A List of Things...

Ok - so I wrote a short post about some of the things that I occasionally missed from Montreal. But actually, the list of things that both of us will miss when (if?) we leave Japan is much longer; this is a good thing - we both really love our adopted country and the lifestyle we have here.

Things we'll miss:

• Onsen - these are wonderful hot springs where you take long, hot baths (indoors and outdoors) with other people who are also there to relax.
• Japanese baths - even in our apartment, we have a Japanese style bath, which is much more comfortable to us than the Western style. The bath room here does not include the toilet (thank god) and is completely water-proof; to take a bath, we first sit on a little stool and wash, then get in the tub for a clean soak.
• Good service in shops - I cannot even begin to compare. The service here is excellent, always, even if all you are buying is a pack of gum.
• The landscape - the Pacific ocean, Mt. Fuji, and numerous mountain ranges. What else can I say?
• Easy access to beer - not the healthiest thing, but when we are thirsty, beer can be found at 7-Eleven, the supermarket, or a vending machine!
• etc...

Seriously - the list goes on. Even when we go away on a holiday, we begin to talk about getting back home to enjoy those things.