Car and Such

So two months after being in Japan we finally have phone, internet and a “new” car! (click here) It feels great to know we can travel around d Japan, but I also still feel restricted thanks to the $6.80 per gallon gas. I would write home how we shouldn’t be complaining about $4.00 gallon gas but it’s still cheaper than other developed countries depending on foreign oil. Anyway, life is good here. Japan has educated us on the word/concept of humidity. If I were to rank the most humid places I have been it would be in this order.

1. Japan

2. Camp Lujo

3. Shreveport

4. Orlando

5. Ada

The humidity just soaks you in the morning. We have an air conditioner unit but usually turn it off at night…we usually don’t turn it on and just take off clothes. But after waking up at 7am covered in sweat we think it might be nice to have on or at least on a timer. The nights are nice. Since Mito is close to the ocean it often drops 15 degrees after sunset and a cool breeze completes the experience. Our problems are our second floor apartment and the 4:20am sunrise each morning. The sun comes up and heats the air…you know that humid haze Oklahoma gets? Non-stop in Japan…humidity is 80% or above all the time in Japan. It makes drying clothes difficult. But for the most part, Japan is good. June is the rainy month so biking isn’t the best unless you have huge rain boots and hardcore rain suit…probably the best purchase I have made. I would be driving to school but as our friend said, “You need a signed document to go to the bathroom in Japan.” Japanese love paperwork…when I bought my car I actually had to get a signature for my signature…not kidding. To get my parking space at the apartment took eight pages of paperwork all in Kanji, Chinese symbols that can only be memorized. I am very glad we had a friend to help us. I mentioned paperwork because we have to have permission to drive our car to school. Even when we get permission, only I will be driving to school. The moment you leave your residence in the morning you’re on the school’s insurance. Your route is mapped out and if you deviate from the path and have a wreck it’s a big problem and more paperwork…so we do what they tell us. Devan bikes her one kilometer while I drive my kilometers through back alleys. My route is a bit more difficult…Devan just goes in a straight line with no elevation. I’m not whining…I like the extra ride. I’ve found three restaurants we go to often because of the ride. We are happy to have the car and very thankful we got it so cheap.

Well that’s about it for recent updates. Enjoy the link, thanks for reading.