Australia is a very dry country. So water restrictions are in place in many regions in response to chronic drought. These rules differ from state to state. Because of the water shortage, people try to use less water in their everyday life. Washing dishes is one example. Many people wash dishes in warm, sudsy water and then skip rinsing them. They shake off the suds and then place the dishes directly on the rack. Some people would be surprised to see this unique way of washing dishes. But it’s a very eco-friendly way of using less water and less detergent. 

Today, we live in the age of information and technology. We use the Internet, email, and cell phones every day.

Thanks to all these tools, you may think that life today is easier and more comfortable than before. Studies suggest, however, that despite this technological advance, we have less leisure time than before. Actually, we are working longer hours using these tools with fewer holidays. Besides, we feel a lot more stressed than before, since these tools are destroying the idea of privacy.

Recently, the coronavirus pandemic has forced people to stay home and away from their offices. As a result, the ideas of home and work are getting closer to each other. Using Zoom for online meetings may be convenient, but some people feel stressed about this change. They say they cannot escape working and enjoy free time at home.

Many Americans new in Japan are changing their diets for the better. They are trading in a high-carbohydrate, high-fat American diet for something more “Japanese.” The first big change, for many, is their increased consumption of fish. “I never ate this much fish back in America,” said Jim Benson, an American who moved to Japan recently. Soy products and seaweed are next on this list for many Americans. These products are known to reduce the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. “Japanese meals in general look and taste nice and are healthier, I think,” said Benson. Benson wants more Americans to know about the health benefits of Japanese food. When he tries a healthy Japanese dish, he features it on his blog, “Eating Healthy in Japan.”

This coffee maker makes great-tasting coffee. There is no need to use paper filters, which saves money. It has all of the features I was looking for: water filter, adjustable warming plate, 1-5 cup selection. The machine is slightly tall, but certainly not a problem, as it fits fine underneath most cabinets. Also, the carafe is well-made and has a spout that pours without spilling. No complaints about this one! After purchasing 4 other coffee makers, the 5th one is the best! With $50, you can turn your home into a nice and comfy cafe of your own!
It comes with a one-year warranty. I would suggest you go to a store, but you can also buy it online at www.pmart.com. With this coffee maker, you won’t need to spend $4 on a cup of coffee anymore! I would definitely recommend it to a friend.

To be in Vienna, Austria, is to be inside music. It’s hard to be anywhere in Vienna without hearing music. The Vienna State Opera has performances every night. Old palaces hold balls with sometimes as many as ten live bands. The Vienna Boys Choir sings at the Hofburg Chapel, a 500-year tradition. And the street musicians are so good, you’ll want to pay them.
Vienna is the perfect setting for music. Tea rooms, horse-drawn carriages, and grand Imperial buildings everywhere. You expect Mozart himself to greet you around every corner. If you love a pretty melody, a trip to Vienna will be music to your ears.

Graduation ceremonies in Japan have a highly solemn atmosphere. When receiving diplomas, most graduates have a serious look on their faces. You might see graduates and their parents being overcome with emotion and crying in the middle of the ceremony. In the US, however, they are celebrations filled with joy and excitement. Graduates gather in an auditorium, and each receives a diploma on the stage, looking happy and confident. In the end, everyone throws their caps in the air in great excitement, which becomes the highlight of the ceremony. In Japanese graduation ceremonies, the sad farewell is the main theme, whereas in America, the celebration of accomplishment is the main theme of graduation ceremonies. Either way, they are both the end and beginning of a chapter in life.

Credit cards can be helpful items. You can use them to enjoy an expensive dinner or a spa hotel. If you have a credit card, you never have to worry about how much money you have with you.

However, there is a problem with carrying a credit card. When you have a credit card, you may use more money than necessary. And you may not even know it. So, if you use a credit card, be careful and check how much you have at the bank at the end of each month.
Credit cards are accepted in most businesses in many parts of the world. Interestingly, in Japan, there used to be shops that didn’t accept credit cards. Now, with the coronavirus, however, more and more shop owners are accepting credit cards and other IC cards because they are faster and safer to use.

In the US, you will find tens of thousands of fast-food restaurants in cities and along highways. Many of these restaurants started as hamburger shops or ice cream stands, and then they developed into international chains. Now, they have thousands of outlets across the world. These restaurants have everything from triple cheeseburgers to fresh fruit and salad bars.

Many people think that fast food is not healthy. In most cases, indeed, fast food has too much oil and sugar, and it lacks vitamins and minerals. However, not all fast-food items are unhealthy. You can find some healthy items on a typical fast-food menu. Sushi is a kind of Japanese fast food. Foreigners who visit Japan and go to a “kaitenzushi” shop (conveyor belt sushi or “rotation sushi”) may feel it is just like a fast-food hamburger shop.