three months!

As of today, January 26, we have been in Japan for three months.  Wow.  I have learned so much about this country and its culture.  Jeff and I were just talking about how it feels like we've been here for so much longer than that.  We've done so much already - but there is still so much to experience we're lucky to have at least six more months to do it all (Mom there is still about two million things to do in Tokyo)!

Thankfully we have not had to give up all of the comforts of home (though we're really missing good mexican food!)

 Aaaahhhhh caramel soy latte.   And real napkins.  That is something Japan does not do well.  Napkins are usually hard to come by, and when you can find them, they look and feel like tissue paper.  Like the kind you wrap presents with.  Or wax paper, but without the waxy side.  It is a good thing that, like America, there is a Starbucks on almost every corner in Japan.

Usually we are support-the-local-business-owner type people.  But sometimes you just need to wipe your mouth with a real napkin.

Mata ne,
Melissa

P.S.  Jeff is a coffee elitist, as I've mentioned before, and generally prefers the most expensive home brewing process available: imported Illy espresso from Italy.  I swear, our morning Americanos cost more in the end than running out to the local coffee shop!  But I love him and I let him indulge in this small vice (He stands by his assertion that making espresso at home is the cheapest option). As we all know, I have an expensive all-natural, no-sugar-added, crunchy peanut butter addiction that I am struggling to support by teaching English lessons. 

Flattely will get you nowhere

Today, for the first time in quite a while, I was a productive member of society.

I took part in a survey about my smartphone usage.  And I am eagerly awaiting financial compensation for my time!  Who knew my blackberry thumbs would come in handy some day?

That might not have even been the most imporant thing accomplished today.  This morning I took Jeff to get his haircut.  In the train station. First the guy cut/used the clippers on Jeff's hair.

Then he vacuumed Jeff's head.  Like with a vacuum.

Jeff said it actually felt really nice.

Since we'd traveled all the way to Yokohama for the survey, we decided to walk around a bit there and  went to the requisite mall-attached-to-the-station.  While buying Jeff the espresso maker he's decided he can't spend the next nine months without (he's such a coffee snob), I spied this little gem:

Now I know flattery will get you nowhere, but I am not sure the same can be said for flattely.

This is just the tip of the bad English iceberg.

Mata ne,
Melissa