#22 Free Health Care for Deacon...

It's hard to figure out what to tell you I will miss because the activities I have on my list aren't particularly exciting. But, they are things I will miss none the less. So, to kick off my list of things I will miss I have chosen this one (btw, these are in no particular order)....

Free Health Care for Deacon

All I have to do is to take this little orange piece (i would take a pic but it's got some personal info on it that I would rather not show) of paper with us to the doctor. I have no idea what it says but all I know is that I need to take it. One particular procedure that had to be done on Deacon's eye would have cost about $300 US dollars was free!

This is a great thing about national health care here in Japan. We had to make numerous trips to the hospital and even one to the ER when Deacon got the R.S. Virus and we left without having to pay a dime (or a yen). Immunizations, Check-ups, etc...all free. AND, to top it off, for the first year of Deacon's life the government gives us about $100 US dollars a month to cover any other expenses. Amazing.

I think the price of medical expenses will be one thing for me that I might experience as reverse culture shock when we return to the US. Not looking forward to that. So that makes this one thing I will absolutely miss.

22 things in 22 weeks...

I did a count the other day and we have 22 weeks remaining of our time here in Japan. That seems like such a long and short time all at once. Thinking about leaving has got me pretty emotional and trying to take in all that we have done here and all that we love about this country. So, I have started to make a list of things and people we will miss here in Japan. HOPEFULLY, I will give you 22 things we will miss...one for each week. But, if I am on the ball, I will possibly throw in a few extra here and there. My goal, however, is 22. It's not that it's hard to come up with 22 things it's just that it's hard to document all the things and people I want to tell you about in this place.

Topics will cover our favorite foods and drinks, our favorite activities and places, and, most importantly, our favorite people. I will try to post one tomorrow. I am looking forward to sharing this all with you!!

To Get Dinner...

Sometimes we like to go out to eat...who doesn't, right? I recently wrote a post about going to the grocery store that was done via pictures. So, this time I thought I would step it up a notch and give you some live action shots of us out and about again in our neighborhood. This time we bike our way from our apartment to Jiyugaoka (about 5 min bike ride) to go get some yummy dinner. I took this video while I was riding my bike...no, it's not the safest way and yes, i did almost wreck and/or run over people a few times, one of which I catch on video. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did the challenge of biking at night while videoing and simultaneously weaving around people and cars.


I have been trying to publish this video for the past several days and have been unsuccessful. But, after clicking on a few things and hitting the "ok" button when prompted whether I knew I needed to or not, I got this puppy saved, edited, and uploaded to "YouTube". I also came to the realization that I WILL be one of those people when I am older who can't figure out how to operate all the new gadgets and will need to rely on the experience of my grandchildren. Sigh, my life is flashing before my eyes.... Anway, back to the topic, here's the video......

We went to our favourite (for some reason I felt like typing British English there) obento shop, "deli breeze" and rented a movie from "Tsutaya".

Some Deacon Videos...

Here is Deacon meeting his cousin Marcus for the first time. Marcus is 4 months older than Deacon. Deacon was excited...Marcus, not so sure.

We ride on trains A LOT here. Deacon sits in front of us in his stroller. Just decided to capture the moment.


Deacon and Daddy playing around...

Grocery Shopping

When you travel to another country as a tourist there are things that you get to experience that are geared toward just that...tourists. However, when you travel to another country and get to be in someone's home who lives in that country, you can experience a part of the culture that tourists don't see fully...the daily aspects of life. So, instead of giving you landscape or traditional Japanese pictures and experiences I am here today to give you the mundane. And what could be more mundane than going to the grocery store?

This is the street that we walk down to get to our local grocery store. Armed with our shopping bags we make the 7-ish minute walk to Coop down this narrow strip of pavement and pass many shops and people along the way. A french restaurant, a dental clinic, a sewing shop, a liquor store, an electronics store, a sushi restaurant, a pharmacy, a few houses and apartment complexes, a tofu store, an ice shop....basically, a wide variety of establishments all along this street!


Inside the store....

I am as tall as all the shelves. In front of me is a wide selection of green tea!


Many varieties of rice from which to choose. I have no idea what makes one different from another or why different ones are so expensive. We just grab which ever bag it seems most people have taken. :) That method has served us well.


The checkout....
Do you see how small the shopping baskets are compared to those in the States? This is as big as they come in Japanese stores.


After our stop at the grocery store we make our way to the vegetable and fruit vendor. We can buy fruits and veggies from Coop but the produce isn't as tasty and the prices aren't as cheap.


A loaded down stroller with all our goodies!


Then back home to unload it all and we will make the trip again next week or sometimes later in the week.

A Christmas recap....

Deacon and I spent from December 1st-January 10th in the good ole' U.S. of A. It was nice to be home. Jason came later because he had to stay in Japan for work. He arrived on the 19th of December. After two and a half weeks apart it was beyond wonderful to see him again!

Here's our time at home in pictures!

We spent a couple of weeks in my stomping grounds...Boyd, Tejas.
Deacon got to hang out a lot on this trip with his great-grandparents! Dee Dee and Papa Bill!


With Aunt Mary and his Santa suit his great-aunt Christy gave him.



Time back to the US wouldn't be complete without a visit to Lubbock to see the Lathams! We LOVE THEM A LOT! Too bad Papa Scott is missing from this picture.


We then went up to Nebraska to see all of Jason's family. In spite the three of us being sick for a majority of the week it was still a good trip. I wish we'd had more time there.

Deacon got to meet his cousin Marc for the 1st time at Christmas...well, all his cousins actually. Marc is 4 months older than Deacon.


All bundled up to brave the Nebraska cold!!


Kuiper Christmas Eve celebration. We read some scripture, sang some songs, and even had a snippet from Shakespeare preformed by my 8 year old nephew Braden.



Here is Braden preforming a monologue from Julius Caesar. My niece, Samantha is a dead Julius Caesar. Braden is Marc Antony


The Babies...Marcus and Deacon


All the grandkids.


Leaving Nebraska and saying good-bye to grandma and grandpa Kuiper very early in the morning.


After Nebraska we headed down to Florida for some not-so-warm weather. That was a bit of a bummer. However, it didn't stop us from having a good time at Disney World. We did 5 theme parks in 5 days!! Phew...we were worn out!

Family pic in the Magic Kingdom


The Kuip-RRRRs after Pirates of the Caribbean


Everyone needs a pair of mouse ears!


All tuckered out. Love his little feet sticking out from underneath the blankets.


Florida was great. Then, we went back to Texas to relax a bit before heading off to Japan again.

We got to spend some time with the Reeves and Deacon got to meet his new friend, Lily!!


We loved our time in the states and we are ready to move back. We will be making our final trip across the pacific in july. It will be here before we know it.

Getting "excited" for the long plane ride.


We were very blessed to get the bulk head seat where we could use the bassinet for Deacon. I think he liked being up high.


What a wonderful trip! The time went fast but we will be back in the US before we know it.

Funny Engrish

I can never quite figure out Japan and their English...or Engrish. You see, the Japanese often get their "R"s and "L"s confused. For example, when playing "Scattagories" with some of my English students and they were having to come up with nouns that began with the letter "L" they came up with "Lalph Lauren" instead of Ralph Lauren for a brand name. Or, a sign that is near our neighborhood has a picture of a lit match with a circle and crossed out that reads, "No Open Frame". It happens quite often.

Well, not only do they get their "L"s and "R"s mixed up but they also have the most interesting/confusing English translation on their signs and products. When my mom was visiting Japan I would often see her staring intently on a sign or reading a t-shirt trying to figure out what the shirt was saying. "Mom," I said, "Don't even try to figure it out. It doesn't make sense."

Lately, we have spotted many signs and advertisements reminding people of etiquette (train etiquette, social etiquette). Which have proven to be some of the most consistently entertaining signs. Below are some of these pics. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.