Japanniversary week: Biggest small differences

With our 1st Japanniversary on the horizon, we're spending this week thinking back and reflecting about the past year. We're also hosting a contest, If you'd like to try for 1 of 2 special prizes click here for details.

When we arrived last year, there were so many things we wanted to share. There were so many things that were so different than we were used to in the States. Our initial lack of internet put our blog on hold for a bit, and by the time we had it up and running, the triple disasters of March 11th were upon us and the silly little things we wanted to share became much less more important.

Since then, we've had a year to laugh and wonder and the "crazy" little things we notice all around us. Some of them have become so second nature, we forget it's not "normal" until a friend from America points them out to us.

What better time than Japanniversary week to share the top 3 biggest small differences about living in Japan!

#3 Sliced bread:

I spent a good portion of my life working my way from eating only white bread to loving whole wheat, only to move to Japan and be thrown back into my white bread only childhood. It's not that I wouldn't love a slice of wheat bread, it's just not an option in Japan.

For sliced bread, there is one option and it's thick, white, and only has 6 slices.

Yes, only 6 slices.

I guess it makes sense for a country that is known for it's rice obsession. But, for this sandwich loving girl, Japanese bread just doesn't cut it. On the other hand, it makes the best french toast I've ever eaten :)

#2 Heated toilet seats:

I had heard about this before coming to Japan, I just didn't know how awesome they are. I also didn't know they'd become my expectation in toilet seats.

These seats rock! They plug in and get nice an toasty. For a place where winters are stupidly cold, and central heating is not a thing, it is a welcome treat in a very cold toilet room.

After living here a year, these have become so second nature, that visiting a subway restroom, or the bathroom at Costco, I alway get quite a shock!

#1 Stop signs:

I know I should have realized the Japanese stop signs wouldn't have the word "STOP" written on them in English. I guess I just never thought that they'd also not be the red octagons I've grown up with.

Japanese stop signs are triangles! I know, an octagon isn't more intrinsically stoppy than any other shape, but it's a strange mental adjustment I didn't realize we were in store for.

If you've been to Japan (or have just been reading this blog) what are some of the differences that have stood out to you?

Third Time's the Charm

The process of getting our Japanese drivers licenses has been putting us through the ringer. After much time and paperwork, we've only just hit the halfway point in the process. Just getting here has been an exercise in patience and perseverance.

In order for a license-holding American to get a Japanese drivers license it involves providing a pile of paperwork, taking a written test, taking a practical test, and retaking the practical test a few more times until you pass. (Foreigners do not have a very high first time pass rate on the practical exam). Only after you've jumped through these hoops, can you get your real Japanese drivers license.

We started the process back in September, to give ourselves enough time to do everything before our current international licenses expire. Little did we know, just to take the written test would take 3 tries.

1st attempt:

The license center is an hour from us, but only 5 minutes from our supervisor's home. So, after a Bible study/staff meeting we went to the driving center with a pile of paperwork.

When we arrived, and found the right window, we were told that we need to make an appointment to take the written test. This didn't surprise us too much. We went in knowing this might be the case, but it's much easier to use our lame Japanese in person than over the phone.

What surprised us was when the lady told us we needed proof that Stephen had lived in the US at least 3 months after receiving his license. Apparently, she would accept my passport (issued after my license) as my proof, but Stephen needed something more.

Away we went, with an appointment, and a few more papers to find for the growing pile.

2nd attempt:

The day of our appointment, October 26, we got in the car early and drove the hour across town to the driving center. It wasn't until we were 5 minutes away that I realized ALL the papers I had gathered to qualify us for the test were sitting at home on the floor, organized in a nice little folder.

We went to the window, and explained to the woman that we forgot EVERYTHING at home, 1 hour away. Based on the look of terror and surprise, I don't think anyone has ever done that before.

We made another appointment for the next available time slots: November 21.

I should take a moment to mention that in addition to trying to beat the clock on our international licenses, we were also in a hurry to take the practical exam before it started snowing. Pushing the written test back to late November was not helping our cause.

3rd attempt:

November 21st, we awoke to find that it was snowing and had snowed the whole night before. That meant, the hour trip across town would now be an hour and a half. We got in the car and both made sure we had every single piece of paper needed. Yup, all there, and we were off like a herd of turtles.

At the driving center, we provided our paperwork, including 3 forms proving Stephen lived in the US, and were told to wait 2 hours while the processed everything. Rather than venture out into the snowy tundra, we opted to hang out at the driving center's coffee shop. (I suspect the /real/ reason they made us wait 2 hours was to get some more business for the coffee shop.)

The test itself was nothing too bad. 10 true/false questions, mostly common sense.

We passed and were able to make an appointment for next Wednesday to take the practical exam. We're praying there's no snow.

Oh, and of course, before we left the lady at the counter informed me that I too must find paperwork to prove that I've lived in the US since getting my most recent passport. Apparently she changed her mind and I'm being docked for not bringing my expired passport with me to Japan. Oh, well, such is life (in Japan)

Snow driving adventure

After close to 4 weeks since the snowbugs were spotted, the snow is finally upon us. We awoke this morning to a winter wonderland.

Fortunately for us, Stephen spent yesterday with the pastor changing our summer tires for the winter ones.

Unfortunately for us, the first heavy snowfall happened the night before we have to drive 1 hour away to teach an early morning class.

Since we didn't get our car until last spring, we have not had to drive in the snow yet in Japan. And really, since were California kids, driving in the snow has never been part of our day to day lives. Today was a trial by fire.. er.. uh, snow.

First thing about driving in Sapporo in the winter is that you must clear off the car.

We were in a hurry, so we left a nice pile of "lazy cake" on top.

Stephen did a great job. since it was the first real snow, it melted in the sun as we drove.

By halfway there, the road was mostly slush and water.

The most harrowing part of the trip was when a HUGE truck passed us and covered our tiny car in a tidal wave of dirty snow-water. I had a minor panic attack for the 1.5 seconds we couldn't see out of the windows. Stephen kept his cool and remembered the wipers. (That's why he was driving.)

We arrived safely in Chitose, with some lazy cake still on the roof.

Our new Friend, Sophia Toyota

Stephen and I made a new friend. Her name in Sophia Toyota. And we love her!

Ok, You've got me, Sophia Toyota is our new (to us) car. But we really do love her.

After some practice driving with the pastor's daughter, pastor's wife, and the pastor himself, the key's to their family's extra car were handed over to us to drive while we're working for their church.

Because Stephen's not covered under their auto insurance until his birthday (in two weeks), I am the only Borba allowed to drive her for the time being.

Let me tell you, driving in Japan is terrifying! In theory, it's the exact same thing as driving in the States, only on the other side of the car, and the other side of the road, and with Japanese street signs, and Japanese traffic rules. So really, it's a whole new ball game.

To date, I've driven 6 times, with no talking or radio allowed. And the whole time I am chanting reminders to myself. "Driver in the middle." " tightleft, tightleft, tightleft." " wiiiiide right, wiiiide right."

Look Ma, no hands!

Just kidding. I think there may be finger shaped indentations at 10 and 2 on the steering wheel.

But really, I was mentally prepared for all of that. So here are the top three things that have surprised be about driving in Japan.

3-The blinker and windshield wiper controls switched sides as well. It is quite funny when I try to turn on my left blinker and the wipers turn on full force in stead.

2-Everyone backs into their parking spots. EVERYONE! So far I have been blessed with the kind of spots that have two open spots facing each other. I've been pulling forward, yet there is no evidence of my lameness.

1-The center dividing line, you know the yellow line that tells you which side of the road to be on. Well here, that yellow line is WHITE. And not always solid white either! sometimes it is a white dashed line, like the kind that means both lanes of traffic go the same way, and feel free to cross over this lane into another, or possibly One-Way Road: feel free to drive on either side.

White-dashed line! Japan, why must you confuse me so?