Four weeks since we left Japan

It is four weeks today since we hopped on that plane to Australia. Wow! Actually it doesn't feel like it was that long ago. As I was grocery shopping this morning, I realised there were a number of things I've had to learn or get used to again during that time: • To sign my name. Japanese don't use signatures. They use personalised stamps. The reason I've signed my name so much is that we're using our cashed-up credit card to buy stuff. I've hardly touch Aussie cash at all. In daily life Japanese use cash all the time. Credit cards - hardly ever. • To speak with a broader twang. My Japan mates would hardly understand me :-) • To drive and park an eight seater van. • To drive at 60 km/hr on suburban roads. The fastest I would drive in a usual week in Tokyo is 40 km/hr. • To overtake at 100 km/hr on the highway. • To drive for hour upon hour on the highway. • To operate a dishwasher and how to incorporate that into a daily schedule. (I didn't realise how much time I spent washing dishes and have been at a loose end when there are none to wash after dinner - I've had a sad life!) • That Saturday and Sunday aren't business days. And that shops open before 10 am. • To negotiate the incredible amount of choice Australian's have at grocery stores! This is a biggie and probably deserves its own blog entry. I've spent hours and hours since we arrived trawling through the choices. I mean, it has been a long time since I had to decide between a whole aisle of dairy products or cereal. My local shop developed a cereal shelf while we were there - so exciting! Especially when it mostly consisted of frosty cornflakes and Cocopops look-alikes. And don't get me started on bread or yoghurt or milk! • Massive Australian shopping trolleys. • How cheap fruit and veggies can be (if you look around). • That I am not size 16 or LL. • To NOT take my shoes off at the door (although that rule still applies in our house). • To park my car INSIDE the house! Who can imagine! • To hang my washing on a line again. • Big Australian ovens. • A new mobile. • Slower internet access. Is that enough? I'm sure I could go on for anther screen! Is it any wonder I'm feeling tired? That my bowels are exhibiting signs of stress? I need to relax more - that is what you'll all tell me. I tell you, it is hard to relax when we have so much work to do settling...but I'll try. My cross-stitch has not been neglected and I did watch the cricket earlier in the week (though that was probably more stressful than relaxing, given Australia's poor performance). We're getting together with friends tomorrow night and Saturday. That should help.