Tuesday, July 3, 2012
K a e l a
I took these pictures a couple days ago and edited them yesterday. I'm really happy with the end result. I learn so much each time I take pictures and use photoshop. This is at Arisugawa park across the street from the temple.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
One Year Mark
Ohisashiburi! It has been a year since we moved to Tokyo. In the course of the year, some things have changed and some things haven't.
For one, I'm not a blogger anymore. I haven't blogged a lot because at first I dropped and broke my lens on my camera and I didn't have pictures to put with my posts. I did get a new lens for Christmas but then I just didn't feel like there was anything to blog about. We go to school, do homework, clean, shower, and sleep....boring, right? I then became an iphone junky and it has also changed the way I keep myself in the cyber world. It is loads of fun, light weight, completely convenient, quick, and just plain awesome. I rarely ever sit at the desktop anymore. It's rather freeing. Now, if I can just take all my fb posts and put them on my blog....
Another change that happened is that I became a morning person. For a few months, I was waking up at 5 am, sometimes before, annoyingly. Now, I'm doing great around 6:30am. I'd wake up to make obentos for the boys--all nut free and junk food free...no fruit snacks, cookies, chips, etc. This is school policy. And it's been really, really good for us.
We also walked a lot. The boys walked 90 miles during the course of the year, just to school and back. This doesn't include all the walking they do to go everywhere else. I walked and ran a lot more than that. The baby fat that I couldn't get off before we moved to Japan and the other weight I was slowing gaining due to a sedentary lifestyle, is gone! And all from just walking everywhere. I look at pictures of Americans and am in shock now, when I wasn't before. The stereotype that Americans are fat.....well, is looking really true from the East.
This past year, I managed to survive off one haircut. The truth is, it is sooooo expensive to live in Tokyo. I use to pay $50 for four piano lesson back in the states and now I pay about that for just one. Toki takes piano lessons from a very talented musician, Lolo takes violin lessons, and Vy does Taiko drums. In order to afford this, lots of other things have to be cut out. I don't have a helper, which is common in expat lifestyle. I also don't do lunch and I obviously don't get my hair done. Our tight budget is keeping me in check!
I'm also involved more at school. Next year, I'll be chairing the quilt group and the Mexican booth at the food fair. This will be like a part time job for me. I am nervous but excited. The quilt this past year sold for $16,000 at our school Gala in May. I have big shoes to fill. Last year was the first year the school had a Mexican booth at the food fair in the Fall. We used my tamale recipe. It was a hit. All proceeds from the food fair and the Gala go to the school. The money is used for new equipment, projects, remodels, etc.
I managed to learn to drive sitting in the right seat of the car, on the left side of the road. It's very weird at first. And something I am not proud of....I still don't have a drivers license or car insurance for that matter. But, I'm still a good driver....I don't hit people, just things. That hasn't changed. I've hit two poles. The first time I did it, I got a scratch on the car. The second time, the car wasn't so lucky. We no longer use the back, left door. Such a bummer!
Some other things that haven't changed....
The kids are as active and creative as before. Toki is down to 31 seconds to solve the Rubiks cube. They still create with legos, paper and tape, make forts with blankets, trash the house in minutes, leave their clothes on the floor, complain about homework and chores, and fight. I am proud to say, my children still do not have armpit hair. I refuse to have hormone laden children....no cow's milk for us. After years of trying rice, soy, and oat milk...I have found the one I love. Almond milk!!
We do lots of the the same things we did at home just slightly revised....fishing, camping, shopping, errands, school, work, hang out with friends, and church.
The boys are attending Japanese public schools for the summer, about 6 weeks total. Some might feel sorry for the boys. I have to admit, sometimes I do too. But the truth is, they are getting a unique, Japanese experience they might not ever get to have again. They do swim lessons, art, music, school lunch, regular class instruction, recess, help clean bathrooms, water plants....all the while in Japanese. I think it's all pretty dang rad, if you ask me. They are being rewarded for completing Japanese school....Toki gets a trip home to be with his friends, Vy wants heelys and some new Wii games, and Lolo hasn't asked for anything yet.
Living in Japan, I do miss some things including the convenience of Walmart. I love the idea of a one stop shop. They have department stores like that, it's just 3 times as far. My Costco run is a whole day ordeal. It's not necessarily that far but because of the congestion and tight roads, the crowds at the store, and having to lug everything up the the fourth floor, by myself....it becomes an ordeal. I also miss sushi!! I live in Japan and I don't eat the fish. How sad. However, I feel it is important to stay on the safe side. Most of the produce and products I buy are imported or from the south or another island of Japan. The radiation still worries me. Not as much as before. I feel the air is clean now. I still have some of my year supply of water that I shipped last year, to use. But, we inherited a radiation filter for water, so I'm moving to that. I have never in my life been so conscientious of what we are eating. It is not a bad thing. We all should be.
We have one more year left in Tokyo. After that.....sunny California, Europe, South America, or maybe an extension. After having a taste of living overseas, I must say I want to do it again!
For one, I'm not a blogger anymore. I haven't blogged a lot because at first I dropped and broke my lens on my camera and I didn't have pictures to put with my posts. I did get a new lens for Christmas but then I just didn't feel like there was anything to blog about. We go to school, do homework, clean, shower, and sleep....boring, right? I then became an iphone junky and it has also changed the way I keep myself in the cyber world. It is loads of fun, light weight, completely convenient, quick, and just plain awesome. I rarely ever sit at the desktop anymore. It's rather freeing. Now, if I can just take all my fb posts and put them on my blog....
Another change that happened is that I became a morning person. For a few months, I was waking up at 5 am, sometimes before, annoyingly. Now, I'm doing great around 6:30am. I'd wake up to make obentos for the boys--all nut free and junk food free...no fruit snacks, cookies, chips, etc. This is school policy. And it's been really, really good for us.
We also walked a lot. The boys walked 90 miles during the course of the year, just to school and back. This doesn't include all the walking they do to go everywhere else. I walked and ran a lot more than that. The baby fat that I couldn't get off before we moved to Japan and the other weight I was slowing gaining due to a sedentary lifestyle, is gone! And all from just walking everywhere. I look at pictures of Americans and am in shock now, when I wasn't before. The stereotype that Americans are fat.....well, is looking really true from the East.
This past year, I managed to survive off one haircut. The truth is, it is sooooo expensive to live in Tokyo. I use to pay $50 for four piano lesson back in the states and now I pay about that for just one. Toki takes piano lessons from a very talented musician, Lolo takes violin lessons, and Vy does Taiko drums. In order to afford this, lots of other things have to be cut out. I don't have a helper, which is common in expat lifestyle. I also don't do lunch and I obviously don't get my hair done. Our tight budget is keeping me in check!
I'm also involved more at school. Next year, I'll be chairing the quilt group and the Mexican booth at the food fair. This will be like a part time job for me. I am nervous but excited. The quilt this past year sold for $16,000 at our school Gala in May. I have big shoes to fill. Last year was the first year the school had a Mexican booth at the food fair in the Fall. We used my tamale recipe. It was a hit. All proceeds from the food fair and the Gala go to the school. The money is used for new equipment, projects, remodels, etc.
I managed to learn to drive sitting in the right seat of the car, on the left side of the road. It's very weird at first. And something I am not proud of....I still don't have a drivers license or car insurance for that matter. But, I'm still a good driver....I don't hit people, just things. That hasn't changed. I've hit two poles. The first time I did it, I got a scratch on the car. The second time, the car wasn't so lucky. We no longer use the back, left door. Such a bummer!
Some other things that haven't changed....
The kids are as active and creative as before. Toki is down to 31 seconds to solve the Rubiks cube. They still create with legos, paper and tape, make forts with blankets, trash the house in minutes, leave their clothes on the floor, complain about homework and chores, and fight. I am proud to say, my children still do not have armpit hair. I refuse to have hormone laden children....no cow's milk for us. After years of trying rice, soy, and oat milk...I have found the one I love. Almond milk!!
We do lots of the the same things we did at home just slightly revised....fishing, camping, shopping, errands, school, work, hang out with friends, and church.
The boys are attending Japanese public schools for the summer, about 6 weeks total. Some might feel sorry for the boys. I have to admit, sometimes I do too. But the truth is, they are getting a unique, Japanese experience they might not ever get to have again. They do swim lessons, art, music, school lunch, regular class instruction, recess, help clean bathrooms, water plants....all the while in Japanese. I think it's all pretty dang rad, if you ask me. They are being rewarded for completing Japanese school....Toki gets a trip home to be with his friends, Vy wants heelys and some new Wii games, and Lolo hasn't asked for anything yet.
Living in Japan, I do miss some things including the convenience of Walmart. I love the idea of a one stop shop. They have department stores like that, it's just 3 times as far. My Costco run is a whole day ordeal. It's not necessarily that far but because of the congestion and tight roads, the crowds at the store, and having to lug everything up the the fourth floor, by myself....it becomes an ordeal. I also miss sushi!! I live in Japan and I don't eat the fish. How sad. However, I feel it is important to stay on the safe side. Most of the produce and products I buy are imported or from the south or another island of Japan. The radiation still worries me. Not as much as before. I feel the air is clean now. I still have some of my year supply of water that I shipped last year, to use. But, we inherited a radiation filter for water, so I'm moving to that. I have never in my life been so conscientious of what we are eating. It is not a bad thing. We all should be.
We have one more year left in Tokyo. After that.....sunny California, Europe, South America, or maybe an extension. After having a taste of living overseas, I must say I want to do it again!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Some gems I found
Friday, December 16, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Tamales
So the big thing I'm working on right now is the Mexican Booth at our school's annual food fair. All proceeds go to the school. Last year the money went to put fancy projectors/screens in the classrooms.
The Mexican Booth has not been done before. We are selling chicken tamales, margaritas, and chips and salsa. We've been working our tails off. Four of us are heading up the booth. Each lady has brought some strength into the group--leadership, organization, energy, and my recipe.
Things are running smoothly. And it's been so fun.
Tomorrow is our final day of prep. We will be making an additional 200 tamales on top of the 500 we've already made. I'll also be making cilantro dressing, we'll be putting chips and salsa together, and making final preparations.
On Sunday, we will be steaming and selling away.
I was just on campus this evening. It is busy with equipment people. Booths are being set up. It's going to be crowded, noisy, hectic, and fun.
I've been busy with that and packing the car with camping stuff today. Chris and the boys headed out towards Mt. Fuji to go camping with friends. I'm so bummed out it was the same weekend of the food fair but at the same time it's nice to be able to focus on the food fair without having to worry about them here.
I've been driving around here and there but usually close by. Today I ventured out a little further, mostly out of desperation, which has been the only reason for me driving here in Tokyo. I ventured out to a store called Aeon to pick up some camping stuff--stove, lantern, charcoal, etc. I had my new iphone and pulled up google maps to get me there and back.
I love, love, love my Iphone, my tamales, my new friends, our home, and our new life here. It's been tough, challenging, and busy and for some reason fun, exciting, progressive, and in the end rewarding.
ps. I found this awesome tamale place in Mexico while I was looking for pictures of tamales. Looks like they have an awesome product. If I ever get a chance to go to Mexico again, I'm heading to this place for some unique tamales.
Since we're talking about food, here are some pictures I've taken of some yummy stuff we've had.
Everyday, I have to make obentos for the boy's school lunch. Up until recently school lunch wasn't offered. Now they have a Monday/Friday option but it cost 600 yen per kid. I opted out of that, but sometimes I kick myself for not signing up as you can imagine what my mornings are like. An interesting side note...the boy's school does not have a cafeteria; they eat it their classrooms.
I bought this donut hoping it was filled with yummy whipped cream; However, it was filled with sweet beans instead.
Japan has mastered crepes. It is dotted with crepe stands. My favorite so far....a crepe filled with a piece of chocolate cake, bananas, strawberries, and of course whipped cream. Delish!!
The Mexican Booth has not been done before. We are selling chicken tamales, margaritas, and chips and salsa. We've been working our tails off. Four of us are heading up the booth. Each lady has brought some strength into the group--leadership, organization, energy, and my recipe.
Things are running smoothly. And it's been so fun.
Tomorrow is our final day of prep. We will be making an additional 200 tamales on top of the 500 we've already made. I'll also be making cilantro dressing, we'll be putting chips and salsa together, and making final preparations.
On Sunday, we will be steaming and selling away.
I was just on campus this evening. It is busy with equipment people. Booths are being set up. It's going to be crowded, noisy, hectic, and fun.
I've been busy with that and packing the car with camping stuff today. Chris and the boys headed out towards Mt. Fuji to go camping with friends. I'm so bummed out it was the same weekend of the food fair but at the same time it's nice to be able to focus on the food fair without having to worry about them here.
I've been driving around here and there but usually close by. Today I ventured out a little further, mostly out of desperation, which has been the only reason for me driving here in Tokyo. I ventured out to a store called Aeon to pick up some camping stuff--stove, lantern, charcoal, etc. I had my new iphone and pulled up google maps to get me there and back.
I love, love, love my Iphone, my tamales, my new friends, our home, and our new life here. It's been tough, challenging, and busy and for some reason fun, exciting, progressive, and in the end rewarding.
ps. I found this awesome tamale place in Mexico while I was looking for pictures of tamales. Looks like they have an awesome product. If I ever get a chance to go to Mexico again, I'm heading to this place for some unique tamales.
Since we're talking about food, here are some pictures I've taken of some yummy stuff we've had.
Some pastries.
Udon with tempura. Oh so good!
Curry Rice
Have a Wonderful Weekend and Have something Crazy to eat!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Isogashii
We moved into our new place on September 1st which was exactly the time I came down with Hand Foot Mouth Disease. No one else in the family got it. I've been busy unpacking and trying to get settled in all the while dealing with the boys and school. Someone told me once that expat families are busy. I get it now.
The boy's school is nearby; closer than our assigned school in Utah is to our home. It takes us about 10-15 minutes to walk there. We leave around 7:45 to drop Lolo off first. The other two boys continue on to their campus which is a short distance away. It seems that I barely have enough time and energy to do everything I need to do. Meetings, orientations, volunteer committees, after school programs, homework, dinner, park days, hanging out with friends, shopping (my biggest hassle), walking everywhere, figuring out the bus/trains, getting lost, paperwork, church/responsibilities....I need to breathe.
I found a new running partner. Actually I might have found my "Jen" replacement if that is at all possible. She has been such a great friend. Pretty much it's super easy to hang out, we're last minute runners,all we need is an email and off we are. It's perfect. Signing up for our first Japanese marathon...let's see how that goes. I'm in a quilting group and we're making a kimono quilt. We each make 12 squares and we trade. I'm also running the Mexican booth for a fund raiser for the school. We're making tamales, serving chips and salsa, and margaritas. It's a huge event. Unfortunately it's the same weekend that a bunch of people go camping (no church, general conference). Chris and the boys will be going without me. Jealous.
Chris has been called into the Young Men's presidency. Me...den leader for Vy. They start scouts early here. He's so excited he's a scout now. They're thinking about calling Chris to be the assistant scout master........I think it would be fun but seriously....the poor guy barely has enough time in the day to shower and brush his teeth.
Lolo is a popular kid at school..even among the parents..."oh he's so cute" or "he is such a good boy." He seems to be adjusting really, really well. He loves his tennis and golf class.
Vy loves school. "I wish school would never end." I'm so glad. Just downstairs, two girls who are in Vy and Toki's class, make life easier. Walking to school together is so much fun. Vy is taking fencing but he was so disappointed that the swords are foam!
Toki is excelling in Japanese. He has already caught up to his classmate who has been in Japan for 6 years. He is being integrated to the rest of the Japanese class next week. He's making friends, soaring in drama (who would have known), and being the same old, same old...."school is torture. It's the biggest waste of time." And yet he's doing well. I hear less and less that he hates Japan. Bless his heart.
We bought a car a couple of weeks ago. A 1999 Toyota Ipsum. It seats 7 without cargo space and 5 with cargo space. It looks like a wagon but they consider it a mini van. It has 60,000 km (about 38,000 miles). It cost Y200,000 ($2600). It's green. I actually took the boys home today from church and drove back for a meeting. It wasn't bad at all. But then again, I know the route really well. It will be a different story trying to get to Cosco. The steering wheel is on the right side. Everything is flipped...mirrors, signal handle, the side of the road to drive on. It's tricky but it felt good. I haven't driven in a few months. It was freedom and my feet didn't hurt when I came home from church. If you're wondering why cars are so cheap...next month it needs an inspection...it may cost an arm and a leg...but it will be good for 2 years. News cars don't have to go through it.
Our home has been rented out for a month now. They have 2 golden retrievers and they smoke: our worst nightmare. It was between them and a registered sex offender. Our neighbor kid (in his 20s) has been tattling on them and basically complaining about the barking and the second hand smoke. He said he would have preferred the sex offender. He bugs me. Inhale away and I hope the dogs keep you awake all night ...my mortgage is being paid.
Cool roller slides
Leaving the onsen(baths)
kids playing with cousins
Boys seeing the apartment after getting home from school on September 1st.
The boy's school is nearby; closer than our assigned school in Utah is to our home. It takes us about 10-15 minutes to walk there. We leave around 7:45 to drop Lolo off first. The other two boys continue on to their campus which is a short distance away. It seems that I barely have enough time and energy to do everything I need to do. Meetings, orientations, volunteer committees, after school programs, homework, dinner, park days, hanging out with friends, shopping (my biggest hassle), walking everywhere, figuring out the bus/trains, getting lost, paperwork, church/responsibilities....I need to breathe.
I found a new running partner. Actually I might have found my "Jen" replacement if that is at all possible. She has been such a great friend. Pretty much it's super easy to hang out, we're last minute runners,all we need is an email and off we are. It's perfect. Signing up for our first Japanese marathon...let's see how that goes. I'm in a quilting group and we're making a kimono quilt. We each make 12 squares and we trade. I'm also running the Mexican booth for a fund raiser for the school. We're making tamales, serving chips and salsa, and margaritas. It's a huge event. Unfortunately it's the same weekend that a bunch of people go camping (no church, general conference). Chris and the boys will be going without me. Jealous.
Chris has been called into the Young Men's presidency. Me...den leader for Vy. They start scouts early here. He's so excited he's a scout now. They're thinking about calling Chris to be the assistant scout master........I think it would be fun but seriously....the poor guy barely has enough time in the day to shower and brush his teeth.
Lolo is a popular kid at school..even among the parents..."oh he's so cute" or "he is such a good boy." He seems to be adjusting really, really well. He loves his tennis and golf class.
Vy loves school. "I wish school would never end." I'm so glad. Just downstairs, two girls who are in Vy and Toki's class, make life easier. Walking to school together is so much fun. Vy is taking fencing but he was so disappointed that the swords are foam!
Toki is excelling in Japanese. He has already caught up to his classmate who has been in Japan for 6 years. He is being integrated to the rest of the Japanese class next week. He's making friends, soaring in drama (who would have known), and being the same old, same old...."school is torture. It's the biggest waste of time." And yet he's doing well. I hear less and less that he hates Japan. Bless his heart.
We bought a car a couple of weeks ago. A 1999 Toyota Ipsum. It seats 7 without cargo space and 5 with cargo space. It looks like a wagon but they consider it a mini van. It has 60,000 km (about 38,000 miles). It cost Y200,000 ($2600). It's green. I actually took the boys home today from church and drove back for a meeting. It wasn't bad at all. But then again, I know the route really well. It will be a different story trying to get to Cosco. The steering wheel is on the right side. Everything is flipped...mirrors, signal handle, the side of the road to drive on. It's tricky but it felt good. I haven't driven in a few months. It was freedom and my feet didn't hurt when I came home from church. If you're wondering why cars are so cheap...next month it needs an inspection...it may cost an arm and a leg...but it will be good for 2 years. News cars don't have to go through it.
Our home has been rented out for a month now. They have 2 golden retrievers and they smoke: our worst nightmare. It was between them and a registered sex offender. Our neighbor kid (in his 20s) has been tattling on them and basically complaining about the barking and the second hand smoke. He said he would have preferred the sex offender. He bugs me. Inhale away and I hope the dogs keep you awake all night ...my mortgage is being paid.
Cool roller slides
Leaving the onsen(baths)
kids playing with cousins
Boys seeing the apartment after getting home from school on September 1st.
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