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When I was in my 30's and newly married, 当我刚刚三十岁出头，新婚燕尔 I followed my husband to his native Japan. 我随着丈夫去了他的日本老家 His mother lived in a small town 婆婆住在一个小镇子里 where a son bringing home his American wife was unheard of. 从没有人听说过谁家的儿子带个美国媳妇回来 Japanese households were (in)famous for their myriad of rules. 日本人家素来有许多家规，因此臭名远扬 Not only what slippers were for which room 不仅有规定，哪双拖鞋只能在哪个房间里穿 - and in which rooms none were allowed - 还规定哪个房间不可以穿拖鞋 but also, 不仅如此 at mealtime what foods to eat 还有吃饭的时间可以吃什么食物 and in which order. 按照什么顺序吃 But 没想到 my elderly mother-in-law set me at ease at the very first meal, 我年老的婆婆从第一餐进门宴就让我放下警惕 announcing warmly to everyone 温暖的向每个人宣布 that I could do anything I wished 我可以做任何自己想做的事情 because there were no expectations. 对我没有任何条条框框 | 
