Cold
nights, freezing mornings, and wet snow.
Yes, these are elements of our winter this year. I bundle up, even is the house, because we do
not central heat our homes here. This means we have to wear more inside. But, we just bundle up and move on with the
day. We must plan activities around when it is warmest. We learn to adapt. We heat our beds with hot water bottles or
electric devices. We heat the bathroom
with electric toilet seats. Many
Japanese have small electric carpets that warm your feet.
At
my house we heat our living room, so our activities are done there. We sometimes get in each other’s way, but for
the most part, it works well. I like
that we are together, doing our projects separately together. I can help my parents do their work, and they
help me. It has a real family feel. My favorite time is after dinner when we read
and sometime watch things together. Kind
of life in pioneer days, but with many more conveniences. We could complain
about this situation, but it is more fun to embrace it and run with it. I am
thankful for the family ties that become stronger with shared experiences.
