What I Miss

I've been in Montreal for two and a half months now, and as things here move toward the festive, holiday season, and temperatures drop to minus 15 Celsius, I can't help think fondly of a few things I love about Japan.

I miss:

• Onsen - the lovely hot spring spas where you lounge naked in a variety of deep baths (free of chlorine!!)


• The mild climate - I really don't think people were meant to live in sub-zero weather!


• Izakaya - the lovely, small, local Japanese pubs, especially the ones in the suburbs where no gaijin go!


• The shop-keepers I used to chat with, like the lovely ladies at the dry cleaner, or the old woman at the liquor shop