YEAH, Ryu!

This has been the year of Dept. of Motor Vehicles for us. Well, especially for Ryu. He came to the US with an International Driver's License. In Oregon, that license can be used for one year. And, if my memory got up with me this morning, the International License was only good for one year, anyway.

Well, he studied on-line all last fall. Then, stepped up his study in the spring. Then we bought a house in the neighboring state. However, we decided that he should get his license in Oregon first, as he'd been studying for it. So, he started with the paper test. In English. He failed. After paying $5 the woman at the desk told us that, though there is no manual in Japanese, they DO have the test on the computer in Japanese. OK. That would have been nice to know AGES ago! So, he waited the prescribed amount of time after a no-pass grade and went back...two more times and finally passed in Japanese.

Another reason we decided he should get his license in Oregon was that he had been driving around a bit in the town for the actual driving test and had some experience there. That town was much smaller than the town he'd have to take the test in in Idaho. I must say, when he passed his actual driving test the first time, I was a bit surprised. Even more surprised when the tester told me that he is a "very safe driver." Hmmm. I might add here that Ryu was a "paper driver" in Japan. He had passed the driver's license test ages ago, but had not driven in YEARS. Very common in Japan, BTW.

Then we moved. And had to take paper tests again to change our licenses to Idaho. Well, it was a very long day. Idaho has the test in Vietnamese, not Japanese. Not a bit help for us. So we both took the test in English. I passed, Ryu did not. We went back two days ago. He had stayed up late many nights reading every word in the manual. In English. And HE PASSED!!! IN ENGLISH! I was so proud of him, and the staff at the DMV were so happy for him! YEAH!

In case you find yourselves in a similar situation, the DMV was ready to set up a time for him to take the test with me translating for him. I'm sure I don't know enough words in Japanese about traffic laws (I never drove in Japan) to do a very good job, but...if you ever need this kind of service, the DMV may help you with it, FYI.

A Few Key Words

Ryu is belatedly rushing to get his Oregon Driver's License. He's been driving on an International License - that is only good in Oregon for one year. Being that he was a paper driver in Japan (has the license but is never behind the wheel) he has come a long way since last April. However there are mountains to cross before we sleep!

He signed up to take 50 sample Driver's Permit tests on the Internet. His score is dropping steadily. We reviewed the tests he's taken so far - you can print them off after you take them. He didn't know what these words meant: Intersection, Cross-Walk, and Right-of-Way. Now he does. I'm sure his score will improve soon! Go, Honey, Go!!!

(This story has been shared with Ryu's permission!)

Doughnutsu Store (no mispellings - really!)

Ryu asked if we were going to the Doughnutsu Store when we went into Ontario. Our friends and I looked at each other. "What doughnut store?" "The one we went to before." "Before?" We looked at each other again. "I've never eaten doughnuts in Ontario. Have you?" "Nope! I've never even seen a doughnut store in Ontario." "Why does Ryu know about it when he's never even driven in Ontario, and we don't?"

The scratching of the head nearly led to the pulling out of the hair before we realized that he was talking about the "Donate" shop. The "Recycle" shop. The "Thrift" shop. Ahhhhh...now we know!

Well, today we stopped by that Doughnuts Store to look around. Ryu found a shirt he wanted. It cost $3.75. We didn't have that much cash on us and hadn't brought the check book along. We asked them to hold it for us while we did our shopping across the parking lot at the El Cheapo Grocery Store in town. We figured we could use our Debit card and get some cash back. Nope! We got our shopping done, but, they don't have the cash back service.

So, I said, "well, I guess they will just have to put the shirt back on the rack. If it is there when we come in this weekend, we can get it then." Ryu said, "How much money DO we have?" We had $3.07. He took every penny I had and put it with his (I made him give me back the Australian dime he had in his pocket! How'd THAT get there?) Then he went into the Doughnutsu Store.

I turned the heater on in the car, opened my book, and thought, "If he wants to bargain, he can do it by himself and his English will have to be adequate!" And I thought, "Who bargains in America?" And I thought, "He always bargains in Japan at these shops, so..."

Then, he didn't come back and he didn't come back. I ate three pieces of lemon cake. He didn't come back. I had visions of him cleaning the back room to make up for the remaining price of the shirt. I envisioned him, with his wrenched back, shoveling snow. I envisioned the police pulling up because this scary looking guy was arguing with the timid looking clerk.

Well, what do I know about anything? He finally sauntered over to the car, penniless and with the shirt in his hand. I asked what had happened. "Nothing," he said. "I got the shirt!" "For how much?" "$3.07." "What took you so long?" "There were five people in line ahead of me." "What did you say to the clerk?" "I told her that they don't have cash back service and I only have $3.07." "And what did she say?" "She said, just a minute while I get you your receipt."

Good things come to those who ask?

Happy Anniversary to Us (Small "s")

I was all set to tell you about the HORRIBLE bicycle ride/walk I just FINALLY finished with Jun and opened up the computer to be reminded by so many kind folks - OK, 2 - that it was my - OK, our - anniversary!

Jun was a little disappointed that an anniversary wasn't like Halloween, where one got LOTS of candy. We told her it was more like a birthday. And, if you've read my posts about birthdays - they are pretty lame by most Americans' standards.

However, our anniversary will eventually be wonderful because some friends of ours gave us a gift certificate for a KOBE Beef dinner - all the works! Including dessert! Yep, that's what makes a meal for me! Oh, and babysitting!

Nine years ago today, at a small church in Oregon, on a sunny autumn day with all my family, in-laws and their kiddos in attendance and with most on the platform, I and I exchanged vows. Not a typo. I had asked Ryu to memorize his vows so he wouldn't have to repeat after the minister - knowing that that can be hard and long and painful to watch. So, instead, he didn't memorize his vows and ended up repeating his vows to ME! Model and Repeat! You can see my lips moving first in the video. The line I've KEPT modeling and repeating is, "all that I have I give to you," and then freely borrow whatever I want from his drawers, closet, etc. I do restrict my borrowing to apparel - mostly. Ahhh. Another reason to battle the "fall five" now! I hate to shop!

I'm thankful for a man who accepts me and knows me better than I know myself! And who does dishes, vacuums, folds laundry, puts Jun to bed, cleans the bathroom...etc. He's the best!

Mars and Venus? I'm a True Believer!

Ryu's main "job" is studying English these days. He goes to the local Community College and attends their ESOL class for advanced students. There are usually about four students in the class. The teacher was born and raised in Hiroshima! I have to laugh. There are NO native English speakers in THAT room. That does allow them to have interesting discussions, however. More than grammar and vocabulary, they talk about communication - the way Americans' communicate verses people in their home cultures. Being in a bi-lingual, bi-cultural marriage, this is pretty interesting for ME too.

Well, anyway, Ryu's conversation partner in this group is a Spanish speaker from Peru. He is a few years older than Ryu and seems to be a very hard worker. Yesterday Ryu came home and said that they had stood out in the street after class and talked (in English - of course!) for an hour!

I asked, "Is he married?" Ryu said, "I didn't ask."
I asked, "Does he have any kids?" Ryu said, "I didn't ask."
I asked, "How long has he been in the US?" Ryu said, "I didn't ask."

The ONLY question that I asked that Ryu knew the answer to was what the man is doing now. And, I suspect Ryu didn't ask that, but the man volunteered. No Japanese man that I know would ever ask what someone else did for a living!

My last question, "What DID they talk about for an hour?????"

Thankfulness: We went to Boise today! Only the second time I've driven there in our six months here. It was a beautiful day and the fall leaves were gorgeous. And, even though Boise seems to have lost all of its Panda Expresses, we enjoyed our search and had a great and relaxing day together!