Saturday, February 7, 2009

We got married!! And other updates.

It has been 2 weeks since I last blogged and there are many reasons for it. The 2 main ones are that we got married yesterday and I've been working on opening a new etsy store which I just opened today.

Now before you all think we did some big wedding thing....we didn't. What we did was go down to city hall and "register". See...I have never wanted a big wedding. I don't like weddings. I didn't go to my brother's or my best friend's wedding. I haven't been to a wedding in over 20 years. Don't ask me why but I just don't like them. Thankfully my honey didn't want a big wedding and with my family and friends scattered all over Canada and the States and his family here in Japan it just got a bit complicated so we made it as simple as possible....we just "registered".

You might be wondering what "registered" means....I mean if you go to city hall in Canada you are getting married. But the thinking is a little different here (this is my take on it...someone else might have a different perspective about getting married in Japan). First the ceremony is basically a big party here....the white dress, the flowers, even the person performing the ceremony (oh and in Japan it is often a foreigner who is just pretending to perform the ceremony-guys can make money doing this and yes...it is legit) have no meaning because until it is "registered" at city hall you aren't married. I told my friend "I'm getting married" and he asked about the "wedding" and I said that we were going down to city hall to get married and he said "oh...you are just registering".....as if I were buying a clunker of a car instead of a BMW. Ummm....Hello?!!! Without "registering" you aren't married so....I'm getting married!!!

I told some of my older female students and one of them told me that her daughter "registered" 2 months ago but they aren't sure when they will have the ceremony. I said to my student that it means she is married and she looked a bit surprised and said "yes, I guess so."

So, yesterday my honey, my friend Phee (hi Phee!), his mom and I went to city hall to "register". We had already filled out many forms at home but we still had a few things to clear up when we got there. First it was important to know if I was "choujyo" which means first born daughter....I am so we circled that (still not sure how that is important). Then we had a piece of paper put in front of us that was about the "head of the household". See he moved in with me so I was the head of the household but once married it is assumed that the man would be the head....well.....we looked at each other and said we'd keep it just as it is .....I mean does it matter? But because we didn't change the title "head of the household" to him, we had to wait extra time while they changed his health insurance card so that my name would appear on his card since I'm the head of the house. I am pretty sure his mother wasn't too impressed that we didn't change it but hey....that's what we wanted!

So...we are now officially married! I called my mom after and she cried! (Hi mom!!) Hope she is ok now. So all day today I've been joking with my honey that I'm the boss since I'm head of the household and he keeps telling me that my butt is his because it is registered!

The other news is that I have opened my new handmade etsy shop called SouZouCreations. I'm a little nervous to do this because it is totally different from selling supplies. I mean if someone doesn't like a sticker sheet I don't take it personally because, after all I didn't make it. But if feels much much more personal (obviously) with this store. SouZou means both "creation" and "imagination" in Japanese and the Kanji (Chinese character) on my banner means SouZou. I have always loved making things so I now have a place I can sell them!

22 comments:

Becky said...

Congrats on getting married. I am so happy for you both.
Hugs and Love

maoiliosa said...

congratulations!!! yay, you must be so happy to finally make it official :D. you are so cute when you talk about him, i just know it's meant to be :).

i will check out your new shop right now! i bet it's awesome, and i doubt you have anything to worry about as far as people not liking your stuff ;).

FromJapanWithLove said...

Becky and Melissa-thanks!! It feels good! Melissa-I don't have much listed yet...just started with a few things but have tons of plans for things and will be adding more soon!

Colleen said...

Congrats on getting married! Never really did understand the whole process of getting married in Japan with the ostentatious party that often happened at a totally different time that the registering.

Good luck with the new shop too!

'Cuz I Felt Like It! said...

Congratulations!

Wasted Wishes said...

Congratulations!!! I just checked out your new shop, and I LOVE everything you have listed. They're so quirky and amazing!sessial

Jennifer Rose said...

Congrats on getting married! :D

Kay said...

Congratulations on both your marriage and SouZou! Best of luck on both.
I love reading your blog on things that go on in Japan. I was born there but never learned a lot about it...disfunctional family trauma...so it's nice seeing what everyday life is like. Thanks!!!

Perogyo said...

Congratulations!
I admit my registration didn't feel like getting married, but my honey had to work so I did it by myself. I feel married now though! (7 years on)

FromJapanWithLove said...

Thanks everyone!!

Medea...yeah...I totally understand. Nothing really feels different....but the clerk called me oksama at city hall and that was weird!

Tonykaku said...

おめでとう from the south bay of Los Angeles.
not sure how i stumbled across your blog but i always like reading about someone who loves being in Japan.
i will be returning next month for my yearly ohanami trip.
do you guys have an actual store somewhere with all that cute stuff? i collect the small Hello Kitty towels...i think i have over 70 from all over Japan.
i have an old friend who is kind of living the opposite life from yours. he is Japanese and married a Canadian girl and they are living happily-ever-after in Port Hope, Ontario.
tonikaku, congratulations and ganbatte with your new shop and Life.

Anonymous said...

congrats! I had a similar experience like you, married a Hong Kong guy in Hong Kong, but registration only.
love reading your blog as you have so many similar experiences as I have here in Hong Kong. and I have an etsy shop too. so actually we are competitors ;-)

Emma said...

Congratulations!!

MauB said...

Congratulations! Brightest Blessings on you both!

Mau

Lost Mitten said...

Congratulations on getting married!!!

I also think that the rings in your new shop are awesome, so I don't think you have to worry about anyone not liking them! :) Best of luck with everything!

terryann said...

Congrats on getting married. you will not regret it, I hope you will have "partys" so other people in your family can celebrate and support you also. I comend you on your wise decision.

Marqueta (Mar-kee-ta) G. said...

Hello there!

Congratulations on your wedding-Simple weddings are wonderful! Who needs all the "fluff"?

Your blog and shop look so much fun (I have five children, 11 and younger)~we've been window-shopping!

Love,

Marqueta

p.s. Would you happen to know of any resources written in English about Japanese methods of housekeeping?

FromJapanWithLove said...

Thanks everyone!!! I appreciate all the comments!

MaliciousGnome said...

Many happy congratulations on getting married, Sofia! I wish you and your hubby the best! :)

Amy said...

Congratulations and Mazeltov! May you have a long healthy joyful life togther.

Yeshan said...

Poor guy.. you should have let him be 'head of the household' :)

viv said...

I just found your blog now since I do check out ur stuff on flickr whenever u have it updated. It maybe a bite late but congrats to you on marrying what i think is a very cool and nice guy.
This is the 1st time I heard someone said they dont like weddings and dont attend ( its just what I say all the time and ppl look at me weird)
I love ur blog and looking forward to reading it.

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