We were awakened again at 3am by Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde...my names for the crows hovering over the net covered garbage bags in the neighborhood. I am hoping it is my jet lag and not the crows that are waking me still at 3am, but I am pretty sure it is the crows. Tried to go back to sleep for few more hours before the delivery guys came with the 17 boxes we shipped. We got all our stuff by 9am and I had it unloaded and most of it put away by noon, while John the realtor and CJ tried to get our computers running. We then had a lunch in our tatami room where Kalen and Graham's photos and chinese scrolls now reside and look over us in our Totonomo room and family area.
Now let me tell you the garbage service and procedures here are a science experiment all in itself. We have so much sorting to do...and each day has certain items that can only be put out in transparent bags. Food waste and paper on Mondays, Tuesday is for plastics Wednesday for wrapping supplies...so on and so on..I get nervous just thinking about it and if I am gonna flunk the science/environment test of the day. John told us the current mayor worked in a recycle shop when younger and so he is a bit anal about it all. It is rather funny but intriguing as well. It certainly has helped the city and the cleanliness of it. I told CJ I feel like I live in Disneyland, with the narrow, curving, quaint and spotless streets, all the parks with groomed plants and shrubs, everyone walking about in different color uniforms. It is very colorful and parts are very modern and upscale, yet a couple streets over and it has tons of electrical wires hanging above the streets just like Honduras. The best of both worlds...I like it here.
Once our boxes were unloaded and computers running we ate a quick lunch and then headed off for IKEA to see what furniture choices they had. CJ found his little neighborhood dry cleaners on the way to the train station and he signed up to be a member and made friends with the cute little lady there. Once again if they don't write their names down..I can't seem to grasp what it is.
It was Saturday so the train station was busy with people going in all directions and dressed in all sorts of different style outfits. We saw alot more fashion on the weekend then you see during the week when all seem to be in black pants or skirts and white or light colored working clothes, if not a uniform of some sort
At IKEA we found lots of stuff. Had a bit of trouble getting the couch we wanted as the only one left was the floor model and swedish Jonathan who could speak english thankfully, was writing up the order but the other sales clerk sold it to another couple just before us. Darn. :-( Jonathan went on to tell us how many of the Japanese don't measure before they shop and and when they come to deliver it, the things don't fit through their doors and so many get returned. We asked him to put us on a return list in case that happened and we got the two dark brown leather/wood chairs, which will probably be better space wise for us while we are here anyways. We were looking for furniture to take home as well when we are done here as our stuff is from 30 years ago when we got married. Time to update, that is for sure. The couch was on sale for 1/2 the price,good construction and they were going fast--9sold just that day. We actually found it very comfortable, when many of the things we sat on "were just too small" for our BIG bodies. We then tried to get a dining table and chairs but of course the color table we wanted didn't have the chairs we liked in the same wood color. Strike two. We went on to find a cool paper floor lamp,two wood folding chairs for the back garden or screen porch when rainy, a red desk chair for my soon to be colorful honduran office and a nice woven carpet for either the dining room or living room. We got a few other household items and then enjoyed a lunch in honor of Grambo...swedish meatballs and Diam chocolate cake and 2 other swedish treats. It was scrumptious.
Then we were off topick our stuff from the shelves and pay for it, wrap it up and get it ready for delivery. I have never done this in the USA, but it was quite the event. When we had all the similar boxes doubled up and wrapped to count as 1 item instead of two and to save ourself another $10 per item Jonathan came by and said hey do you still want the couch. Someone who just ordered it went home, measured and called back and said it would not fit. So a new one, not the floor model had never left the store. He went back to get it and CJ added another $10 dollars on for shipping. YES !!
We were tired and happy to get going back to the train loaded down with 3 BIG BLUE IKEA bags. It was an adventure that is for sure. When wrapping our goods up I teased military man Sal from Puerto Rico, not to wrap that too well or his wife might give him the job at Christmas of wrapping all the gifts. He and his wife and two kids just moved here a week ago and so far they like it too. They had never been to an IKEA and so they were quite impressed by it all.
Back at Yokohama station we stopped at our new favorite Mochi Cream stand and got a mango one and a blueberry one to eat once we got home. Here in Japan it is not cool and frowned upon,to eat while you are walking along the street. You must stop and sit down. Once home we dropped the bags ate our treats and then went out in search of supper. I still like my cranberry one the best. We didn't have much luck as the first 3 places we stopped at were all closed and it was not even 10 pm on a saturday night.Ugh I hoped we found somehting as I was too tired to go home and cook.
We finally ended up in Laser Rush a local little Irish like pub where we were warmly greeted by Scottish hostess Pauline and after our delicious dinner of pizza and ceaser salad we chatted a bit with her and her Japanese hubby Leo. I asked him where the best place was for me to learn Japanese and he said here over a beer. Now there's a good business man, don't cha think? He said many people come there too, to learn english as both he and his wife are fluent. It was a cute little place with a dart board as well, so who knows it may become one of fav local huants and a place to sip a brew and chat once in awhile. We know it is a place Graham and Michael would like when they come to visit. Kalen our dessert and carb girl will love the bakery, mochi creams and a cheesecake dessert place near the cemetery. We have yet to sample the goods there. Ok is it me , or does it seem like all I am talking about is walking or eating. :-)
We came home and were greeted by a big paper cutting bug on the front door skylite.
Once again bed was sounding good after another long day on our feet.
Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite. I am glad that BIG one is outside of the house tonight.
Karla and CJ
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