jthornton

I lived in Masawa Japan for three years with my now exwife.She was in the U.S. Air Force during the time. We traveled to a few different cities to enjoy the beauty that this country had to offer. We lived off-base in a home rented to us by a Japanesse national.The rent was 35,000 yen. At that time the rate was 250 yen to a dollar. we had to buy propane for cooking and heating of water. We bought kerosene fuel for heating. We were lucky the have a western style toliet.The winters there were full of heavy snow fall. Our son was born there on base, so he can say truthfully that he was born in Japan.The food was great in the hole in the wall diners just like here. To tip was rude.There were disco clubs that were okay and you could go to the movies and see the latest films in english.The market places were open air style and there was no thief.On the corners in the neighborhoods there were machines that you could purchase coffee in cans hot or cold with sugar and cream if you liked. Coke was vended in 2 liter bottles fo r 100 yen and beer was vended also. No one stole the money or the machines.Crime was low. The people kept one job for life.We had a great time.Our culture shock came when we returned to the states.We were back were we could be robbed at gun point and people were rude and crime was on the rise.