Excited

Last night we received a phone call from the friends who will visit us in a couple of weeks. They are very excited. We knew that earlier this year, after reading their Christmas letter - see here, but they are even more excited now it is close. We are very excited (even if it is buried under a whole lot of finishing-the-school-year stuff that is going on). 

One reason we're excited is that we can count on one hand the number of visitors - friends or family - who have visited us for longer than a couple of days since we've came to Japan nearly eleven years ago. And we can count on two hands all the overseas visitors we've ever received. So, this is an Event. Additionally this is the first family with children who has visited us - so our children are excited too.

As we talked I realised several things. 

Yes, we miss Aussie sausages...

• Firstly, we aren't going to be able to get everything they want to do and we want to show them into the two weeks they're here. 
• Secondly, it is going to be hilarious and fun and the days will fly by. We'll be exhausted, but refreshed and encouraged at the end.
• Thirdly, it is going to be like Christmas. They and another set of friends are getting together a number of things "from home". In fact they are spoiling us!
• Fourthly, I've blocked out of my mind much of what I miss about Australian food. I really had trouble answering the questions they had about how they could spoil us. I had a couple of ready made answers, but as they dug deeper, I got really stuck.
• Fifthly, we'll get sick of their questions and they'll get sick of us answering, "I don't know." I remember this from when my parents visited back in 2003. The reality is that what we know about Japan is far outweighed by how much we don't know. It is strange that when we're in Australia we usually end up the local "Japan experts". But actually we're quite ignorant of many things.

Our two families have "lived" together before. We went camping together in Australia last Easter (2010). That time we were out of our element and they were the ones with the inside knowledge. This time the tables have turned. We'll be the ones translating, guiding, informing and organising. 

Should be interesting. Should be tiring. Should be fun! Stay tuned for news on how it all goes.