Back in the USA

We were welcomed home by my parents and my sister, who greeted us at the Norfolk airport with open arms. Well, actually, they were talking amongst themselves and hardly noticed us walk up to them, since they thought our plane was coming in an hour later than it did. (Wish I had a photo of that!) But once we woke up the welcoming committee, we felt very welcome indeed.

We couldn't have managed our two girls, 4 carry-ons, 7 checked bags, 2 carseats, 1 double stroller, and most importantly the dog-filled crate without their support and in particular, their two cars! (Especially given the sleep deprivation.) But we definitely made room for the two red, white, and blue life-size "Raggedies," a patriotic welcome home gift from Nana!

We are thankful to be back in the USA, closer to our families, even if only for two years!

Moving Day(s)!

Or "weeee" as Miranda would say about any fun ride! Oh, to be so young and naive!

Our move back to the US was set into motion when two weeks before our departure, the first set of movers came to pack up 1,000 pounds or less of the "essential" things (but not furniture) that we'll need right away--well, in about 4 to 6 weeks--to be sent by air. This was formerly known as your "Express Shipment," which must have pissed off enough people to the point they changed the name to "Unaccompanied Baggage."

Then phase two included the rest of our worldly (literally) possessions, which were packed up over two days into 6 1/2 huge crates and sent on a boat. Maybe 7,000 pounds worth? (And we can't forget the approximate 5,000 pounds we have had in storage for 3 years! We're allowed a total up to 17,500 lbs...who knew I could have kept shopping?!)

It was a little unnerving at first for Sydney to see things disappearing gradually. But once I explained that we were going to our new home in the United States by plane and her toys were going on a boat and she'll get them back eventually, she was on board with the plan. Really, what choice did she have?

She came to terms with this also because I kept a few key toys, and took her and Miranda out of the house every day doing something fun with friends for the rest of the week, so they didn't get too distraught about living in an empty house.

Three days after all of our things were whisked away, we embarked on our trip, otherwise known as the longest day of our lives--May 30, 2009. Technically, it was no longer than my trip to the States with Sydney in July 2007, and no longer than our trip with both girls in January 2008. But this trip along with two older girls--and all of our 10 bags, 2 car seats, 1 double stroller, and a large dog crate--was so much harder and made us feel the day would never end. And that's even with everything going according to plan and the girls sleeping for about 6 hours on the plane! But alas, it was an 11-hour flight to Chicago, with a 2 1/2 hour connecting flight to Norfolk.

After we cleared customs and rechecked all of our loot in Chicago, we took 5 minutes we didn't have during our quick layover to let Mitch outside to relieve himself. He is such a good dog, he can go 15 hours or more without having to go. Needless to say after the long flight, he peed for at least a continuous 5 minutes, garnering several "thumbs up" and "that's the longest pee we've ever seen" comments from security personnel sitting on the sidelines for a smoke break.

I'm sure it was the longest day of Mitch's life as well. But it could have been worse...good thing for him his crate wasn't big enough for his sisters, too.

Girlfriends

For our last outing ever in Japan, Sydney, Miranda and I went to Soleil No Oka (French for "sunny hill") with Sydney's good friends Sydney W., Aaralyn, and Jocelyn. There is a Japanese fascination with all things French--from fashion to pastries--so I assume that's why this Provincial theme park is in Japan. It's not far from where we live in Yokosuka, and it may be the closest adventure to our house we've taken. But surprisingly, it is a little known spot, which is the only reason we haven't gone there sooner.

There is no admission to the park and there's a great big playground near the entrance (even if it's very dusty/muddy). Then there are activities that each have small fees. You can ride a few rides, feed the goats, or go in the wading pool (although we didn't). Of course there are restaurants, and even cooking and art classes for older kids.

It was a great way to spend time with all three of Sydney's best girlfriends in Japan (and bonus, two little sisters Miranda's age, Julia and Keeley!) I've known all along how great it was for me to find such good friends immediately in Japan. And once Sydney was old enough to begin making her own first friends, it was wonderful to see her make fun, valuable connections. But especially through these three girls and their mothers, I've come to appreciate how blessed Sydney and I both were to find such great friends together. While the girls have shared, laughed, fought, and cried, we moms have laughed, refereed, commiserated, and lended support to each other and I know we'll do our best to keep in touch.

Sayonara, American-Style

My Japanese friends Keiko, Emiko, Akiko, Noriko, and Kayo have taught me so much about Japan's great culture. Along the way, they have presented me with so many heart-felt gifts, most importantly their friendship, that I wanted to show them one last time in Japan how appreciative I am for their friendship. So, Brian and I invited my English class, and Noriko's husband and our friend Masa-aki, to our home for an American-style sayonara cookout.


We grilled filet mignon and vegetables and rounded out the meal with mashed potatoes, a Greek honey walnut cake for dessert, plenty of American beer, and of course, all the sake we had on hand and needed to finish before leaving.

And even without beer and sake, my Japanese friends have always enjoyed Sydney and Miranda like surrogate aunts/grandmothers. They have always paid them lots of special attention and it always amazes me how well they are able to get along despite the slight language barrier. Of course they always brought special treats and little gifts for the girls. Emiko has even been known to give them the necklace and bracelet she was wearing that day!

As a small token of my friendship, I presented my friends each with a handmade piece of pottery made in the USA, to represent a little piece of where I am from and where I am going as we part ways. And not knowing what I could buy that would ever be significant enough, I dedicated a noncontinuous week of my life (spread out over at least 2 months between packing and other required time constraints) making sets of five quilted coasters for each of my friends to remember me by. Practical, yes. But they were made by an American (me), from Japanese and American fabrics, and the number represented each of my five Japanese friends. And together they were a fusion of cultures and a complete and useful set, just like our group has been for us. And since I just started sewing in January, they were a learning experience!

In true Japanese fashion, my friends presented me with generous gifts, which I do not think I deserve because these were not just any gifts. They were the most meaningful gifts that, after spending two and a half years together, told me I was as dear as family to my friends. So, even though part of me didn't want to accept the gifts because they were extravagant, I did so because I want my Japanese friends to know I will treasure the Japanese things and will also remember them as dearly as family.

Akiko, gave me this gorgeous kimono and obi she wore for her own retirement to remember her by, to enjoy, and display in my home. And the many pieces of beautiful Japanese wood block artwork Keiko gave to me will be placed in prominent places in our home, no matter where we live. Kayo presented me with a thoughtful set of furoshiki representing Japanese cultural holidays. And I've already mentioned the beautiful pearls Noriko and Masa-aki gave me.

Despite it being a weeknight, it wasn't until 10:30pm that we parted ways, none of us wanting to say good-bye. Since we have two year orders, the joke of the night was, "See you in two years...when you move back to Japan." And while we wouldn't mind moving back to Japan, most likely it wouldn't be in two years. So, in the meantime, I hope my friends will come to visit me in the USA so I can be as generous a host as they've been to me and my family.

Anpanman for the Third Time

Three's a charm. But basically, it was about all we had time for. One of our last outtings in Japan was to the Anpanman Museum for our third and final time with our friends Kathleen, Sydney, and Julia.

This was the first time Sydney enjoyed the craft table, where she made an Anpanman hat...that she wouldn't wear.

Miranda enjoyed pretending to serve ice cream, although we all know she would rather have been eating the real thing.

We had a great time as usual. And then we said good-bye to all our Anpanman friends. But Sydney made me feel better when she put her naive preschooler spin on things by saying, "We can just come back another time!" It makes me feel happy that she doesn't know the sadness of moving...yet.

Best Sushi in Japan

My friend Noriko and her husband Masaaki took Brian and me to their favorite sushi shop in all of Japan last weekend as a sort of sayonara lunch (hence the gift of a beautiful strand of fresh water pearls). It was the second time I had been there with them, and I was glad Brian could join us this time. I reconfirmed that, indeed, it is the best sushi I have ever eaten!

They told us they eat out for sushi about 6 times a year and only come to this restaurant. It's a small little restaurant at the YRP Nobi station where the sushi chef hand picks only the highest quality fish and seeks out rare seasonal delicacies. Of course, if you don't speak Japanese, then this would be lost in translation. But with help, we tried many different types of fish and shrimp, so the sushi chef mentioned to our friends that he was impressed since most foreigners stick with tuna and sea bream. We've come so far! In April 2002 when we both ate raw sushi (at Fugakyu in Boston) for the first time on one of our first few dates, I never imagined we'd be together eating the best sushi in Japan 7 years later.

Mothers' Day Tea Party

After reading my friend Allyson's blog, I realize it turns out the tea party is a very common phenomenon for preschool Mother's Day celebrations! But when it's your own child, I learned it feels like you're the first mom in the world to sit at a little preschool table and have your precious daughter serve you tea and cookies.

My favorite part was when Sydney presented me with her handprint card, and a sprouting zinnia she had planted in a pot, which she had painted with those little hands. The little heart stick in the pot says, "I am like a flower, that's raised with love by you, you help me grow up big and strong, Mom, thanks for all you do." Even though it was a printed message that clearly Sydney couldn't write herself (as Brian pointed out), it nearly brought tears to my eyes when I read it because she was filled with pride and excitement to present it to me. And I was filled with pride and excitement to receive it.

But then I remembered we can't bring the plant with us when we move back to the States in 2 weeks. So, I will transplant it into another pot so I can bring the painted one with me, and my friend Kathy offered to take and nurture the plant and send us updates on its growth. Although she was quick to ask what type of plant it was in case she'd have to buy another in the event that "something happened." I really wouldn't blame her. I used to be able to take care of plants fairly well before I had children. Unfortunately, they have been displaced, and the dog has suffered slightly less than the plants, because all my nurturing energy is spent on my two most precious (and most needy) priorities. It's nice to see--on Mothers' Day especially--its sweet rewards.

The Truth Behind Sydney's Short Hair

Just when we were celebrating that braids were now an option, Sydney threw caution to the wind and cut her own hair with her craft scissors. Note the pile of hair in her hand and her resultant mullet. She clearly hasn't seen herself in the mirror at the time this photo was taken, or she would've wiped that slight smirk off her face. That's okay, I made her pose for posterity and I'll be the one smirking when I get to show her teenage friends.

It all happened while I was out to the store and Brian was doing the dishes with his back to Sydney, listening to one of her typical monologues. Ironically, this one was about how "girls have long hair, and boys have short hair." He turned around to find a pile of hair and scissors on the floor under the desk. After inquiring about where the hair came from, Sydney quickly lied, "I dunno. It was just on the floor."

She would not fess up, so she was sent to time out and was told she could leave when she told Daddy where the hair came from. Surprisingly, he really was not sure if it was hers or a dolls' hair. After 15 minutes in time out and no truth, he checked on her one more time to find her curled up on the bottom step asleep, so he moved her upstairs for a nap.

When I came home Sydney was still napping, and Brian pointed out the hair and scissors still at the scene of the crime. I checked her blond doll and its hair was intact. I ran back to her hair, picked it up to feel it, and my voice escalated, "This is HER hair!"

Just then Sydney strolled in from her nap and upon first sight of her crazy hair, I abandoned the "where did this hair come from" approach and went straight to the "I know you cut your hair and don't lie to me" approach! We remedied the mullet the next day at the salon by chopping off the back to even it up for a classic bowl cut--the lesser of two evils. I just hope she learned that day a) what the truth is and b) not to cut her hair again! Oh...and c) that girls can have long or short hair!

Collecting the Pieces...

Last week we went back to Hayama beach near the Emperor's Summer Residence with our friends Kathleen, Sydney and Julia, and Marion and Nora.

It was a beautiful warm, breezy day to let the kids play in the sand and water--although no swimming yet, it wasn't that warm.

And although the kids like to collect things in their buckets--shells, sea glass, and broken worn blue and white pottery pieces that wash up on shore--I was on a mission to stock up on the latter to fill a decorative glass I have. Despite my best efforts, my glass is not quite full. Which is ironically how I sometimes feel about the things left to do and see in Japan--only I'm running out of time to fill it up.

So...maybe every day that counts down, I'll try a new approach: being thankful that my proverbial glass is overflowing. If I have been collecting the pieces of my life while in Japan, I'd hardly say they were "broken" beforehand. Although I am leaving Japan with a more complete family--in number and in experience.

Coincidentally, I've finally figured out when to use "arigato gozaimashita." (Past tense, or "thank you for what you have done for me!")

Brian's Back!

Brian returned last Thursday after his month of humanitarian work in the Philippines. Friday, the girls were so excited to spend the day with Daddy, even though we had to run errands to prepare for our move back to Norfolk...in less than 30 days!




While he went to check his mail at the hospital, I took the girls to the park, but Sydney was very concerned about Daddy's whereabouts and if he was coming back.

"No, Sydney, he hasn't gone to his ship yet," I answered her question. She has a very good memory, since we told her this was the plan a while ago.

And today, his first day back at work, she wants to know where Daddy went and has asked me at least twice to confirm his presence at dinner tonight. "Yes, sweetie, he'll be home for dinner."

"But then Mommy's going out for ladies' game night."