a mid-summer nights post

How is every one's Summer going? We have been busy polishing off our final Japan wish lists and soaking up every bit of our favorite Japanese things that we possibly can. We've started going out to eat more, braving our nearly two-year old and her "moods". We've added morning walks for coffee, trips to the beach and more visits with treasured friends. For awhile we thought of them as "new friends", but now they are a close kind of family. We will miss them. Oh, and we started selling our stuff - so there's that.

Enjoy these photos from our summer, thus far!

We made it up Mt. Fuji!

Evening baseball game, The Yokohama Baystars

Staycation at The Park Hyatt, compliments of our visitor, Jesse.

Zushi Beach

and...

We had a Nephew! Welcome, Henry!

Current Happenings

A cool graffiti wall in Yokohama. 

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Well these homes are more than awesome.

Walking around in Kamakura neighborhoods. Apparently they have a knack for modern architecture.

We're back!

There are a few things I am trying to get back into, one of them being posting about life! So, I will spare all excuses and I am just going to start a series of posts to catch our dear friends and family up on life! In the midst of our workaholic lives we have managed to get out and discover some great things. Maybe that is why I haven't blogged...I've been too busy discovering what to post about, yea. . .that's it. Anyhow, hope you enjoy the posts throughout this week!

{Ella-chan looking out over Yokohama}

Current Happenings

Check out these awesome new vending machines! Spotted at Shinagawa station.

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Happy people walking. Shibuya.

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Christmas is coming!

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Shot of our entry way, on a good day. These cute shoes are ready and waiting for her little feet to grow!

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This is just a cool picture that Brandon took 2 days before Ella was born. Just thought I would share!

current happenings: cool down

It's getting hot here! Pretty soon we will be sweating buckets like we did the first day we arrived...

However, here is one of the million things we love about Japan. Store bought ice that comes in a perfect sphere! Sure makes your every day drink something special. Thanks Japan.

thoughts from a little couch in japan

It is hard to believe that I have become the girl that doesn't update the blog and trust me I am getting a handful from the parents about it. I never meant to stop updating - lord knows I love to talk. The thing about it is, I have been curled up on our tiny little couch for the last month, unable to do anything for fear of throwing up on an innocent bi-stander. Which, have you know, I have avoided doing at least three times in public. So proud of that, it's really a huge test in self control I have decided. So - if you found that last bit of writing un-appealing and full of TMI(that means too much information, dad) then you might just understand why there is a lack of updates.


As previously mentioned things are going to be looking up soon. We are exactly one week away from our first visitors! Mama and Papa Willett are coming from Dallas for a crash course in our new life! We will be taking the Shinkansen (bullet train) for the first time to Tokyo and Kyoto!!! I am so excited to sit down and go 200 miles an hour. We all survived the Mission to Mars ride at Disney World, so I know we can take this one. There are a few other things we can't wait to do. Like cross the street with a thousand people at the Shibuya Crossing and go to the Golden Temple in Kyoto. That is right, there is a temple made totally of gold. What?? Yea, so excited for that one. Of course, there are some other things that sound appealing - like sleeping on a bed, having someone make that bed daily, the possibility of there being whole wheat toast at our hotel breakfast buffet, and maybe finding some real pizza.


The weather is reminding us a lot of Texas right now. You know, one day is rains, the next day it doesn't, one day you wear flops, the next day it snows. But, just like my nausea it's starting to even it's self out.

We found a great new apartment! It had two rooms and a bed. It came with an A/C unit, a stove top, refrigerator, and even a washing machine. That is right, apartments here don't usually come with any of those things. Just a gas line and a bunch of plugs. It even had a tatami room, which is a traditional Japanese room with woven bamboo floors. Oh! and the balcony was the size of out current apartment, so that was nice. So, are you wondering why all of this is in the past tense? That is because we didn't get accepted - because we are foreign. Awesome. Not. So, now we have to struggle through the whole process again in hopes that we can find a place by May. Wish us luck! This next statement might be considered out of the blue and a tad bit too political for our blog, but, people that don't believe working immigrants deserve any rights obviously haven't lived in a foreign country - and maybe they should experience it at some point to better make their important decisions.

That's all the thoughts from our little couch in Japan. For now.

hot minute

It sure has been one hot minute since we last updated you, dear readers, on life. It is safe to say that there has not been too much to update on. Yes, believe it or not we are settling in to life! We have been here for 6 months and while that is a very exciting feat - it also means that there is less adventure and more daily tasks to get us towards that next adventure, if that makes sense.

Here are a few things that we have coming up that will surely bring wonderful stories!

February: The Nagasaki Lantern Festival

March/April: Mom and Pop Willett arrive in late March for a 10 trip in which we will follow the cherry blossoms across Japan by train and visit Tokyo, Tokyo Disney(where there's a Disney there's a Willett), and Kyoto.

April: Hallelujah!!! We are going to move into a slightly larger little place in Japan! Yes, there is one happy girl on the other end of your computer screen.

So, fear not - we are still alive and happy and loving life here in Japan!

current happenings: snow!

This morning we woke up to snow at 6:00am. Much to our surprise, it is still here - and layering like a biscuit at 7:00pm. Sweet winter!!

old man down

The streets of Sasebo are quite scary these days, in a humorous kind of way.

So, I am walking back from base with all of our laundry which I had to combine into two huge bags-because of a lack of yen in my pocket book. I don't mind though, it's about a mile walk each way and with about 15ish extra pounds I burn some crazy extra amount of calories while doing it. Now, if I had to do it every day then I'm not too sure I would feel the same way. Which is a good thing, because when I don't like something I can really complain about it. A lot.

As I said, I was walking back from base through Sake Town-the area of Japanese bars and Pachinko Parlors (which we still have yet to experience). This is a place where people get smashed 24hrs a day. A place where Brandon often has to step over people at 6:30am on his way to work that are passed out on the front steps of the bar that probably had to throw them out. There I am walking and this old man, probably someones grandfather no doubt, reaches out for an imaginary pole and falls to the ground. Then he rolled around a little bit, holding his head and pulling off his sanitation mask(bah!). He was literally right at my feet and I didn't see anyone move to help him-which is how I knew he was drunk- but I mean, he was right next to me. After working in a water park for close to a decade I can't just walk by someone who is on the ground moaning and bleeding from the head, unfortunately I'm branded good citizen for life. One issue...I really don't know enough Japanese to help. So, what do I do. I lean over him, take out my ear phones, and say, "Dijabu desu ka?". Which means, "Are you alright?", or something close to it. (I'm also sure I miss-spelt dijabu, but that's besides the point.) When he came too he seemed a bit weirded out to see a westerner standing over him with giant bags, like I was going to throw him inside and run off with him. His friend appeared out of no where with thank yous and apologies, and bowing. Thankfully meaning I was off the hook.

I threw my ear phones back in and kept walking. 5 feet away I cross paths with a police officer who had been watching the whole time, and I'm positive his story about the American who tried to help the drunk guy will be just as funny.

current happenings

The vodka, better known as shochu, comes in milk cartons. You've got to love that!

Our carton of "bottom shelf" shochu. Good stuff, but more importantly, lot's of stuff for Y980.

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Communication is a crazy thing. Even the great Led Zeppelin understands this. We are fairly social people, so it's a tad bit weird when I realize that I have gone an entire day with saying three words...that aren't even English. Sumimasen & Arigato Gozaimasu, and Hai. Excuse me, thank you, and yes.

When we first arrived we were all gung-ho on Rossetta Stone, and language books. Then, life started and we found our selves backing off while we got used to other things. I mean, it's hard enough learning how to not piss-off our new neighbors with what we are learning is the abrupt American way. Now we have to add a new language into it? So, safe to say concentration on the language has fallen to the wayside. Our free Japanese lessons came to an end quick-while minor, they did make a nice impact. Learning how to introduce ourselves, ask the time, count, learning what to say when we enter/exit. . .say "this is my cat", even though we don't own a cat. There was also a very lengthily conversation where we tried to explain the difference between saying, "I like a lot of coffee." and, "I like coffee a lot." Which I still don't understand the confusion over. Japanese is a fairly simple language but one word can mean up to 4 different things. That was the last class we had and we often wonder if our sensei ever really understood. Which brings up the other thing we do 40 times a day-"Smile and Nod" it's the universal sign for "I don't know what the F you are talking about." (sorry about the implied curse word dad).

Then, there is the art of communicating with those back home. Not only do we have to learn new communication skills that come with moving to a foreign country, but we also have to learn how to stay in touch with those we left behind. When we lived in Texas I never thought much about communicating with friends and family. Everyone was a call button away. Instant gratification and instant plans. Now though it all happens through a little miracle named Skype. While amazing, life is now about scheduling dates with those we love. And, with the time change and real life there is always the threat of being stood up. We call them Skype dates. Still, we are lucky that so many friends are keeping in touch with us, not to mention we talk to our parents more now then when we lived in Texas.

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this post is dedicated to erica nanno...


this is totally a Tifa pose...





cats, cats are everywhere. and the city's ballet fountain!

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We cut into the melon that Reggie and Manami got us. Surprise! On the inside looks like, tastes likes, and has the texture of a honeydew melon. Sneaky melon, making us think you were a cantaloupe!

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Building our own army to protect us from the typhoon.

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It turns out the fore mentioned Navy ships are actually like that everyday. Turns out we should pay more attention when we are walking around. It has been awfully foggy lately. It's foggy like the big island was on our honeymoon, accept there is no ashing volcano to blame it on.