Moving

We have moved into what will be our home for the next year. The move went well. The passenger van driver showed up on time and everything was loaded and unloaded in less than an hour. (We will not talk about the hours spent stuffing everything back into the original luggage or about how little space was actually used in the van.) Everything went according to schedule except for the internet connection. The wiring person showed up and did his part on time – no problems. However, the password and connection information did not reach us in time. When we placed a call the next day during their business hours (10-6) we discovered that a notice was had been sent to our e-mail (how do you check your e-mail if you do not have a connection?)

Before moving in we had an apartment inspection to go through and look for damage and to show us how to work the security, entrance, AC and kitchen appliances. What was most interesting was that the native Japanese speakers could not figure out how to use the combination oven/microwave: perhaps they only eat out? Nor did they do much better with the AC or security system – touch only these 2 buttons in this order, please ignore the 6 other options for the security system. Please ignore the other setting for the AC, ditto the ventilation system, do not touch the floor heating until it turns cold. Gads, if they cannot figure out the systems why don’t the engineers make simpler systems?

I spent about an hour on line hunting up the Kanji on the oven and was only able to succeed due to a website that understood that this is a common problem (they also had a section for Japanese toilettes which we also have). I’m not sure what is scarier – the need for assistance or the ability to find the answer on google.

So far everything is working quite well in our new place. The hardest part is hunting for specific items that we now need. For example, we have a balcony with a set of laundry drying racks that need poles. (The reason these are so useful is the price of energy, which makes running a dryer a real luxury for most Japanese.) Finding poles took over a week – the Japanese insistence that every single item be removed from the apartment when it is vacated helps create this problem – do you think that the former renters needed them for their new apartment at the same length and width? It took visits to more than 3 stores to find the proper item.