The New Girl at School

When Patrick started kindergarten in October, Evelyn was quick to observe the benefits of venturing into the academic realm her brother enjoyed. Plays and performances, games and green tea, singing and speaking in Japanese? Who wouldn't trade a day or two of laborious outings with Mommy (Honey, I promise we'll leave the store just as soon as I figure out where to find the [enter an endless list of grocery items here]) for that kind of fun?  As tales of kindergarten adventures further unfolded, the message was clear. I want to go too, Mommy.  With a deep breath and an are you sure we set about enrolling her at the kindergarten. 

While we were busily preparing for Evelyn's role as a proper Japanese pre-schooler (incomplete without a return trip to the depato for school supplies and bento accessories!), the principal was reevaluating the school's ability to accommodate her. In a beautifully crafted letter, she politely and contritely outlined the pedagogical barriers to Evelyn's acceptance into the program at that time and kindly requested that we wait till January. 

Time marched on and Evelyn and I slipped into a comfortable and happy routine together. I got better at grocery shopping and no longer took so painfully long at the dry cleaners. There was more time for exploring and crafts and tea-time and returns to the Hukilau Cafe for yummy malasada, a warm, sugar-covered treat we discovered quite by accident on an outing one day. Not a bad little life at all!

January came faster than a Limited Express, and Evelyn seemed almost a bit surprised the school had remembered her long-ago request, her prior excitement now replaced by a bit of hesitance. But her enthusiasm returned with the dusting off of school supplies bought months before, and she bravely joined her brother on the walk to school. 

Though we worry a bit about communication difficulties - Evelyn is a girl who likes to be understood - she assures us there won't be any trouble. "Mommy, I speck English to a boy and it understood me." But while Patrick enjoys the luxury of having a classmate who can 'speck' some English with him from time to time, Evelyn will be on her own.  That didn't seem to matter when she arrived the second day to the excited greetings of two classmates calling her name..."Ebareen!  Ebareen!" And maybe that's just enough for our girl for now. :-)

I can do it, Mommy!

Patrick schools Evelyn on the finer nuances of the genkan. 
For the Japanese, it is a fluid movement, but it can be tricky getting in and out of street shoes prior to entering a building!

Off she goes with Mayumi-sensei

The New Girl at dismissal time...smiles all around!

Three Hours and a World Away

Yesterday Patrick commented on the "Mount Fuji of Laundry" that awaits my attention. White sand trickles from pockets, shoes, and swimsuit seams leaving a gritty mess wherever it falls. There are snorkels and masks and fins and swim shirts and goggles taking up valuable real estate in our small apartment. So many extra chores this week, and I am loving all of them...each a reminder of a relaxing, refreshing, and enlightening trip to Saipan. Who knew we could trade our Tokyo winter for white beaches and blue waters in just over three hours?

All aboard the Narita Express!
It was a chilly wait for this welcome sight
in the sleepy darkness of early morning.

Off to the airport!

Not a second was wasted from
hotel check-in to this lovely scene.

Not a bad way to start the day...:-)

Playing in the sand just doesn't get old.
Loved it!

Off the beaten path and down a jungle road lies a wonderful
little spot by the name of Wing Beach.  Chris compared
his snorkeling experience there to 'swimming in a pet store'.
Such a huge variety of beautiful fish and creatures!  He and Patrick made a great snorkeling team - what a darling sight to see the two of them floating in the water...heads down, hands held, and lazily adrift in the gentle surf.

What the tide brought in

Sand, sea, and sky -- and two little urchins.
Now what's not to love?

Suicide Cliff

For such a small island, Saipan has
known a tremendous share of heartache.

The sad echo of war resonates in a 

variety of places across the island... 

Chris and Patrick swam out to get a better look at

this tank resting in the waters off one of the beaches.

Lazy days of sun and sand. I could get used to this!
(Photo by Patrick. The camera weighs as much as he does!)

Saying goodbye on our last night.
I can still feel the warmth of the evening air.

This is a great game until you realize you're wearing
those same shoes on the flight home tomorrow.

Goodnight, Saipan.

All is Bright, All is Calm - New Year's in Japan

A hush has fallen over this city of thirteen million people. Train stations typically bustling with shoppers all but echo with our footsteps. Store fronts are shuttered, businesses are closed.  Even the 7-11 has snuffed its flashing lights. It is the New Year in Tokyo, and it is quiet. This is an important time of year for families, and many have left the city to be with their relatives.


Newly freed from the shackles of illness (Patrick was the last to fall the day after Christmas), we set out to make our own New Year's memories and were rewarded with a tryptic of fun I won't soon forget. 

New Year's Eve: A return to Tokyo Tower. Who doesn't want to be climbing the outside steps to the observation deck on the last day of December? Chilly but beautifully clear and sunny, it was the perfect day to be scuttling up the 600 steps to our destination. The kids were so proud of themselves, and who doesn't deserve ice cream after an achievement such as that?

New Year's Day: I will not lie and tell you that we were strategically aloft in high elevations to experience the first sunrise of the year as is customary to do. We did, however, take note of the gorgeous light streaming through our windows to awaken us and were thrilled to see 2014 welcomed in such sparkling splendor. Hearts full of thanksgiving and hope, we set out for Mass to start the New Year.

We spent the rest of the day wandering the streets of the Roppongi Hills area, and though we try to limit visits to expat crutches such as the Grand Hyatt, we happily enjoyed a beautiful and leisurely afternoon brunch there.  (Shhhh...don't tell anyone, but how I do love an expat crutch on a major holiday!)

Somehow that leisurely brunch inexplicably turned our afternoon into evening faster than Chris could say Another Bombay Sapphire, o kudasai. Not yet ready to return home, we turned instead toward Mori Tower, where Patrick's insistence at finding 'the place on the map with the helicopter pad' proved a magical cap to our day.

'The place on the map with the helicopter pad'

January 2: Rise and shine! It's time to meet the Emperor! To the Imperial Palace we did go, along with about a jillion other well-wishers. (Don't ask me where they came from - we thought everyone had left!) Typically we are not 'crowd' people - you'll never find us camping on the 4th of July - but the palace grounds are open just two days of the year, and we didn't want to miss our New Year's greetings from the Emperor.

 I'm certain he was looking right at me. ;-)

Eventually, people will return and this hush will give way to the usual industrious hum of the city. Train stations will bustle again. Shutters will come down and businesses will open. 7-11 will flash its lights again, but in the meantime, we have enjoyed a very different and very special Tokyo.

Akemashite omedetōgozaimasu!

Happy New Year!