Trains, planes & Elbi

So, we have had things turned upside down of late and we are now planning to move back to UK.

Luckily, very luckily for us, we have until Spring 2013. We have plenty of time to prepare and make a list of things to do and see in Jappers (there's sooooo much even after all this time!)

It's a good job we have so long too. We have Elbi. He is such a special dog, to us and to the canine world. So special in fact, that we face a big hurdle. Most other dogs can happily sit in a crate and be shifted as cargo to foreign lands, long haul and otherwise. however, Elbi simply can't.

Elbi is a short nosed dog, (Bracycephalic, for those care to remember such a word). He finds it difficult to breath at times. he can't stand the heat, he can't stand being alone for too long (this has nothing to do with his nose, mind!) and he could get stressed easily. Basically, all of these things mean that he cannot be sent as cargo on a plane, most certainly not to UK. There is such a high chance it would result in his DEATH....Yes.

I have already read horror stories within the States where dogs haven't made it and that is a relatively short flight. Short nosed dogs are the ones who die on flights so a lot of the airlines are refusing to take them these days.

So, wehn we learnt that we should move back to UK, we actually had to start thinking about ways to get Elbi back home. We had talked about the train (trans siberian), we now had to see what existed.

In the past two weeks, I have researched so much. We are both determined not to leave him in Japan, eve with a loving family, because, quite simple, Elbi belongs with us. He is so much part of the Hawgood family, that we could not bear to be without him. However, we couldn't risk something horrid happening en route either. (We had just read the most awful story about poor, poor Kranksy - http://kranskybulldog.wordpress.com/ and couldn't let that happen to us wither. The move was already filled with enough sadness as it was.)

So, with many tears in our eyes at the loss of one family member, and at the prospect of life without Elbi, both my husband and I, across the oceans started a google frenzy.

There are airlines able to fly Elbi (Lufthansa and KLM) but it still didn't seem the right choice. Lufthansa even boast a pet lounge in the Frankfurt terminal - sounds like fun, but not if your dog doesn't make it through the 11 hour flight.

I mailed many many animal shipping companies. I got some replies offering me quotes ($5000 - although, money wouldn't be the issue, I would eat rice for a year to get Elbi home) and the 'reassurance that Elbi 'should' be OK.

Grumpy!

SEA - The main option we thought about was by sea. There is ONE cruise ship that allows dogs. Cunard Cruises - They even dock in Japan (passenger only, though). The New York - Southampton route is the one that would offer Elbi as much luxury as us! But, how can we get to NY (without flying!!!) It still remains one option, so we are now looking into getting to America, because doing the whole trip in English would be sooo much easier!

I looked into freight ships. Some journeys from Hong Kong to UK or a DIY route, through China, and then onto the train...

I didn't get many replies from all of the emails I sent out. Needless to say that people must think me very strange indeed when I begin a mail with something like 'Can we bring a French Bulldog on board your cargo ship!'

LAND - I found comments on the tran siberian saying that, depending on the conductor, animals were permitted in the baggage section! JOY! We had a lead.

7. Pets

Dogs are required to be placed in the baggage wagon. The owner must provide a cage and feeding. There are no official rules about smaller pets (cats, birds, small dogs...). You will have to negotiate the issue with the conductor, cabinmates and possible pay a surcharge. We do not recommend to carry any pets with you inside the regular passengers cabin for long distances.

Now, how can we get him TO Russia?!

We need this to at least get him to West Japan!

I found one freight company based in Japan, who very kindly put me in touch with DBS ferries. They travel from West Japan, via Korea, to Vladivostok (very near the train station, I believe). I received a mail back and BINGO! Elbi can travel.

So, the main option we have so far is this.

JAPAN - RUSSIA, by ferry

ACROSS RUSSIA, by train

RUSSIA to GERMANY by train ( I hope, still waiting on a reply!)

GERMANY to HOLLAND by train / by car, whatever it takes

HOLLAND to UK by boat (Stena link are a VERY animal friendly ferry)

This is by no means the end of our worries (nor is this the definite route...still researching!!).

In fact, we have to prepare so many documents (good job we have that year; it will take at least 8 months), but, we can rest at ease knowing that our Elbi can travel with us alllllllll the way back to UK.

This will be an epic journey. I cannot wait to blog it all. Watch this space!!

No more 'I was going to do it, but...'

No more 'I wanted to but...'

It's time to get done any thing, big or small that should be done or wants to be done.

Life is precious; we learn this the hard way.

On a gorgeous sunny day, we are always inspired to seize the moment/day/thought/idea. But, we must do it all the time. The magic is there because we put it there.

Sun shining on the periwinkle and pansies!

I'm sitting here with zero inspiration for my book, as I have not written for two days. I have allowed those days as other things have been going through my mind and now I have to get back to it.

I remember the reason I am writing it and then I am eager once again. If only Elbi would stop whining at me to play with him!

Check that to-do list and then start checking them all off. That's my new motto.

He gets grumpy if I ignore him!

Harvest Moon

This morning, I saw the sun and the moon share the same piece of sky in the east. This baffled me for a while as I thought the sun reflected in order to make the moon visible, so how could we see them both so near to one another?

But, at full moon time, the moon is near the sun - of course it is. That is how we get the rare solar eclipse. (Next full one is in November next year!!!)

Oh, did you know that there actually IS such a thing called the blue moon?! It is rare, but it has nothing to do with the colour. Given that the lunar month is 29.5 days long, there are the few times where there are two full moons in the one calendar month. The second one is called the blue moon. Well, I never!

This morning, the views were just amazing, this evening too...

The sun

The moon over the rice paddies

The moon, loitering in the east.

Sunset in the west

Even Elbi has his full moon moments.

Things that go bump in the night...

There's a typhoon heading this way and I wait until after dusk to walk Elbi...alone.

The wind is picking up slowly but surely and you can see the clouds moving swiftly through the night sky.

The walk begins with a small toad, dead on the road. Poor thing. Was he eaten? Was he hit?

We walk on. The bats are out in full force, as always. They hover overhead threatening to fly into your face, but never doing so (unless you are my husband!). While, my face is safe, I don't feel safe.

To say that the mood is ominous is such an understatement. The wind blows just as I steady my pace, but a cyclist without lights creeps up behind me knocking my sense of balance and judgement.

a glimpse of the moon through the fast moving clouds...

From that moment on, my heart is weak and even a leaf blowing over my toe, (or at least I am hoping it was a leaf), scares me silly.

We have to walk through a hedged path. To my left, the thick of trees, leaves and bushes hides the unknown. To my right, a dip down to an overgrown dry part of the lake, more unknown, only a small trip away.

I hum some random tune, not too high pitched, I am no longer a soprano anyway, but low enough for the bats to hear and to steer clear.

We bump into two dogs and their owner turning a corner. My heart jumps again.

Perhaps, Elbi is as nervous as me. He pulls to go home. The wind pushes us along a road that may as well be a deserted highway, although it is only five minutes from our house.

We walk past the front of the scrapyard from where many creaks and squeaks emerge. Once the lights disappear, we are left alone in the dark street passing some plots of land.

Elbi stops to sniff the earth, but the strings marking the land suddenly shake with vigour as the wind reminds us of its presence.

We both jump with such a fright that we start a quick shuffle back.

One huge lorry comes towards us, lights beaming in my eyes reminding me of far too many a horror film I have seen.

We dart in front of a second lorry, turning into our drive to avoid it.

I can breath a sigh of relief now I am home, but then I remember we have typhoon lock-down and we have rented some thrillers and screamers!

Brace yourself.

Too busy procrastinating...

Honestly, I have just rearranged all my pens, pencils, post-its....

Get on with your work, Lee!!!!
OK, but before I do...have to share this!!

We got Elbi a new bean bag this week...Why???

Can you see all the white balls??
The bean bag exploded on him!

He got a little too excited the other day while the cover was off!

And, quite simply, no other cushion or blanket will do. If he isn't trying to hump it, he is trying to eat it!!

No, he wants a bean bag!

Oh, how he loves it so....

(My) Tohoku update

Being back from holiday is great. feeling so ready and refreshed to do so much.As I wrote before, there was to be one promise and that was 'my pace'.Sadly, this pace includes the financial path as well as the mental one.

If I could have it my way, I would be back now to help this weekend. But, such things are not possible.

Work, Elbi, many personal projects (work related) and then some visitors too, all stop me from dropping things and going up north.

So many people are helping and this is great.

We have a plan to go up (my husband and I together) once again in October. There is a long weekend, and we can devote more time to the work needed.

In the meantime, there is still plently to be done from Saitama. JEARS is still running strong and we must update the facebook page almost daily. The animals are all being cared for by amazing people who still need our support.

Sadly, Susie had to return to the shelter she came from. Having two dogs completely opposite to each other was difficult. She needed walking at 5am, Elbi just wanted to muck around. He never accepted her, she never responded to his play requests and subsequently hit back one time damaging his eyes (now recovered - phew).

The shelter is is at, is HEART, Tokushima. I have mentioned it before (one of the 3 JEARS shelters). We promised to go down and help at the shelter, but I just checked the flights down there and it isn't cheap, so we may have to wait until we have a longer break in order to use the time more wisely.

In the meantime, we are still collecting donations

JEARS HOME PAGE

and you can read about all the updates on our facebook page.

JEARS on facebook

Need a holiday?

I am putting coffee in my natto, dog food in the freezer and apparently, letting the dogs run free off their lead to explore the neighbourhood.

My computer SD slot, won't let me use it, my laptop was close to crashing last week, so I almost lost the plot.

Thankfully, today is a beautiful sunny day and I am not working tomorrow.

Last week, we decided to go on a belated honeymoon and if that wasn't booked, I think I would really lose the plot.

I am trying to organise a trip to Sendai before I go to take up some donations to hand out, yet, I fear these two dogs will rule the weekend by bringing me back early.

Next week, we are inviting friends over for the animal food drive, to collect more food donations, hopefully.

It is non stop till 13th July when it all stops.

If only I can keep my eyes open till then...

Knackered....

And here are the cute reasons why..

Elbi, demanding morning cuddles

Susie, looking very cute and ready for a walk.

Snoring Elbi

Susie, passed out on the Indo style sofa!

Elbi & Susie

Well, it has been just over 2 weeks!

There has been progress! We have established routines, ignored & fixed the previous issues and overcome any potential problems with either the neighbours or the dogs themselves!

She was barking and even howling at the start, scared of separation or wary of noise. Even the past couple of nights, she was barking at 1am!! Aaarg, Susie, what is wrong? I think it was either food or pee related, so last night, I made sure she was OK and, indeed, there was no barking! Phew. We could all catch up on our sleep!

From a ditch, Susie has travelled the lengths of Japan - I met her in Niigata, after she was found in Fukushima and taken to AFN. From there, she was transported to Heart Tokushima, where she was spayed and eventually then driven up to Saitama. She has certainly travelled further than me these past few months!

And, now, look at them!! These dogs get it better than us!

This is last weekend, and, weather permitting, this is what we have to look forward to this weekend as well!

Elbi is 16 months old, so he still has a big puppy element to him. I think he loves Susie, but he really wants her to play with him. She, on the other hand, just wants to sit back, preferably ON you and get tickled! She is a big baby at heart, but very different to our other +10kg baby of muscle!

They walk relatively well together, that is, when Elbi isn't pulling!

But, he is learning from her too. He is sniffing a lot more. She follows her nose like a real dog. He does what he pleases! But, now he sniffs more. This isn't always a good thing! lol

Sometimes, her nose takes her north. I wonder how much of home she can smell...or is it just the local talent?!

She loves to run and I think that off her lead, she would just go. Elbi tries to run, but he is only small and gets out of breath a lot quicker. Sometimes, he just needs a break en route!

Right now, it is 7.30am and both dogs are completely conked out after their beautiful morning walk. We went out around 5.45 (!) and it was already very warm. I am also pooped, but must now get ready for work!! lol

Have a great day!

www.animalwalktokyo.com

So, today was the animal walk! The sun came out, as did many, many people, animals too, all to support JEARS! Thank you!!

I got to meet the organiser, Brandy and also another JEARS helper, Kumi!




So many animals were there with their owners. I wish I could have brought Elbi, but the journey would have been too long for him. And, I had no transport for Susie, so it was just me and my human friends.

Registration was ¥2000, all of which of course went to support the animals. The turnout was great! The facebook event had 25 confirmed, but there were most certainly more people than that!


We were each handed a map and a JEARS information leaflet and we were ready to go, after the fashion show, that was!



Given the heat, even at that early hour, it was difficult to dress the dogs in much more than the fur they already had, but there were a few clad especially for the occasion.




I think Brandy's dog was a favourite of mine, given the fact that he looked like a potential best friend for Elbi!

There was even some colour co ordination. This dog on the right, called Spike, had a gorgeous turquoise scarf on to represent the animal walk group's colour!


The dogs in the prams were adorable too, in a monster-y kind of way! Lol



One lady had designed her own T-shirt for her and her dachshund.





It just goes to show that people do care. She was also handing out flyers to help try and raise awareness amongst the Japanese people about animal shelters. So many animals are dying in Hokenjos, yet people still shop for pets like they do accessories.

Someone even brought their cat along!



All in all, the walk was a great success. We also got to meet a lady, who can help us with some more publicity. I will post the finished article here too once it is done!

It wasn't a long walk, but for some animals, it was hard work in the sun of early June.











Thanks to all those who took part! Thank you to Brandy for organising the event! I can't wait to do it again! We need more of these fun fundraising events, things that many people can enjoy, but that also give them the chance to support those in need!

Otsukaredesama to the animal walk group!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:代々木公園、東京、日本。

Susie

I have never fostered before.

They say that fostering is harder than adoption because you cannot keep the animal(s). I can see this to be very true indeed.

One week on from Susie arriving and I love her immensely already. We have had set backs this week from various outside factors, but that has not stopped us having fun with her. I would easily say that this will be a difficult goodbye and not without tears.










This morning was hectic, I walked Susie, then tried to walk Elbi, but each time (total of three!), Susie was barking in the garden. I had to return as it was before 7am and I worried about the neighbours.

I decided to take them both out, a job that should be reserved for the after work part of the day. By half past 8, I reached the train station to begin my working day and I was shattered, not to mention starving!

But, coming home to Susie and her hugs...well, it was all worth it! She jumped in my lap and I tickled her curly-haired neck for ages. She just loves the love.

Even Elbi behaved, well, for a short while.

The thing with Susie is that she needs to know you are there. So, even now, as she must stay outside (thankfully no typhoons!), I am sat by the back door, so she knows I am near.

She whimpers when she can't see you and that whimper can easily become a bark, nay, a howl at one point!

I find it hard to leave animals when they make noses, make eyes, anything. I can't stand the separation. It breaks my heart even to know that, right now, poor Susie is sat alone in the kennel. I am thankful there is no rain and no winds to add to the lonely trauma of outside life.

Elbi suddenly loves the kennel!








I still cannot understand why you would have a pet but not actually interact with it. Animals left in kennels, it is too lonely.

Anyway, Susie is a grand dog, full of love, full of strength and desire to run the open road. I love her! She is so much fun to walk. She follows her nose, something that Elbi is copying! She runs through hedges, puddles, she doesn't care where! She just loves being outside and on the move.

Elbi and her get along to a point. He is still to genki but he just wants to play. She doesn't mind him so much, but gets a little miffed when he over sniffs her crotch!








- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Kasukabe,Japan

Pictures..The JEARS flyer

OK, so, yesterday I had my first success (apart from my work, who who probably drawn by some sort of obligation).

Here is the flyer at the local supermarket....I had the chance to check it today and unlike the pet store, they have actually put it up!!

And as for my day?

Well, Susie arrived! Our little survivor friend from the north!!

By now, she has travelled around more of Japan than most of us! Remember, I had met her in Niigata? Well, she had come from Tohoku before moving there. And then, she was taken to HEART, Tokushima. now, finally she has been delivered to us! Bless her!

Here is her meeting Elbi. We are sure they will get along.

There may be a small adjustment period, but she loves love, just as much as Elbi, so we will be sure to give it and share it!

It is great to be able to be part of the continuing JEARS story.

If you are reading this and know someone able to foster or adopt, please contact someone at jears - foster@jears.org

Sendai, the JEARS mission.

I'm in Sendai on a mission. A seemingly impossible mission, but one which we will see through to completion no matter what.

Jears needs more bases. We can't keep transporting people from Niigata to Fukushima, from Niigata to Iwate and back again day in day out.

With all my friends as contacts in Sendai, I knew I could reply on them to help out.

However, we must remember what we are dealing with here and how many other people are likely to have rented out accommodation more inland to where their houses were or barely are. We must also remember that the ground has not stopped shaking.

This was a trip due to happen last week, but as I wrote, got postponed because of another big shake that knocked out electricity one more time for the residents of Tohoku.

It didn't stop us searching, mind. But, the search was tough. At any mention of an animal, let alone a few (hundred) , the answer was a a flat 'No'.

My friend Fumiko had sent me details of one house and I was prepared to show a picture of Elbi stating quite firmly that he would be the pet living there, but I knew that somehow, the owners would cotton on. Surely the miaowing sounds and sheer number of dogs and cats passing through the front doors would blow our secret.

No, this was something that needed to be handled properly. The animals and the volunteers need a good base. The highway needs to be near and amenities should be convenient.

So, when I read Fumiko's mail last night about her mother's house, I got very excited.

My persistent ''nande mo ii''s (anything is ok) must be paying off. I really wanted to see anything that was available, but even empty warehouses were saying a flat 'No'.

So, that settled it. We finally had a house to look at, where the restrictions were minimal and we could have what we wanted.

So, that is why, I woke up at 0605 with a slight crook in my neck to the announcement of 'Izumi Chuo no tochiyaku desu'.

Welcome to my Japanese home town.

It was a beautiful warm and sunny morning and I waited for Fumiko to come and get me. There were few signs of damage where I was standing, just some concrete slabs uprooted on the pavement, that was all.

We went for a wee morning drive to towards the port. But, we were nowhere near the port when she pointed at the crossroads we were at, telling me that the tsunami had reached as far as where we were. And then, as we drove on, the destruction could be spotted everywhere. It wasn't just the odd building, it was every building, warehouse and vehicle.

There were so many cars in one spot crushed up in a pile together, houses were just dirt and rubble save the few still standing.

Did you see the picture video from the JEARS entry I did? You would have seen the two storey house with just the second storey sat in the middle of a rice field. Well, this morning, I saw a similar sight under a bridge away from any possible foundations. Where had it come from?

Many roads were still blocked, but repairs were apparent everywhere. There was a big repair patch on the highway from where it must have collapsed down to the street below.

The sights were not too dissimilar from the ones in north Fukushima and south Miyagi, but the damage was much more extensive, going much further inland.

You can see some of the pictures here -

leonorasophie-everyday.blogspot.com/2011/04/sendai.html

We headed back to Fumiko's house and grabbed breakfast along the way, ready to start the day.

Fumiko lives outside Sendai shi itself, a short drive from Izumi chuo. In the area, there are two big DIY stores linking the area to Sendai shi and these convenient stores, along with a big Jusco shopping mall just happen to be near the house.

More details on the bases for JEARS later.

As soon as we stepped out the house and into the car, my phone rang. Ian was trying, not for the first time to get through to me.

It was around 1130 and there had been a big earthquake in the Kanto region. Saitama ken experienced and shindo 5, later lowered to a shindo 4, but, Ian was on his own, with Elbi and Mimi, trying to save computer upstairs from smashing (again) and TV from smashing as well as CD racks toppling on Mimi (again), I knew I couldn't stay in Sendai any longer this weekend.

I had done what I had come to do, at least in terms of the animals. My other friends would have to wait, as would I to give them their hugs.

On friend did surprise me at lunch and bring her kids with her too. When I hugged them I cried, so tired and emotional from all this, but it was lovely to see them.

It was lovely to see Fumiko too, who has been so unbelievably helpful at this time, as have all my friends in Sendai.

So, it was all I could do to buy as much Zunda as I could to satisfy my tummy and contribute a small bit to Sendai's economy,but now I am on a bus home.

24 hours devoted to hopefully a successful mission.

The road is somewhat bumpy on the way back, I was lucky to have slept through this last night. Might try resting the eyes one more time.

Sendai, I shall be back very soon! XXX

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Location:Sendai, Japan.

Four weeks on.

Even as I sit down to start this entry, the house shakes. I am pleased to say that our reflexes here are much improved. We know what furniture to grab and where. We are, somehow, used to it.

It was a quick jolt and 4 on the magnitude (in Sendai) so maybe a 2 or 3 here in Saitama. (1 on the Japanese shindo scale).But, they are still coming.

It was just less than 4 weeks to the day when, most of us were tucked up in bed, that the ground shook quite viciously once again. Thursday night, there was another earthquake in Miyagi. It was a level 4 on the shindo scale down here in Saitama.(4 out of 7). The alarm system told us so.

You can see form the this map how much of Japan was affected by the quake. I have never seen anything like this. The earthquake literally rocked and shocked almost the whole of Japan. Unbelievable.

The shakes in Miyagi were much stronger and actually, some people died. Furniture was thrown everywhere. One of my friends, who had just returned to her apartment for the first time in weeks had spent five hours on Thursday cleaning up, only for the earthquake to cause her another four hours of tidying.

One can only imagine how tiring this must all be.

I spoke to another friend on Friday who didn't seem her chirpy self at all. She had no idea when her husband would come back from work as he works at the electric company. Many houses lost electricity straight after the earthquake, but, this being Japan, it was, fortunately quickly reconnected by the next evening in some places.

I was due to travel up to Sendai last night, but, we all decided against it given the severe lack of resources. I didn't want to make the situation worse for people (I need to drive around a lot, using gas, not to mention food, electricity etc.) I shall be going up next weekend instead, I really can't wait. It will be so good to see my friends there, but also, to continue with my help for JEARS. There will be more information on that in a later.

I felt down about not being able to do anything this week that would be of use. Then, I watched more recent footage of the exclusion zone, and some of the creatures in it. It was all very dreary and makes me very upset. I thought that, four weeks on, the recovery process was on track, but, we are far from it.

If you want to see the video, click here www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp9iJ3pPuL8

As it turns out, I can still do a lot of work from my house and my computer. I tell you what though, thank goodness for softbank and free calls! It certainly helps us all at a time like this.

As I write, my friends in Sendai are doing what they can to assist me with contacts etc and are doing everything they can to make sure my visit will be a success next weekend. It is really touching and it makes me feel a bit better again.

Speaking of loveliness, our doorbell rang today. Our neighbours had finished making our sign for our door. You must remember that, these guys have the warehouse full of ceramics that they make and they lost half of their things on March 11th. They live next door in a house that lost many tiles from the roof. I had guessed that they wouldn't have had the time to make us the sign, seeing as they have to rebuild their own business, but, no. Here is our lovely name sign to be hung outside the front door. Thank you!

How sweet of them indeed!

Meanwhile, in the Hawgood household, Elbi and Mimi hang out...Bless them.

It has been a busy week. I came back from Niigata and started my new job. I got quite sick, both a cold, some hay fever too. Today is the first day that I have stopped for quite a while. And am on the mend. All the better for more work and rescue next week.

Work has been fun; a great chance to occupy the mind with positivity

and so much fun teaching these little cuties.

As you can see, the cherry blossoms are out in full bloom. Omiya Koen was a beautiful sight to see. We really must go back there again soon.

So, as I prepare for another week of running around with 3 year olds and organising animal rescue. Gambarimasho!!

Things I have learnt these past 3 weeks...

1) Palm trees are the symbol of Iwate.

After the tsunami, just one remained standing. All the others had been forced to the ground when the waters hit the shore. Perhaps, this can be looked at in a positive way. Let this be the sign of resilience and strength to carry on that everyone is talking about.

2) How to be ready for a big earthquake, and the importance of the kits, whether homemade or even Tokyu Hands' best.

The same could be said for a nuclear fallout. I now understand the importance of having a bunker in the house. Well, it would be fun to have one, right>?!

But, it does pay to be prepared, water, dry food and torches and batteries etc. That way, you don't get involved when it comes to the big rush or ration time. We do live and learn!

3) Radiation.

I knew it existed, but I never knew how to measure it (although I am still confused about the milli and micro and which one is bigger).

I now know the importance of a Sievert and how a geiger counter can improve your life at times like these!

(see previous posts for levels etc..http://leonorasophie-everyday.blogspot.com/2011/03/sieverts.html

Apparently on eBay, over 300 geiger counters were sold that one day we had checked! At around 250 pounds, they could be a sound investment!

4) Media Hype.

Wow, I now know what this phrase really means. We new the media exploited their facts sometimes, tabloids, at the best of times, but really, the lengths at which the British, the American and the Australian media sources went to get what they would deem a good story really disappointed me, not to mention, left me exhausted from having to relay the truth to people over and over, convincing them that things really were OK and we were not about to have a massive nuclear fallout #sigh#.

5) I now know where Hitachi is!

I mean, I knew it was Japanese, of course, but never paid attention to the location so much. I was equally as excited when I learnt where Kawasaki came from, as well as Toyota. They are just places, so maybe not so exciting to many, sorry.

6) Finally, from all of these experiences, I have learnt what Japan really means to me.

I have been here for 5 years, moved from city to country to big city to country. I have lived in studios big and small, but now, find my heaven in a house in the country, with my husband (who I met here too) and our little dog and hamster. Japan is where I have planted some solid roots and it is here I belong for now and for the foreseeable future. I really love it here, my home, my work, my life. The past few weeks have taught me this. And, although I knew it anyway, I didn't realise how strongly I felt. Japan will slowly but surely come back from all this, of that I am sure.

(((7) Oh, I also realised that a blog is a lot harder to maintain than I first thought! It was supposed to just be a memory of random things in daily life, now it is an addictive, unravelling saga of thoughts, rants and postulations. Never expected so many people to read it! It's awesome, thank you! Keep following please!! XXX )))