仙台的松果

日本的天气冷飕飕，尤其入夜以后，少了阳光的照射，加上寒风来袭，真的很难享受在户外的时光。前几天贺先生到附近跑步，发现了一座漂亮的公园，他每一天总会找机会问我要不要去散步，而我却多番推搪，宁愿窝在有暖气的房子里。

今天checked out，距离和朋友见面的时间还有一些空档，于是伟大的老公就自告奋勇一人背了两个大背包，目的就是要我陪他去公园走一趟。虽然我骨子里的懒惰虫蠢蠢欲动，但是他的诚意满满，要拒绝还真是于心不忍。于是我们大包小包的往公园去。

这座公园占地不大，但靠山、有湖、有鸭子、有亭子、有一排排的树、有花有草、有鸟儿……还求什么呢？我们找了一张椅子坐下，贺先生开始给朋友写祝福卡片，我拿出相机到处拍拍，竟然让我发现旁边的草地上都是松果！！！

不知道为什么，松果和枫叶一样，有种魅力牵引着我。尤其今天看到这些漂亮的松果落在草地上，路过的人却都不曾为它们停下脚步，只有个傻子蹲在地上瞪着它们发呆。

记得2013年在美国加利福尼亚，那是我人生第一次在路边拾松果，那儿的松果又大又坚硬，但我只拿了三个放在行李带回马来西亚，送给尊孔的同事。后来看到他摆在办公桌上，煞是漂亮。每每经过他的座位，都让我回想起北美的冬季和在那里生活六周的美好时光。

日本仙台的松果还算坚硬，所以我兴奋地拾了好多，想要带回国。贺先生提醒我，放在行李挤压，很容易会碎的～幸好我有一个塑料罐子，是之前妈妈给我装零食用的。所以我拼命地想在小小的罐子里装进最多的松果，贺先生无法理解地说：“加拿大很多啊，不用特地带回去吧！”

哈哈，我可是要把这些松果送给有缘人的哦！因为松树无法在马来西亚生长，所以更显其独特。加上是免费的，当然是越多越好啦 :)

所以？？？

欢迎有缘人在本文留言，说说为什么你想要收到我从日本带回去的松果。写得最好的，让我们安排安排，在我飞往加拿大前，约个时间见个面，共进一餐，顺便把礼物送上！物轻情意重^_^

－淑芬

Hospitality: The Way of Friendship

"Eating, and hospitality in general, is a communion, and any meal worth attending by yourself is improved by the multiples of those with whom it is shared." ― Jesse Browner

If you open the door of your house you often open the door of your heart soon after. I can think of few better ways in life to deepen friendship than through hospitality. Even something like a wild hiking trip that brings friends way closer together through difficulty, it is a form of hospitality where you make each other feel safe and at home in all the small ways you can despite the difficulties you face.

Every time I travel for an extended period I remember in the most extravagant ways that hospitality is one of the most beautiful things in the world. From the time my team of six met a refugee from Afghanistan in Turkey who opened his home to us and fed us a completely delicious meal. They had several kids and only made maybe eight to ten dollars a week by collecting bottles for the deposit, but they gave so generously to us of all that they had. Or the man selling kebabs as street food who fed my team an incredible three course meal just an hour after meeting us on the street and knowing he would likely never see us again.

Last night I was shown this truth again. Jetaime and I were trying to meet our friend Ryan in Sendai Japan, and everything went wrong. Our internet stopped working and we arrived too late. So we couldn't contact him and he waited at the meeting spot, but left after we didn't show up for a long time. We thought we could sleep the night at Mcdonald's because that is what many do, but it turned out this was not a twenty four hour Mcdonalds. All our plans were falling through and it was minus one Celsius and so my plan of camping was looking a bit more challenging. The McDonald's was going to close at eleven pm and we had nowhere to sleep.

We started asking for around for wifi, or ideas of where to stay, but most patrons and employees of McDonald's didn't speak the best English. Finally I talked to one man sitting by himself. He had a quick smile and spoke very good English. We found out later that he was actually a Neuroscientist/researcher and he went to McDonald's because it was easier to stay focused and the more lively atmosphere helped him write papers for journals. He had a hard time putting all the elements of our story together. To be honest, we did too! How did we get to this crazy place of desperation for a place to stay?

I felt a peace that God was taking care of us in the midst of these problems, and indeed he may have been the author of both the problems and the solution! This man at first offered us to use his phone to call our friend, then to research for us a place to stay, then he offered us his place to stay! He was thinking really hard about it before he offered. At first, I thought "Surely, this isn't too hard of a decision. It's just either yes or no." But again, we later found out that he had a big family to care about, and it was already quite late. We also didn't realize how much effort and generosity it entailed when he said "You can come to my place! Please come..."

"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2

"As a way of life, an act of love, an expression of faith, our hospitality reflects and anticipates God's welcome. Simultaneously costly and wonderfully rewarding, hospitality often involves small deaths and little resurrections. By God's grace we can grow more willing, more eager, to open the door to a needy neighbor, a weary sister or brother, a stranger in distress. Perhaps as we open that door more regularly, we will grow increasingly sensitive to the quiet knock of angels. In the midst of a life-giving practice, we too might catch glimpses of Jesus who asks for our welcome and welcomes us home." ― Christine Pohl

They pulled out all the stops for us: gave us about four blankets each and a really nice sleeping pad. Showed us how to use a traditional Japanese bathroom and the amazing hot bath they keep ready. At night we had snacks, and later a beer and great conversation with our new host. In the morning we got up to the smell of fresh coffee for us. We met each of their three kids, and the mother-in-law made the most exquisite breakfast for us: the freshest tomato, salmon, egg, salad, miso soup, matcha tea, and steaming hot bacon!!! We took a picture of everyone and the dad quickly printed it off and got us to write our contact information so that we could stay in touch. He gave us a printed photo with them. He shared the area, the history, his passion, and some good laughs with us. When we left, we were so shocked that this family which was filled with complete strangers the night before had become good friends within 12 hours. Their kindness just unlocked new levels of friendship that wouldn't have been possible in any other way.

Sometimes I wonder if that verse in Hebrews goes both ways that we sometime take care of angels by accident through our welcome, but maybe when we are welcomed sometimes it is by the very presence of God and his angels. Maybe we can interact with the divine through the help of strangers.

"Once again...welcome to my house. Come freely. Go safely; and leave something of the happiness you bring.” ― Bram Stoker

- David Hepting

仙台奇遇记

一早和朋友Ryan约好，晚上九点半在仙台爱子地铁站附近的麦当劳见面。怎么知道我们的时间估算错误，十点多地铁才到站，穿越空荡荡的街头来到麦当劳时，只有寥寥无几的顾客和正在收拾的店员……Ryan呢？？？

贺先生的平板电脑在巴士抵达仙台后开始作怪，完全无法使用网络，没办法和Ryan联系，我们也不懂他家地址，不能去找他 :( 日本的麦当劳，是没有免费无线上网的，我们唯有先叫一份套餐，边吃边思索良策。其实我们本来计划搭夜车到仙台，无奈夜班车票卖光，只剩午后的巴士，所以贺先生老早就决定这一夜要在麦当劳外的停车场露天而睡，而我则是打算拿麦当劳当避风港～

怎么知道，惊人的消息陆续有来：

1 仙台竟然开始飘起雪花，再疯狂也实在不能做傻事，这下与星空相拥入睡的美梦没了。

2 我们身处的这间环境优美舒适清净的麦当劳，将在晚上11点打烊，早上7点才开门！！！

（所以，不要假厉害，不是全世界的麦当劳都是24小时开门欢迎你的）

贺先生只好硬着头皮，拿着平白用谷歌翻译的日文向店内仅有的两位顾客询问哪里可以上网（我们一定要找到Ryan求助啊）。结果第二位顾客听了我们的故事后，拨了一通电话回家，接着再谨慎地提出一连串的疑问，确认我们所面对的状况（朋友没出现、麦当劳不能过夜、天气太冷不能露天睡、尽可能不花钱住酒店）之后，抛出一句“来我家吧！” 然后，拿起公事包就走。

我和贺先生吓得目瞪口呆，还等什么？赶紧立马扛起背包跟在他后面。

十分钟后，下了车，坂本（姓氏）家的大门打开，两位穿着睡衣一脸担忧的妇女快步出来迎接。三人飞快地用日语交谈，我和贺先生站在玄关面面相觑，两分钟后，较年长的岳母大人（我当然是后来才知道的）赶紧请我们入屋。三人快手快脚地把客厅中央的桌子移走，从房子的各个角落搜出一件又一件床单，层层相叠，大概用了14件铺了七层才安心停手。说是怕我们受寒了。

温柔的岳母大人和坂本太太都没办法说英文，但是却盛情款待，还现场学了一句英文，告诉我们 "please make yourself home"～她们为我们准备热水泡澡，递上毛巾肥皂（差点还要给新牙刷，幸好来得及制止），斟上热热的玄米绿茶，进进出出不停在打点什么。坂本先生也扭开电视，让我们免费上网，还把从京都买回来的点心拿出来让我们品尝，再找来一个小桌灯好让我们在夜里可以使用。

还有，15岁的大儿子也穿着睡衣，特别从二楼下来跟我们打招呼。

听起来很夸张，可是我没有骗你，这家人的待客之道让我们感受到寒冷里的温暖，再一次提醒我们人性的真善美。大伙儿等到贺先生和我轮流洗澡，喝了茶暖身子后，才放心入睡……才怪。原来，坂本先生等到最后才去洗澡（太伟大了），洗完澡后出来开口就问“how about a can of beer?”

哦，还打算上一上面子书就要关灯睡觉的我赶紧趁主人家去拿啤酒和零食时，把已经呼呼大睡的贺先生挖起来，打起精神继续坐在客厅与坂本先生畅谈。累是肯定的，但我们是客人耶，难得主人这么有闲情～而且，可以来个文化交流，还不捉紧机会？

坂本先生是本地大学的脑科研究员，不时会给大学生授课，也常发表论文报告。他每天晚上下班后一定到麦当劳报到，在那儿写他的论文（所以他才会知道我们真的是稀客）。他到访过多国，也曾在日本接待过某位诺贝尔奖得主，感觉很有分量。而且他的知识渊博，乐于分享，一个对两个，还是可以滔滔不绝，有问必答。幸好幸好，一小时后他就赶我们上床睡觉了^_^

第二天一早，岳母大人就像平时一样为家人张罗早餐。她是家里的掌厨，做得一手好菜，我们的五星级早餐和小朋友们的便当都是她准备的。坂本太太是小学老师，因为有她的薪水帮补，这所房子在八年前建成，大概再十年就可以完全缴清贷款了，比预期的三十年早了十多年完成。好棒！

坂本先生特别在我们面前示范他每天与11岁的二儿子进行的英文课：纸的正面是日文和答对次数，背面是英文和帮助记忆的图画，小朋友每天要学习和复习好几个英文单词，每一个英文单词从正式学习起，只要接下来复习时答对十次就算完成；每完成一个英文单词，才会再增加一个新的英文单词。小朋友显然对爸爸要他在陌生人面前复习英文这事儿觉得别扭，但还是一脸无奈地完成。他的图画很生动，有前途当漫画／插画家！

一家之主很热情，把岳母太太和孩子都叫到饭厅，大家聚在一起拍了合照后才允准出门（而且，五分钟后照片就洗好了，很神奇）；剩下坂本先生与我们共进早餐，岳母大人则在厨房工作，又不时以日文提问，请女婿为她翻译。坂本先生为我们介绍好去处，也分享了五年前东日本大地震的经历和之后他到福岛灾害现场拍摄的照片。聊着聊着，他拿出一套与二次大战相关的漫画集《Barefoot Gen》，特别警告我们要吃饱了才可以看，因为内容太可怕。我看了第一本，他说的还真没错。

早上九点钟，坂本先生按平时上班的步调出门，顺路送我们到Ryan所在的教会。一切顺利，我们见到了老朋友（昨晚他真的依时出现在麦当劳，但看不到我们，所以就走了），挥别了新朋友，带着他们送的日本扇子，背面写着家庭成员名字和联络方式的照片，两个圆滚滚的肚子和满满的回忆继续这段旅途。有机会，我们一定还要再回来仙台拜访这户丰富我们人生体验的坂本家！

对了，昨夜熄灯后不久有地震，持续了20秒左右，没有危害，是我人生第一次经历！也是贺先生的第一次，但是他完全睡熟了，毫无知觉，好强 ^_^

－淑芬

完美时间点

搭2点40分的巴士从东京到仙台。我们习惯使用谷歌地图看路线算时间，所以1点离开住处，信心满满以为2点前会抵达车站，怎么知道……

根据谷歌的指示，我们必须转三趟地铁，在最后一趟地铁转换时，两个人六只眼睛，竟然阴差阳错地搭错车！等到发现错误，为时已晚，车厢的门在我转头准备冲出去的时候“哔哔哔”地关上，留下我和贺先生相视苦笑。

于是我们回到第二个车站，重新开始剩下一半的路程。贺先生用谷歌检查地铁的班次和时间，发现情况不妙，因为我们抵达地铁站后，还要再走7分钟的路才会到车站。照这样的算法，我们最后只剩一分钟的缓冲时间。但是到了车站，我们还要找到工作人员，展示网上订票的号码，才能上车……

时间一紧迫，心情当然就不好，这时肩上的行李显得更重，要大步走，甚至小跑，真的很难开心起来。面对这样的情况，一定要叫老天爷帮忙啊！其实错过巴士也没怎样，但是票价不便宜，我们对钱这么计较，怎么可能让这样的事发生 :( 

地铁到站后，一路飞奔到终点，谷歌地图说我们已经抵达Willer Express车站，可那明明是一座商业大厦啊～虽然前面有几辆巴士，但是柜台在哪里？工作人员在哪里？当时我们根本不敢停下查看时间，只管冲冲冲，好不容易找到了柜台，工作人员站在门口用日语抛了一堆问题，我只听懂“仙台”两个字，他还在叽里呱啦，当下我们知道赶上巴士了，所以征询工作人员同意后，放下背包冲去上厕所，再冲回工作人员身边，他却只是满脸笑容用手势示意再等等。

什么嘛～当下就觉得超级奇怪，我们明明是在2点41/42分抵达（柜台有个大大的时钟），日本公共交通又是出了名的守时，怎么可能会为了我们两个人延迟出发呢？

转过头，看见墙上贴着一张告示，原来考虑到车站附近进行公路建设工程，所以不知从什么时候开始，巴士真正出发的时间会比票卷上列明的出发时间延迟20分钟。也就是说，我们购买的是2点40分的票，但3点钟才启程，所以我们的时间是绰绰有余！！！

我当下只差没有跪下来感谢上帝的帮助啦！谁会想到祂会有这一招呢？

后来大概在2点50分，工作人员就开始召集，领着一行人走到巴士旁，上车前司机再次核对票卷，帮我们放行李，最后准时在3点钟关上车门，开车！我们躺在舒服的座位上，无比开心啊！

－淑芬

生活在东京

在东京的日子，比起旅行，更像平凡的生活。

我们通过airbnb网站找到了一个好地方，距离东京市区有一定的距离，但是与元住吉地铁站仅咫尺之遥。房子就落在小区里，人潮不多（都是附近居民），物价不太高，步调也相对放缓许多。

这里的设备非常齐全，很有家的味道。住进来的第一天，屋主让帮手为我们准备了一盘点心，好贴心。我们很有福，每晚睡在日式传统的榻榻米地板上，而且房内的空间不小，应该可以再睡多两人。正中间有一张桌子，每一天我就坐在这里喝茶思考上网写文字看视频。桌下是暖炉，可以自行调节温度，把双脚放下去，简直就快活得不想再起来了。

每一天睡到自然醒以后，我们就步行到附近的商店买菜。与我们同住一个屋檐下的日本夫妻很可爱，太太Tomy特别在地图上给我圈出价廉物美的“生渔市场”（我可以读汉字，这样找店铺方便多了），那里卖的水果蔬菜肉类和冷冻食品等，都比其他地方便宜，所以几天下来我和贺先生都乐得亲自下厨。

为了省钱，上周贺先生在京都的一家便利店买了两公斤的白米，放在背包里实在重死了。我还在想要怎么会有人做这种事，要吃多久才会吃完啊……结果我前几天就在市场买了一颗超大的包菜，连续三天用不同方式烹煮，它看起来还是那么有分量，接下来也要放进背包带到下一站去@@ 你要我把食物丢掉或送人，那是绝对不可能发生的事，至少不是在物价如此高的国度。

我俩的厨艺不精，只求填饱肚子，来来去去摆上餐桌的就是炒饭、煲蔬菜汤、白饭配炒菜、意大利面配炒菜，倒也乐得自在。饺子则是我们的最爱。邻近的市场有超值的冷冻饺子，一包十二颗，只要日币100元，所以我们天天买一包，分午餐和晚餐两分，每一次每人各吃三颗。那对我们而言，是最上等的享受了。

明天将离开东京，真快。适应一个地方的生活以后，说走，很难。（可是不走的话，难道要在这里长期逗留吗？＝＝）屈指一算，今天是我们待在日本的第十天了，难以想象。唉，你不会知道我们每天拿出钱包之前，伸出手指斤斤计较的那份挣扎。苦是苦了点，但仔细一想，我们得到的也是翻倍的。

你问我东京好玩吗？这个问题真难回答。我们几乎每天都窝在熟悉的小社区窝在温暖的房子里，这样的旅行方式，这样的“玩”，不是每个人都能接受，都懂得欣赏的。但我们好喜欢啊～（尽管叫我们懒惰虫吧！）

下一站，我们到仙台找加拿大朋友去。

－淑芬

Strangers No More

"I am a stranger and foreigner among you" -Abraham

I was reading the book of Genesis today and was struck by that line. Abraham left everything he ever knew. His family, homeland, and comfort and he went to a land he did not know all because he heard a voice that told him to. Abraham trusted the God he couldn't see over all the people he could see. His knowledge of God was not some theoretical belief that he ascribed to. It literally influenced and was the reason for every major decision in his life. First he left everything, he believed God when he was told he would have a son, he waited 25 years for God to fulfill that promise. He was willing to sacrifice his son, the son of promise, because he trusted the God he knew with the most precious thing in his life. I believe Jewish people describe ten major tests of faith and decisions that Abraham made in his lifetime that showed his deep trust in God. All his days he lived a stranger to many because he was fully known by one.

As we have been travelling for these last two months I've definitely felt a lot like Abraham: a stranger and foreigner. Sometimes, especially where everyone is speaking a different language, the feeling is more acute. Then other times when I see some human commonality I think "Haha, we're alike!!" I had this thought the other day "We're all the same in that we are all completely different".

Everybody is a stranger.

And... I think one of our biggest desires in life is to become known. One thing we want more than anything else is to move from being a stranger to being fully known. There may be some sort of relationship with our mothers in the womb but from the moment we are born we are pretty much strangers to the whole world. I think that's one of the reasons why kids are so friendly, trusting and free, because the whole world, all the people, are there to be known!! So many questions to ask because the whole universe and all the people in it are filled with mystery and wonder.

We only start to close up when we are hurt. We only fear being known when we realize that when we are known then we can be hurt more deeply. It creates this urgency within us, we long to be known but we fear it more than anything else because when we are known all our weak and soft areas are laid bare.

Before we got married, I told Jetaime "I am giving you the knives to my heart. You will be able to hurt me more than anyone else, because I am going to trust you more than anyone else with my weakness, my failures and my fears." It was kind of a weird thing to say, but it felt important that I say it. She has hurt me since then, and I have hurt her too. We don't want to, but it still happens and we are slowly getting better at taking care of each other's hearts. I have this vision and dream of what our marriage can be, and I know that we need to keep going down this path of knowing each other more and more to get there, even when it hurts.

It's interesting that we are both teachers who are in a relationship. To some, teachers are peddlers of knowledge. We just fill up bright young minds with all sorts of interesting things and prepare them for life. But I have been reading Parker Palmer and John Dewey recently and it's not, or it shouldn't be, simply that. Teachers don't give knowledge, they lead students into a relationship with the known. There is always a need for a relationship between the knower and the known. When we divorce that, our knowledge becomes dry, esoteric, and conceited. Knowledge is precious and valuable, but it can't be some sort of hidden horde of treasure. It has to be created, kept, and transacted in community. It's like when you read a great book you use all these relational terms about what you know "OMG, when Twilight came out I just fell in love with it, I couldn't put it down, I had to know everything that happened to Bella" ;) . Haha, just kidding, but the point remains that we only really know something when we have some sort of love and relationship with that thing. It's awesome to hear a scientist or biologist talk with passion about mildew or pondscum, you can hardly help but get excited yourself.

In the bible, the Torah especially, the verb yada "to know" is also the word for sex. Adam knew Eve and they gave birth to a son. There is so much fascinating truth in that you could ponder for days. The thing that it brings to mind for me though is that from the beginning God designed knowledge in the context of loving relationship. God put a desire in us to be known, thoroughly and in an increasing way. A committed relationship is the only way that can happen and grow.

When people say traditional marriage is old-fashioned and we should expand our ideas of relationships to include casual hookups, polygamy, polyamory, and other sorts of open relationships, I think they have never really seen or experienced the beauty, passion and joy of monogamy. Can you imagine giving your life wholeheartedly to one person? They know you completely, warts and all, and still love you with all their heart? I don't think there is anything in the world that compares to that! If people could get a taste of what true monogamy looks like they wouldn't be satisfied with a cheap imitation of it. I see Christians advocating harshly against the sin and wrong paths that people go down. But if we learned to just show what simple, joyful, faithful love looked like wouldn't a lot more people be attracted to that? If we demonstrated trusting, hopeful, kind relationships where each person was both fully known and fully loved then maybe we could put down our picket signs, because people might be interested to have what we have.

So far, I have been suggesting that our greatest desire in life is to be known. I think that is true, but I would suggest there is an greater aspect to it than we generally understand. We desire to both be known and to know. Jesus, suggested that eternity is about one thing

And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. - John 17:3

The eternal purpose and direction of our lives is to know God and Jesus. To people who say heaven sounds boring when it's a bunch of lame people sitting on clouds strumming harps, this might sound a lot more boring! Hundreds of millions of years and on and on into eternity just getting to know God, but to those who have ever truly experienced God nothing could be more entrancing or exciting. He is endless delight, he knows our sorrows and suffering because he experienced them too. He is the most fascinating one you will ever meet. He knows every hair on your head and every dream or fear you've ever had. He is hilarious! God is so pure, so bright, so beautiful, we can't even imagine how clean it feels to be in love with him, "in him there is no darkness" because he dwells in perfect light. Every burden you have ever had falls off in his presence. Every worry or sorrow you have carried is melted in his heart.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Revelation 21:3-5

We get to know God. My former bible college professor Bob Gladstone talked about heaven something like this. "You get there and you are just in awe. You understand one aspect of God and you are dumbfounded and amazed for a million years. Then you understand another truth about him and another million years pass in pure wonder." You can't get tired of God because he is infinite beauty, you can't grow bored because he is the greatest storyteller in the world. My heart is one that loves adventure and I can't imagine a heaven that is not filled with wild adventure. All fear and pain will have passed away and relationships can only grow more and more rich, deep and beautiful. We will know and be known.

We will be strangers no longer.
- David Hepting

从京都到东京

Our first time hitchhiking together! We made it from Kyoto to Tokyo in 12 hours, 500km, 3 rides, 1 blessed meal and many helpful strangers!

日本什么都好，就是物价偏高。几天下来我们努力省钱，还是大大超支，所以搭便车从京都到东京的计划是势在必行的。这是我们第一次一起搭便车，是贺先生的第一次（我在金马伦尝试过），是我们在日本的第一次（接下来还要靠它到仙台），所以行前我们都很紧张，但也都很积极鼓励彼此：别人可以做到，我们也一定可以！

按照Hitchwiki网站的指示，我们从京都的大津市高速公路休息站出发，一开始被拒绝了好几次，语言不通也很难对话，但是借助高科技，把英文翻译成日文，再播放出来给对方听，这样勉强还能表达基本意思。两个西装笔挺的老伯不能载我们一程，却热心地告诉我们要学会看车牌，往名古屋、横滨、静冈等地的车都比较有可能往东京的方向去。我们照着他们说的，在停车场碰了几次钉子，却突然听见老伯大声呼唤我们，原来他们也在看车牌帮我们找有没有好心人，结果一问就问到了一位要回名古屋的男子^_^

把行李搬上车后，才知道对方是中国移民，在日本生活十多年了。于是一个多小时的车程都由我来负责谈话，聊了很多文化差异的新鲜事，也充当翻译让好奇心旺盛的他对加拿大有更进一步的认识。后来他让我们在另一个休息站下车，帮我们写了一张“往东京方向去”的日语指示，好让别人比较容易明白我们的目的。我们快速用了午餐，又在停车场徘徊，这一次同样是一位老伯的大力协助，带着我们在停放大卡车的地方，一辆接着一辆去询问，结果又让我们顺利地在十五分钟内上了一辆运货卡车。而且，这位老伯知道我们是夫妻，不懂从哪里变出一条日式围裙和一个日式购物袋（都是新的），送给我们，让我们受宠若惊！

大卡车只能坐两个人，所以个子小的我只能和行李一起挤在司机平时睡觉的隙缝里。车程大约四小时，司机大哥把我们送到足炳休息站，为我们写了一张更详细的问路纸条，才放心离开。他不太会说英文，全程我们都是用翻译软件沟通，但也聊得不亦乐乎。他说做这一行20年了，平时一天都开20小时的车（是的，只睡4小时！）～我们累得不停打瞌睡，他却精神奕奕，很强！准备搭第三辆便车时，我们距离东京只有一个小时半的路程。天色已黑，于是我们决定不在停车场逗留，而是在休息站的出入口找寻目标。不到十分钟，一位大叔说他的确是往东京去，但车上行李很多，请我们在原地等候，他去整理整理，看能否挤得下我们两个。但是这一去就……

在寒风中等了20分钟，我们决定放弃。我很小心眼，还不停碎碎念，说这个人破坏我们对日本人的信任，怎么不载我们也不说一声blablabla~ 怎么知道接下来10分钟一连被拒绝多次以后，这个穿着米色大衣的大叔突然出现，说“真的很困难，但我终于整理好了！” 我当场傻眼，用愧疚的眼神看着贺先生——自己真是冤枉好人。他的好，是我们始料不及的：一路上聊天分享经历，带着我们去到另一个休息站，买了一桌子的美食给我们当晚餐和第二天的早餐，知道我们新婚后再去买三杯咖啡当作庆祝（我们硬着头皮喝下，现在丝毫没有睡意），帮我们打很多很多通电话找便宜住宿，把我们安全送到终点，临走前还不断交代有什么紧急事件一定要第一时间用面子书通知他！

12小时的路程结束，我们带着满满的收获来到今夜入宿的漫画店（日本很流行在manga cafe过夜哦），放下肩上的包包，却放不下内心的激动。昨夜对在日本搭便车的担忧完全是多余的——人内心的良善绝对可以冲破语言的障碍和对未知的恐惧。记得卡车司机特意停下让我们两人去上厕所，自己却坐在车上按电话时，我就在想：他会不会抛下我们自己走掉？我们的行李和护照都在车里啊！结果从厕所出来看到他的车还在，那种感动，难以形容。

这是很长很长的故事，我不懂要怎么缩短，也实在不愿意省略任何一个自己觉得值得分享的细节。我相信分享的快乐，它不一定会感动每一个人，但是却一定能够触摸需要被感动的心^_^

－ 淑芬

First Hitchhiking Experience

"We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over.” ― Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

Today was possibly my favourite day of our whole honeymoon so far. It was so filled with so much unexpected kindness and beautiful moments with new friends. We started our journey at a rest stop in Kyoto and then hitchhiked over 450 kilometres to Tokyo!

We got three different rides and each one was so special. It was my first time ever hitchhiking, I had picked up many before, but never was one myself. The first guy spoke Chinese! So that was special because then Jetaime could talk to him and I could too a bit. The next guy spoke the least English but we discovered how powerful google translate is! I was so amazed how we could just talk into the iPad and have a full, albeit slow, conversation. He told us his favourite thing about Japan is that "there is no more fighting". He misses his wife a lot when he has to drive 20 hours a day in his truck.

It was the third man we met though that completely changed my understanding of what hospitality looks like to strangers. When we first saw him he said he was going to Tokyo, but his car was packed full with luggage. We should stay where we were and he would try to make room for us. We waited 15-20 minutes and there was no sign of him. We thought he must not have been able to make any room and so he just moved on. But we were so wrong! He spent over 25 minutes reorganizing his car so that we could fit in and our bags. He spoke slow, but had good English.

After about 40 minutes of driving he says he will get us some snacks and drinks. He bought us amazing sushi, tempura, juice, coffee, eggs, chicken, and vegetables. I'm pretty sure he spent over $30 on us. But he was so humble and kind "This is a wedding gift and little celebration for you guys" he said. Then he asked where we wanted to stay and we said a really cheap manga Cafe. So he found some near our Airbnb place for tomorrow and started calling them to see how much they were. He had so much patience! I think he called like seven of them and finally found one for a really good price. Then he drove us all the way there, to a really obscure place that probably added an hour to his trip. We were total strangers to him, but he just showed so much love, humour and generosity. We have become friends.

Travelling is cool. The sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of a new country are totally worth it. But it is the beauty and kindness I see in the people we meet that melt my heart and give me so much joy.

- David Hepting

An Unsolved Mystery...

There are always adventures waiting just around the corner...

We had a nice day today to rest and recover from a pretty full week. Tonight we went for a walk and realizing there was a sweet forested hill behind our place I thought we should check it out. We tramped over some worn boards, and a slippery train track, then headed into the forest.

It was super steep, and the dirt was crumbling around us, but I was have an inordinate sense of confidence in nature and I told Jetaime "We're fine!" We crested the first hill and there was the sketchiest shack I have ever seen. Pure darkness inside, old rusted tools outside, and some kind of metal Zipline that went into its depths. Jetaime didn't want to go anywhere near it. It would have made the perfect setting for a zombie horror film just as darkness was settling around us. I wanted to check it out just to be funny and maybe pretend something crazy happened, but I did the husbandly thing and said "Ok, we can go back :) 

Maybe someday we'll find out what really resided there, but until then it will remain the unsolved mystery of the scary shack ;)

- David Hepting

冒险记

夕阳西下，我们手牵手去逛附近的小区。日本人好有礼貌，公路使用者可是把“让路给行人”奉为圣旨：就算距离很远，或者像我这样脚短走路比较慢，汽车司机都会先停下，很有耐心地让我先过马路，都不会鸣车笛或者踩油门吓人。这一点，实在让人敬佩！

走着走着，我们越过火车铁道，隐约看到有一条小径通往山上／森林，贺先生雀跃万分，赶紧拉着我大步走去。那是无人迹的山路，地上满是落叶，我们小心翼翼地前进，中途经过一尊供奉在山里的日本神像。当时天色渐黑，树荫茂密，光线微弱，说不紧张是假的；可是，身边那个男人跟大自然为伍就快乐得像猴子一样，我怎么好意思扫兴呢？

后来我们发现不远处有一所破烂的房子，我脑海中第一个浮现的，就是小时候看的故事书里常会出现的巫婆（@@），她就会住在长这个样子的房子里，一身黑袍坐在客厅，煮着一大锅浓汤，手指甲又尖又长，看到有客送上，就会露出不怀好意的笑容……所以我当然就不愿意前进啦。于是贺先生让我留在原地，很奋勇地独自往上爬，靠近房子东张西望，然后很兴奋地叫我一起过去合照＝＝

我板着脸抿着嘴摇摇头，由于相机在我这里，他只好作罢，乖乖回到我身边。跟着因为我下山的速度太慢，又常小题大做呱呱叫，最后还是他背我走出森林的・ω・（所以只能选我在街头的照片搭配文字，将就一下啦）

事后我们小小讨论了一下，他说房子应该是以前修筑铁路时让工人暂住的地方，我大翻白眼——真没想象力，那一点都不精彩嘛！

－淑芬

An Interesting Day in Kyoto

I got to share chocolate cake with a beautiful lady today!

It turned into one of the coolest experiences of our trip. We ate at a place called the "ask me Cafe". The guy who started it has been a Kyoto city planner for more than thirty years. He wanted to share the fascinating history of this city which is over a 1,000 years old. He had been dreaming about starting the cafe for over fifteen years and last year he finally did it!

It still hasn't made any money, but he's in it for the opportunity to share with travellers and locals about this beautiful city he loves so much. Jetaime especially got inspired by him and the way he has given up so much for his dream and his desire to share his passion for this city with others.

One thing he mentioned offhandedly is that the original Nintendo headquarters were only a few blocks away!! It is a company that is over 100 years old and originally they made, I think, wooden playing cards for gangsters. So we got to go to the original Nintendo headquarters and take some pictures. He was just filled with little tidbits like that. It was a really nice highlight of our day.

- David Hepting

一块蛋糕

他手上拿着的&嘴里咬着的，是一块蛋糕，一块由陌生人送给他的蛋糕。

话说午后我们沿着河岸走了好长一段路，中途停下歇息时，看见一位穿着多层破烂衣服的大叔，推着一辆载满生活用品的脚踏车，非常使劲地走下斜坡。于是贺先生赶紧过去问对方是否需要帮忙，两人通过肢体语言表达，对方腼腆地婉拒了，然后很用力地独自完成任务，在不远处坐下。

我俩继续自顾自地聊天，大概五分钟后重新迈步。没想到走没几步，一个男人从后面把我们拦下，打开手中皱巴巴的塑料袋，用很简单的英文说“我这里有两块蛋糕，给你们吃。”不修边幅的脸上挂着灿烂的笑容。当时的我听不懂对方在说什么，贺先生非常快速地为我解释之后，就爽快地拿了一块蛋糕。对方把目光转向我，示意另一块蛋糕在等着我，可是当下我被吓着，也来不及反应，只好摇摇头。

贺先生向对方道谢道别以后，我才从他口里得知原来这个送蛋糕的男人就是之前他尝试帮助的脚踏车骑士，那位看起来像是流浪汉的大叔……（我真的是被吓到，记忆一时无法连贯）

走了好几个国家，我学了好多东西，其中最让我赞叹／感叹的是，越是贫乏的人，往往越是乐意分享。这些人拥有的不多，心胸却异常宽大，不计较得失。反观另一些人，生活愈加富裕，内心却越是放不开，对人对事小心防备，耿耿于怀。那又何必呢？

我看着眼前这个鬼佬快乐地吃蛋糕，由衷感谢他在这趟旅途中教会我的，远远超越我能想像的。

- 淑芬

I Love Japan!

I love Japan! It is one of the most beautiful, interesting, and enjoyable countries I have ever stayed in. All the food is incredible, from the cheapest frozen convenience store food to the outlandishly high standards of Kobe beef or fruit for over $100 a piece. The people are so kind and helpful. It's almost hilarious when we have asked for directions and even if they don't speak any English, they will keep talking to us slower in Japanese and pointing and eventually walking with us until we find the place, even if it's out of their way.

It's also wildly expensive if you're not careful. We thought we were being really frugal, but when we added the totals from two and a half days it was really surprising. However, we decided to take it as a creative constraint and an opportunity to innovate our lifestyle to use new ways to live simply and more adventurously. We might try hitchhiking to Tokyo from Osaka, possibly buying sturdy but inexpensive bikes on Craigslist and using them for transportation around Tokyo and maybe all the way to Sendai! Possibly do some urban camping too. It's an exciting situation when circumstances give you an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and live a little more adventurously than usual.

One thing Japan has taught me is the simple beauty of enjoyment. They have the second highest life expectancy of any nation on earth and it's not hard to see why. Everywhere we go we often see people simply sitting and enjoying nature. So many of the sites have a real meditative quality to them. I'm often surprised at how quiet it is, even in a crowd of people. They eat the freshest foods, and love to walk and bike everywhere. The balance is also shifted the other way by how many people love to smoke and how high their suicide rate is, so it goes to show that the healthy aspects of their culture would be even higher if it wasn't for those two things. But as I've been here I've realized how hectic my life has been for a long time. I've often kept a good sense of the peace of God and an awareness of His presence in my life, but I long for so much more.

I know this is becoming almost cliché in our culture, but I do just want to simplify, get rid of all that is extra and unneeded and live for what's most important. People are so beautiful and worthy of being loved well. Music, stories and laughter are some of my favourite things. I also love to learn and have adventures. My favourite thing in the world is if I can help people encounter the love and kindness of God! Somehow my life can get filled up with all sorts of other things besides that, and I'm realizing it might be the time to become more intentional about getting back to the basics. Anyways, haha before this post turns into a novel I better end, but that is a little of where we are at now. Thankful for the present and excited for the future.

- David Hepting

京都一日游

今天白昼气温摄氏四度，贺先生号称是不怕冷的加拿大人，但是生活在东南亚一段时间，身体渐渐适应了炎热的天气，这回来到日本实在受不了，穿了四层衣服，还跑到商场买了一双打折的手套，被我笑惨了。

我们走游客路线，去了闻名遐迩的祗园（但省下门票不进清水寺）和人山人海的锦市场。间中还巧遇在飞机上坐我旁边的两位马来同胞，互相交换了旅游情报。本来我看到带着头巾的两个女人，还想唤老公来看一下（因为她们在一群花枝招展的日本人／游客里真的非常显眼啦），怎么知道一转过头来……原来是认识的！哈哈！真有缘！

一天下来我们总共骑了17公里的脚踏车，老是骑在前面把我远远抛在后头的是加拿大自行车达人，这点路对他来说根本是小儿科。至于我……能平安顺利回返简直是神迹！感谢主！

－淑芬

Arriving to Kyoto

This is the look of happy, tired, cold, exhausted couple in Kyoto, Japan.

Jetaime is such a trooper. She walked several km's today and then biked about 8km more in some freezing cold Kyoto winds while carrying most of her belongings on her back! We ended up sleeping in the airport in Kuala Lumpur and then also the next night in Osaka. We didn't get the greatest of sleeps because people were a bit loud, and there were announcements every once in awhile, but it was fun to save money.

I'll just go on the record here and say that Osaka probably has the best airport in the world. Their toilets have heated seats, can shoot you with perfume and have a built in bidet! They have the friendliest staff I have ever seen anywhere, two long corridors filled with mouthwatering restaurants, a Pokemon store, a manga store, and an amazing convenience store that sells these meals that are really cheap but taste incredible. It was the perfect introduction to Japan.

Also Valentine's day we didn't get to celebrate much so today as we rented bikes and rode 8km to our Airbnb, I considered it the epitome of our dating life. The wind was freezing cold, I looked really goofy because I was wearing my warm canvas shorts on top of my pants, and wearing wool socks in sandals, and Jetaime was quite exhausted from the last few days, but in the midst of all that we got to enjoy some spectacular scenery, find joy in the difficulty, and laugh together. There is no one I would rather be traveling with or living my life with.

- David Hepting

感受京都的魅力

我们一早从关西机场出发，以“ICOCA&HARUKA”优惠套票，乘坐特快列车，短短75分钟就从大阪到京都。沿途风景超迷人，小时候看漫画看动画的日本场景活生生展现在眼前，内心实在澎湃，一点都不夸张。

一天下来我们问路问了有八次吧，从中学生，建筑工人，买菜的阿姨，公寓保安，到警察……每一次都是鸡同鸭讲，比手划脚，场面很好笑，也很温馨。公寓保安那一次甚是有趣，他不会讲英文，所以每一个从电梯出来的公寓居民都被他拦下，最后一堆阿姨围着我叽里呱啦，弄得我哭笑不得，只能不停“Arigato”～

另外，我多年没骑脚踏车，今天这一骑就是八公里的路，还有十公斤的背包压在身上，不是普通的累……幸运的是，我们一路沿着河边的单车道前进，骑累了就停下欣赏风景拍拍照。河水非常清澈，有鱼儿在水里游、鸭子在水上泳、鸟儿在近距离盘旋；河岸则是无敌美景，有旅客在拍照、学生在聊天、情侣在谈恋爱、还有人在慢跑在野餐在散步……这可是下午一点到三点之间，没有猛烈的阳光，只有冷飕飕的寒风，气温是摄氏五度。（现在是摄氏两度＝＝）

然后，日本的物价真的很高，至少比我们之前去过的任何一个国家还要惊人得多。我们吃一顿晚餐都要来回走上两公里的路，就是为了精打细算，斤斤计较。说穿了，我们不是因为有钱才到处旅行，而是因为要到处见识才学习如何用钱——我们要努力成为省钱达人！！！

－淑芬

今天情人节

情人节，大阪的气温是摄氏十度。日本餐太正，区区的便利店食物就让他惊艳不已，看来很快就会打败泰国餐成为贺先生的心头好了……他说要赚很多很多很多的钱，然后在年老的时候搬到日本，每天不停吃日本餐，到死为止@@

昨夜我们在吉隆坡机场过夜，今天我们又要在关西机场过夜，有时想想，觉得自己怎么会落到这样的下场啊～别人度蜜月，我也度蜜月；别人旅行，我也旅行；可是我们却得省省省，还真没办法奢侈享受呢。你问我会埋怨吗？嗯，小小碎碎念总是免不了的啦，只是更深一层想，就觉得，我的人生，实在无以伦比。

远距离恋爱两年了，这是第一次在一起过情人节，也是婚后的第一个情人节。然而，我们两个却都没有费任何心思，平平淡淡地渡过，只是在吃晚餐的时候突然想到这回事，便拍张照上传，交差了事。然后，我想起自己从前多么用心，多么重视……哈哈

结了婚，果然就变了个样。

。。。
。。。。
。。。。。

其实不是，而是“相伴”已成了现在最好的礼物^_^

－淑芬

Happy Monkey Year

I have made many wonderful friends during my time celebrating Chinese New Year with Jetaime and her family, but this friend is definitely the largest and most inflatable!

We head back to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow, and then off to Japan the next morning! It's been so good to slow down, develop a routine, eat amazing food, and get to spend some really good time with Jetaime's family. I'm going to miss this place a lot.

I really love cultural traditions like CNY that bring families together in such an intentional way. Its probably why Thanksgiving and Christmas are two of my favourite times of the year. As we get older it seems we almost need an excuse to get together, but whatever the case I love the things that bring us together. Happy year of the monkey! 

- David Hepting