Starting to pack

I am starting to pack to head home -- lots of sorting and organizing and remembering. We ended up buying two more suitcases so that we don't have any risk of going over the 50 pound Air Canada limit (after exchanging many letters this fall, Air Canada said that they were very sorry, but we had to pay the fine for the overweight bags on our flight here, even the three 53-pounders, and even though Japan Air said they could be up to 70 pounds.) So we will come home with 10 bags and a lot of great finds.

John and I had a LOT of fun yesterday shopping for the kids (and friends and family) while they were at school. He had gotten his last paycheck on Tuesday, as well as the second half of our travel reimbursement (which we had paid for in April... so it felt like "extra" money). We love how people get paid in Japan. Employees sign something, and are handed a thick envelope. OF CASH. John got two big envelopes this time and we quickly put most of the money in the safe (this whole cash-based society thing really explains the safe in every house and hotel room). So we got the kids their Christmas gifts and trip gifts for friends and family, paying cash everywhere and trying to find things that would remind us (and the recipients) of this wonderful time in Japan.

I should get back to that packing, I suppose... more soon!