Today I tried to throw my shirt in the dryer to loosen up some wrinkles. My shirt got locked in the machine and I couldn’t get it back. You win, Japanese washing machine, you win.
Fan Gifts: Part 1, Christmas Edition
Nathan’s fans here in Japan are awesome! They have shown so much enthusiasm and generosity. After every game Nathan receives treats and gifts from the Osaka Evessa fans. We have so much fun opening the letters and packages, and trying out all of the foreign goodies. He was given many Christmas themed gifts which we used around the apartment to make it feel a little more Christmas-ey and a little more like home. Here are a few of the sweetest gifts from his last home game.
These glasses are Nathan’s favorite. Its a camera!
I even got the sweetest welcome gift from some of our new friends and close by neighbors. So sweet!
Observations and Thoughts from Week 1
I officially survived my first week! There has actually been times I barely notice that I am 18 hours away from home. Occasionally it just seems like Nathan and I moved to a big city where we have yet to meet a lot of people. Of course those times are far less frequent then the times that I snap back to reality and realize I am in a completely different world, and the reason we haven’t met anyone is because no one speaks the same language as us.
Anyways here are some of thoughts and findings I have gathered from the limited exploring we have done in the past 7 days:
- It is freezing here. No amount of clothes or layers I could have fit in my suit case would have prepared me for how cold it is.
- The girls here are immune to the cold. I have very rarely seen any girls here wearing jeans or pants. I have seen TONS of leggings and tights and even some bare legs or tall socks (of course they make it look fab). Meanwhile I am wearing 3 pairs of pants and shivering. I need to figure out how they do that.
- All the girls here have gorgeous hair. Thick. Flowing. Voluminous. Shiny. Its insane! Is it their diet? Will my hair look like that in a few months? (fingers crossed!)
- The food here is going to be a lot harder to adapt to then I expected. After 7 days here I am sick of eating anything that comes from the ocean. And that smell….
- Eating healthy and finding fresh natural foods is going to be a challenge also. I know that is shocking since a lot of Japanese food is fresh or raw, but when you cant read any menus or labels, and everything you eat is based of pictures, its a lot less risky to go for something fried then something with eyeballs.
- There are going to be a lot of challenges I did not anticipate. Some things that never crossed my mind, but we have already encountered include: buying the right size sheets, finding simple spices like salt and pepper, adjusting the temperature in our apartment, operating a washing machine, and ordering pizza. Nightmare.
- I suck at chopsticks.
- Thank GOD for technology. I do not know how anyone moved overseas ever without the internet.
- Nathan is amazing. And a genius. And I do not give him enough credit. I have been pretty scared to go anywhere by myself since I arrived and somehow he has discovered restaurants and what/how to order, found a grocery store, a home goods store, figured out their currency, and miraculously conquered a subway system that is completely in Japanese. I am literally in awe.
- I need to learn a little more Japanese. Of course I kind of knew that before I got here, but this time I really mean it!
Christmas Day in Japan
This Christmas was definitely not typical. We spent the holiday in a country where most people do not celebrate Christmas. It was freezing. We actually saw a little bit of snow. And for the first time in 24 years Nathan and I were not with our families.
The Japanese participate in some of the traditions we associate with Christmas. They put up Christmas lights, and the city is decorated with Santa and snowmen. We have even heard Christmas music at some places. But Christmas Eve and Christmas day are not holidays for them. Everyone goes to work and carries on with their normal life.
Which is why Nathan and I spent Christmas at a PR event for Osaka Evessa. (pictures to come soon!) We had a lot of fun! But the event lasted all day long and did not leave us much energy for celebrating by the time we got home Christmas evening. Which also explains our Christmas dinner.
I’m sure its exactly what all of yall had back home, right?
Actually, after a long week of Japanese food, that pizza tasted pretty wonderful.
We did still have a Christmas tree, actually several, complete with decorations and presents underneath. Santa even made a few deliveries all the way to Japan.
Our “real” Christmas tree that we grew ourselves. Compliments of our sis-in-law Bailey :)
Santa delivered some of our favorites from home.
Although it wasnt our “typical” Christmas, we were so happy to spend it together. We missed our nephews, our big Christmas eve parties, and all of the Holiday food. But at the end of the day we were able to skype home with both of our families and in spite of the time difference, it made Christmas complete.
Plus Nathan got me a GREATEST Christmas present, complete with cute little basket and bell!
Conveyor Belt Sushi
For my first dinner in Osaka Nathan took me to a place downtown where sushi was served on a moving conveyor belt around the restaurant. It was fun and surprisingly very good.
This was the fastest meal I have ever ate. About 8 minutes after we sat down I was stuffed and begging Nathan to stop grabbing plates. If you see something you want you have to grab it, or it wont be around on the next rotation. (Words of wisdom from my fiance - the eating pro.)
For the most part the sushi here was very basic, but I have to believe they had 2 rolls designed especially for me.
The pickle roll. Not as bad as it sounds.
And the hot dog roll. We couldn’t bring ourselves to try this one.
I have arrived!
The group we asked to take this picture was so friendly and excited to meet us. They spoke very little English, but understood “America!” and “Texas!” and high fived us when we told them where we were from. They also suggested our pose for this picture.
I am so happy to be here and have received an overwhelming warm welcome from everyone.
Many more updates to come as we set up our temporary home, explore the city, and make new friends!
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