What? You want to send us something?

A few people had mentioned sending us a package or letter. Here is our address:

Thayne and Erika Washburn
870-0023
Nagahama Machi 2-11-17
Ardecourt Nagahama I 401
Oita City, Oita
JAPAN

If you're interested we pretty much can get most things as in the US. There are a few things we don't have or miss a lot!
1. COFFEE!!! they have VERY little coffee and its not very good
we love dunkin-donuts but anykind is better than here! Also, flavored coffee!
2. COFFEE creamer! They have this "CREAP" which is like creamer but is.. eww. lol
powder is fine. we perfer Coffee-mate (vanilla or some other flavor - no hazelnut and no sugar-free :)
3. Lysol Spray - they have fresheners but no disinfectant spray (don't know about sending it through mail - check with your local postal service)
4. Brownie Mix - people don't really bake at ALL so - this would be great.
5. Chocolate - The chocolate here is rather dull here - more wax less chocolate..
6. Quaker Oats- any kind is fine
7. Mac-n-Cheese.
8. Chocolate Cake mix.
9. Hershey's Syrup ;)
(as you can tell chocolate is not something there is a lot of. Notice FISH and RICE is not on this list - Those you pretty much have every meal. Its good and cheap - pics to come later)
10. Some bible lesson workbooks.

Hope everyone is well. Things are slowing down here and we're getting into the groove. Still no job for Thayne and kids come back next week for Erika.

We do have a trip planned for Seoul, South Korea coming up end of Sept. YAY

Love you all,
Erika and Thayne

So... whats going on over there?

HEY ALL!
No, we haven't stopped doing things. Just took a break from putting them on here.We're getting settled into our apartment.We rearranged the house to give it our own taste so it feels more like ours now.
We bought a bike for me!
(Bikes are surprisingly very expensive here!
A reg. one on sale is around $100!)
But - it was worth the investment. Normally to get from our place to the MAIN part of town or bus station, it took about 25min walking. Now, it takes about 5 min. Plus we can explore the city now!



WHAT GOING ON WITH ERIKA?

Erika started her job last week. So far there hasn't been much to do. The teachers are set up in one huge room with rows and rows of desks. They are teacher size desks but teachers go to classrooms, unlike in America where a teacher has 1 (or 2 or 3) classroom(s) and the kids come to you. So, during the summer, they all just sit in this office room and plan for the year or do things like that. Erika has been working on her Japanese and some plans for the kids.

Japanese (kids and adults), tend to not like to speak English.
They're.. shy.
They are more confident writing in English.
Erika made a little mailbox on her desk so the kids can come and put questions or letters or English related things in there. That way it gives them the opportunity to write\think in English and actually communicate instead of being too shy.

She has also been working on some speech competition work. Some students do speech contests in English. She has worked with a girl and helped her out on that a bit. All in all, even though the classes have not started, shes enjoying her job already!


WHAT ABOUT THAYNE?
Well, I've been being a homemaker. I do laundry, dishes, sleep...
the typical things 'stay-at-home' mom's do ;) lol
-jk-
There's actually quite a bit I've been doing. My online classes start next week so I've got books ordered and being shipped. I just found out I need to take some type of His\Theory exam. I can do it "remotely" but I have to find a college\Univ prof. to proctor the exam. That may not be the easiest thing but I have some wonderful people working on helping me find something!

Some things in Japan seem... more difficult.
FOR EXAMPLE:
--Laundry--
They have washing machines but no dryers. I didn't realize how much I loved them until now. :) So, we must hang everything out to dry.

--Washing Dishes--
Most apartments do not have dishwashers. Erika does:ME! .. Get it? Yea - so we have to wash everything by hand. Not HORRIBLE!!! Just never had to wash EVERYTHING by hand before.

--Talking--
Most Japanese do not.. or are not comfortable with speaking English so it makes communicating harder. However, we most people will be able to say a few words in English and if you give an effort, they are happy to also.

Well, thats all for now. As you can see,
things are different but very very good!
We love you all and miss you.

-Erika and Thayne

Conveyor SUSHI!

So last night Erika and I went to a place called Sushi Meijin.
Pretty much everything is 105 yen - basically $1.
You just pull what you want off the conveyor belt, and stack the plates.
At the end, the waiter\waitress counts it up, hands you a bill, and you pay. It was very good. Some VERY weird stuff.

Don't even know what a lot of it was.. Eeeks!!

Our Address

So this is our address.

870-0023
2-11-17 Nagahama-machi
Ardecourt Nagahama I 401
Oita Ctiy, Oita
Japan

Our Apartment

Welcome to our home in Oita. This is our apartment building. We live on the fourth floor. In apt. #401. In this picture we are the 2nd from the top. On the right.

Here is inside. We eat here at this little table. It is very "japanese".

This is our kitchen. It is VERY small. We have a gas stove, a sink, and no dish washer. Hey - it could be worse!

The last picture is our tub\shower. It is very small square (4x4) and goes up to mid thigh. Very OPEN. Step in, step out... DONT SLIP!

Our City

Hey all. Well, we've had a little time now to clean up our house and get acquainted with the city. Erika started work today (monday the 10th). So, while she was working, I went around the city to take pictures.

The japanese use a mixture of characters, called hiragana, katakana, and romaji. These two symbols are the OI-TA sounds. This is our city. Oita.

Our city recently had a festival. There are still many decorations up. This is the entrance to a main street in our town.
On the right, you can see a gas station. On the ground you see a yellow bumped road. This is for the blind.
This is the Bird of Oita. He's everywhere!
Here is where Oita Castle used to stand. It was destroyed many many years ago. This place is Oita Castle Ruin Park. A place where you can visit and see ruins from the old castle.

Safe And Sound

Konbonwa!

Well, I made it to Oita safely. No major set-backs. The apartment is ... different than I imagined from the pictures. I've only had about 3-4 hours of sleep in the last 3 days so - im off to bad. It's wonderful to be reunited with my gorgeous wife! WE will write more soon and send many pictures. BYE

Thayne has left the building....

Well, by the time most of you read this, I will be on my way to Japan. I leave at 8:30am from Miami Int. Arrive in Washington DC around 11am. I leave there at 12:20 (if you want to call or txt do so before then!!!!)
I arrive in Tokyo 3:25pm Friday (2:25amEST Friday). Then I fly to Oita, our "home town" at 6:50pm and arrive 8:20. Long delay in tokyo. Im sure ill be able to keep myself busy.

To everyone, thank you all so much. God has truly blessed Erika and I with some AMAZING friends and family. A VERY special thanks to Tami our Tampa Blessing. I have never seen God more clearly than in the love that she has shown for us. From keeping us in her home, to fixing our tables, and selling our car... there is nothing she wouldn't do for us. Thanks Tami.

To our parents (Vicki, Karen, and Terrell) Thanks for your love and support with this move and our life as a couple. Without parent support, life is not easy. And you always support us in our decisions! We know you would do ANYTHING in your power to help us and that you love us both with all the love in your hearts. We love you too.

To our friends, Tampa, and all over - We will miss you all and thanks for making our leaving so ... "enjoyable!". We couldnt ask for better friends.

This is the first time I've actually teared up about leaving. Im not sad to leave... just sad to leave you all for a year. We'll be back soon, and were only a Skype call away. Search for our E-mail to get our skype address!

See you on the other side of the world!
Love,
Thayne

Erika is up... up... and away!

Well, Erika's flight left Saturday morning around 7:30 am. We had to get her to the airport around 4:30 in the morning. Her flight was long but went well. No trouble getting through customs. She is now in Tokyo entangled in a web of orientations and trainings. Wednesday morning she flies down to Oita, our home town now. I, Thayne, will be leaving Miami on Thursday morning 8:30am.
Talk to you soon!