Monday, January 2, 2017

My Nephew Jacob

My Nephew Jacob lives in Japan. ( He is my sisters oldest child.) After he graduated from College he took a JET job in Japan.  JET is Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program.   Jacob speaks fluent Japanese.

Jacob and Saki

He met and married Saki last year.  I met her for the first time last week.  I was surprized that she speaks very little English but she does understand some of what is said.  In a group of people she seems totally lost and just smiles. ( Jacob quickly translates for her.)

They have purchased a piece of land on the outskirts of Osaka.  3,000 square feet of land for about $110,000 in our dollars ( I asked him to convert the price for me!) They will have room for a small house they plan to build and a small garden. They hope to begin building later in the year.  Right now they live in an apartment with a tiny balcony.

Saki baked cookies for the first time.  They have no ovens in Japan.  Jacob said they could get one for their new house but it would be very expensive.  He said eventually when they have children he would like to move back here for a few years so his children can experience life in the United States.

Jacob Saki and Mom

Jacob, my Mom and Saki

Mom and Dad had us over for breakfast one morning last week while Jacob and Saki were there visiting.

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23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice looking couple and sweet photo with your mom. I know they will love having a home/garden.

Happy New Year!

Pauline Persing said...

Thank you for introducing some of your extended family.

DJan said...

What a lovely couple! And I have long admired people who travel to distant places and become part of the community. How proud your family must be of Jacob's new wife. :-)

linda m said...

What a nice looking couple. Jacob is very fortunate to have such a wonderful experience.

Lynda said...

Our older daughter was in the JET Program. She did not speak Japanese fluently but was extremely disciplined enough to learn the language. It is a great program. We were impressed that they were so good to set them up with housing. As you mentioned, it is a very good experience for the college graduates with a good pay scale.
Saki looks very sweet! Is Jacob still in JET? I think you can only teach for three years in it?

Mac n' Janet said...

Our daughter lives in Japan and I'm sure she's never more back to the States

Patsy said...

Happy 2017!

Red said...

It's a different life for some of our kids these days. People are living in places they would never have lived before. Many of my former students live and work in Asia. And yes many of them married there and live there permanently.

Far Side of Fifty said...

No but he is still teaching.

Tired Teacher said...

If I spoke the language, I would live in Japan, too. The price of the land doesn't surprise me: land is a precious commodity in Japan. They make a handsome couple. I hope you'll be able to visit them in Japan one day.

Cynthia said...

So expensive! And what a wonderful opportunity for a young man to explore the world.
I almost couldn't read this because your nephew and his wife are so much like the nephew we lost less than a month ago, also teaching in Japan. As Paul says, though, for a short life he packed in a lot of adventure.

Rita said...

Wow! She looks so sweet. What a fascinating life. Leah's brother was stationed in Japan for a couple of years but being on base he didn't learn much Japanese. It would be wonderful if they could come and live in the US for a few years, yes! Multicultural kids--cool! :)

LindaG said...

He will love living in Japan, I am sure. BIL taught medicine there for about 10 years and he loved it. We enjoyed Okinawa on our last tour.
I wish them many happy safe years together.
God bless this year of 2017 for all of us.

L. D. said...

My neighbor's boy has been in college in Japan the last two years. It is an interesting thing for a student to do and I am sure fortunate for your nephew to have the experience teaching there.

Silver in AZ said...

she looks like just the sweetest thing!

Paula said...

What a wonderful post. I always like to learn about other countries. Can you imagine living without an oven?

Granny Marigold said...

What a lovely young woman. I wish your nephew and Saki many happy years together.

The Great Ethan Allen said...

Very lucky living in Japan. ( I'm so jealous!) We plan on going there someday. Hopefully to run the Tokyo Marathon. Hope the new wife felt at home and welcome. It must be tough visiting a new place where you barely understand the lingo.

Linda Reeder said...

Jacob has made an international life for himself. I can't help wondering how your sister feels, having her son set of life so far away.
I'm sure you all made Saki feel very welcome.

Jacqi Stevens said...

What an adventure! The prices for land there seem so incomprehensible, but show what a premium a little elbow room has over there.

In our extended family, we have two relatives who have married Japanese women. It certainly does turn out to be an international lifestyle for sure!

Lynda said...

It sounds like he LOVES teaching - - and Japan! Our daughter loved it there, too.

MTWaggin said...

What an ADORABLE couple they make and so nice to see these children make such amazing life decisions!

Sam I Am...... said...

What a handsome couple! I was surprised that there was land to buy and build on as it is an island. It was wonderful that they could come and visit an how interesting for all involved.