Earthquake!

     Last night at around 4 in the morning, Ryoko and I felt an earthquake that was large enough to feel, but small enough to be no big deal.  Saku-san, my mother in law, did not even register the event and it was too small to wake up Yuta.  The fact that Yuta did not wake is not really surprising as he is entering the age where sleep seems to take a deeper hold, and it takes a small army to wake him up.  As I was rolling Yuta around his bedroom to start his waking ritual this morning, I accidentally bounced him off of the wall.  When the dust settled I noticed that he had cracked his left eye open and I jumped on the opportunity to ask about the earthquake (I did not want to wait until after dunking his head in the cold water bucket).  He mumbled something about inducing a 'quake in my head', and that seemed to be the only one of interest to him at that point. Ryoko and I are light enough sleepers that the P-wave will often push us into consciousness and the rest of the quake can be experienced.  These little earthquakes are exciting to me as an Earth Science teacher, I find the experience exhilarating. . .

First Week

     Our first week in Japan has been mis-slept away!  The first week is always the worst as Jet-lag hits quite hard.  The worst time of day is around 5:00 PM when my body just gives out and I cannot, for the life of me, keep my eyes open.  I have days were I swear somebody must have carried me to bed as I have no recollection of how I got there.  The worst time of night is around 3:00 AM when my body wakes up and refuses to go back to sleep.  I have memorized the wood grain pattern of the ceiling of the bedroom. The effect is wearing off rapidly now and I believe we will be sleeping like normal very soon.
     The weather here has been hotter than I have ever felt before.  We had a record setting 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) on our second day in Japan.  With the humidity caused by the surrounding ocean, my pores are certainly getting a work out.  I owe a deep and sincere gratitude to the inventor of the Air Conditioner!
     I have driven for the first time in Japan.  Ryoko and I took a trip to the local store at 6:00 AM (Jet lag induced earliness) and I nervously took the wheel.  All went well and I anticipate that I will be a regular driver soon.
     There is a battle in my digestive system between my American bacteria and the invading Japanese bacteria.  It is a minor reenactment of WW2 with all the expected bathroom casualties.  The Americans are holding out as I keep sending them vast quantities of coffee to bolster their spirits, but the invaders are too numerous.  Wave after wave of Japanese marines wash up on my duodenum and have whittled away the entrenched Americans.  Even with their resolute attitude and vast courage, my home grown boys are bound to "loose" this battle.  Thankfully the toilet here has a bidet already built in, so it is easy to keep the battle field clean. . .

Farming is a risky business!

We have just learned of a most sad occurrence, the corn has been pilfered!  Apparently there is a critter that resembles a raccoon in Japan called a Palm Civet.  They also appear to enjoy corn much like the Raccoon does here.  Oba-chan was upset to find her crop decimated by this bandit of the night. . .

Where we will be!

Good news! I have made changes to the settings so that all should be able to post comments.  I hope we haven't lost readers because of the start up troubles we have experienced.

Ryoko-san has asked that I post a map showing the exact position of the farm in Japan.  I know it is small, but look for the star on the image. . .

First Posting

This is the first entry in a blog designed to show our life in Japan.  It is my hope that it will help us maintain contact with friends from the US.  I plan on uploading photos and stories on a weekly basis.  I can also answer any questions or concerns followers may have regarding our life in Japan. . .

This is the house where we will be living while in Japan.  You can see the fields that I have plowed many times (in the South) as well as the community gardens that Oba-chan (Grandma) leases out and helps people learn how to farm, to the East.