WEEK 3

It is the start of our third week in Japan and we have settled in well. Mami is looking, but not too hard, for jobs and I have joined the local gym and swimming pool. My doctor and physio in Australia told me I have to do gym work to build up the muscles around my knee after the surgery.
It is fun swimming on the right of the black line not to the left as we do in Australia. Even though driving is on the left as we do, they swim the opposite way. It is very hard to adjust, especially doing tumble turns. I find I am nearly collecting the oncoming swimmer as I complete my turn on the wrong side of the line.
My first day swimming was difficult. Too many rules to follow.
RULES
1. No watches to be worn in the pool as they might injure other swimmers?? Mind you they give you a locker key wristband complete with metal buckle to wear while you swim.
2. Must not use paddles as again they may cause injury.
3. Must wear a cap (YUK!!) even though I have more hair on my chest than my head.
4. Cannot have a drink bottle at the end of your lane to have a drink between laps as someone might put dangerous chemicals into it?????????

The gym is not too bad although you can’t just rock up in your runners and proceed with your workout. You enter the gym, take off your street shoes, change into slippers, crocs or the like, then proceed to the gym to put on your runners, which must not have been used for street wear. I have cut out the third pair of footwear by walking the short internal distance to the gym in my socks!

It can get a bit tricky and I am constantly wondering how many taboos i am breaking as I enter into daily life here. It gives me a better understanding of new migrants who come to Australia.