Just when I thought my school days were far behind me, my Japanese lessons have begun.
That's fine by me!
I'm a bit of a language nerd. Learning a new dialect is like enjoying the finest chocolate: once I have a taste, the craving for more is insatiable.
By far my favorite is French. I enjoyed the years I spent studying it, and still feel pretty comfortable using it in light conversation.
French made learning-and singing-in languages such as Spanish, Italian much easier.
Japanese isn't a romance language, though. It's a much bigger challenge as the speed is quicker, the words much longer, and though the Japanese are extremely courteous and do their best to assist the gaijin's-or non-Japanese-we're on their turf.
To not even attempt to speak or learn their language would be something of an insult.
No pressure!
Kusunose-san, our language instructor, is sweet as can be and a stay-at-home mother like myself. No doubt it's given her infinite patience as a Japanese teacher. As most Japanese who speak English do, her words came quickly and lightly-which at times made it a little hard to follow her.
She was so patient with both eldest and myself. She'd review things, go over them and allow us to stumble over words. I thought I was probably the poorest student she'd ever had despite my best efforts.
It didn't help that the scallywag decided not to nap because he was so curious about our visitor.
But Kusunose said my pronunciation was excellent! That's more than enough incentive for me to tackle my character writing.
I even learned how to write "love", I was so thrilled with our first lesson!
They're not kidding when they say these are survival language lessons either. After the afternoon we had attempting to get to one of eldest's schools for a visit, survival was keenly on my mind.
I suppose I should hit the books and tackle a few more words and phrases, but first I have to get our apartment ready for tomorrow.
Our curtain makers are delivering and hanging our new drapes, and then our air shipment will arrive!
I cannot tell you how excited we will be to see our other clothes, shoes, bags, pillows, throws...ok, I can't even remember what else is in there.
And that's half the fun! It'll be like Christmas in Jue for the Quon's.
I'll be sure to show you the unfolding insanity, never fear.
Until then, good-night. Jaa-mata(see you soon)!
Come on over for breakfast, y'all!
As you can see, you can take the boy out of the South, but you can't take the South out of the boy.
Jumping jambalaya wishes to you all this Saturday morning!
During our first weekend in Tokyo, husband decided to initiate us into the world of subway traveling.
Having taken subways before I wasn't too worried.
From what I remember it's mostly about making sure you're on the right line, and checking to see which stop is closest to your location.
In my case, it's also about locating the nearest elevator. It's strictly forbidden for a parent to take their child down an escalator while in a stroller. I know in the States you'll see families doing this all the time, but in Tokyo it's a big no-no.
You carry your child, you allow them to walk, or you find an elevator to take you to your appropriate subway platform. This has proven to be the biggest challenge.
Taking the subway itself, however, wasn't! As expected the children loved it, the wee one most especially. He couldn't stop looking around with wide eyes, telling us to listen to the various sounds of the subway.
Soon enough we arrived at our destination-a very specific one that Husband had planned for this particular day.
It wasn't just to show us the routes and various stations.
It was to visit Ginza.
If you want to equate Ginza to a location in the States, I'd say think 5th Avenue in New York-but as an entire city.
From Hermès to Dior, from Tiffany's to Mikimoto, the entire area is an overwhelming and amazing metropolis of high-end merchandise.
Emphasis on overwhelming.
As it was the weekend, people were arriving in droves and as is typical for a Ginza weekend, the streets were shut down to accommodate the numbers swarming through them.
Now ask yourself: Where in America would you ever see a major city regularly shut down their streets simply so people could shop?
I couldn't see it happening anywhere. In my mind, such a thing doesn't exist. But then, no city in America has the sheer amount of people wandering through areas like Ginza.
Once again, the crowds had an overwhelming affect, and at that time I decided I was not wild about them.
They are so much bigger than anything we've ever encountered. I've had to face the fact that these trips to Ginza will be few and far between-at least on the weekends and until the crowds no longer intimidate this southern suburban girl.
All of this said, it was still a very exciting outing! The crowds didn't take the enjoyment of out our day.
We first browsed through one of my favorite stores, Hermès. Not to shop mind you, just to look. They have such beautiful eye-candy.
I didn't take any pictures while inside (it seemed in poor taste), but trust me, it was breathtaking.
Floor after floor held mouthwatering items that eldest and I gleefully took in. The baby items were particularly sweet, as were their line of canvas bags inspired by the traditional Kelly.
Husband and the wee scallywag were tailed by a nice man the entire time. He pointed things out to them, answered questions about certain items, then escorted them to the elevators for comfortable travel between floors.
The service was impeccable. From the moment we arrived until we left, it was as if we were the only ones in the store.
We continued our Ginza excursion down side streets, sticking close to one another as the crowds thickened substantially. Husband and eldest went into an Apple store, and the wee one and I braved the closed-off streets alone.
We watched as shoppers claimed tables and chairs in the middle of the streets,
people lined up to take pictures of a small kitten placed strategically atop the Ginza sign (everyone and their grandmother-including me-took this picture)
and, of course, we people watched.
This was tons of fun and a great way to kill time.
I enjoy people watching to begin with, but this was a whole new level of observation. People were dressed in their finest, their most casual. They brought children and their pets.
The wee one and I had a nice time taking it all in.
I liked seeing the various styles worn by both men and women. Children are generally dressed very casually, but the adults are different.
During the work week the clothes are very sober and serious. It's kind of like living in the Matrix-everyone is in crisp black suits with starched white shirts, shiny black shoes, and black ties. Even the women.
But on the weekends, adults really seem to shed their work persona's and put their personal best foot forward. They tend to be very expressive dressers, and it speaks volumes about their personalities even if they themselves do not (speak volumes, that is).
This thought was concluded as the other half of our shopping group emerged from Apple.
We did have a few more sights to see before our day was done, after all.
Husband took us to a large shopping center that held stores from every clothing and shoe designer-and then some! Again, I didn't think whipping out the camera was appropriate, and considering the staggering amount of shoppers around, it was probably for the best.
We looked through several floors, amazed at the Ginza effect: if you go out to shop, you never browse. You always buy.
Not one person was without at least 2 or 3 bags. The word "overwhelming" once again came to mind.
It was alot to take in.
By this point the wee one was getting pretty antsy-and with good reason. He was out of snacks and juice, and he was bored to bits.
We finished up our Ginza-palloza with a trip to the basement. It was nothing but one food vendor after another and for a little while longer, the little guy was taken in by the sights, sounds, and this time, smells.
There was a bit of everything: tea rooms, coffee shops, marzipan peddlers, areas selling french pastries, areas where meats were being carved, cheeses rolled.
This time I couldn't hold back. The camera came out to play...
until I was politely asked to return it to its hiding place.
The Japanese can be tetchy about cameras. I say this after being told twice at different locations not to take pictures.
Ah well, we were leaving anyway!
It was a fun, if not exhausting day in Ginza. The more I've thought back on it, though, the more I can't wait to go back.
We barely scratched the surface of this area in Tokyo and I'm looking forward to seeing what else we'll discover.
We're very fortunate to be living in a cultural onion. With every layer we peel back, we find more to love about our new home city.
I cannot wait to share more with you all.
See you all tomorrow morning!
Even in Tokyo, the hydrangeas are in full bloom. In flower shops, in near-by gardens and parks, you can see them in a variety of typical and unique shades. Wilbur is considering whether or not he'll eat the pretty blossoms. (Don't worry, Cayce! Your lovely plant is safe and in good hands.).
Being able to turn two over the course of 48 hours is super cool-and considering how super cool the wee scallywag is, I think it's fitting.
Did he have a good birthday? No. No, he did not.
He had a marvelous one. Simply marvelous.
He's made the transition to the time difference with great ease, and it certainly helped to make his big day a bright one.
He started off days one and two with a quick snuggle with his sister,
spending some "man" time with his Daddy,
then he was ready to explore his new home.
We were happy to oblige him, and off we went into the neighborhoods of Higashi Azabu and Roppongi for the afternoon.
We stopped at a fabulous little home goods store called Axis, which could be compared to a more upscale West Elm, and browsed for a while.
I loved the dishware, but the birthday boy was enamoured with the basket of slippers.
Considering his fondness for wearing everyone else's shoes, I seriously considered purchasing a pair to put into our shoe closet for him. Maybe next time.
Husband took us to a local store, "Don Quixote's", or Donki's, which is the Japanese answer to Wal-Mart.
What makes this store unique is the giant "U"-shaped roller-coaster on top of the building. It's no longer operable, but if it were, I'm sure the entire family-save myself-would be on it in a heartbeat.
Donki's has a little bit of everything, is very colorful and loud, and several times we had to steer eldest in a different direction as they did, in fact, sell a little bit of everything.
As in adult-oriented everything.
We ended our afternoon excursion with a trip to the Hard Rock for the wee one's lunch, then back for his afternoon nap.
The wee scallywag was more than ready for his afternoon siesta-he'd had a great birthday trip into Tokyo.
During the afternoon to evening period, Husband went to work for a few hours, the children and I explored the neighborhood independently (managing beautifully, might I add), and wouldn't you know it?
We located a Starbucks!!
It took a few texts from Husband to be able to point us in the right direction, but we found it right in the middle of a Barnes and Noble type bookstore called "Tsutaya".
We explored, we "oohed" and "ahhed", then we headed home to prepare dinner as we knew what Husband would be bringing back with him:
Sweet birthday treats from Maison Kayser!
Maison Kayser is a transplanted French bakery found in the bottom of Husband's office building. And may I say it has the most divine pastires? I believe we may have found our Tokyo version of Amelie's!
Soon after dinner, we prepared the wee one's cream puff,
sang a very cheerful Happy Birthday (which he laughed and clapped to the entire time), then watched as he devoured the pate choux and vanilla bean cream.
He was such a mess! What a difference a year makes, friends. For his first birthday he barely touched his cupcakes, but this year he dove in with gusto.
And believe me, his gusto was everywhere.
He took a nice long bath that night before settling into bed.
His dreams must have been very sweet because he couldn't wait to wake up the next morning at six to tell us all about them!
Silly boy.
I'm so thankful he had two great days. I suspect today will be another one.
We're off to one of eldest's school choices, Nishimachi, for a walking tour, then out with a new friend, Cayce, to see a bit more of Tokyo. We'll return for five so we can figure out dinner, but also so I can meet with our decorators.
We're picking out the fabrics for our curtains today and I am thrilled beyond belief!
I cannot wait to say sayonara to the awful, albeit temporary, Purple Rain- inspired drapes.
Purple satin belongs on Mardi Gras costumes, folks, not framing your windows.
I'll keep you updated as that project moves along.
For now I'll wish you all a wonderful day.
Cheers!
Happy second birthday to the most precious little scallywag on either side of the globe!
My darling, beautiful boy with eyes always dancing, laughter always present, voice always heard, I'm convinced you are the reason "bouncing baby boy" was coined.
You are always going in forwards, backwards, and sometimes sideways motion. How one child can contain so much energy is beyond me, but I've grown accustomed to it. I find myself in love with these different facets of who you are.
They are precious and part of what makes you such a little firecracker.
You're one of the brightest lights in my life. I've called you my miracle baby so many times, and you truly have been.
You're your sister's biggest fan, your father's pride and joy, and my favorite little guy to pal around with.
Many say you are the happiest, sweetest baby, and you certainly can be. Others have observed how quick and intelligent you are. This is also very true. But you are also very strong-willed, determined, and have an easily sparked temper.
We know it's only because you can't fully express yourself with your words. In time, these things will be molded into attributes-things that will help strengthen you as you grow.
And my, how you've grown! I still can't believe two years have passed since you were born
Did you know I didn't cry when you were finally placed into my arms? You were doing enough for the both of us, and I didn't want to miss one single moment of being in complete awe of you.
You were absolutely perfect.
Do you want to know something else? When you're older you'll be able to look back and realize how lucky you were to have two days worth of birthday celebrations.
Living half-way across the world gives you that distinct advantage. Today you turn two, though your actual birthday in the place you were born won't be for another day.
I think that's incredibly sweet. Don't you?
Today we're going out into the sunshine and cool breezes of Tokyo, Japan-you're new home-and we'll shop for a few things for our new apartment.
We'll have a delicious birthday lunch and toast to you. Your father will go to Maison Kayser for some extraordinarily decadent birthday cream puffs. We'll place your "2" candle on top of one, and sing a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" until your little hands turn bright pink from all of your clapping.
Then we'll watch you dive in, make a wonderful mess of yourself and your birthday cream puff, and prepare for your true birthday celebrations all over again.
Who said two's had to be terrible?
It wasn't me, in fact, I'd say they're going to be pretty darn terrific.
My son, my sweet bebe, my little buggy boy with a heart filled with joy, I love you. I adore you. I would gladly eat broccoli for you.
And I wish you the happiest (first)second birthday any little one could ask for.
All of my heart,
Mum
Though it's actually Monday morning here in Tokyo, I couldn't very well let a weekend pass in the States without a "Simply Southern" entry, could I? I know it's Sunday where the majority of my family and friends are, so today will be a one time occurrence: Simply Southern Sunday.
Needless to say, we arrived in our new home safe and sound. I may have caught a cold, and the hours may have been long (a 14 hour flight plus a bus and taxi ride),
but we arrived in our beautiful high rise apartment, so incredibly happy to be together.
Not surprisingly, eldest did beautifully on the flights, but the wee one shocked us all with how well he did! Asking a nearly 2 year old to behave and somewhat still for 15 hours is a nearly impossible thing. But for the most part, he really controlled his normal exuberant and very active self.
Huge praises!!
This little McCarty's pig on our dining room buffet is also praise-worthy. It's a reminder of home, the South, and of the things that will bring us comfort in our lives abroad. But it's also a gentle nod to all of the new and exciting things we're going to experience.
I cannot wait to share each wonderful, amusing, disappointing, and sometime scary moments with you all.
Until then, I'm off to prepare for some little scallywag's second birthday with a Starbucks in hand, family at my side, and a heart filled with the highest of hopes for the years ahead.
Cheers y'all!
