October 9th, that is in Japan
Hi everyone,
I have only 20 minutes on this computer so I will write a short update.
We have now been at our University for 2 weeks and I now know 90 percent of the names...some of my students have never been to class yet....many are on world excursions etc.
Most of my students are well-travelled....some have been to 10 to 20 countries. Most are Masters students.
About our apartment....we have one large room...13.5 feet by 8 feet. This space includes our sleeping accomodations, the TV , our tiny table to eat at, a double clothes closet and storage for suitcases and all of our school supplies, etc. etc.
Our other space is 9 feet by 8 feet. This includes a bathroom with a toilet, another bathroom with a shower, sink and tub; the laundry room, the kitchen, and the entrance including of course, a shoe cupboard. Our kitchen counter, including a 2 burner cooktop and sink is a total of 33 inches by 21 inches. Our overhead cupboard for our 2-place setting of dishes is 12 inches cubed. This has proven to be sufficient, believe it or not. However, we do have to keep our food in our shoe cupboard....appetizing!!! We keep our shoes by the door...not exactly good Japanese etiquette.
We are constantly amazed at the plants here. The variety is unbelievable! We saw golden rod this week...a common Manitoba plant...but this plant is about 5 feet high in Japan!
The persimmons are ripening and the pears are in season, but the tomato season is past. Jim thinks that the tomatoes here are great. We buy them by the box full when we can find them....somehow I dont think that this will surprise some of you who know how much Jim likes his tomatoes.
I guess my time is up. I will add more this week.
Thank you to all who have written this week. Its great to hear from you. To those in Manitoba....keep those shovels handy!!
Colleen