Freshman 15

A few weeks ago we had another parent's night out for Connor's preschool class, which then led to a pool hall and I believe Jack ended the night at his favorite hangout - Heaven. Sometimes it feels like I am on a really long vacation. Sometimes it feels like college or my 20's in Chicago (except I am now trying to do the same things in a 40 year-old body). Everything is new and exciting. We go out more often than back home, eat out more, drink more and stay out later. Last night when we came home at 10, the sitter was quite surprised. It was an unusually early night.

I must keep things in check or I just might roll home this summer with a few extra pounds -my Japanese version of the freshman 15. You would think that all the walking should make a difference and it does probably help. It certainly doesn't help one's self-esteem that the Japanese are so tiny. There was a paragraph in the expat bible stating that, 'one might feel self-conscious of their size and it will take some getting used to.' They weren't kidding. You certainly notice when someone is not so tiny. My clothes still fit - check. It doesn't matter that the Japanese portions are smaller, that the food is healthier, the celebrations are many.

Sakura

Cherry Blossom Forecast for Japan

The Sakura, or Cherry Blossom season is forecasted by the Japanese Meteorological Agency similar to the tracking of the changing of leaves in the states. Apparently March 28th was the day for Tokyo. But Tokyo can't control Mother Nature and as much as they would like everything to be ON TIME the forecast was off. Fortunately for us the peak wasn't until after our return from Thailand. When the trees bloom, spring has arrived and every single Japanese is out with their family and friends celebrating under a tree with some sake and food on a good ol' plastic mat. This is Hanami. We decided to partake in a Hanami picnic with 5 other families at Shinjuku Gyoen. Interestingly enough, I was trying to spot our group in a sea of Japanese in this enormous grassy (well, not quite grassy yet) park and I couldn't see them for some time! I am not sure how we didn't see them as there were almost 20 of them, including several kids and no other gaijin around! As usual we drew plenty of attention with the children running about, screaming, yelling, and a couple of knock-down drag outs (those were between Nick and Kate). I probably should have consumed some Sake myself, but I was the designated (bike) driver responsible for getting Connor home safely. And from past experience drinking and riding don't mix(this happened just once). In any case, it really was spectacular and a sight to see everyone celebrate this season and taking pictures under the trees, holding the flowers, pointing to the blossoms. It seemed as if this was the first time they had every witnessed this beauty in nature.



The photos below are from my quiet stroll to Naka-Meguro the following day, which I personally enjoyed more. Maybe that's because I was alone. The trees lined this waterway. The breeze blew. It began to snow - cherry blossoms. Girls giggled and ran after the petals, little kids collected the fallen flowers from the ground. People took their sushi and grabbed a spot on the curb. It really was a sight to see.

I get it now.

What just happened?

I am walking through the train station today on the way to the gym and a Japanese guy stops me and starts asking me questions I can't understand. Then of course I forgot my phrase to tell him I only spoke a little, so I just stood there. He then pulled out a police badge and some sort of ID. He was wearing street clothes and about 25, maybe 30? Who knows. My first thought, is this a joke? He is trying to scam me? Is he really a police officer? (I chalk my paranoia up to watching too much TV and reading too many warnings on the Internet about people posing as police officers. But come on! We are in Japan.)

Then he says passoporto something...
I said, "I don't have my passport. "
He says, "Sorry, passoporto carry/require" ( not really sure )
I said, "I am an American?"
He says, sorry, passoporto thing....again
I said, "I have my alien registration card?"
He just looks at me and apparently he isn't leaving until I produce something for some reason I have no clue. I look around, I don't see any officers. I pull out my alien registration card and show it to him.
He says, "Oh, sorry, sorry!" All the while smiling and giving me a little bow.
I said/motioned, "Can I go now?" I was clearly annoyed.

And apparently I was free. What just happened? Seriously, did he think I was a criminal in my gym clothes, spring coat and YMCA bag on my shoulder?

Kate's turn - again

One of the hardest parts for me about leaving Mpls was giving up Kate's gymnastics. Okay, so Kate was giving up her gymnastics, not me. In any case we found a program here that allows her to have fun and make some progress, but it's not as challenging as it was back home. She was going to begin competing last fall just before we moved. And although the program here isn't about competing, but about building self-esteem, she is still enjoying herself and we have said as long as she wants to go we'll keep signing her up. The coach recognizes Kate's strength and always feels badly that he doesn't have a team she can participate in, instead he gives her a little extra time and pushes her where he can. She has definitely made some progress and it was great to see her tumble on the special 'watching day.' This happens only one time per session.

Connor's Turn

Just wanted to post some of Connor in action at Willowbrook International Preschool. He has a fantastic time and I am impressed with all that they do. Tracing some kanji, katakana or hirigana (not sure which one)

...remember my lessons haven't begun

Working with one of the three teachers for 16 kids - nice ratio


These are used for Japanese ball games, although not so good with the superballs in the apartment




A bit of Yoga with Miss Yoko

...and close your eyes and stretch

Practicing mochi making for the New Year

This is the sushi roll I believe? Playdo and paper version

Finished product

Looks a bit disturbed.

Waiting for his turn

Connor and his buddy Leo, apparently telling him something important

Inventions and vaporizors

Connor and Aiden

Arisugawa Park Play - they are identified by their smocks as there are often several preschools playing here. The younger Japanese preschools outfit their kids in matching hats instead of smocks - really cute

Learning about South America

In the month of February the parents came in on various days to share information about their home country

Pinata making - which then they broke open at the park with those paddles from above

USA day - I asked Connor later (at home) how he liked those weiners. He looks at me shaking his head and says, "Mom, don't you know a weiner is a penis?"














Below is a clip from the Spring Show. One of the songs Connor's class performed was We are the World (in case you can't tell). Of course tears just started streaming down my face. It was really sweet looking at all the kids from 'all over the world' singing this song along with the sign language. The costume directions were basically whatever they wanted as long as they had their flag somewhere on their body. Connor is in red. This is not the best footage, but I don't have a cable to download from the actual video camera. Kate took this with our picture camera.

More toilet entertainment

Connor was requesting more toilet paper when he dropped the paper holder thing on the floor. It started playing music. So we replaced the holder with a new roll. Now, when you roll the paper off it plays a little jingle. I think I heard 'It's a Small World.' I really don't think I want to know how much toilet paper is being used while the music drifts from the bathroom as a new tune is played with every spin.

Things to do:
#1. Find toilet paper roll holder

On vacation. Catch up later after the 1st of April.

St. Patrick's Day Parade

The Malones and the O'Deas decided to bike over to Omotosando today and celebrate our Irish heritage a bit. It was quite a sight to see us riding down the sidewalks 7 bikes long. There were 4 adults riding, 3 of which had kids on the back of their bike and then 3 other kids riding in between. If that wasn't enough to draw attention, Kate painted half of her face bright green (she wanted the other half white, but we didn't have any white paint). I am pretty sure every Japanese person we passed took a long look at us parading by.


The parade itself was entertaining. The spectators were very tame however. I think we only witnessed two gaijin hollering something loudly and even what they said was not inappropriate. Following the parade we headed home and stopped at a park for a while so the kids could run around. Jack couldn't help himself and found an am/pm convenience store (aren't those on the east coast?) so that he could buy some beer. As he put it, it just didn't feel right to watch a parade and not enjoy a Guinness, even if the parade was over.

The Irish Setter Club - my personal favorite

The -uh - Irish? Girl Scouts?

Just a dog - the Japanese love their dogs

Nicky O'Dea, Brendan O'Dea, Jack Malone and Connor Malone enjoying the parade

Of course Guinness was there

Kate got plenty of attention and a few photos taken of her as well

This guy walked away from his Guinness group to tell Kate she looked great...he kinda hung around and chatted a bit

Just sweet

Dunno?

Now this was interesting! Make sure you notice the Mohawk. What do you suppose is under his Kilt? You hear Tracey O'Dea in the background.

Once a bargain shopper, always a bargain shopper

I've said it's in my DNA, I can't buy anything full price - most of the time, or spend a lot of money on anything unless it's remodeling my house or buying a new (used, see?) car. Even if I had a million dollars I would still find the sales. If anything is on sale here I wouldn't know it unless I stumble upon it and even if it is on sale it's still more money than I am willing to spend. An article I came across today reported that due to the currency exchange rate Tokyo was ranked as the most expensive city in the world. So this is tough, as I haven't been able to do the shopping that I so enjoy. It's a bit like detox for the perpetual bargain shopper, but today I got my fix.

I joined a church here early on so that I could take some of the classes offered about Japanese culture. Since they had my name, they called me and asked me to bake some brownies for their flea market. I said of course and then remembered how much I despise baking in that damn oven. I baked 3 batches of brownies just so I could get a good dozen and a half to bring to the church. The kids weren't complaining as they got all the scraps, burnt edges and the parts that were just too chewy or just not really baked. So I bring the brownies over to the church and already there is a line outside the door waiting for the flea market to open. I had planned to have a quick look, but now I felt my adrenalin pumping, that high coming on when I hit a really good deal. These people must know something that I don't. The door opened and let me tell you those Japanese were good. Nobody was trampling anybody, we are in Japan, they did make their way through quite forcefully, but quietly at the same time. I hit all three floors and could have spent hours sifting through everything, but I was on my bike and already I wasn't sure how I was going to get home. It was hard to leave, but I had no choice. I had to do a lot of rearranging and such to make it all work. I had a bag over my shoulder, one hanging from the handlebars, both baskets spilling over with bags. I looked like a Japanese biking pro, now I just needed to talk on my cell phone while I was riding home. Not this time.

The Mask

As we near the end of winter, although coming from Minnesota, this was hardly a winter...I should probably mention the mask. You see people wearing them ALL the time, no matter what season, but they are clearly more popular during cold and flu season. I wanted to snap a bunch of pictures, but I didn't think strangers would appreciate me taking their photo and there were so many good ones, like rows of people on the subway all wearing a mask - so close. Instead, I had my mom act like she was posing and took pics of the foot traffic behind her.

There are a few reasons for the mask, at least these are what we have come up with:

1. To help those with allergies

2. To prevent the spread of your germs to others

3. To avoid the germs of others

4. Keeps your throat moist as you are not inhaling dry air while you try to recover from your cold/cough

Then there are those people who just hack away on the train without the mask and now all I can think is, 'Geeze! Put on your mask!' I am also surprised that at school it just isn't mandatory to wear a mask particularly in the winter. It should just be part of the uniform, particularly in preschool. They come in kid and adult sizes and I believe there are some with designs although I typically just see people in the white version.

Jack was just diagnosed with strep throat today. I am thinking I should go buy him a mask as we are planning on taking a trip to Thailand in 10 days and with our track record I'm a bit nervous.