The last 2 days have been busy, yet blessed! On Thursday, I met Marie Inoue and Ikeda-san, a woman who lives in Marie's apartment who speaks very good English, and we went to a specialty grocery shop and out to lunch! You may think I am a little strange when I say that I was overjoyed to find pecans, but I haven't been able to find them anywhere! Other good "finds" included a large box of baking soda--their packages at the grocery store are about 2 Tablespoons! Worchestershire sauce, muffin cups, and a pizza pan where several of my other "finds"! I mentioned my "hankering" for pizza to the ladies as I put the pizza pan in my basket and they smiled to eachother and said they had seen a Shaky's pizza on their way to meet me at the train station! We went there for lunch! It tasted so good! I've never seen sweet bean and mochi dessert pizza, though! (There are Japanese Pizza Huts here, but they are pretty expensive and also have some different toppings--most have mayo on them!) Anyway, we enjoyed our day and then Akihiro met us at the Inoues for a delicious nabe dinner--a nabe is a pot placed on the middle of the table and fish and veggies are placed into it! Everyone digs some out with their chopsticks! Akihiro wondered why we don't do something like a nabe in the States. Akito said it could have something to do with everyone putting their eating utensils in the same pot--perhaps Americans would think that is gross? I don't know! Anyway, I'm glad to be able to enjoy it here in Japan!
Today Akihiro took off to help me go to the Driver's License office to continue the process to get my license "translated" to Japan. Many things here in Japan are easier for Americans than they were many years ago, but this is one area where the Japanese government has gotten stricter. No longer can an American just pay to get a Japanese driver's license--now a driving test must be completed! The first thing the guy said to Akihiro is that the test giver does not speak English and Akihiro can't go with me! Hmmm! Looks like I will be studying my directional terms! It wouldn't be good to go left when the instruction was to go right! Anyway, I did take the 10 question English written test and was thankful to pass it--God helped me! Akihiro said he can take me to go take the driving test on January 24th. I am really hoping to pass it the first time, so I won't have to keep going back to retake it--many foreigners have had to take it up to 10 times! They are really picky I guess! Anyway, please pray for me that I can pass the first time!
Oh, one more thing! Today we bought our first car since we got married--a Suzuki Alto! It is 6 years old and looks like a Geo Metro--remember those?! Anyway, Akihiro is very excited about his "itty-bitty" car as he can save money on the taxi from the train station to his workplace. The car will be left out in the Yamanashi (Shioda) area in a parking spot we rented near the station. This little car will be very handy for our "second home"! I hope to get a picture of it to post at a later date!