LIFE IN JAPAN

Hello everybody. I'm Zyd, born and raised in Philippines . Currently living now in Japan with my husband. He is a Japanese descendants, His grandfather was a Japanese. Actually,I'm not very good in writing. I'm good in spending money and shopping. I happen to know this hubpages thru a friend. At first , I was reluctant to join, as I don't know what topic to write. But I said to myself, why not there's no harm in trying . It's a way also to improve my skills as well as to improve me, in my english grammar or whatever, as here in Japan you seldom talk to people who speak and understand english. Especially the place where we are staying, two hours drive from Tokyo. We lived in Ibaraki prefecture.

My gosh, I remember when we first arrived here in Japan, that was July 2000, yes, we've been here for 10 years. We find it hard to communicate, they don't understand what are we talking about, as we don't speak japanese language as well. Can you imagine, we survive thru sign language up to this day. But there's a little improvement, we can understand and speak little bit of japanese language now. The Japanese government now emphasize children to study english. They start teaching english in grade school. What a relief, you can now communicate in english here, but thru children . At least it's a start. Some of the Department Store now has a sign board written in english.

What can I say about Japan?

First,Japanese people are very organized and well discipline people, very hard worker as well. I truly admire them when it come to time. They are always on-time. Government offices are very accommodating even if you are Gaijin (foreigner). They will try their best to help you , let you fully understand, step by step. Experience wise, I'm working in a fresh vegetable salad factory, we're 4 of us is only foreigner, rest is all japanese. They have this patience in teaching us, guiding us of their rules and regulations, also kind hearted people, they feel sorry for us in leaving our family back home, just to work here .

Japan, I know , one of the expensive country in the world. Especially if you're living in Tokyo. That's why , we prefer to live outside of Tokyo. We've been traveling around Japan for quite sometime now. And it's really a remarkable places we've been seeing. Really preserved places. They have this onsen (japanese hot springs). They have indoor and outdoor onsen. People here in japan really loved onsen, even during summer time, they are going to have this, as they say , "help you relax and help in blood circulation also." More details in this site .

One of the place we visit, is "OUR LADY OF AKITA",the Crying Blessed Virgin Mary of Akita which shed blood tears 101 times. It took us 8 1/2 years here in japan, before we accomplish our dream. When we first came here , me and my husband said to ourselves, the first place we have to visit is "Our lady of Akita". As it is famous in the Philippines. Longer time than we expected. Traveling to Akita is a new experience and adventure to us,  it took us one day by car to reach there. We stopped to eat, relax and sightseeing as well. We used tohoku expressway, unbelievable expressways, really beautiful,as you can see in the picture . That's my daughter and husband taking a break for a long drive, taking souvenir picture as well.

When we reach Akita , it took our breathe away, worth it traveling for one day. What a beautiful place. We are Blessed as we reach Akita safely. We went to the church where Our Lady of Akita shed blood tears 101 times .

Place is very solemn, we attend mass and pray , pray for the whole world to have peace. We stayed at the hotel, the next day we went home, traveling again for one day tiring trip, but worth it. We accomplished our dream to visit the famous " OUR LADY OF AKITA".

More details as attached;