Same. And 7 years later we went back once more to gather our belongings… but my MIL still isn’t interested in visiting

While it’s not true all the time, Japan is pretty quiet. You can always find foreigners because their voices carry even when they’re just talking.

I see your Australian and give you Japan- where this is also true and our winter temp where I live is usually in the single digits if I’m lucky for the high. Summers aren’t nearly as hot- but humid as all get out. Do they have central air and heat there? In the winter I get to bust out the kerosene heaters and hope I don’t suffocate myself on accident