Welcome, We are James and Shaharriet Houchins. We are a "Traditional" Catholic Family employed by The United States Air Force stationed at Misawa Air Base, Japan. We are proudly bonded in the Sacrament of Marriage. From this bond we were chosen to be Co-creaters with Christ and from our union he has blessed us with 7 wonderful children so far.

A little about Japan ( where we live)

No learning the language was not required but it does help. When you arrive on Base they teach you a survival Japanese (quickie), that is all we took. The language is difficult, but can be done. I learn alot from my Japanese maid called a Mamasan. Living here is wonderful. It is just like living in any city. Buildings, streets, and such. The Japanese do not drive their cars for more than 5 years, the minimum wage here is = to 30,000 a year in the states. We have a fully automatic, 4 wheel-drive, power windows, doors, and curtains, remote controlled rear ac/heater, front and rear sunroof 1991 Nissan Serena Van that seats 8 and we paid only 5,900. No way in the states. As for sights, wow ! thats tough there are so many. Skiing galore, and beautiful snowcapped mountains in winter. Festivals all year. The Japanese Onsen (Hot Bath) year round. This is my favorite place. Indoor swimminp parks. Hot Baths Spas galore. Eating galore. With the yen conversion the hot Baths cost about 1.50, as it is 250yen. My favorite Restaurant is a place called Yakenekoo or Vikings in English. This place is wonderful it is an all you can eat place. You can sit Japanese style on a Tatami floor or American at a table. Inside each table is a grill you go get whatever you want lamb, beef, chicken,liver, ect and onions, bellpeppers, etc, and cook it yourself. There is rice, soup, chicken, and sushi available, Also full service salad bar, and ice cream, and drinks free and as I said all you can eat. All this for 950 yen about 7.00 weekdays till 3pm then the price goes up to 1450 yen till close about 11:00pm . Kids under 5 eat free. The meat selections are excellent, marinated, pure, no presearvites. Thats just a few, as for the weather, it is for me wonderful. We get an average of 120 inches of snow a year. The summer is short meaning degrees of 60-80 from about May- Sept. Then it cools to about 50-60 degrees till Nov. or Dec then we see some snow. Now this year with El nino, we had 159 inches of snow and It is july and we have had some low temps of 48 to 55. Setting records but not breaking the 45 degrees set in July 1968. In the summer it usually is our rainy season. We drive on the left side of the road. Oh and yes this is the cleanest country. All the bathrooms on the side of the road, CLEAN, and as for crime nothing like the states. When I lived off base I left 100.00 bill in my car by accident, and the next evening I go to my car for the first time and wala! there it is, and my car is open. WE LOCKED no doors off base and keys are left in cars. When you go to see a Japanese house for rent the lights are left on and the door open so you can go at your lesuire.

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