Here's pictures in case you were needing a visual. The second & third picture are referring to a bidet. If you're not familiar...this website has a very, very detailed description! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bidet).
My first impression of Japan was from the sky in the airplane and it didn't look too different from the US, you know, just different patches of green land. It wasn't until we started to land that I noticed the really small cars and skinny vans driving along the roads...what was supposed to be a full-size van looked to be the size of a small car. So, once we landed and I was wheeled to the Japan Airlines counter, the airline reps. asked me about my surgery. They wanted to know about my "condition," so they could provide extra assistance (I can't carry anything over 5 pounds). It was pretty funny because they couldn't comprehend "gall bladder"...so I wrote it out on a piece of paper "GALLBLADDER REMOVAL SURGERY". From there, they grabbed a thick dictionary, to translate each word. Still, the ladies didn't quite get it, so I gave my best try at explaining some of our organs with motions ("Here's my stomach, liver, pancreas, and then the gall bladder!!"). So, with that, they nodded their heads in approval. Success! I also handed over my doctor's note and they arranged to even hold my carry-ons while I killed about three hours of time at an internet cafe. Side note and bonus...they kindly changed my seat on the plane so I could have more room (Air Canada did that earlier too). It's so nice to be taken care of and it's good to know there are really sweet people all around the world!
The anticipation really built up by the time I arrived in Fukuoka (Just a recap: I flew out of Dallas, had a layover in Toronto, Canada, layover in Tokyo, Japan and then flew to Fukuoka, Japan which is about 45 minutes away from our town called "Iizuka"). I couldn't wait to see Brandon...I had butterflies and an anxious feeling!! They wheeled me out of the elevator at baggage claim. I looked to the left and behind a row of glass windows, I saw Brandon waving, video camera in hand. It only took a few minutes for the airline employees to grab my bags and then drop me off with my husband. Finally!! It had been two weeks since I dropped him off in Denver (so he could fly to Japan) and about month since we were married. I was finally getting to see him! Lots and lots of kisses and a surge of relief came over me. We just held each other and embraced the moment. Then we started telling stories and explaining how our day went (or how my 14+ hours of sleep went....I had a sleeping pill, thanks to my doctor!!).
It only took us 15-20 minutes to figure out what bus we needed to get on and then catch it (actually, it was all Brandon...he's really got his bearings). The bus ride was about 45 minutes long and then we caught a cab from that stop to our apartment (it would've been hard to walk since I had all my luggage. I had two big bags (50 lbs each), a backpack, purse and VERY handy neck pillow!). The cab driver couldn't quite shut the trunk with my massive load...I think he had to use a bungee cord to keep the trunk closed. Just a note: the cab doors shut on their own! I think Brandon figured out the cost of transportation from the airport and it was about $26...not awful, but it adds up!
Since it was about 11 o'clock at night, I couldn't see much, however, Brandon showed me our bikes. He asked,"Do you want 'Blue Thunder' or 'Red Hellion'?"...both are equipped with headlights and baskets. Apparently, it's the preferred mode of transportation! I chose the red one, but I don't really like the name (I'll work on that!).
Like a newlywed husband should...he carried me over the threshold (after he about collapsed from having to carry all my bags to our third floor apartment--stairs only!).
I had been warned that our place was very small, old and hot...so really it was better than I expected. Brandon had scrubbed down the place, put pictures in frames, filled the fridge door with pictures, and stocked the kitchen with American comfort food-thanks to Costco (Prego sauce, Jiffy peanut butter, nature valley granola bars, a variety of potato chips, BBQ sauce, Betty Crocker brownie mix, and the list goes on). Needless to say, Brandon took care of all the basics and made sure I would feel at home, among this foreign atmosphere. I feel like this place can be home, even if I haven't really seen outside these doors.
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