TokyoTrio

We're Back!

2012-01-01T13:52:00.000-05:00

Last Post

2011-03-29T15:51:00.002-04:00

I've decided to call it quits on the Tokyo Trio blog. It's been fun, and all good things must come to an end. I will say I have a wonderful written record of our fabulous experience in Tokyo, and I recommend blogging to anyone hoping to capture an adventure. Life in New Jersey doesn't quite inspire me to write, so this is it. C'est la vie!

Darla

Can You Trust a Tomato in January?...

2011-03-21T08:52:00.003-04:00

by Vince Staten. This light hearted book provides an entertaining trip through the all American creation, the Supermarket, a place most Americans visit at least once a week. Some of the information is dated, for example "paper or plastic", but for the most part, much is still the same. A sampling of things I learned:

Peanut butter sales have a perfect correlation with an economic recession.
High profit items in the supermarket are placed around the periphery since that is where shoppers spend most of their time.
Catsup is not a spelling error as I always presumed.
Juice box packaging is apparently a highly esteemed innovative accomplishment.
Gatorade sports drink got it's name from the college football team for which it was developed to hydrate, the University of Florida Gators.
French fries DID originate in France.
Cool Whip is a vile concoction.
The blue bits in frozen waffles are not blueberries, but rather molded sugar colored blue.
The Babe Ruth candy bar did not get it's name from the famous baseball player.
French scientists discovered how to hydrogenate vegetable oils, not the Americans. So we can blame the French for the existence of that putrid trans fat product called margarine. (ironic since I associate the words butter and cream with French cuisine)

The tomato title is relevant because there is a section on tomato travel from the farms in warmer climates to the American supermarket. Without going into the detail, you can probably trust that the tomato in January is OK, but it won't taste like a tomato grown in the summer sold at your neighborhood farmers market.

Hockey Decor

2011-03-17T19:16:00.004-04:00

Roo has a history in helping to beautify our home. (click to see old post The Rebounding Knickknack) His latest effort I call Hockey Decor. Shortly after purchasing his new hockey stick, he asked "mommy, do we have any of those things like you put swords up on for display?". (A reference to swords clear evidence that this child spent formative years in Japan.) Unclear of his intention, I explained that we didn't have a sword holder but instead produced two plastic easels on which to rest a picture or book. The next thing I knew, he was placing his hockey stick on prominent display in the living room. Thinking this won't last once his stick makes it downstairs to the garage for our now bi-weekly trips to the rink, I complimented him on his idea. Wednesday he carried his hockey gear through the garage and into the basement after returning home from hockey practice. Several hours later, I realized the stick had made it upstairs and once again claimed it's place of prominence. It's still there.

Collective Bargaining

2011-03-03T09:36:00.004-05:00

Because of what's happening in the state of Wisconsin (Public Employees protesting a bill that would dissolve their collective bargaining right), I wanted to refresh my understanding of collective bargaining (which is the point of contention, not the reluctance to decrease compensation, the employees have agreed to a decrease). I was surprised that collective bargaining is part of an United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 23), that was accepted by many countries, including the USA.

Article 23.

(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Personally, I find the Supreme Court of Canada's rationale for collective bargaining as a human right an enlightening perspective:

"The right to bargain collectively with an employer enhances the human dignity, liberty and autonomy of workers by giving them the opportunity to influence the establishment of workplace rules and thereby gain some control over a major aspect of their lives, namely their work... Collective bargaining is not simply an instrument for pursuing external ends…rather [it] is intrinsically valuable as an experience in self-government... Collective bargaining permits workers to achieve a form of workplace democracy and to ensure the rule of law in the workplace. Workers gain a voice to influence the establishment of rules that control a major aspect of their lives."

I like this perspective of "self-governing" because if collective bargaining doesn't supply this option, who ultimately will provide protections? The federal or state governments in the form of regulations?

Minnesota in February

2011-02-26T20:04:00.009-05:00

We just spent this past week in Minnesota visiting Ryan's parents and his sister Tonya. Friends in New Jersey looked puzzled as we shared our plans to travel to the tundra during the week long break from school. Yes, it's cold here and yes, there is a lot of snow. But somehow it felt refreshing. (I'm sure if I was living here and in the midst of possibly one of the snowiest seasons ever, I'd use a different word than "refreshing"). It snowed after we arrived and like good Minnesotans we didn't let a moderate storm stomp out our plans. We drove Roo to one of the "top 10 places in America to skate".

The Depot, an old train station in downtown Minneapolis that's been reborn as an ice rink attached to a hotel with a water slide.

A no show by the Zamboni driver left the ice a bit too "shredded", as Roo likes to say, but we had fun. The weekdays began and Ryan headed into the Minneapolis office to catch up with colleagues, and I left Roo at his Grandparents and headed up north to a Dwelling in the Woods. My own hermitage with a wood burning stove,

situated amongst the pine and birch, provided three nights of secluded warmth. I built my very first fire.

Two books, two movies, and several catnaps later, I woke to a 0 degree F morning (minus 17 celsius) and headed back to the twin cities. Roo had fun days with his grandparents which included building a snow fort

and climbing through the tunnels at the Children’s Museum.

We’re back in Jersey, the snow is gone, and Roo’s busy discovering his toys tonight.

Valentine

2011-02-17T08:00:00.004-05:00

Roo's valentine shows clearly what has been our families frequent seasonal recreation, ice skating.

In this depiction, Roo is wearing his hockey helmet with the cage, Daddy is helmetless, and I am wearing a white helmet. Daddy is holding my hand because he's teaching me how to skate.

Snow Day II

2011-01-27T12:23:00.004-05:00

Today is another snow day; Roo is home from school. By 10:30am he was out enjoying the powder.

Exhausted from shoveling to create a sledding hill down the steps of the deck, I convinced Roo to have a go on cross country skiis in the backyard. He and Ryan went last weekend for the first time. Get this...Roo is wearing my ski boots! He's destined to have big feet like his Dad.

No prepared path made skiing a bit difficult. We both agreed Daddy needs to make a path with his skiis once he's home from work. There is plenty enough snow!

MLK Day

2011-01-18T08:56:00.005-05:00

After viewing this video to help explain why Roo was off of school Monday,

we kept busy for most of the day. He painted an alligator that he received from a Florida friend many months ago.

And he constructed penalty boxes for his hockey guys.

In the afternoon we met friends for ice skating. And of course, no day home from school is complete without a movie, and yesterday it was Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, for about the fifth time. Today school is two hours late due to the sleety ice and snow that fell from the sky last night. Needless to say, Roo is happy for some extra time off of school.

Antarctica

2011-01-15T08:12:00.005-05:00

This story came home from school yesterday:

Your Trip to Antarctica

1. Why do you want to go to Antarctica?

Roo's response:

"I wont to go becuse I wont to see en pegwin."

Translation:

I want to go because I want to see a penguin.

2. Who will go with you?

"I wont Callum and Lucy and my thamlee."

I want Callum and Lucy and my family.

3. What will you eat when you are there?

"I wid eat snow and fish."

I would eat snow and fish.

4. Where will you stay when you are there?

"I wil stay in a sintist lavtoree."

I will stay in a scientist laboratory.

5. How will you get there?

"I will get there in a eyrplane."

I will get there in an airplane.

6. What will you see? And what will you do?

"I wil see sum pegwin and have a snowbolfit with my Dad."

I will see some penguins and have a snow ball fight with my Dad.

Snow Day

2011-01-12T13:37:00.003-05:00

It's a snow day here, and Roo is off of school enjoying a lazy day at home. His friend in Connecticut is also home from school because of the snow, so what better activity than a Skype playdate! Both fans of Star Wars, they had fun catching up on a bonanza of all things Star Wars from Santa.

Ice skating

2011-01-09T11:56:00.005-05:00

The outside is white here, calling us to the ice for a little winter fun. For Roo's second time on skates (the first being when he was 2 1/2 at the Minneapolis Depot rink) he did well, making progress in just 1 hour of skating.

I on the other hand think I may be suffering from a concussion due to my head slamming into the ice on one unfortunate attempt to stray from the side board. Thank you to the two kind young men, whoever you are, for helping me off the ice and retrieving my glasses. Next time I'm wearing a helmet!

MIM

2011-01-03T19:07:00.012-05:00

Ryan and I enjoyed a visit to the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix. Yes, Roo was with us but I'm hesitant to include him in the "enjoyed" category since this was his position for most of the exhibits featuring sound through the headsets:

Of course we sought out the section on Japan,

and Tajikistan for Uncle Brant,

and I took a photo of the bagpipes for Aunt Bonnie.

Roo was more engaged once we made our way to the experiment lab,

but to be truthful, there was little he hadn't seen or played before. While I thought the focus was heavy on the indigenous, and the hip hop and country sections were pathetically small, all in all, it's a lovely museum for adults and children old enough to have an interest in musical history. While Roo likes moving and grooving and sings often, including his own compositions, watching an African tribal dance to the sounds of the djembe do not yet hold his attentions.

AZ Museum of Natural History

2011-01-03T18:40:00.003-05:00

The day after the big game, we met up with the friends from school Roo was hoping to spot at the game. Our chosen venue, The Arizona Museum of Natural History. The boys were elated to see one another as us parents spent our time chatting and following them through the many exhibits and back again once, twice or more. Captivated less by the dinosaur bones, it was the real old fashioned jail and the mining cave that monopolized their attentions. We did sit for the movie and learned of a very interesting hypothesis formulated by paleontologist Jack Horner. His findings have led him to conclude that the feared T-Rex was likely NOT a predator as previously suspected. More likely, he was a scavenger, not killing, but scaring predators away from their kill with his odoriferous, ugly, loud self. The T-Rex had small front arms that were probably useless, especially if he fell to the ground chasing prey. This observation and his leg bone ratios (femur & tibia) suggests he was a walker, not a runner. Apparently it's a tough sell since society along with the scientific community is leery to picture the T-Rex as anything but a tyrant. Maybe years from now when our grandchildren are reading this post (I keep a printed copy of everything instead of a journal or scrap book) they'll say, "how silly, people thought the T-Rex was a predator".

College Football Game

2011-01-02T19:38:00.003-05:00

[Written by Ryan] During our vacation in Arizona, Roo and I went to the Insight Bowl at Arizona State University’s Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. The Insight Bowl featured the Iowa Hawkeyes against the University of Missouri Tigers (aka Mizzou). I have to confess I had never heard of the term “Mizzou”, but based upon the number of Mizzou fans staying at our hotel I was quickly educated. Given my natural leaning towards supporting a fellow Big Ten team, we felt as though we were behind enemy lines - - even having the opportunity to see from a distance the Tiger pep rally in a roped off section of the hotel parking lot, complete with a speech by the Missouri governor. There were no Hawks fans to be found. While at the hotel, Roo would whisper that he was a Hawks fan for this game, but we kept it our little secret.

This was Roo’s first football game; Darla and I spent several days before the game answering many, many questions about all things football. I’m afraid this game may have skewed his perspectives of what a typical college football game entails. Before the start of the game, three people parachuted into the stadium out of the dark sky and fireworks lit up the sky. For a 6 year-old, he was relatively engaged in following the game, particularly given the view from our cheap seats, which were about 5 rows from the top of the upper deck. A friend from Roo’s school was also at the game, and Roo was frustrated that he could not find him in the crowd of ~53,000 people.

The game started at 8PM so we headed back to the hotel at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Roo fell asleep in the car and I listened to the game on the radio. A turnover late in the game brought the Hawks a victory, which we enjoyed as our little secret.

Cowboy Up!

2010-12-28T23:00:00.001-05:00

While the northeast is being hit with a blizzard, we're still comfortably holed up in (former) cowboy country. I couldn't resist including some classic American tunes, for which you'll have to double click on the photo to read.

(Johnny Cash for those unfamiliar with the tragic ballad about young Bill)

Christmas

2010-12-25T10:30:00.002-05:00

Last night after a delay at our connecting airport, we arrived in warm Phoenix Arizona. In our quest for a steakhouse, Roo became car sick, vomiting without warning, and thus unpresentable for any restaurant. At our hotel, Ryan brought out to the car a white hotel robe for Roo to cover his dirtied clothes. We made fun out of it, commenting how much he looked like a Jedi in the robe. Needless we had Christmas dinner in our room and watched Tim Allen in Santa Claus 2, only to succumb to sleep before the end. Did he ever find a Mrs. Claus? We'll never know.

Well, here we are, at a lovely resort. It is bound to be a good holiday, as long as we keep the driving to a minimum!

May your day be merry and bright! Happy Christmas Day.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Arizona

The Tudors

2010-12-22T10:30:00.004-05:00

I’ve finished watching the fourth and final season of the television series “The Tudors”, the story of King Henry VIII and his six wives. Although a good lesson in European history, the show provides plenty of entertainment. Complete with romance, betrayal, and war, it offers much that is pleasing to the eye. Opulent dress, glittering jewels, rich textiles, succulent food and most of all, gorgeous people! (note of caution: there are also disturbing scenes in and around the Tower) However, the last point, gorgeous people, I found to be a frustrating disconnect when I researched further on the lives of these historic figures. Sure, no one would probably watch the show if Lady Mary looked liked the Lady Mary depicted in her portraits, and it’s doubtful the real Charles Brandon could hold a candle to the actor Henry Cavill. Certainly, “what is beauty” in Western civilizations continues to evolve and historians report that Henry was a hottie in his day. However, I’d argue the message of his tyranny is harder to extract when he and everyone around him is of excessive natural beauty. For example, it is easier to extract a future “Bloody Mary” from this:

than from this:

Unlike some faithful viewers, I’m glad Showtime ended the series of the Tudor family at this juncture. I’d likely not make it through depictions of the “Marian Terrors”. Regardless, I’m more equipped than before for a future visit to London and the historic sites occupied during the lives of Henry VIII, his friends, and enemies.

Gingerbread House

2010-12-17T06:40:00.003-05:00

As an adult I'm somewhat bothered by the Grimm elements in the classic German fairy tale Hansel & Gretel such as famine, parental abandonment, and a cannibalistic woman, to name a few. As a child I remember enjoying the story. I contribute this to the one image that remains in my head, the fabulous gingerbread house the evil woman has constructed to lure the hungry Hansel and Gretel into her lair. My mind recalls images of abundant color, sensual sweetness, and sheltered warmth amongst the wet, damp cold of snow. I can't remember ever seeing an actual gingerbread house (graham cracker, yes, gingerbread, no), and I've never succumbed to the temptation of the DIY home kits available everywhere this time of year. Needless to say, when I saw the real deal at Cafe Beethoven last week I couldn't resist returning this week to add yet more confection to the collection to enjoy this holiday season.

Cookie Exchange

2010-12-16T20:13:00.002-05:00

Today's cookie exchange will likely add a few pounds to my already burdened frame. Thank goodness for the "monthly unlimited" special at Powerflow yoga to carry me through half of December and into January!

7 Fahrenheit / Minus 14 Celsius

2010-11-25T13:53:00.002-05:00

We're in Minnesota for American Thanksgiving, and despite the frigid temp, the sunshine on the bright blanket of white lured Roo outdoors this morning for a go in the snow. It's been awhile since we've seen snow and even longer since we've been in a climate this cold. Remaining positive, I'll use the words "refreshing" and "invigorating" to describe the experience.

Front Tooth

2010-11-15T19:00:00.003-05:00

Today at school an older classmate coached Roo to "try pulling it out". At pick up today he proudly presented to me his front tooth in a little plastic bag.

Daria Music

2010-11-06T10:20:00.002-04:00

Thursday and Friday was a day off of school for New Jersey children. Our outing yesterday was a trip to the Madison Public Library for Daria's World Music Jam. She encouraged the children to use her array of instruments from around the world which included a Peruvian rattle made of goat toenails, a shekere from Africa which is a hollow gourd covered with a net of beading, and drums that varied in material and tone. Roo enthusiastically took his turn on several items with the Latina American cajon (a wooden box with a hole that is played like a drum with your hands) occupying the majority of his interest. Her website gives instructions on how to make some of the instruments with household materials. Check it out!

Halloween

2010-11-01T11:26:00.003-04:00

Roo started the evening as Batman, but quickly concluded that the mask hindered his ability to see, opting for the fire fighter's suit that has reflective stripes. While only a few people came to our door, Roo managed to come home with a hefty loot, choosing a red lolly for his first indulgence.

Kentucky

2010-10-27T08:59:00.004-04:00

Roo is learning a song to remember the 50 States of America in alphabetical order. Yesterday he asked "Mommy, is Kentucky (ke.n.ta.ki) a Japanese word? It sounds like a Japanese word". I couldn't help but chuckle as I explained that Kentucky is definitely NOT Japanese! A good guess, though.

Ryan on the Radio

2010-10-26T09:06:00.004-04:00

Ryan is in Tokyo; a post move visit intended to help with the transition of work responsibilities. Despite being surrounded by boxes in an out of control home, and jealous that he has the chance to see friends and visit favorite places once again, I couldn't help but smile when I learned from our friend Mana san that Ryan was interviewed for a live radio show about American Halloween. The link is in Japanese, so here is the translated contents:

DJ Katsuki san says:

"My image of an American is Funky and Loud but Ryan-san was quiet and intelligent. For the children the fun part of Halloween is the costume. He used to be a batman and a knight with the costume that his mother made. His requested song was "I Need You" by Faith Hill & Tim McGraw. While the song was played I thought he said that the video of this song is also good with candles around. I checked the video and found out that my listening comprehension is not bad. BUT, I think I said the name of the program several times but after the show I was asked "What is the name of your program?".... "

Steadfast in his support of Faith and Tim, I think he deserves a "fan of the year award".

Meatless Monday

2010-10-11T22:36:00.004-04:00

Meatless Monday is a non-profit initiative in association with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Heath. In an effort to raise awareness, the campaign aids to bring more mindfulness to food consumption habits. Besides benefiting your pocket book and your body, the big plus behind a meatless meal is environmental. Green efforts such as "bring your own bags" and "reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle" are all good, but individuals can have an even greater impact by making an effort "to eat lower on the food chain". Personally, I've made the choice to not adopt a strictly vegetarian diet. But, I also don't think I need meat everyday. So, in the spirit of "mindful consumption", I"ll commit to a meatless Monday. Tonight's dinner, fried tofu with rice and spicy (shichimi togarishi) sesame dressing (and salad)!

The Giving Tree

2010-10-10T09:30:00.005-04:00

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is a wonderful classic children's books that tells a story of unconditional love by a very generous tree. In Roo's school work from the week, this came home:

Besides writing on the branches of the tree diagrams "What can a tree give us?", and "What can we give a tree?", Roo wrote a summary of his reaction to the book; " I was sad because the tree was only a stump. I would change the end because I wanted the tree to be big" . His sentiment, expressed simply, captures a typical emotion to the story's end.

Falling Acorn

2010-10-08T18:24:00.003-04:00

You know Autumn is coming when an acorn drops from a tree through the open sun roof of your car onto the passenger seat while you're driving slowly through the neighborhood scouting home decorations. And on homes and businesses, decorations there are!

A collection of scarecrows surround the inviting entrance of this lovely home.

Some opt for a more ghoulish theme comprised of inflatables.

Roo and I agree we'd like this one better if the cat looked friendly.

This large pumpkin balloon crowns a garden store on main street. Can you guess what's on sale? Pumpkins, of course!

And beautiful mums and other fall foliage.

In an attempt to NOT fulfill the stereotype of a home renter (vs a home owner), I decided to do some fall beautification of our own home. Plus, Roo's been asking for decorations like the other homes. Today after school, he and I weeded, planted, and watered to create this:

More fond of "harvest" than "halloween", a metal crow and scarecrow have found a place in a bed of straw with mums and kale. Before October 31, the plump pumpkin will become a jack o' lantern.

Mitsuwa

2010-10-04T15:45:00.004-04:00

Today a friend, who is also a former Tokyo expat, and I made our way to Mitsuwa in Edgewater, NJ. Forty five minutes from where we live, it's a relatively easy jaunt if you don't misinterpret the sat navi and get yourself locked into going through the Lincoln tunnel into NYC, as we did this morning. After an unexpected tour of the garmet district, we found ourselves at the entrance to Mitsuwa, a large marketplace full of all things Japanese. Greeted by a display of enoki and shimeji mushrooms, we shared excitement as we located familiar favorites of bottled sauces and spices. We both left with an array of basics for a washoku pantry. Despite sticker shock for some items, we deduced one added bonus of shopping Japanese in America; we could read the labels and finally understand what we had been eating the past three years. When our household shipment finally arrives, I'll be ready to cook up some nabe.

Montessori School

2010-09-28T19:00:00.004-04:00

Today on the ride home from school Roo commented "this school is really making me like learning". It made my day! What better words could a mother hope for? He's voluntarily telling me about his day and refers excitedly to the materials he's using, skyscrapers and counting beads. His teachers have told me he's adjusted very well to his new classroom. Again, good news.

The Golden Rule

2010-09-26T16:43:00.003-04:00

Roo has started "church school" (as he calls it) on Sundays at a Unitarian Universalist (UU) Congregation. Here is his work from this morning's topic, The Golden Rule.

When we picked him up after the service, he announced that he had so much fun he can't wait to go again! I think the cookies for snack influenced him but the kind teachers were effective too. His explanation of The Golden Rule: "it means being nice". A good reminder for us all.

Lewis (Louie for short)

2010-09-24T17:48:00.002-04:00

This is Louie the Muskrat. According to our friendly neighbor and long time resident Ann, he lives under our wooden deck. Roo and I watched him for several minutes out the kitchen window yesterday afternoon. He's a busy little guy relentlessly searching for his grub in the grass. Given his size, I'd say he's been rewarded for his effort. This photo is taken through the glass, any slight noise sends him scampering up the nearby stone wall into a cluster of trees. He and the squirrels and striped gophers seem to have a cohabitation agreement as they jointly scour the yard with little concern of one another. In the winter we expect to see the deer that eat the evergreens bordering ours and Ann's property, so there's more to come. For those unfamiliar with Louie and his fellow successful North American fur balls, a muskrat is a rodent, but is not technically a rat.

Affordable Sweet Corn

2010-09-20T13:54:00.003-04:00

Aaaahhh...affordable sweet corn! One of the joys of an American summer. Roo's favorite vegetable was expensive in Tokyo. I don't think I ever saw it in our neighborhood shops priced below $4.99 PER ear. Today's price at Whole Foods in town, 5 ears for $2 (172 Yen)! I have noticed that other common vegetables seem more expensive here; potatoes, carrots, yellow onions. And of course, daikon and cabbage (of which I have not purchased yet) are considerably pricier. Once I finally get my hands on Japanese goma dressing, I'm sure I'll feel the urge to purchase cabbage, and I'll need to figure out how to shred the cabbage Tokyo style, long delicate threads that remain lightly crunchy. Advice or a link to an "how to" video from readers would be much appreciated.

In Town

2010-09-17T22:00:00.005-04:00

This photo captures the essence of the community to which we've moved. Just a block off of main street, the small barn in the yard is a reminder of days gone by. The front porch, the flag, the wooden fence, tidy lawn, all quaintly American. We've gone from mostly concrete to almost no concrete. The homes and shops in the town have retained their character but offer modern variety, including Mitsuba Japanese Restaurant and Powerflow hot yoga. Charming is a good word to describe the surroundings.

Konnichiwa

2010-09-14T20:14:00.002-04:00

Today's drop off at school went smoother than yesterday. MUCH smoother. Yesterday involved two of the teachers holding a crying Roo while I left the scene. I was relieved to get a call mid morning saying he had calmed down after ten minutes and was doing well. What broke the ice was said in Japanese. Squeezing his teacher's hand because he was scared, he joined the circle time for roll call. The teacher whispered that he should say "konnichiwa", instead of "here" or "hola" as the other kids do, when his name is called. He complied and replied "konnichiwa", and then started laughing. The other kids started laughing, too. This was enough comic relief to lessen his anxiety and allow him to join in and have fun. Today he went up the steps by himself. He came home wearing an "everything seed" necklace that he's constructed the past two day. He explained that before there was a universe, there was an everything seed that contained all that was to be, including you and me. He's also repeating lines from a song he's learned "spirit of peace" and "all wars will cease". It's a good start!

Garden of Ideas

2010-09-13T07:00:00.004-04:00

Like most Americans in suburbia, I'm now equipped with a set of wheels, a mini SUV, the same make and model I had before I left for Japan. Back in the saddle after three years of not owning a car. Ryan's turn next. After all, how does one live without a car for each driver? We gave it a good run this weekend and drove to Connecticut to visit friends that we met in Tokyo. Their daughter celebrated her 6th birthday yesterday. Roo was pleased with the Star Wars theme and the chance to play Star Wars Wii.

It's fun to see friends and reassuring to know that one can really "stay in touch". We arrived on Saturday night just in time for the community beach party complete with a bon fire and smores. Early on Sunday we visited an amazing "back yard" of one the neighbors. They've transformed their acreage into a cooperative garden where vegetables are grown, art is displayed, and refuge is possible for those needing a little escape. Very inspiring.

The Garden of Ideas - Ridgefield, CT

The squash area. How cool is this? I only recall rummaging through crawling vines.

Beautiful purple peppers! You can almost sense them becoming sweeter with every moment on the vine.

A walking path leaves the habitat less disturbed.

Sculptures throughout.

These chickens are feasting on heirloom tomatoes. Lucky birds!

I'll admit, the fresh air and green scenery feels good!

School Jitters

2010-09-12T21:37:00.002-04:00

Roo is all jitters tonight. Tomorrow is his first day at his new school in America, and I'm certain the butterflies are having a fiesta in his tummy tonight. His anxiety is apparent and luckily he's expressing his concerns; "What if they make you write so much your hand gets tired?", "I'm scared of the big gym." , "What if you don't want to do something?", "Why are the teachers called Mrs. or Ms.?". As a parent it's tough to find the right soothing words because, truth be known, I'm a little nervous for him! The first day of school for every child every where likely carries some added emotion, and my childhood was no different. I try to remind him that he's a nice boy and the kids will be happy to meet him, and I explain that he'll meet some nice friends, and that mommy gets to go with him into the school and that we can talk with his teachers about anything of which he is concerned. Luckily he's sound asleep, and hopefully a good nights rest and a good breakfast will prepare him for his morning adventure ahead!

Sayonara

2010-09-05T21:27:00.004-04:00

Yesterday we moved our sayonara potluck picnic INSIDE to our EMPTY apartment since the heat index made it unbearable to expend any energy outdoors. It worked amazingly well. The kids enjoyed themselves in wide open rooms and the adults were comfortable to hang out in the cool with the air con gunned. Everyone brought yummy food to share. We opened my ume shuu liquor that had been fermenting since June 2009 and it was surprisingly tasty, which has me thinking into the future and wondering if I'll be able to find rock sugar and unripe ume (plums) in New Jersey. The boys kept busy in one room doing bey blade battling,

many of the girls and some of the boys took part in the hooping entertainment led by beautiful Deanne of Hooplovers.com.

We leave Japan on Wednesday to begin a new journey back in the United States. The best word to explain how I'm feeling about it is "sad" mixed with "fortunate". Sad because we're leaving behind an amazing group of friends, but fortunate that we had the opportunity to experience Japan and the expatriate life for three years. The bright side is that we're moving to a good location, we will be in the same country as family and old friends, and the environment is more suitable for playing and doing outdoors, something that is almost necessary for a certain six year old boy. Of course there are many things I will miss about Japan, many being the details of life in our little pocket of a community in uber urban Tokyo. While my waistline might benefit from being away from the amazing food, restaurants and Donut Plant's tres leche, my gastronomic senses will likely feel dissed. I found retreat at Sun & Moon Yoga Studio, better posture at DMJ Body Balancing, enjoyment learning to speak Japanese in the comfort of my own home, fun friendship through book club, pampering at Jurlique spa, a community at Kspace international school, ikebana with neighborhood friends, amazing nail art at Nail Aria, nourishment at Karashi & Pio, dresses that fit a western figure at the Royal Closet and Regina Romatica, chocolate at Chocolate Erica, and many many creamy coffees and hours of conversation at Book Off cafe. Outside the neighborhood I'm certain to miss Wantanabe, the Loft, Tokyo Hands, washi crafting under the detailed eye of the patient women in the store and public transportation. I'm sure we'll settle in where we are going and once again build a life. One chapter closes, we have more great friends and experiences for life's coffer, and another chapter begins!

Summer Summary

2010-08-22T19:56:00.005-04:00

Tomorrow the three of us travel back to Japan, officially ending our summer holiday. How much can happen in just six rapid weeks? When I reflect on our summer, the answer, A LOT!

Roo and I met up with friends/relatives originating from five different countries in London, England.
Ryan drove across the state line into Wisconsin (twice) to reunite with friends (and their families) that haven't all been together since the late 90's.
Roo has adjusted his future adult profession of choice from "race car finish line person" to "baseball player".
All three of us have become addicts of the iPad.
Roo is now tall enough to drive the bumper cars at the Mall of America.
Our kitties are officially permanent residents of Spruce House in Northern Minnesota.
I embarked on a new decade in my life, the 40's.
After playing indoors for 20+ years, the Minnesota Twins are playing baseball in a shiny new OUTDOOR stadium to a sold out crowd, of which included us one evening.
Roo ate a new food, grilled cheese, in a restaurant.
The result of a lovely wedding near the shore of Lake Superior has officially added another Ryan to the Paulson family tree.
We discovered Roo has the word "crush", used in the context of a boy/girl relationship, in his vocabulary.
We signed a lease on a home in New Jersey which has me surfing for deals on a washer and dryer and Ryan pondering hybrid cars.
I've written an email to our friends in Japan that has the words "Ryan" "Darla" and "sayonara" in the title of the message. And, our repatriation airline tickets are booked for early September.

But, some things remain the same.

Sebastian Joe's Oreo cookie ice cream is still the best ever.
The make believe Pokeman Eenie makes an appearance, daily.
We spent time with friends we manage to see annually.
The crosstown junction at 35W in Minneapolis is still under construction.
There's a sure supply of black licorice and wine coolers at Grandpa and Grandma's house, providing enjoyment for Ryan's taste buds.
Roo made his annual appearance at Grandpa's church, or "Grandpa's shrine" as he referred to it.
I've managed to complete some good summer reading.
And Roo has had hours of fun play at Grandma And Grandpa's house.

The London Tower Bridge

Our future deck and yard in New Jersey.

Target Field, the new home of the Minnesota Twins baseball team.

Now pronounced husband and wife, Taryn and Ryan.

Girlfriends

2010-08-06T21:33:00.002-04:00

This past week I had the chance to visit with three girlfriends I've known forever. We all began kindergarten and graduated high school together. Amazingly, we manage to meet up once a year. Our meetings are always fun, always chatty and always full of laughter!

Dar, Meg, Gwen, & Trish

Sports Heaven

2010-08-06T07:30:00.000-04:00

We are in Minnesota, USA. In Tokyo it can be challenging to get Roo outside for casual sport play. He's usually not too enthusiastic to play across the street at the black top parking lot that's surrounded by buildings. Here, he's in sports heaven, anxious to get outside and play everyday! What's he been up to?

Baseball with Grandma and Grandpa.

Soccer (as he says now that we're in America).

Basketball.

And he's enjoying looking cool in his new baseball helmet!

More of London

2010-07-26T06:15:00.000-04:00

Our weekend was busy with activity. Saturday we visited the London Zoo. While we didn't make our way to many of the animal exhibits, Roo and Lucy had fun playing in the bouncy house and the park with a grassy hill and hanging ropes to climb. Roo tested his upper body strength by trying over and over to make his way up the rope. A bit of success and he was completely ecstatic. Saturday night my cousin Christina arrived from Scotland. Sunday we made a second trip to Hamley's, followed by lunch at the Rainforest Cafe. After, we attended the show "Thriller Live". Seated for most of the show, it wasn't until near the end that Roo had a chance to show off his groovy dance skills to "Beat It". Monday we took it easy, only venturing out to meet friends visiting from Connecticut that used to live in Japan. We haven't decided our plan for tomorrow (other than my birthday celebration!) but we'll likely do something fun since our time in London is nearly finished.

Hamley's & Legoland

2010-07-23T05:06:00.002-04:00

We've had two days of excitement in a row. Wednesday we visited Hamley's seven floor toy store which has thrilled children for 250 years. Roo left with two Star Wars transforming ships and two Royal Air Force guys (think Barbie dolls for boys).

Thursday we rode a bus for 65+ minutes to Windsor to visit Legoland. Thanks to a tip from a local friend, I saved 50% off the inflated ticket price by ordering our tickets online the evening prior from the website lastminute.com. While Legoland was heaven for Roo, I must mention that I'm happy I didn't pay the full ticket price. The Lego displays were amazing, the shopping fun because of the large selection, but the queues too long and the rides too short. British schools end tomorrow for summer holiday, so I can only surmise how horrific it must be when it's busy. Nonetheless, Roo could barely contain his happiness when we walked through the gates and were surrounded by all things Lego.

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Willow's Farm

2010-07-21T04:33:00.001-04:00

Tuesday we spent a wonderful day outside of London visiting friends from Tokyo. Their home is a convenient 40 minute train ride from St. Pancras station. Initially, my train navigation skills were tested as "all trains are delayed" and "don't go by what's on the board" were uttered by frantic transit employees in the crowded station. It somewhat reminded me of my rookie days in Tokyo, the difference being in Tokyo I couldn't read the signs, and here I couldn't rely on the signs. Nonetheless, we escaped the hecticness, were greeted happily by our friends and the grandparents, and drove to Willow's farm for fun amongst the greenery. Roo and his buddy Callum had much conversation and play, finishing the day with a stop at the pub and a round of wrestling in the bouncy castle. With the boys occupied by bouncing, Sonia and I had a chance to catch up over a pint. And, my first fish and chips were delish!

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London Weekend

2010-07-18T04:49:00.002-04:00

Roo and I arrived in London Thursday evening after a fairly comfortable ANA flight on which my suspicions that Roo has inherited my tendency to become air sick were confirmed. Luckily I travel with a supply of Dramamine, having learned my lesson prior as to what it's like to run out on an international flight. One of his first comments upon arriving to our room: "Uuuggghhh! Why is the toilet seat so cold? ".

We've already visited the Diana park in Kensington twice and had a lovely afternoon at Hamstead Heath on Saturday. The kids (Roo & his friend Lucy) enjoyed an old time favorite, rolling down a grassy hill. Much to their delight, they occupied the front upper deck seats on a London bus for the ride home.

Sunday we walked across the Tower Bridge to the Design Museum which was hosting special activities as part of the Children's Art Day program. As a devout Lego builder, Roo often refers to himself as a "designer". He learned that "everything made in the world around us is designed". Quickly he was drawn to a architectural model of an Eco community designed for the desert near the city of Dubai. More specifically, he liked the futuristic looking underground transport pods. He drew a picture in his notebook so he can create a replica with his Legos when he's back home. After the museum we got our exercise by walking (or rather running in the case of Lucy & Roo) along the Thames with the crowd out enjoying Mr. Sunshine and his companion Breezy. Adamant during the ride home in a black cab that he wasn't sleepy, Roo fell asleep sitting up in bed with a book in hand.

Tuesdays

2010-07-14T00:31:00.008-04:00

This past school year, Roo had a play date every Tuesday with his good friends Lucy and Callum. Alternating hosts, the three of them spent much time together in each others homes. When not together, Roo often talks about them and a frequent response is "yes, it's true because Callum telled me", or "yes, because Lucy said so". We recently had their photos taken while on a play date at Arisugawa Park in Hiroo by their former school teacher turned full time photographer for his business Tokyo Kids. Here are some of the results, made especially cute by Callum's very loose front tooth.

Last Day of Kindergarten

2010-07-09T07:13:00.003-04:00

Today was Roo's last day of Kindergarten, or as it's called at his school, "Super Bugs". It was also his last day at the school of which he's been attending since we moved to Japan three years ago. Expressed with tears, the finality of it dawned on him as we were departing this afternoon and he understood that it's not for certain if and when he'll see his teachers again. He's become quite attached to his teacher Kevin this past year and talks about him often. Luckily with technology, maybe he can stay somewhat connected. I can't find words adequate to describe what a wonderful experience we've had at Kspace International Kindergarten. It's an amazing school and I feel fortunate that our family has been a part of it's lovely community.

Roo with his teachers Kevin and Leah.

Roo showing off his last project from Kspace, a pillow he sewed on a REAL sewing machine with help from a teacher. He also cut out all the pieces of fabric.

Writing from School

2010-07-06T11:05:00.003-04:00

We've been given Roo's folder of work completed at school. Here are a few that I find enduring:

"Once upon a time there was a dog called resincr [racing car].

He lived in a lovely soprsonic jet [supersonic jet].

He liked to eat lots of bons [bones].

But he was very sad, he never saw enewun [saw anyone].

He had a big FedR [feather] stuck in his throat.

Then one day he met a dinosaur.

He was so funny that he started to laf [laugh].

He lafd [laughed] so much that the FedR [feather] came out.

He was so happy he jump the dinosaur."

Here's one I'm sure his grandparents will enjoy:

"My favorite thing about summer is gowin two my granpa and grama."

And naturally, this one is my favorite:

" I like my mother because I like hugs."

Karaoke Ryan

2010-07-05T18:23:00.004-04:00

Last Saturday we went to Andy's Izakaya for dinner with friends from Minnesota (living in Japan). After some delicious grub, we made out way to Big Echo to claim a room for an evening of Karaoke. My familiarity with Karaoke prior to coming to Japan included a country bar, a crowd with a critical eye and a STAGE. Since I was little my sister always teased that I was "tone deaf", so needless to say, I don't usually sing around anyone but Roo, let alone get up on a stage! Here, Karaoke is different, much less stressful. You get a private room, in fact you could go by yourself if you wanted. You control the volume, and you don't have to stand on a stage. Before Karaoke, I'm not sure I'd ever heard Ryan sing. I've learned he can sing "Ring of Fire" or CCR with the proper low tone.

I've also learned he has a penchant for ballads, more specifically, Faith Hill or Tim McGraw, or the two together. Here's the proof:

"Cry", his given choice for any evening of karaoke.

Coins

2010-07-04T20:54:00.003-04:00

Last night Roo's little friend Lucy was over for a sleepover. This morning they were going through his money box sorting coins. They both know Japanese yen money, but when they found a penny and a dime they asked "is this Hawaiian money or American money?". I explained that the money in Hawaii is American, but still, I understand the confusion since Hawaii is most often referred to by the state name.

Kindergarten Graduation

2010-07-04T08:13:00.004-04:00

Finally, I'm getting around to doing a post. It's not that nothing has been happening, on the contrary, we've been busy winding up the school year. Friday's graduation was the culmination of Roo's kindergarten year curriculum. He has more days left, but as he's explained "they won't be learning anything". Certainly they'll still be learning, but the teacher's are calling it "party week", so mostly fun and games and a sewing project that was missed earlier because of time constraints.

A proud daddy, a proud boy.

Since this year for Roo is the top class level at Roo's kindergarten, next he will transition to a different school. We've all loved every minute of his school experience and it's sure to be one of our best memories of our time in Japan.

As you can see in the below video, Roo is enthusiastically singing the selected class favorites.

Bye-bye Kspace.

Sumo & More Washi

2010-06-22T02:23:00.004-04:00

Yesterday on my way to complete washi paper craft number three, a tray that I intend to lacquer,

I saw a Sumo on the platform of the train station. As politely as I know how, I asked him (in Japanese) if I could please take a photo. He rose from his seat for the occasion and thankfully showed no signs of being irritated by my request.

Book Review: The Hindi-Bindi Club

2010-06-16T09:49:00.009-04:00

by Monica Pradhan. The Tuesday before I left for Texas, my book club met for our final gathering before each of us begins exiting Tokyo for the summer. The Hindi-Bindi Club is a story about three adult daughters who were born and raised in America by their Indian immigrant parents. It's full of mother/daughter bonding and conflict as well as cultural moments as east meets west. "Simple" best describes the writing and there is little plot beyond the aforementioned relationships. One big bonus, the book comes with savory sounding recipes in each chapter! For our meeting night, two of the ladies with Indian heritage prepared samosas and mango lassis. Very delicious! Each of us wore a bindi near our "third eye" and a sheer scarf, a common accessory in a typical Indian woman's dress. Our group is comprised of ladies from around world; India, UK, France, Sweden, Guatemala, and the USA. Needless to say, we've had interesting conversations this past year and I look forward to meeting up again in September.

Christofer's Graduation

2010-06-13T16:46:00.003-04:00

Yesterday my nephew Christofer graduated from high school. I remember the day he was born. I was attending college at the University of California, San Bernardino near where my sister Darci and brother in law Bob were living. Due to complications and the decision to perform a c-section, I didn't get to witness the birth as planned. Rather, my first glimpse of Christofer was through the glass as the nurse was washing him. I knew right away which baby was my nephew because he looked identical to his father at just a few minutes old. The resemblance has stuck. His first year of life, I saw him most every day, always stopping by the house after class or work, even if only for a few minutes before heading out the door to study or do whatever a girl has going on in college. Twelve years later, not often but sometimes, I mistakenly speak "Christofer" when referring to my own son. Next year Chris will attend nursing school at the University of Texas in Arlington. This afternoon is the party and tomorrow I fly back to Tokyo. A quick trip, but I'm happy to be present for this special event. Best of luck to Christofer!

Washi Paper Craft No.2

2010-06-08T22:47:00.001-04:00

A supposed trash bin, I plan to use it to store knitting or crafting projects, the hole on top providing space for long needles. One of several New Year's Resolutions, "finish one knitting project", it should get used! I couldn't quite bring myself to repeat the letter holder at Monday's lesson, but feel confident that I can do one at home on my own with reasonable results.

Chipmunk's Music

2010-06-07T07:40:00.003-04:00

Roo's become a fan of Alvin and the Chipmunks, as well as the new female ensemble The Chipettes in the movie Alvin and the the Chipmunks- The Squeakquel. He can't help but break out his crazy moves when their high pitched fast-paced tunes are played. This evening he worked up quite a sweat grooving over and over to the tunes at the end of the movie. I suspect you might have to be his parent, grandparent, or aunt or uncle to find the following videos fun to watch, but I couldn't resist putting it out there. I just hope it doesn't resurface in twenty years when he's the lead hip hop dance artist for the top name of his time!

Joël Robuchon

2010-06-06T11:05:00.004-04:00

Saturday night Ryan and I enjoyed a dinner out in Roppongi Hills at L'Atelier, one of several world wide establishments of the famous French chef and restaurateur, Joël Robuchon. He has been awarded the title of Chef of the Century, and his restaurants carry a total of 25 Michelin Stars, the most of any chef in the world. Needless to say, our palates were pleased and we left the restaurant with the feeling that we'd just experienced something extraordinary. Unfortunately, since the menu was in French, I'm not completely certain of what ingredients our course contained. While at times a bit mysterious, any concerns of uncomfortable strangeness were quickly vanquished after the initial taste when the food flaunts it's flavor on your tongue.

Most of the seating at the restaurant is at the bar which overlooks the "artists" at their work.

Purple Hair

2010-06-06T00:30:00.001-04:00

Purple hair. Not an uncommon site when strolling around Tokyo. Not to be confused with the punk purple on rebellious teens adorning the streets of Harajuku, but rather purple on proper looking elderly persons. In discussion last week a few of us foreigners tried to unravel this mystery as it apparently perplexes us all at some point. Is it a fashion statement or a dye job gone awry? Die job gone awry is the obvious conclusion EXCEPT, the results look a little too perfect. Even more intriguing, rather than holing up in their home, the person often carries on with their business as if everything is perfectly as it should be. I have read that purple can be caused from trying to dye very white, almost platinum, hairs black. Often there can be an in between phase when the color looks purple for a few days. Which, since I've recently gone from blond back to brunette I feel fortunate to have skirted the purple hair outcome.

Washi Paper Craft

2010-06-02T11:05:00.002-04:00

I wish I'd discovered this earlier! My friend Michelle, a regular at the store, introduced me to Sakurahorikiri on Monday where we choose a kit to construct under the watchful eye of a kind Japanese woman. The craft, gluing beautiful Japanese washi paper to an assembled cardboard structure, requires patience to tape, cut, glue, and dry. My initial thoughts..."what an eco friendly yet beautiful way to create something practical for the home that isn't plastic!"

The choice of kits come in a wide variety including but not limited to, tissue boxes, jewelry chests with drawers, lacquered trays, letter boxes, or a rubbish bin.

The paper is splendidly colorful.

The abundance of choice is somewhat daunting.

I choose to make a letter box of which is currently housing Roo's reading books. Both Ryan and I would like one for our desk, therefore, I think there are more letter box crafts in my near future.

I've already made a booking for next Monday. I'm hooked!

Morning Drop-Off

2010-06-01T21:19:00.003-04:00

[written by Ryan]

Each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Roo and I ride our bicycle to his school in the morning. The routine is the same - - I ask whether we should take the short-cut or the long-cut. Roo pauses and ponders introspectively for a moment, concluding we should take the medium-cut. The medium cut entails the largest downhill and is his most frequent choice. He commented that since he is now six he can keep his eyes open the whole time down the hill. The subsequent climb helps to keep me in shape as well. Roo does prefer to mix it up occasionally with the long-cut, which entails more precise maneuvering on my part so as to avoid hitting weary salarymen, nicely dressed women in high heels and aloof teenagers in school uniforms (most frequently tie and sport coat). We ditch the bike about 100 meters from the school, which becomes the starting line for our morning race to the front door of the school. He gives me a 30 meter head start (I get to carry his backpack along with my briefcase) and the race frequently ends in either a tie or a last minute surge to victory by Roo. Various teachers, waiting outside for other kids to get dropped off by parents with cars, frequently serve as the photo finish judges. Roo always has post-race commentary for anyone who will listen.

It may seem funny to you but the daily routine of the school drop-off will likely be one of my best memories of living in Japan. He and I get to enjoy 10 minutes together, just him and me (he chatters for the entire ride covering many unrelated subjects that I am nonetheless happy to hear about). I like seeing the teachers and it helps me to feel connected to a part of his life that I don’t get to see that much of. I’m enjoying every minute of the experience because he will switch schools next year and our routine will have to change.

Triceratops

2010-05-28T07:56:00.003-04:00

Rehearsing this morning before the school show...

At the show...

"This is a triceratops.

It's name means three horned face.

It uses it's three horns to defend itself.

They lived in big herds and each one was as big as a bus.

They made a noise like this..."

Six Years Old

2010-05-24T08:38:00.008-04:00

Today our baby is six years old. We’re both proud of the wonderful little boy he has become. The sparkle in his eyes is full of wonder and this wonder is what prompts splendid conversation on a wide array of topics. He shows a penchant for design and construction and his concentration has blossomed this past year. His favorite treat is a donut, and cookies & cream has replaced vanilla as his flavor of choice in ice cream. At times he still likes to cuddle and requests to be made cozy “in a tight space”. We’re grateful that as mommy and daddy we haven’t been classified as “uncool” , however, he is showing reluctance with too much public display of affection (e.g. a kiss at kindergarten drop off). He likes to laugh and run and anything associated with speed is captivating. A cheetah is his favorite animal because it’s fast. The past year he’s remained consistent in his declaration to be a “race care finish line person” and a “daddy” when he grows up. Although he has clarified that “I will always live with you Mommy” and this innocence regarding what it means to grow up melts my heart. To this day, the quote I saw hanging on the wall during our first visit to the pediatrician is my favorite:

"Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide
forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." —Elizabeth
Stone

As he grows and become more independent, I feel this even more so.

Galactic Enforcer Day Two

2010-05-22T08:52:00.002-04:00

My prediction of an "early" rise for Roo turned out to be an understatement. He left his bed at 5:00am and diligently worked on the construction of the Galactic Enforcer until it was complete at 1:00pm, reluctantly taking bathroom and food breaks. With only an occasional request to help locate a unique piece, or attach a tricky door, Roo assembled this 825 piece spaceship by following the 85 pages of instructions in the two manuals. I'll admit, I'm amazed. And proud.

Galactic Enforcer

2010-05-21T08:21:00.003-04:00

"I can hardly believe it!". These were Roo's words tonight when he opened his birthday package from Grandma and Grandpa. Completely ecstatic that he received the LEGO Space Police Galactic Enforcer, he patiently put 1/2 together this evening. I'm certain he'll be up early to finish the job. Having watched reviews of this item several times on YouTube, he's well versed in the features and accompanying mini figs.

Origami

2010-05-20T08:53:00.003-04:00

Wednesday, my friend Michelle and I attended a lesson in origami, the Japanese folk art of folding paper to create something decorative or useful. Below you can see our first go, a simple pencil, followed by a more complex item, a card holder.

I'm reminded of our first trip to the Children's hospital when the physician asked Roo, amongst other appropriate age level skill questions, to demonstrate how to fold a piece of paper. I wanted to blurt "we don't teach our four year olds origami" but before I could, Roo successfully made a crease. Wednesday's teacher explained that the skill is taught to children to improve concentration and because it is believed that using all fingers in a dexterity exercise stimulates brain activity.

Interestingly, we learned that during the era of the Samurai, it was considered rude to give a gift unwrapped. Oddly, the wrapping wasn't meant to conceal the item. In fact, it was suppose to be very obvious by the shape of the wrapping what was inside. And, if the giver incorrectly wrapped an item in order to deceive the receiver of the contents, the giver would have no option other that to take their own life. Fortunately, the appropriate etiquette with modern day origami is not so extreme.

Mosquitoes

2010-05-17T19:32:00.001-04:00

Roo is quite the chatter box. I must admit, I don’t always catch all he says in his continuous and rapid topic changing rambles. I try, but can’t always follow along. Yesterday, he caught my attention when he started talking about mosquitoes. As he explained, “when a mosquito bites you, they go to the bathroom on your skin and when you scratch, you’re really scratching their wee wee.” My reply, “really?” I looked it up, and sure enough, I learned that mosquitoes must rapidly urinate while they are feeding on your blood in order to fly away and avoid fluid and salt overloads. I’m reminded of Dr. Hinohara’s message (click to see older post) to allow small children the opportunity to teach. They learn not only by receiving, but by talking and teaching others. As I’m learning, a child can be quite good at sharing information.

LaQ

2010-05-12T10:21:00.007-04:00

Prior to leaving the house this morning, Roo bookmarked in his LaQ instruction booklet the project we planned to work on after school. If you haven't heard of them before, please check out LaQ. For us, it is a recent fabulous find, and I suspect it will be played with as much as the magnificent Magna Tiles and Lego that have each logged many hours of play time. A Japanese product made in Japan, the LaQ collection contains 7 types of pieces that allow one to construct flat, 3 dimensional, and spherical structures. A fan since he was very small of all things that spin,

Roo's choice for today was of course, the Ferris wheel.

Camping in Nasu

2010-05-04T08:22:00.006-04:00

[Written by Ryan]

Roo and I enjoyed a long weekend camping with two other fathers and son’s (Roo refers to this as a “no girls allowed” trip). Our home base was a campground near Nasu, approximately two hours drive from Tokyo in the foothills of Mount Nasu. The campground had several ponds, a stream and a playground - enough to keep the boys busy and moving. We arrived late on Saturday, just in time to set up camp, play and get the fire going. Sunday was a full day, involving playing at the campground, tree trekking (also referred to as a ropes course in the U.S.), taking in an outdoor onsen (i.e. hot bath) as well as a night safari. We all slept well that night. On our way home Monday, we stopped at Nasu Highland Park - - kind of a cross between Disney and Valley Fair. Lego Land was by far the most popular with the boys - - particularly the Star Wars section. The weather was perfect - - summer-like and it was a nice way to relax for a few hours. The drive back to Tokyo was much busier and longer, with a tired Roo asleep in the back for the last hour or so of the ride.

I need to take more trips like this. Not only is it fun to spend time with others, it’s also a cultural opportunity in many ways. This was my first “driving” trip in Japan - - typically we take a train of some sort to get to our destination (we don’t own a car and I don’t have a license to drive here). The freeways in Tokyo for the most part are elevated, thereby offering a perspective of Tokyo I never get to experience. I also found this reinforced the sheer size of the city; it is a bit daunting. Also, with the campground in a more remote area, the scenery was tough to beat. We could see the stars very clearly as well as the nearby mountains. Interestingly, there were many rice patties in this region, often organized in a tiered structure so as to make effective use of the land along gradual slopes as well as in the flatlands. Another great part of this trip was that we didn’t see any foreigners. I put my Japanese language skills to some use (including telling the front desk of an “issue” with our cabin toilet) and welcomed friendly interaction with others, particularly some of the kids who have some curiosity about us.

During our two and a half years here I have developed an appreciation for the civil order to everyday activities. I’ve learned to roll with it and not let it frustrate me - - it’s part of the experience. Keeping in mind this is a very popular long holiday weekend, I thought it was interesting the onsen was not open at 11AM on a Saturday (opened at noon). Also, it was "lights out" at 10PM and literally everyone complied (we received a kind reminder from the staff on this point). I also learned on Monday at the campground that I had used a “closed” hot bath - - interesting it would be closed at 9:30AM (what I view as “peak” time). I had remarked to the other dads that I feared I had done something wrong because the bathroom seemed too quiet to me - - turned out my suspicions were true! Everyday I learn something new and I appreciate that.

World Laughter Day

2010-05-02T09:15:00.008-04:00

Today, the first Sunday in May, is World Laughter Day. First celebrated in 1998 in Mumbai India, the celebration is a "positive manifestation for world peace and is intended to build up a global consciousness of brotherhood and friendship through laughter". The founder is also accredited with forming "Laughter Yoga". The idea behind laughter yoga is that the body doesn't differentiate between real and fake laughter and therefore the benefits are the same. Today I went to Yoyogi Park to partake in the laughing celebration. I tend to think the Japanese are very guarded with their emotions, especially in public. It was fun to see so much laughter and silliness!

Book Review: The Help

2010-05-01T08:52:00.002-04:00

Today I finished reading a most amazing novel titled “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett. It’s been on the New York Times Bestseller list and is recommended for book clubs. I understand why! In a week my book club will be reviewing, and we’re already talking about how much there is to discuss. Situated in Jackson, Mississippi during the 1960’s civil rights movement, the book is narrated by three woman telling their life story as either a white child raised by a black nanny (one woman) , or as a black domestic helper in a white family (two woman). The story is heartwarming and the lives of the woman painted vivid. Of course there is plenty of sadness and anger in segregated Mississippi. But for the most part, it’s a feel good triumph story that is hard to put down. I’ve read Dreamworks has already made plans to produce the movie.

Sunday at Showa Park

2010-04-25T08:26:00.004-04:00

[Written by Ryan]

After constructing lego’s through the morning, Roo and I travelled to Showa Kinen Park. This park, which is about one hour away by express train, sits on the former site of a US airbase. Our family visited this park about a year ago so the pleasant Sunday weather provided another good opportunity for a visit. After successfully navigating a few challenges en route (namely finding a cash machine with English), we set out on our adventure. Roo commanded our pedal boat and he insisted he didn’t need a driver’s license. Next a quick stop for a snack (corn dog for me, ice cream for him). Then we headed to an open field (the biggest one I’ve seen in Japan) with 100’s of other people for some “footy” (aka football or aka American soccer). People were flying kites, playing catch with a glove and mitt, doing footy or just lying on the grass enjoying the sunshine. I didn’t know it until we arrived but there was also some sort of flower festival. Flowers were in full bloom throughout the park, another reason to visit again (we recommended to Darla who took care of other errands today). Then it was on to the bouncing dome, which is kind of like a soft rubber with some air under it. Roo and I and many others jumped and bounced around - - very enjoyable. Roo’s favorite action was to fall at the top and roll down - - He said he was “dizzy and scared at the same time”.

Broomball

2010-04-25T01:04:00.002-04:00

Last night Ryan and I, along with two friends from Minnesota, attended a wine event that featured wines from the Washington State and Oregon region. Assembled at a table with people we had not met prior, the conversation expectantly starts with “Where are you from?” “How long have you been in Japan?” and so forth. I was seated next to a Japanese woman who was attending with her Italian boyfriend. When she asked “Where in the USA are you from?” I replied “Minnesota”, completely prepared to provide the usual explanation of where Minnesota is in relation to Chicago and Canada, and, “No, it’s not the same as Michigan”. And, “Yes, it’s very cold”. But to my surprise, she shyly admitted that she had been to Minneapolis, Minnesota. When I prompted further, she shared that it was not her profession as a dentist that took her abroad, but rather, GET THIS!!, to compete on Japan’s team in the International Federation of Broomball Association’s World Championship. Quietly she asked “Do you know broomball?” (I suspect her boyfriend wasn't in the know regarding her broomball past.) I confirmed the four of us know broomball, but that many Americans may not even know of broomball. I explained how when I was dating Ryan I would go to watch his work team play outside at the rink in the evenings. Her sympathy was genuine when she said, “you can’t WATCH broomball, It’s too cold! You have to PLAY.” My sentiments exactly, but what can I say, we were dating. So once again, we were surprised by this random discovery and reminded how connected the world is.

By the way, we enjoyed the wine. An earthy King Estate Pinot Noir 2006 and an outstanding Eroica Reisling 2008 with dessert.

Making Homemade Udon Noodles

2010-04-22T04:49:00.007-04:00

1. Put 100g wheat flour and 70g cotton tofu in a bowl and mix together. Do not add water.
2. Mix the dough until it comes together into a ball.
3. Place the dough in the center of a plastic bag and step on it.

4. When the dough spreads out, fold it back, put in a plastic bag and step on it again. Repeat this procedure three times until the dough has the consistency of an earlobe.
5. Again, shape dough into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap, being careful not to have an air bubble in the wrap as this can cause uneven heating.
6. Heat wrapped dough in a 700 watt microwave for 20-30 seconds.

7. Sprinkle some flour on both the top and bottom surface of the dough and roll it out to desired thickness. Sprinkle with flour, fold and cut it.

8. Boil noodles for about 2 minutes.

9. Wash the noodles in cold water for good texture. Add to warmed dashi broth.

10. Sprinkle with bonito flakes, scallions and strips of abura agae (fried tofu).

ENJOY!

Reading to the Butterflies

2010-04-18T20:33:00.004-04:00

This time last week (Monday morning), Roo went to school and learned that as Bug of the Week (class helper), it was his turn to read a story to the Butterfly class (3 year olds). His reading teacher Ellen explained, with a tear in her eye, how things transpired. Apparently when Roo first heard the news, Ellen noticed tears in his eyes. He communicated that he was worried he'd be embarrassed. Ellen, knowing that he's been practicing and has the skills to the read the selected book, gently persuaded him to give it a go. Together they practiced reading the story, and talked about what to do if he gets stuck or says an incorrect word. When the moment arrived, he walked to the front of the class and confidently read the story, My Lost Bear. Needless to say, Ryan and I are super proud of him.

Waku Waku Village

2010-04-17T09:53:00.005-04:00

Thursday I had the opportunity, as a parent volunteer, to accompany Roo's class on their first ever school overnight trip. We met at a nearby station, took the train to Shinjuku station (considered the busiest station in the world because of the gargantuan number of passengers), made a train switch and travelled for about 45 minutes, and finally, took a short bus ride to a facility near Mt. Takao. Six adults towing ten children. The facility, Waku Waku Village, is a complex containing indoor cafeterias, arts and craft rooms, and gymnasiums. Unfortunately we didn't get to experience any of the surrounding area full of trees and outdoor adventure because rain had muddied the grounds. The kids kept busy making candles, tie dying t-shirts, preparing their own curry, roasting marshmallows and eating smores, sanding wood for a log necklace, and constructing paper airplanes. Other than a couple vomit episodes, a favorite t-shirt mistakenly tie-dyed, and tears from tiredness on day two, everything went fairly smoothly. Good memories that I'm certain will stay with this group of five and six year olds for a long time!

Eyelashes

2010-04-12T09:07:00.005-04:00

When you arrive in Tokyo, it doesn’t take long to notice the high concentration of beautiful people. Or more specifically, the high standard to which what feels like every Japanese woman accomplishes to put herself together for an appearance outside the home. Now that I’ve been here three years, I know it’s not EVERY Japanese woman, but certainly a significantly higher proportion as compared to say, a trip to the Mall of America. Before coming to Japan it wouldn’t have been far fetched to describe my style as granola or simple. I wear Birkenstocks. I let my pierced ears grow shut after having a child. My closet contained a lot of solid color t-shirts. Once I found a cut that fit of something, I purchased many in varying shades. And, I was always on the lookout for a comfy pair of jeans. Then I came to Tokyo. It took about two trips to the park to realize the mums don’t do cargo pants. Needless to say, I’ve made some changes. I’d argue it’s inevitable as evidenced by a book club conversation where the topic digressed and we found ourselves taking a pole regarding who tints or perms their eyelashes. Yes, I wrote PERMS their EYELASHES. Yes, I get my eyelashes permed. (In the group of about 10 foreign woman there was only a few who had not done one or the other, so for the record, I’m no extreme.) So, when my friend came from America, I felt she had to experience some of what Tokyo offers in the way of personal beautification. Here we are, with the perm rods wrapped, relaxing in a very foo foo girlie salon.

Way of Tea

2010-04-10T21:51:00.005-04:00

Last week we took part in tea ceremony, or Way of Tea, in a 100+ year old tea house situated amongst the magnificent gardens of the HappoEn. The ceremony of making matcha, powdered green tea, was brought to Japan from China along with Zen Buddhism in the 9th century. Rooted deeply in Japanese ancient culture, the rituals of the ceremony carry much symbolism. My favorite words to describe the art are “sober refinement”. The powdered matcha (green tea) is whipped with boiling water creating a frothy bitter tea and is served with very sweet confections that balance the bitter. Every move seems calculated, including when the sweet is introduced to your palate down to how to turn the bowl two times clockwise before enjoying, and turning two times counter clockwise before setting down. While we were hoping to experience the ceremony kneeling on tatami, our reservation was booked in the tea house where you sit on benches, evidently more accommodating for inflexible westerners. The wind was blowing on this day, and after the tea ceremony we witnessed “sakura fubuki” or a cherry blossom snow storm. Beautifully serene, it was a lovely scene.

The entrance to the tea house. Notice Trisha's reflection as we were waiting.

The confections.
The preparation.

Turning the bowl before sipping.

After. Highly caffeinated from drinking two bowls.

Hanami

2010-04-08T10:03:00.009-04:00

Trisha timed her arrival perfectly. Around every corner, a blooming Sakura (cherry blossom tree) greeted us. Her one weekend in Tokyo was the prime time of "hanami", the activity of picknicking under the trees.

We joined Morita san (between Roo & I) and her friends last Saturday at Shinjuku Park.

She and her friends have been meeting under the same tree for the past twenty years. We had good food, good conversation, beautiful scenery,

and plenty of laughs.

Roo made good use of the open space around our mat by entertaining himself with a game of "freeze". His animated expressions elicited giggles from a group of young adults sitting nearby.

Geisha Girls

2010-04-06T10:50:00.004-04:00

I've been busy enjoying a visit from my childhood friend, Trisha, who has come to Tokyo. Here's us dressed as Japanese Geisha. We opted for the more "mature", "sexy" Geisha, rather than the "young" and "cute" apprentice Geisha.

Mochitsuki

2010-03-29T11:05:00.001-04:00

Sunday we attended with friends Mochitsuki (mochi pounding ceremony) at a neighborhood park near Nishi Oi. Mochi is made from glutinous rice and is commonly eaten in various ways, much like westerners use crackers with a multitude of toppings. The cooked rice is pounded with a wooden mallet (kine) in a wooden mortar (usu). Two people work together. One swings the mallet, and another brave person turns and wets the “dough”, taking care not to get their hand smashed. After Ryan gave the pounding a go, Roo decided he would take a turn at the kid’s station.

After we explained to Roo that you don’t just want to swing wildly but need to hit accurately and with a rhythm, I feared less for the brave lady turning the rice. There were a lot of "ooohhhs" & "aaahhhs" when he was at it.

On the left, mochi with kinaka (soy flour), on the right, mochi with an (sweet red bean).

Restorative Yoga

2010-03-28T21:10:00.002-04:00

This weekend and last I completed a 20 hour restorative yoga teacher training course at Sun and Moon. What is restorative yoga, and how is it different than regular yoga? First, in restorative yoga you don’t use any muscular energy. That’s right, no sweating and no straining! Second, you remain in comfortable positions, supported by cozy props, for much longer than in active yoga. In other words, you relax! This type of yoga is wonderful to help manage the stress that accompanies a modern world. Ironically, if we take time to relax (and restore) our bodies, the more active and alert we become. I don’t have intentions to teach, I mainly wanted to learn this yoga to complement for my own practice. (And, I’m hoping to help my husband find a way to gently stretch and relax). Regardless of whether or not you have an interest in active yoga, I encourage you give restorative a try.

Me relaxing with legs on the wall.

A chain of supported relaxation.

Odaiba

2010-03-27T09:39:00.006-04:00

[written by Ryan]

Roo's obsession with all things LEGO continues. After a three month break from a toy store due to an "issue" after Christmas, Roo and Mommy trekked to Odaiba to the Toys R Us on the train.

Among the thousands (and I do mean thousands) of options, Roo selected the LEGO castle, which matches the Clutch Powers LEGO movie he has been watching with rigid commitment for the past several weeks.

He is particularly impressed with the sword that the King carries, and also the drawbridge that can open and close. Roo and I spent several hours this afternoon putting it together. He's getting old enough now that he actively participates and enjoys the construction, though his interest wained after the first hour (I don't blame him - - lots of tiny pieces to meticulously assemble). He is very proud of the end product, as the pictures show!

[Back to Darla writing]
The part of our trip to Odaiba Ryan didn't mention was a visit to the shop with the big pink cat out front. Not only does the store offer feline supplies and accessories, there is a section you pay to enter to spend time amongst the pampered residents and enjoy a drink of your choice. Only after I had bought the tickets did the clerk clarify that you can't pick up the cats, only pet them. And, no flash photography. The human occupants? Mostly couples on a date. And families. Even though the space was clean and not crowded by any means, Roo wrinkled his nose and whispered "it smells in here". But, since I had patiently waited for him in the Lego section of Toys R Us, he waited for me.

Day off for Ryan

2010-03-23T02:44:00.004-04:00

[written by Ryan]

Yesterday Dad and I undertook a whirl wind tour of Tokyo. We started the day by dropping Roo at school. Next a traditional Japanese breakfast (actually not traditional at all) at McDonalds. A short ride on the train, and a brisk walk later we arrived at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, which offers a free view of the city from the 45th floor. The clear, crisp morning provided excellent visibility of Mount Fuji in the distance.

Next on the agenda was the Shinjuku Gyoen, site of the largest garden in Tokyo. While we likely missed the cherry blossoms by just a few days, the park had many indicators of Spring and many Japanese were out with their cameras zooming in on some of the early blooming plants. Three train segments later we found ourselves at Asakusa. After viewing the plastic replicas of food offerings in many restaurant windows, we chose a tasty sushi restaurant for lunch. The hot broth soup combined with a cold beer made for a very satisfying experience. We also took in Senso-ji, one of the best known Buddhist temples in the city. It seemed everyone else decided to view Senso-ji along with us as the crowds were out mid-day, taking advantage of the pleasant weather. After two more trains and a short walk, we were back in time to pick up Roo at school, only to jump in a car with his friends and their parents for an impromptu play date and dinner in the Shinagawa area - - a long, tiring and fun day!

Shimoda

2010-03-21T10:24:00.002-04:00

[written by Ryan]

Grandpa, Roo and myself enjoyed a “boys” weekend at Shimoda, Japan. Shimoda is located on the Izu peninsula, which was formed by ancient lava flows from the famous Mount Fuji further to the north. Shimoda is approximately 3 hours away from Tokyo by train. The route is well known for its beauty (ocean on one side, low rugged mountains on the other) and we were not disappointed. Shimoda is best known as the place that Commodore Perry (an American Naval officer) brought his “black ships” in the 1850’s to establish trade and end Japan’s long isolationist policy. Shimoda was actually the first city in Japan that allowed foreigners to roam and interact freely with local Japanese. I visited the Ryosen-ji Museum, which had on display both Japanese and Western descriptions and drawings from the time--very interesting. A walk down Perry Road near the museum provides a view of the “old town” architecture, with some picturesque walking bridges crossing over the trickling waterway.

Nesugata-yama overlooks the city so we took the ropeway up to the top and were surprised to find colorful Spring flowers, rugged walking trails and a vicious wind. Roo led us on many “secret” paths that criss-crossed the summit. We also discovered a hedge maze, which added to the fun, and a steep slope to facilitate his log-roll attempts.

Our hotel room provided a direct view of the bay. I also took the opportunity to enjoy the outdoor garden hot bath as well as the bayview hot bath, the best that I’ve visited in Japan thus far.

Heading back to Tokyo, we took the “Super View Odoriko”, which has extra wide/high windows to allow better viewing of the scenery. Ryder watched his Lego movie while Grandpa and Dad chatted over a cold beer.

No Girls Allowed!

2010-03-19T19:41:00.002-04:00

Roo's Grandpa, Ryan's Dad, is visiting from the United States. This morning the three guys left for a weekend trip out of Tokyo. In this photo they're declaring "no girls allowed"! I'm staying behind to attend restorative yoga training at Sun & Moon.

Grandpa arrived in time to see Japan's spectacular spring gift, the great bloom, on our street anyway. Early April is Sakura season (cherry blossoms). One tree on our balcony is already slowly blooming, wetting our appetite for the splendor of pink to come!

Chilean Friends

2010-03-17T03:42:00.008-04:00

This week we said goodbye to more friends from Roo's school. They are returning to their home country, Chile. Kind parents with three lovely children! Roo's enjoyed playing with Diego in and out of school, and I'll miss the mother, Alejandra who creates beautiful ikebana. And, I imagine each time we play the Hi Ho Cherri-O board game I'll think of Daniella, clearly her favorite toy in our home that she located on most visits. I asked Ale to keep in touch as I can't wait to hear how baby Flavia's serious personality develops during childhood. One last frantic good bye when she stopped over the morning they left for the airport to retrieve eyeglasses Diego had left behind on a play date the day prior, we stayed positive declaring "see you again"!

Lego

2010-03-14T08:40:00.004-04:00

Nothing too exciting to report from the first week back in Tokyo after a holiday. Mostly our days were filled with the routine of school and Legos. Lego is Roo's new obsession. After school he's anxious to get building! He likes to refer to himself as a "Designer". Our living room floor seems to be constantly littered with brightly colored specs that smart when you accidentally step on one. He's also become a fan of YouTube. Specifically, the reviews about Lego sets. There appears to be quite the contingent of young boys AND grown men that like to build Lego. One night in bed as he was close to falling asleep, Roo whispered "Mommy, can I be a Lego collector?". I had lunch with my Danish friend Jette this week and she informed me that Lego is a Danish company and when her children each turned five years old, they would make a visit to the Legoland Amusement Park. I'm quite certain a trip to the Lego Imagination Center in the MOA will be on our summer agenda! The word lego comes from the Danish "leg godt", which means "play well". Very fitting, as I know one little boys that's doing tons of play very well.

Sunday afternoon

2010-03-08T05:03:00.001-05:00

Like father, like son.

Hina Matsuri

2010-03-07T05:20:00.003-05:00

Last year I did a post on Hina Matsuri (click to read), or Doll's Day which is held on March 3rd. This year, our building owners have placed a magnificent display in our lobby. In addition, I've bought a small one for our home. Have a look!

Book Review: The Hunger Games

2010-03-06T08:43:00.006-05:00

by Suzanne Collins. A lazy vacation provided me the opportunity to finish the second novel in the Hunger Games trilogy. The first novel, the Hunger Games was selected for book club. Because I could barely put it down, I had to read the second, Catching Fire. Now, I'm eagerly awaiting the release of the third, Mockingjay, this fall. Futuristic, the story takes place in the country formerly known as the United States of America, now known as Panem. Collins best explains how she came up with the idea by describing an evening of channel surfing that involved a reality television show and actual war coverage. Once you read the novel, that description is spot on. Here's hoping the author's creativity continues, and the third novel is just as thrilling as the first two! Lionsgate has acquired the rights to film production, but from what I read, we won't see it until 2011.

Playing Games

2010-03-06T03:43:00.005-05:00

Let the games begin!

That is, four rounds of the matching game of Memory yesterday by the pool. Roo was victor in three of the four, with the fourth a tie game. He's quite good at this one and I can't help but wonder if a child's brain isn't more agile than an adults? We played many card games on this holiday and I'll admit I'm thrilled to do so. Up until now, Roo has been content to watch. The thought of losing or the stress to win was always too great. I've read and learned from other mothers that this isn't unusual in a four or five year old. At that age, winning is everything. While winning is still important, it's apparent that he's learning to cope as evidenced by his verbal outlay of emotion, for example, "it's ok if you have 2 sets (of Go Fish) and I only have 1 set because I won once already today". Or, the expression he's picked up for when one doesn't come in first, "lucky last". From what I can tell by reading, children are emotionally mature to handle winning or losing at around the age of 8, with the concept beginning to develop around the age of 6. While I'm not sure he's ready to engage in a round of cards with his peers, I'm happy he's finding it within himself to play within the comfort zone of Mom & Dad.

The thrill of winning! Utter elation!

The Victory Dance. Hmm...this may be future material for the end zone!

On the Beach

2010-03-04T07:24:00.004-05:00

While Ryan went on a small tour of the area's historic sites, Roo and I played on the beach. Our first attempt at a race car track in the sand was stunted when the waves inched their way up on the shore. In the water, we dropped old pieces of bread (provided by the resort) to watch the hungry fish quickly gather around us. Snorkeling, we got an even closer look at their stripes and color markings.

We stayed cool in the shade, playing the Memory card game. Ryan returned at 2pm, surprised to see us still on the beach from the morning. Content to hang out in his chair, as long as we're talking, I can't help but think Roo's growing up. "Relax by the pool" wasn't in his vernacular a year ago. An even though the conversation is repetitive ("What's your favorite Lego Power Miner? What's your least favorite Lego Secret Agent set?"), I treasure these moments of conversation.

Water Shiatsu

2010-03-03T21:54:00.007-05:00

Yesterday I experienced at Chi spa the most amazing therapy, water shiatsu. Floating in a warm pool, aided by floats on each leg, the therapist supports your body such that you can achieve weightlessness and complete relaxation. Ears plugged, eyes closed, and soothing incense baby your senses. Smooth, rhythmical moves stretch muscles and awaken the spine. In fact, the most gentle spine opening I've experienced. Water Shiatsu is one of the signature therapies offered by some, but not all, Shangri La Resorts. Delightfully indulgent, I feel fortunate to have received this unique treatment.

More Fun in the Philippines

2010-03-02T08:22:00.003-05:00

What we've been up to:

Rounds on the chip and putt 6 hole golf course. Roo is enjoying the chance to swing an iron and is thrilled when his ball catches some air.

Drinks and

play by the pool. Roo has made progress with his swimming. He has been practicing holding his breath, putting his face in, and floating. Oh yes, and squirting Daddy.

Karaoke.

And, if you can tolerate the excessively loud music and polar temps, the race car in the game room. Honestly, I'm not sure I've seen Roo as pumped as he was after playing this game. We played tonight, and I'm certain he'll still be talking about it in the morning!

The Filipino people here are so friendly. And happy. In fact, so much so that they have me pondering their secret. Is it the tropical weather? The breeze? The sun? The juicy mangoes? Riding in a jeepney? Their Catholic faith? Regardless of the reason, the rarely missed positive greeting or expression makes one feel like a welcome guest!

Philippines

2010-02-28T19:52:00.002-05:00

This week Roo's school is closed for mid term break. We've taken this opportunity to escape to sun and fun on an island in the Philippines. A relatively short flight from Tokyo Narita (4 1/2 hours), we arrived on Saturday night. Sunday we had a relaxing day:

enjoying the view from our room,

relaxing by the pool after a swim, conversing about Lego Power Miners, playing card games of Go Fish and Chomp,

and of course Roo did some snorkeling.

We haven't decided what's in store for today, but the resort offers many attractive options, a spa, a beach, an amazing play center for kids, golf, tennis, snorkeling, boat rides, jet skis, a game center, karaoke, and of course, swimming pools.

USA & Outerspace

2010-02-25T07:01:00.008-05:00

The theme for this month in Roo's class has been outer space and the United States of America. Once again, the children and their teachers gave an amazing performance with the best yet of home made props, hand painted wall size backdrops included. They've learned of America's history by studying the culture of Native Americans, Cowboys, Inventions, and America's exploration of space. The show included:

a Native American rain dance (my favorite!),

around a camp fire,

a cowboy song and a song about inventions,

and the grand finale, a personalized version of the song "Ground Control to Agent Tom". The astronauts stepped from their shuttle while the teachers sang the main chorus.

As he stepped from the shuttle Roo did a good rendition of an astronaut walking on the moon where there is no gravity by slowly teetering from one leg to the next with his arms widely afloat. I guess the time he and Ryan spend watching YouTube clips of astronauts is time well spent!

Book Reviews: The Song of Hannah & The Red Tent

2010-02-23T10:05:00.004-05:00

by Eva Etzioni-Halevy and Anita Diamant, respectively. I'd assign these two books a new type of genre, biblical fiction. In both, the main characters are women from the bible and the men provide the backdrop, in other words, the complete reverse of the bible. Since little is written of women, the authors created a story to fill in the detail. Both deeply describe the culture during the respective time periods. This, in combination with a captivating story, provides for an interesting read. I like The Song of Hannah more than The Red Tent, but both are well worth the time if you have an interest in this period of history.

Dr Hinohara

2010-02-23T07:14:00.003-05:00

Last Friday I attended a talk given by a soon to be centurion, Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara. He has authored many books (200+) and has been influential in shaping Japan’s modern medical program. Amongst his many accomplishments is the development of the “Association for the New Elderly”. He argued that rather than be a burden to society, the elderly (75 years + in his definition) can continue to provide a positive contribution. A healthy lifestyle minimizes illness, therefore ensuring a higher quality existence. The mission of the society is two fold; first, to make sure younger generations understand the importance of world peace, and second, to transmit the goodness of their culture. I’ve always been fond of pleasant old people, so it’s no surprise that I found Dr. Hinohara charming. Despite the fact that he can no longer stand up straight, he has quite a spring to his step. However, you could sense the disappointment in the audience when one participant asked “what is the single most factor that one can do to ensure a long life?”. His answer, “Control your food intake. You should try to maintain the same weight you had at thirty years old”. Hoping for something exotic, for instance “do a shot of brandy ever day”, or “I do a headstand every night before bed”, "control your food intake" is probably the answer people LEAST want to hear. In reality, longevity is probably the outcome of many contributing factors. But, the Japanese are definitely doing something right because you see a lot of really old folks pushing their roller carts to the bus stop.

Tamarokuto Science Center

2010-02-20T00:16:00.005-05:00

Thursday's field trip to the Tamarokuto Science Center wasn't as exhausting as past school trips. The layout of the center and the lack of a crowd minimized the stress associated with the potential risk of loosing sight of your child. The rooms are plenty open and almost everything is hands on, which goes over well will five year olds.

Strategically, I purposely dressed Roo in orange so I could spot him easily. Of course the yellow vest helps, too.

The challenge of this toy is arranging the exists just right so the marble flows through to the end.

In the human anatomy room, when the rider pedals the bike, leg bones appear!

Not so interested in Mom, after lunch Roo stayed close to his teacher Kevin, who has been elevated to the level of celebrity status in our home.

A close up of the group photo.

Cool, what's inside?