Friday, September 19, 2008

Potty Training and a Haircut


Okay, so this is one of our toilets and I still haven't pushed any buttons. The toilet is plugged into the wall! There are interesting pictures on the side there - They each have a little diagram. I particularly like the ones in blue of a shapely rear end. And then there is the one that says 'videt' - not sure if they just don't get the b's or what...I'll post something once I get the nerve to try....not to worry I will be discrete and not graphic.

And then there is the Japanese toilet that we often see when we are out and about. This picture is not upside down it is correct and you are looking at the floor in a women's bathroom. Here ladies you squat ALL the way down. Maybe that's why they wear so many skirts and dresses - it's much more convenient to lift a skirt than to pull down pants in this situation. I must say that it is easier to squat all the way than just halfway with a western toilet - that is if you choose not to sit on the public toilet. Then you just flush with your foot. They are plenty powerful as Connor has proved because as luck would have it he has had to poop almost every time we are out and he pretty much takes off everything and squats. I spared you that picture, thought I would wait until he flushed.













On a cleaner note, Connor got his first haircut at the Barber down from the apartment. It's the closest we might get to a Minneapolis 'Kid's Hair' experience. The barber pulls out his booster and takes his VHS player out of the closet and had a selection of Japanese and English videos to choose from. Connor chose Thomas and sat completely still the whole time. However, we still have to work on the not so natural smile for pictures these days.






5 comments:

JUDY WENDT said...

Precious! How much did the haircut cost?

Brigitte said...

2415 Yen - roughly 24 bucks, and remember there is no tipping. Nick got his cut today , now he doesn't look like a girl and Jack went there last weekend...they do a pretty good job

Trixie120 said...

THat's funny--from the blog post title I thought this entry would be about your haircut and Connor's potty training, but no! It wasn't!
THat picture of Connor with the umbrella is just lovely, too.
Thinking of you often,
Jennifer

Anonymous said...

I'm impressed that the kids haven't already pressed the buttons...then all the buttons...then all the buttons at the same time.

The squatting--even in a skirt... still picture my underwear get all stretched out around my ankles and getting sprayed in the process-- do you take your underwear off? BTW.... I'd only ask this on a blog where we all know each other....

ssmurray said...

I'm so curious about that squatting toilet. What DO you do with your undies? What about old people that just can't squat anymore? Maybe in Japan old people can still squat...

A family that we're friends with lived in Tokyo (in your neighborhood) for a few months last year. The Dad is Japanese. The kids went to the local public school that is the "sister school" of Tokyo IS. The mom had amazing things to say about TIS. She said your neighborhood is a great "starter" neighborhood for westerners-- you can ease into the Tokyo experience. From the looks of your pictures, I'd say you're fully immersed. We miss you guys and think of you all the time. Sarah