My first week in Japan is over and it seems to have gone quite fast. My energy has switched around now and I feel pretty good.  I also have experienced my first earthquake.  Akira had just told me that they can tell if they’re are having an earthquake by looking at a small ball they have attached to the end of a string hanging down from an overhead light.

Sure enough, the next day we were all home watching the news on TV and I felt the movement in my lower back while sitting in a chair.  I looked up – and the ball was swinging slightly – Akira and Marci both said together, “we are having an earthquake.” The building did wiggle some.

We are on the eleventh floor of fourteen.  It was immediately announced on the TV. They have many earthquakes here so unless it is about a five on their scale most people don’t even comment much however, I am glad the kids told me so I will be able to tell by myself when one is happening. It doesn’t prevent the same but at least I know why I’m moving around some. Ha!

My goal the first week was to be able to enter and exit this building by myself, perhaps collect the mail by myself, and to walk to the store by myself.  Mission accomplished!  All sounds pretty simple, right?  I checked off the list made for whenever I leave the building.  Things like keys, Japanese money, telephone, identification, address of this building, phone numbers of Akira and Marci, umbrella, cloth handkerchief for drying my hands if needed, tissue, and a nylon bag or two for groceries or supplies.

Walking to the store was wonderful.  I had to be disciplined to watch where I was walking as my head would crane itself around at will, looking at all the unusual or different buildings (shapes, sizes, colors, etc.), storefronts, people – lots of bikes, street sounds, and traffic – small side streets and cars popping out unexpectedly.

The sidewalk cement is often uneven.  There is a narrow lane painted in yellow off to the side of the middle which is bumpy on purpose.  Kind of like the bumps between lanes for cars on the freeway.  I have always called them “feelies” because you “feel” them when they are driven over. But these “feelies” are for sightless people so that they can stay well away from the street and be safe up on the sidewalk.

Here it is customary to walk on the left side of a sidewalk, then people and bikes pass by you on your right.  On my way to the store, I walked past many shops such as Optical, Bean, Flower, Clothing, Rice, Tea, Meat Market, Hair Salon, a Buddhist Ornamental Shop, and the Post Office Annex.

I noticed just outside the doors of the grocery store, there was a stand with narrow plastic bags hanging down.  They were in the form of a sleeve and made for umbrellas.  When raining, people take one and slide it over their umbrellas before entering the store.  That way the floors stay dry and it is safe for everyone – no slippery mess for shoppers. What a great idea!

The carts inside have a fairly similar-looking “frame” to what I’ve seen in the U.S. but, they have removable baskets so shoppers can if they want to, take and carry groceries in the basket and move about and then return to “the frame” part.  At check out, like in many stores in the U.S., a discount is given if you bring your own bag.  The checker takes your groceries out of the green basket, adds things up then, puts things in a red basket that you then take to a stand just beyond the check stand for bagging.  You bag your groceries yourself and return the “frame” and baskets on your way out the door.

This neighborhood grocery store is small but has a good stock of fresh produce, meat, fruit, basic staples, drinks, and some crackers and sweets.  The other popular product it has is deliciously prepared foods, great for young working mothers and fathers to pick up on their way home from work.  You will fall in love with the convenience very quickly. Meats, fish – side dishes, beautiful!  Today, I was very careful not to be tempted.  I did not become swayed and brought home just the items on my list. Milk, Lettuce, Mikans, Apple, and Tofu. Good for me!