At that time 1 NZ dollar was 53 yen. I paid 720 dollars for my room rent and meals--less than 40,000 yen for one month. I bought a small radio for 20 dollars (1060yen). It was made in Japan. A lot of household electrical appliances made in Japan were sold in NZ. Their (my host family) televison set, refrigerator and microwave oven were products made in Japan.
Mr. and Mrs. G said, "You are our guest. Please help yourself at home. Tell us what you want us to do for you, if any." But I wanted to help them and offered to wash dishes after dinner. They didn't have a dishwasher. They said, "No, you are our guest. You don't have to do anything."
But finally they said yes and I washed dishes after dinner. To my surprise they put some detergent and hot water in the sink., then washed the dishes in it, and wiped those dishes with a washcloth. That was all! They did not rinse out the dishes! They said it was to save water and the detergent itself was not poisonous. Anyway I did as I was told to, feeling anxious about the detergent.
Mr. and Mrs. G said, "You are our guest. Please help yourself at home. Tell us what you want us to do for you, if any." But I wanted to help them and offered to wash dishes after dinner. They didn't have a dishwasher. They said, "No, you are our guest. You don't have to do anything."
But finally they said yes and I washed dishes after dinner. To my surprise they put some detergent and hot water in the sink., then washed the dishes in it, and wiped those dishes with a washcloth. That was all! They did not rinse out the dishes! They said it was to save water and the detergent itself was not poisonous. Anyway I did as I was told to, feeling anxious about the detergent.