bodies and when not picked up and treated they cause the following symptoms:
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INABILITY TO GAIN OR LOSE WEIGHT
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CHRONIC CANDIDA
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YEAST INFECTIONS
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CHRONIC SINUS OR EAR INFECTIONS
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URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS
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ITCHY EARS OR NOSE
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ANAL ITCHING, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT
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DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS
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GAS AND BLOATING
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DIARRHEA
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MUCUSY STOOLS
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HEMORRHOIDS
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CONSTIPATION
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IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
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GRINDING TEETH WHILE SLEEPING
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HEART PAIN
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NUMB HANDS
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PAIN IN THE NAVEL
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PAIN IN THE BACK,THIGHS OR SHOULDERS
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ARTHRITIC PAINS
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BURNING IN THE STOMACH
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BED WETTING
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DROOLING WHILE SLEEPING
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ANY MENSTRUAL COMPLAINT
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CYSTS AND FIBROIDS
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EATING MORE AND STILL BEING HUNGRY
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ALL SKIN PROBLEMS
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FORGETFULNESS
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DEPRESSION
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CHRONIC FATIGUE
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CHRONIC VIRAL SYNDROMES
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PROSTATE PROBLEMS AND SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION IN MEN
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WATER RETENTION (mostly from tapeworms)
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CRAWLING FEELING UNDER THE SKIN
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FLOATERS
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LIVER/GALLBLADDER TROUBLE
Included in his fee is medicine (drops) that you take to eradicate the parasites. Some people have parasites as well as blockages in their energy and some people just have blockages.
I called this morning and secured an appointment for next wednesday morning at 9am. I’m really looking forward to it!! I know something is out of balance in my body, and I can’t wait to hear what it is. By the way, the girl with the neck problem never told him what her problem was or why she was there, he picked it up first thing.
I will be the full bottle on it on Wednesday though so I will post about it then.
By the time I got to Hokkaido I was looking forward to some pleasant times in Japan and I wasn’t disappointed.
From the moment I arrived at the station met by Yasu’s mum and dad, I knew that I had come home.
I received warm welcoming hugs from both mum and dad (they didn’t hug Yasu even though he is their son) and later we talked about the hugging thing and they agreed that it is not in their culture, but because I am from a different culture than theirs they don’t feel embarrassed hugging me like they would do hugging a Japanese person.
We had some supper from Seicomart, I had a sausage pan and a gogo tea, and Yasu had some onigiri, and a curry cup noodle. We can’t get curry cup noodle in Australia, and as it has been 5 years since our last visit to Japan, Yasu was craving it badly. It didn’t disappoint and was as good as he remembered.
During the week we were visited by and visited some of Yasu’s high school friends and their families. We also had bbq’s out the back in mum’s vege patch and I ate alot of mum’s home made tsukemono, which was yummy.
We also went walking alot, around the neighbourhood and over around the farming areas. We got a lot of exercise, and it was great to stretch our legs and enjoy nature and scenery. I find Hokkaido is alot more soothing for the soul than those built up city areas in Japan.
Although I had packed jumpers because I was expecting Hokkaido to be somewhat cool, I didn’t need them, it was hot and humid. I managed to get myself sunburnt one day at a bbq, but was able to sooth it by jumping in a special Tokachi event – herbal onsen at the local onsen, and boy did it go down a treat.
I enjoyed the 30 minutes or so walk up to the local supermarket every day to stock up on groceries and browse the aisles of delicious delights. Yasu found heaven in the seafood aisle, his beloved sanma and fish for his mum to make shiokara, which he had for breakfast every morning.
Yasu's breakfast made by mum
Shiokara made by mum
I also discovered that in east Tokachi, Nittoh is the cheap brand of teabags, the one everyone buys, but only the well off can afford the Lipton Yellow Label tea bags that come in at 238 yen for a pack of 25. I happily left mum with a box of yellow label tea just before we left as a special thank you to her for everything. She was really happy to get the tea bags, which shows that if you love someone and they love you, a small gesture or thought is what counts the most.
Mum, dad and sis also took us out to eat at a gourmet restaurant in Tokachi called Pinocchio. We all ordered something different and shared, it was divine.
Spinach Omrice at Pinocchio
Lasagne Pizza at Pinocchio
Japanese Hamburg at Pinocchio
Beef Stew at Pinocchio
Yasu and I also discovered a divine ice by Morinaga called Ren-nyu Milk Bar (condensed milk), which was icecream but with pockets of creamy Hokkaido condensed milk inside. Heaven. Luckily we were able to indulge on a regular basis over the week. Dad’s favourite is the ShiroKuma cup ice, with the fruit inside, which I like as well.
Hokkaido Rennyu Milk Bar
I found a plethora of unusual vending machines in Tokachi, which I will post about later.
We also had a late meet-up with Yasu’s friend who got married and was given a bottle of Tokachi wine from the area which dad and I hated but Yasu and mum loved.
Tokachi Sparkling Wine
Dad and I were pretty inseparable during the week and he kept saying I was Ichiban, which was cute. At one point he asked Yasu for an australian $50 note because he thought the fact it is plastic is unusual, but Yasu didn’t want to let go of $50 because money was pretty tight. So instead I gave him an aussie $5 note which he proudly displayed in the tv cabinet, and everyone who came over, he pointed it out to!
I really loved mum’s home cooking, inarizushi, tsukemono, winners, genghis khan, potato salad, pasta, vegetables with mayo sauce from her garden, the list goes on!! She really wanted to cook for us, and tried to feed us up as much as possible, which I appreciated, as I had been looking forward to some real food.
Mum's Inarizushi
Genghis Khan
Mum's home cooking
Mum's home cooking
Every day was full of fun and laughs, we were always laughing about something!! It was such a great family atmosphere. Sis came over alot too, with her boyfriend who we also get on with really well. It was a really close family of 6.
When the time came to leave, it was with sadness in our hearts, that this joyful week should come to an end. At the train station dad hugged me and suddenly burst into tears, then Yasu started crying and dad hugged us both tight. We didn’t want to let go. Finally dad got in his car and drove away but we heard later that he was so sad that he got lost on the way to work (despite having worked there for the last 10 years and taking the same route every day).
Mum and sis also gave us big hugs, even Yasu, and both burst into tears when the train came. Yasu was crying pretty hard, and we waved through the train window as we slowly took off. Another of Yasu’s friends and his mum stood out the front of their denki shop and waved goodbye to us as the train went past their shop, which I thought was very touching!
Yasu cried for another half an hour, and said he must be getting old as it was so easy for him to cry about leaving his family. I think that it was harder this time as our family is much more consolidated. As I had studied by myself this past 5 years combined with watching NHK every day, my Japanese had improved so much that when I got to Hokkaido I was pretty much fluent without knowing it. The week I spent in Hokkaido I was able to communicate with everyone fully, and read newspapers and magazine articles by myself to everyone’s amazement.
I think this involved me more as a family member. No one had to translate for me, so I could be more on the inner than the outer. I think this is the difference between now and 5 years ago. Another thing came out of it that my dad has a phone phobia, but now because of my fluency he asked if he could call me from Japan and chat with me on the phone!!
Yasu and I basically decided that 5 yearly visits are too far and few between and we will try to go to Hokkaido every 2nd year to visit. Otherwise it’s too hard emotionally, especially as mum and dad are getting older.
I will post in more detail about some of the things mentioned in this post, it’s a bit hard to condense a week of activity into one post.
I was surfing the Travel Advice website, looking on the Japan page and found some scary rules.
In some parts of Tokyo and other Japanese cities, smoking on the streets is prohibited. Those caught are liable for an on-the-spot fine. And yet I’ve seen salarymen hobbling around with a can of beer in hand, or down on their knees throwing up and that is apparently fine?? What is it about smoking that is so offensive? Damage to the environment perhaps?
The use of UHF-CB radios (“walkie talkies”) which do not meet Japanese specifications (ie. purchased outside of Japan) is prohibited. There are heavy fines and a possible jail sentence for those in breach of this law. Oh, lucky I discovered that, coz you know, I was planning on taking my walkie talkie to Japan with me. But like what the hell, why does it have to be made in Japan only?? That is the stupidest rule I’ve ever heard. And you could get a jail sentence. I would expect that if I killed someone by smashing it over their head or something but just for talking? Oookay.
Local police are authorised to request identification at any time. Travellers visiting for less than 90 days are required to carry their passport at all times. Foreigners with resident status must carry their alien registration identity card at all times.
Japanese police are authorised to undertake random searches on the street at any time. If you are found carrying a knife (including a Swiss army knife) with a blade longer than 5.5 cm then you may be detained, fingerprinted, photographed and/or arrested.
Errm, how many ways to say FOREIGNERS NOT WELCOME?? Mentioned not once, but TWICE on the same page. And for some reason we would be carrying a swiss army knife? Just wondering if the knife was UNDER 5.5, say about 5cm, would they still let you go? Or do you think they just might take you in for fingerprinting anyway, because you just never know about those suspicious gaijin do ya?
I’m not looking forward to carrying my passport on me at all times. I didn’t do it last time (5 years ago). Luckily I was never asked because I was always in the company of a native. Wonder if that makes a difference?
Some prescription and over-the-counter medications cannot be imported into Japan. Japanese Customs may detain travellers possessing prohibited items which include products containing pseudoephedrine, found in cold and flu tablets, and codeine. You can obtain further information from the Japanese Embassy in Australia. Geez, watch this space! I have 2 kinds of prescription medicine I have to take with me, 2 months supply and I just hope like hell they let me through. I have a note from my doctor but hey, last time they questioned me about it, I’m sure it will be worse this time and I will not have a husband to back me up!
I looked on most of the pages of the other countries’ travel advice and they didn’t have half as much as the page for Japan, even when some of them are labelled as ‘High Risk’ countries. Weird.
I just can’t get over the thing about carrying your passport with you at all times and the whole thing where they can stop you whenever they like just because you look different. Talk about racist. I don’t believe any of that safety crap, if so, why don’t they stop random Japanese people? Afterall it was AUM who gassed the subway, not some silly gaijin.
Hey everyone, I won’t keep you in suspense, my trip to Japan has been brought forward, I’m now leaving here on August 18th and will stay in Japan until October 3rd.
I am staying with April at her house, for some girly time. I am really looking forward to it!! It’s been 5 years since I last went to Japan, so I’m sure things have really changed since then.
Yasu only just unveiled his own surprise on me, that he will be joining me from 2nd September to 11th September! He can only have 9 days off work due to peak time at his company, but he is going to Nagoya, picking me up and we will take the shinkansen to Hokkaido to stay with his parents. I’m so excited about that! The only bummer is that there used to be shinkansen that travelled during the night, but now there isn’t anymore, probably not much demand, so we will arrive in Sapporo about 11pm and bunk down somewhere cheap for the night, then leave early the next morning for Tokachi.
Apart from that exciting news, I bought some more pan yesterday.
Yummy Pan
Top left – cream cheese pan, top right – matcha pan, bottom left – peanut pan, bottom right – pudding pan.
Yasu chose the peanut pan and took the matcha pan to work to eat with his lunch, and I had the cream cheese pan, my favourite, and I was left with pudding pan. I’m the kind of person who hates slimy things and pudding pan was definitely not my cup of tea, because it WAS a pudding, a wobbly, slimy pudding, in the middle of that pan!! I liked the flavour but not the texture. It was kind of a vanilla flavour but swallowing it was hard, my throat was really rebelling. I definitely won’t be buying that one again…haha
For the last 2-3 years as Yasu and I have focused on trying to start a family, I have put my life on hold and basically became a housewife that stayed around home, doing the occasional job here and there, and just being a nice wife.
After losing the baby I have been doing alot of soul-searching and have had lots of talks with another two women who I met online but have not yet met in person, N and A.
Last night I had a marathon talk on skype for over two hours with A and she invited me to Japan to stay with her, and I readily accepted as I’ve wanted to go back to Japan for a holiday for a while, and now more than ever.
We fleshed out a few of the details like the time of the year, when, how long etc and then I had to go cook dinner. Yasu came home just after I got off the call, and I was still making dinner (Hokkaido Cream Stew) but luckily he didn’t mind as he was abit busy with work stuff.
While eating dinner I ran it past him, what A and I had talked about and he agreed it was a good idea and said I could stay as long as I liked, more than a month even, if I wanted to. Then we both talked about how we shouldn’t put our life on hold, waiting for something that might or might not happen. I really feel relieved in that I can get on with my life, do stuff, go places, I want to go to, and he is not going to hold me back. Before I met him he had travelled around the world, and he knows that I haven’t really, besides Singapore and Japan, so I’m really grateful that he wants me to go out into the world and explore and is willing to be without me for a while. I also feel he thinks I need to “get away”for a while after the miscarriage.
So we talked and basically he won’t pay for me to go to Japan as he is saving for our central heating/cooling which is around $9000 to install. That’s fine with me, I don’t expect him to just hand me the money. So we talked about me getting a job just for earning the money for going to Japan. It’s a really great idea and A and I basically decided on November so it means I have a few months to work my ass off and earn some $$ to go to Japan with and to pay my airfare.
It’s great in that Yasu doesn’t mind at all about any of this, the only stipulation he has is that I go visit his parents first in Hokkaido, before I go to A’s, because they are dying to see me. He reckon’s that in November in Hokkaido it might be beginning to snow, Desley if you’re out there, can you confirm that? But A says where she lives it will still be hot. haha. Oh well, I’ve never seen snow so it will be cool either way!!
So basically that is my plan. I have applied for 4 jobs today, just hospitality, nothing mentally challenging, but I enjoy that work, so I don’t feel like it’s bad. Hoping to hear back from one of the jobs in particular as I used to work in another branch of that company previously, so I have the experience already.
Anyways, that is my plan for the rest of this year, and I have to say I can’t wait!! I’m so excited. I haven’t been this excited about my life since I started to get ready to start a family, does that say anything? I should have been doing this all along. Anyways, I’m so glad I have a husband like Yasu who lets me basically do what I want to do, because he loves me enough to trust that I will always be there for him. It’s not like I’m going to leave him in the lurch, I will prepare some meals in advance before I go, just to help him along. And he knows he will get lots of goodies brought home for him too haha
He’s always been a very self-sufficient guy so I don’t worry about him. He’s used to working away so a month to him without me should be ok
So anyways Japan here I come!!! I’d like to meet anyone in blogland who wants to meet me. Since I will be travelling from Tokyo to Aichi, and from Tokyo to Hokkaido, anyone near or in between feel free to contact me and I’d love to meet up.
This morning I got up early and turned on the Japanese news on Nhk, only to discover a big hoo-haa about a crane that had crashed in Chiyoda-ku, spilling onto 3 lanes of traffic and injuring 6 people.
There was 20 minutes or so coverage of the incident, then another 5 minutes while the presenter got a small pre-made model of the crane and showed how the crane, trying to lift a 6 ton cylinder used to pour concrete for a building foundation, fell over.
What I don’t understand is why Japanese people can’t just get the facts and move on? Why do they have to be shown step by step on a model exactly what happened.
In Australia, we hear that a crane fell over, and we’re already over it. No more details needed. Not so interesting.
The next news item was that a store in Ishikawa is selling bento boxes cheaply at 250 yen. We know what Japanese and their stomachs are like, so the next 10 minutes was spent on footage at the grocery store watching customers buy the cheap bento and their reactions to it.
I can’t say that this kind of news is a rare occurence. Japan seems to broadcast really lame news, or make mountains out of molehills like the news with the crane. God forbid real news happened!
Do you watch Japanese news ever? And if so, what do you think of it? Do you think it’s lame or do you think it’s more interesting and more viewer oriented than other countries’ news?
