Sandier Pastures

Did you know that the Middle East stretches as far west as the Western Sahara in Africa? What is the smallest country in the Middle East? 

I love geography. Memorizing all the countries with their respective capitals was my favorite past time even before I entered high school. Then I escalated into memorizing the flags, the currencies, then the nicknames of each of the states in the US. I clearly had all the free time in the world. It was fun, at least for me. A great challenge I can always take even now.

I found this on Sabine’s blog and of course, I wasn’t able to resist, especially that I am living in this region. I’d say I scored well! If only big old Russia didn’t blow up into pieces of tiny nations, my score would have been perfect on the first try.

Go on, take the challenge! Don’t forget to come back and tell me how you did!

At long last after 8 months of waiting, someone (some family) is moving into our house in Japan! It has been in the real estate company ads screaming “For Rent” but no one has taken the risk of moving in and having to clean 7 rooms!

Small Japanese families, usually with only one or two kids then no maids to hire so having plenty of rooms in the house would be actually be a burden than a comfort - - can’t blame them.

We had been paying mortgage for that house since January and it’s a great relief to have someone rent it, someone to pay off the house loan for us. Yay!